Page 65 of Resolve
The agent screams. I twist the knife, pushing it deeper.
He swaps with the other agent, who then joins his screams when I pierce him as well. I drag my arm up at an angle, then kick him to the ground.
Kellan’s already rushed the swapping agent, throwing his arms to whip the chains back and forth.
And then I’m there in the crossfire as a chain comes flying toward me.
I duck and run toward him, under his arms, and away from the attack.
“You up for a game of chicken?” Kellan drawls, the chains now dangling at his sides and curled on the floor.
Turning with my back to his chest, I seek out the last agent. He’s holding his side, blood escaping past his hand. I know I did some damage there, but if I’d been a few inches higher, I might’ve hit something more fatal, and we could be done with this already.
“Yeah. I’ll get behind him,” I answer.
We separate at once, and I run wide to get around him before curving so we’re coming at him from either side of the hallway. The agent’s head swivels between us. I pull out a second knife, readying for a switch. There’s only me and Kellan left, so as long as we’re ready to swap with each other or him, we can keep fighting with a small adjustment.
He tries to run to the side, but Kell and I follow and close off any route of escape.
The agent switches with me at the last second. I spin on my next step, then strike. My knife finds its target just as Kellan slams his fist into his jaw. He falls to the ground, knocked out.
Kell throws his head back, his chest working as he catches his breath.
“I’ll go scout up ahead—”
His large hand falls gently on my head. “Not a chance. Let’s go.”
Sighing, I wipe the blood from my knives on my pants. It was worth a shot. I nod, and we run down the hallway to the end.
The moment I clear the corner, something dark knocks into me,sending me flying. I hit a soft cushion between me and the wall, saving me from a concussion, before lips crash into mine and the smell of blood burns my nose.
I know it’s Jackson before my eyes can register the black blur. I can feel it in his touch; in the way he holds me both reverently and firmly at the same time. Like I’m someone precious, and he’ll never let me go. His kiss is dark and possessive, feeding off my lips with an insatiable hunger that makes me weak in the knees. I grip his hoodie and curl my other hand around the back of his neck as I kiss him back with the same fervor, then slide my hand up into his hair until I find long enough length to latch onto. I tug him back, breaking the kiss.
“Where—” I breathlessly start, then stop when I see Aiden using his gift to remove Kellan’s cuffs and chains and transforming them into his whip sword. Now that I know he’s also safe, I return my focus to Jack. His eyes shine with a wild look, and blood streaks his face. Judging by the smell, his clothes are soaked in it, too. “Your knee...?”
“Healed,” he answers, and I exhale in relief.
“Partially healed,” Aiden corrects from behind Jackson, who finally loosens his hold. “The healer only did enough to prevent him from bleeding out. It’s still there, and there’s still the risk of infection.”
Jackson shrugs, as if the details are inconsequential, and I shoot him a look. He flashes me an adoring smile.
Aiden pushes past Jack and pulls me against him, wrapping me in his arms. “Are you hurt?” He releases me enough to grasp my chin and study my face, as if preparing to read past any possible lie. His eyes narrow, and he strokes one cheek. The flicker of pain thereis brief. I’d forgotten all about the slap, and it’s hardly something compared to a gunshot wound.
“I’m fine. I can fight, although I’d do a hell of a lot better if you could get this thing off.” I hold up the bracelet between us. “It’s been blocking my gift. He didn’t make you guys wear anything?”
Aiden pinches the small band of metal. “The cuffs we were in did. Once Jackson was able to pick our locks to free us, our gifts returned.” The bracelet morphs into a tiny blade. He presses it to his whip sword at his side, and it joins the other metal. His brows pinch as he inspects the blade with a slight frown, but I’m distracted when warmth floods my veins in a rush.
I close my eyes and go to that place in my mind, touching my gift and sighing with relief to feel it there, alive and thriving. When I open my eyes, I smile.
Aiden raises a brow, the corner of his lips quirked in amusement. “Your gift’s returned?” he asks for confirmation, and I nod.
“Mm. And I feel much better.”
“Mine should be back any minute now,” Kellan adds. He runs a hand over the back of his arm, as if waiting for the feel of cool scales to appear beneath his fingertips.
“How did you escape?” Aiden asks us, turning to see all of us with a hand curving around my waist to keep me close.
Kellan and I look at each other. “They left the door unlocked,” I reply. “We’ve run into some agents since then, but...”
