Free Colliding Worlds Trilogy 03 - Explosion by Berinn Rae Page B

to his muscles. A bead of sweat trailed down the back of his neck.
    She’d fallen into a hypnotic rhythm of watching his smooth stride, and she’d nearly failed to notice that he’d slowed ahead of her. Jax then came to a stop behind a large tree, and held up a fisted hand. While she didn’t know the action’s meaning, she’d been in the military long enough to know that if he was still and silent, she’d better follow suit. She came to a stop against the same tree, propping a hand against the trunk to rest.
    “There’s a cabin about two hundred feet ahead,” he whispered.
    She thought back their imminent pursuers. If she were hunting prey, the first thing she’d take control of was any shelter in the area. “Is it safe?”
    “We need water.” He handed her his handgun. “I don’t see any movement, so I’m going in to check it out. Stay out of sight until I give a signal.”
    She gave him a curt nod, and he moved off low, going from tree to tree, until he disappeared. With slow steps, she followed his path until she had a full view of the cabin. Crouching behind a shrub, she rested her wings on the ground to get in a more comfortable position. From this vantage point, she could see the cabin and a cream-colored SUV parked in front.
    Jax had already made it to the vehicle. He checked something through the glass, and stuck close to the SUV as he moved around the vehicle and to the cabin. He shot a glance in the large front window before moving to the front door. The main door was open, leaving only a screen door as a barrier. He stood there, his body pressed against the cabin, for several long seconds. Finally, in a quick move, he opened the screen door and disappeared inside.
    Talla sat in silence, holding the gun, waiting for any sign of Jax. A child’s laughter in the distance to her left froze her spine. Glancing around, she saw a large, well-camouflaged branch thirty feet straight up. Stretching her wings, she spread them out to find just enough space that it could work. In a rush, she flapped her wings.
    In prime health, vertical take-off required strength and energy. Unfortunately, Talla hadn’t used her wings in a couple years. After lifting from the ground no more than a few inches, she collapsed.
    With a silent curse, she folded her wings back. Careful to move quietly, she jogged, crouched over as she could, zigzagging around trees until she had view of the other side of the house. A rock trail sloped downward from the back deck and led to a dock. There, she could see a woman lounging in a chair under the full rays of the sun, and a man standing in shallow water with two small children lodged in colorful tubes.
    Tension eased from her shoulders. There was no dog.
    Her mouth watered watching the lake in front of her. She was so thirsty. Her head throbbed like a bad hangover. They were surrounded by water, but Jax warned her it wasn’t safe to drink. She scowled at human immaturity when it came to their world. Jax said they’d polluted nearly all their world’s fresh water supply, including this lake.
    The sound of an SUV starting startled her. She turned back to the cabin.
Fyet!
With a quick glance to the family continuing with their play, she was confident they didn’t hear the engine over the water splashing around them. She dashed back, staying only as quiet as she needed to not be noticed.
    Jax was standing at the SUV, half inside the driver’s side and looking furious. She sprinted forward, opened the passenger door and was in by the time he had the vehicle in gear. She waited to shut her door, and he did the same. He pulled out of the driveway slowly, barely revving the engine.
    “They’re out back, in the water,” Talla said, her voice barely above a whisper.
    Jax nodded and then slowly stepped on the gas. They shut their doors as they picked up speed.
    “I told you to stay put,” Jax said through clenched teeth.
    “No, you didn’t,” Talla replied. “You said to stay out of