Megans Mark (Breeds 6)

He moved in line with her, keeping an eye on her until she disappeared behind one thick tree trunk, then another.

Once beneath the pines, she was marginally safer. But marginally didn't help his nerves much.

He moved quicker now that Megan was beneath the pines, drawing in the scents trapped within the clearing as he made his way to the area. The Raider was perhaps forty feet away, beneath the trees, to the east. That gave Megan an edge in getting to it if the whole deal went from sugar to shit.

Damn her, he was going to beat her ass for doing something so stupid. She wasn't trained to fight like this. Her mind was too sensitive right now to go against opponents who were better trained and determined to kill.

There he was. The first watcher was positioned on the lower limb of a tree just ahead. The sole of his boots gave him away as he shifted. A rifle barrel was tucked into the pine needles, its dark eye trained on the edge of the canyon behind Braden.

Excellent.

He moved in carefully, gauging the jump to the limb and how quickly he could raise an alarm. Braden knew he would have to be fast.

He slid the knife he carried on his leg free of its sheath, the metal making no sound as it cleared the leather that held it snugly in place.

Wickedly sharp, lethal. He paused as he came within distance of a throw. Wound or wipe? Damn, he hated not knowing, but any friendly took their own chances sneaking up on him.

Turning the weapon, he balanced the blade in his hand before pulling back for a throw.

"I don't think so, Breed. "

Braden stilled as he felt the movement behind him then.

Son of a bitch.

He raised his hands slowly, calculating the risk.

"Nice looking knife, Bree-" The voice was silenced as Braden flipped the blade with a hard twist of his wrist and went to the ground in a quick roll.

Turning, he jerked the powerful rifle from the gasping soldier before turning and shooting into the pine. Two down.

Bending low, he ran for the pines and Megan.

The shot ricocheted around the clearing as the soldier fell from the pine headfirst to the unforgiving ground below.

Adrenaline surged through Megan's body the second the shot was fired. The blood also began to race through her body, her senses heightening. the need for action rushing through her like a runaway train on a collision course with every dream she ever imagined.

Instinct kicked in, her mind opening, the sensations, impressions and instant information slamming into it and combining with the excitement that tore through her.

She knew the two fallen men weren't the only ones, but the others were far enough away to give her and Braden a chance. She sprinted from the trees, running hard and fast for the Raider, her feet pounding against the earth. Adrenaline gave her a burst of speed, a rush of strength she had only ever known the few times she had been in a truly dangerous situation.

She loved it. Craved it. This was living.

She slid against the Raider seconds later

, jerking at the door handle as her fingerprints registered with the security and the door flew open. Jumping into the seat, she started the motor and revved it hard as she slammed the door, her gaze scanning the area for Braden. A flash of golden brown ahead had a smile curving her lips as she pushed the gas to the floor. The heavily grooved tires bit into the dirt, rocketing her forward as she headed for Braden. Gunfire was pounding the back of the Raider as she swerved to allow the vehicle to intercept the hits.

Turning the wheel quickly, the Raider blew up dirt and debris as she reached over and flung the passenger-side door open just in time for Braden to throw himself inside, the bullets spraying around them barely missing him.

"How many?" She turned the wheel again, pressed the pedal to the floor

and raced through the pines as she headed out of the clearing.

"Three. " Jerking the mother of all automatic rifles from the backseat, he slapped an ammo cartridge into the underbelly before swinging the seat around to face the back.

"Hold on;' she screamed, glimpsing the vehicles racing through the entrance toward them.

A heavily armed Desert Dragoon headed her way. Small, wide and compact, built for speed and handling in desert terrain, the Dragoon was easily the better vehicle. And besides, it had weapons. Lots of weapons. Two laserguided rocket launchers with heat-seeking specs, an easily maneuverable machine gun mounted to the roof and operated from inside the specially secured interior.