Even if it was only so he could spend an eternity with Dane, making that amazing man smile.
“Yeah, but I’ve got something new this time.”
A lion’s roar echoed from the backyard, sending chills skittering up Clay’s arms, and a coldness gripped his heart. If he didn’t know that was Baer, he might have been shitting his pants right then. He couldn’t think of a more terrifying sound. It was clear Baer had settled on something with excellent claws and teeth.
Panicked screams echoed through the night, followed by more snarls and roars from the lion. If Clay had been waiting for a signal to move, that was as good as any he was going to get. With a sweep of his hand, the roots from the nearby trees that had been crawling under the earth as he walked burst through the surface. They surged forward, stabbing through the chests of the pestilents gathered near the porch stairs and wrapped around their victims. Screams were cut off as the creatures were killed.
But not everyone was caught. Others scattered, diving into the house or off the porch. Shots rang out. Bullets raced through the air at Clay. Trees reached out, extending their limbs and offering shelter. Bullets dug deep into the bark. Clay jumped for cover, still directing trees, roots, and vines to attack the pestilents and turn over cars with loud metallic crunches.
Crawling along the ground, Clay peeked out between the moving limbs, trying to spot Cor in the chaos. He wasn’t sure if he’d stuck to the front or if he was sneaking around to face the lion working to decimate their ranks. There was no way the fucker had been caught in the last barrage.
The Earth’s power constantly humming through him cringed suddenly and shrank from one side of the house. Clay peered around the tree he was using for cover to find that one side of the house was brighter now, the shadows pushed back and dancing wildly. Grey had gotten a fire started.
There was more breaking glass and then shouts. Clay remained low, trying to spot his quarry. He didn’t know where Grey and Baer were. The Animal Weaver should be taking out pestilents at the rear of the house while Grey looked for a new, safe spot to set a second fire. The pair of shotguns he was carrying were supposed to be a last resort if he couldn’t escape.
A new, higher-pitched scream broke over the chaos, and Clay’s eyes jerked up to the third floor. A woman was hanging out the window, her arms waving for help. A human woman.
Fuck! Baer hadn’t mentioned anything about a human being trapped inside with the pestilents. He’d either not seen her or her memory fell out of his little mouse brain on the way to reporting to them.
There was a boom of the shotgun, and Clay spotted Grey standing off to the side of the house, staring up at the woman shouting.
Clay’s heart lurched in his chest as Grey shook his head once and then ran for the house. He was going inside.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
It was the one thing they’d all agreed upon. No one would go inside the house. It was an automatic death sentence. The only way to even the odds was to destroy the house with the pestilents inside and pick them off as they ran out. Yeah, it wasn’t exactly a sporting, fair attack, but the pestilents outnumbered them and were trying to destroy their entire world. Clay didn’t give a shit about fair.
Clay opened his mouth to shout at Grey, when pain exploded across his jaw, snapping his head to the right. Staggering to his side, Clay hit a tree with his shoulder and tried to blink away the stars bursting in front of his eyes. The world came back into focus with Cor standing in front of him. Blood, dirt, and soot streaked his face. His clothes were reduced to ragged tatters, as if he’d had to fight his way free of wicked, thorny branches and grasping hands.
“I’m not the only one dying here today!” Cor snarled. He brought his meaty fist down, and Clay blocked it with his forearm before delivering a hard left jab to Cor’s nose.
Cor’s head jerked, and he stumbled a step. Clay advanced on him, beating the creature who threatened him and his new family. His existence threatened the man he loved. Clay didn’t want to die today, didn’t want to leave Dane to more pain and loneliness. But Clay would give his life if it meant protecting those he cared about.
Cor and Clay traded blows until they were both covered in sweat and blood. Clay couldn’t think about the fire he saw eating away at the house. He couldn’t think about the fact that he’d not heard any more roars from Baer. He had to trust that his brothers were safe.