Аполлион

As Aiden relayed the message to Solos, I kept my eyes glued to the stretch of highway behind us as we hit the ramp and flew down the dark, back road. Then I saw what Aiden hadn’t said, and what Marcus must’ve realized once Solos had moved into the other lane.

It wasn’t one Hummer; it was two, and I was sure both were packed.

Double crap.

Luke was straining to get a better look. “We can’t let them report back, guys. If they haven’t already. We’re too close to the university.”

“So you really think they’re his—Lucian’s?” Deacon asked, gripping the back of my seat.

Aiden nodded. “Everything’s cool, though. We’ve got this.”

The strength in his words—the determination to get everyone through this—was so like him. No matter what, he held it together. He might falter a step or two, but he weathered the blows and he never gave up. Not on me. Not on his brother. And never on life. Gods, no wonder I loved this man.

As I stared at him and saw the steely resolve in the lines of his striking face, I realized something. Actually, it was like being hit by a seven-ton truck.

I needed to put my big-girl panties on—like, for real.

Deacon had been right. A part of me had accepted that my death would be inevitable since I’d left the Underworld, that in the end Fate would find a way to win. Me—I’d felt this way—believed it. Me?The girl who pretty much said F.U. to everything, especially Fate.

Holy crap…

Sort of stunned, I faced the front of the vehicle. I was better than this—better than wallowing in my own pity. And I was a hell of a lot better than letting Fate control me. I wasn’t weak. I’d never been a quitter before. I was born to be the ultimate warrior. So if anyone could walk out of this situation unscathed, it should be me.

It would beme.

Because I was a fighter. Because I didn’t quit. Because I was strong.

As the front end of Solos’ Hummer reached the midway part of ours, there was a distinct popping sound and their car suddenly jerked to the left.

“Holy crap,” Deacon gasped. “They’re shooting at them—”

Our back window exploded. Glass shattered and rained through the car. I spun in my seat, finding that Luke had Deacon plastered against the seat. I didn’t see my uncle.

“Marcus?”

“I’m okay,” he called out.

“Alex, get down.” Aiden kept a tight grip on the steering wheel with one hand as he reached for me, grabbing my arm and yanking me down.

Marcus popped up and returned fire in a quick succession. Tires squealed; the Hummer next to us jerked again, and then flew ahead in a roar. I couldn’t believe they were actually shooting at us. And then it struck me. They didn’t care about anyone else in the vehicle. They knew I’d survive the crash one way or another.

They were going to keep shooting until they made us crash.

Another pop, and the window beside Aiden blew out. Shards of glass flew sideways, pelting Aiden and me. He winced, and I was so over this.

“Stop the car,” I said.

“What?” Aiden’s hand pressed down on my back as he sped up, putting some distance between us and the vehicle full of psychopaths.

I struggled up. “Stop the car!”

He glanced at me, and gods know what he saw in my eyes, but he cursed under his breath and veered onto the shoulder. The other vehicles shot past us, the sound of their tires squealing on the pavement.

Before Aiden could stop me, I threw the door open. Another curse exploded from him and I heard Marcus yell out, “What the hell?”

I slipped out of the Hummer, keeping low. There was one dagger attached to my thigh, but that wasn’t what I needed.

Aiden slid out the passenger side, eyes narrowed on me. He had a gun in one hand. “What are you doing?”

“Good question.” Luke shoved Deacon onto the embankment. “Stopping doesn’t seem like the smart thing to do.”

“I can’t believe they are actually shooting at us. Us?” Deacon started to stand up. “What is wrong—?”

“Stay down!” Aiden twisted toward, pointing at Luke. “Keep him alive or—”

“I know.” Luke yanked Deacon down and behind him. “Nothing will happen to him.”

Up ahead, Solos had pulled over and they all spilled out of the car, keeping to the passenger side. I breathed a sigh of relief and then edged toward the front of the Hummer.

“Alex!” Aiden followed in a crouch. “What are—?”

The two vehicles had turned around and were nearly on us. There was really no time to think about what I was doing. Using the speed that all halfs have, and the extra oomph of the Apollyon, I darted around the bumper and into the lane.

Aiden let out a ripe curse.

I was bathed in headlights as I threw up my hand, summoning the element of air. It was like unlocking a door inside me. Power rushed from the inside then spread out, slipping over my skin. Air barreled down the highway, blowing past me, faster and stronger than what a pure could wield. Hurricane-force winds slammed into the first Hummer.