Chapter 4: Rescue

Leo’s POV

Somewhere behind me, I heard footsteps.

Soft. Controlled. Dangerous.

I turned around too fast, my vision flared white for a second, and when it cleared, I saw him. A man. Late twenties maybe.

Leather boots. Dirty coat. Sharp eyes.

He looked at me like a wolf who just found a deer dressed in silk. “Nice night for a prince to be slumming it,” he said, voice low and dry. I didn’t answer.

My heart slammed against my ribs. My powers rose with it, and this time, I felt it crack. A trash can clattered sideways ten feet away. The man flinched.

“You twitchy or just cursed?”

He reached for something in his coat. A weapon maybe. I backed up. “I don’t want trouble.” “Too late,” he smirked. That’s when I ran.

I didn’t make it far. Two more appeared from the shadows, hired hands, probably.

I ran blind, heart racing, heat flaring in my chest. The world spun. My vision blurred. I didn’t even see the fourth one until he slammed me into the wall.

My head hit stone. Pain flashed white-hot. The world dipped.

Then-

BOOM.

Something exploded nearby. Not fire, light. A flare.

“HEY!” a voice shouted. “He’s not yours, so back the hell off!”

Three shadows turned. The one holding me cursed, and then he was gone.

Just gone.

I dropped to the ground, gasping, dazed, as someone grabbed my wrist and yanked me to my feet.

“Move!” the voice barked again. I didn’t think. I just followed.