So were Claudia and Lucas.
I jumped out of the car and saw them on the ground. Lucas lying over Claudia.
There were pops. And it felt like hot pokers stabbed my arm, my shoulder, my stomach, and I hit the ground.
I smelled my blood and someone else’s and—
They want me alive. Go! Tessa screamed through our bond. I’ll be fine! Save my brother. Save yourself. Save our friends. I’m trusting you to keep them alive, and when you’ve done that, find me. Quickly.
Fire-like pain spread through my body from where I’d been hit, but fear pushed it away.
Someone
had taken Tessa.
I turned to Lucas, but he was still huddled over his mate, protecting her from getting hit. Blood darkened his shirt, but he was breathing. He was alive.
There was a squeal of tires.
“Go!” Lucas yelled. “I’m fine.”
“You’re shot!” So was I, but I had to do something. I had to move. I had to get her back.
“I’m fine!” He shoved power into his words. “I’ll take care of Axel! Get Tessa! Now! Before it’s too late.”
I jumped into the car, barely feeling the pain as I moved. The car instantly stank like my blood. My shirt was wet and stuck to my skin, but I couldn’t do anything about that. Not right now.
I could do something for my mate.
I reversed down the tiny road. Small rocks pinged against the car as I sped after them. The van hit the curve in the road, disappearing for a second, and my heart jolted.
I’d see them again. They weren’t gone.
I pressed the pedal all the way to the floor of the car, slowing just enough to make the curve. And when I hit the road, I turned too fast.
The tires squealed, and I spun the wheel, quickly correcting.
I was facing north down the road, but there was no sign of the van for miles.
Merde.
Oh putain de merde.
I spun the car around.
But the van was gone.
Fils de pute.
I could see for miles down in either direction. I’d been slow, but not that slow. Thirty seconds. Not more. And they were gone.
Disappeared.
I tried to feel along our bond to see what direction they’d gone, but I couldn’t feel her.
I couldn’t feel our bond.
Where the hell was our bond?