Chapter Sixteen
Atticus knew Thrax was nearby when the creature screamed. The high-pitched noise sent a shiver down his spine, but the hybrid would have never guessed that the damn Glycon was that close. He thought there might have been a little more time to prepare himself for the battle or at least get close enough to the forest line that Celine would stand a chance to get to the compound.
His plan had been to lure the Glycon far enough away that they would be able to escape. It should have worked. It was the best idea he could come up with.
There were two possibilities. Either Thrax had been smart enough to figure out the deception, or he was so fast he’d been able to double-back. Neither possibility filled Atticus with confidence about his ability to save his woman.
The impact from the hit had completely blindsided him. One second they had been speeding along, and the next he and Thrax were sprawling across the mud trading blows. For a moment he lost track of Celine but spotted her some distance away, hunched over and dry heaving on the ground.
It was better that way. If he could keep the Glycon distracted, maybe she could escape. They were close to the compound now. Not more than a mile away. She could run that far while he took on Thrax.
If she could make it to the other hybrids, they would keep her safe. No matter what happened to him. And her safety was the only thing that was important.
A hard blow knocked Atticus to the ground as he struggled to stand. Thrax screamed over him, his rage fueling him.
Atticus glanced over to where Celine had been on the ground.
Damn it. Instead of running away, the crazy woman was moving closer to the fight.
“Stay way, run,” Atticus shouted to her.
Thrax’s rage seemed to almost drip off him. The Glycon hadn’t expected to have to spend so much time tracking Atticus and Celine. Thrax probably thought it would be a piece of cake. Even without him saying it, Atticus could tell.
Instead, he’d spent the past few days tracking them in the woods. Not ideal, especially when there were a whole group of hybrids still out there.
The Glycon was driven. There was no question about it. He knew what he wanted, and he was hellbent on getting it. Atticus could almost respect that.
He climbed to his feet while the Glycon circled him, finding himself far more unsteady than he expected. The impact from earlier must have thrown him off.
It didn’t matter. It’s not like he needed to survive the fight. Celine just needed to escape.
Maybe she hadn’t heard him over the thunder the first time.
“Celine, leave,” he shouted. “Go to my people.”
She continued to move toward them, crawling. Crawling?
The sickening realization that Celine might be injured hit Atticus.
The hulking Glycon turned his attention to the beautiful woman on the ground, and Atticus felt his anger swell. He slammed a fist into the side of Thrax’s head.
A howl ripped from Thrax’s mouth at the pain.
"Hey!” Atticus smirked at the sound. “Keep your eyes on me, you son of a bitch.’
Atticus raced forward once again as Thrax turned to look at Celine. This time he landed a blow hard into the Glycon's ribs, but Thrax caught his arm as he did. Like a rag doll, Thrax tossed him hard against a nearby tree.
The hybrid’s body ached now, but he forced himself to stand. Celine needed him, and there was no way he was letting the Glycon get to her.
They circled one another as they had before, each eyeing the other through the pouring rain. The strange purple hue once again filled the Glycon's eyes.
Atticus had formed a theory about that, a theory that filled him with dread for what lay ahead of them with Agatha and her minions.
Maybe Thrax was not fully a Glycon. Thrax might have been touched by the blue stone in some way. There might have been a piece of him that was hybrid.
It wasn't completely unheard of. Nero had been a form of Glycon before being purified into a normal hybrid. But unlike Thrax, his mind had been left as his own, unmarred by the killer instincts of a Glycon. Thrax might have the ability to think, but the overwhelming bloodlust still existed inside him, making him a dangerous foe.
Thrax lunged toward Atticus. His fist slammed into the same spot he struck before.
Unlike the Glycon though, Atticus felt the pain lancing through his body, a searing pain that throbbed through him.
It was clear he wouldn’t win this fight. The only thing he could do was make sure that Thrax wasn't able to carry out whatever his sick plan was. Atticus had to keep Celine safe. That was the only choice.
With ease, Thrax picked Atticus up and tossed him hard against the ground. The wind rushed from his lungs as Atticus slammed into the ground. The side that had previously been hurt now ached with an intense pain.
"You are weak," Thrax said to him. "Your body is weak.”
Atticus grunted as the Glycon kicked him hard in the ribs. He could hear the crack and knew they were surely broken now.
"No!" Celine screamed into the night. She'd made it to her feet now but limped badly as she tried to get closer to him.
Thrax lunged at her next. Atticus mustered all his strength and gripped the Glycon by the leg, pulling him down and springing on top of him. He slammed his fist into the Glycon’s face and felt satisfaction as blood spilled to the ground around Thrax.
Atticus pulled back and hit Thrax again from the other side. His fingers ached from the blow, but it was better than allowing his foe to get close to Celine.
The Glycon lay still bleeding on the ground, seemingly dazed by the blow. Atticus took the opportunity and rolled off him to make his way to Celine.
They were so close. If they could just get to the compound, everything would be better.
Pain seared through his leg as the Glycon used his claws to tear the skin there. Atticus buckled to the ground as he could no longer support the weight of his body.
“You will not deny me, weakling,” Thrax said, growling. “And she will take me to what is mine.”
Atticus turned to stare at Celine. Her eyes were filled with fear and unshed tears.
"Run," he rasped out.
But it was too late. Thrax was already towering over her.
"You will take me to her," the Glycon said.
Celine shook her head. Atticus could see she was mustering every last ounce of energy she had to hold herself steady.
"No,” she said.
Thrax circled around the small woman who stood her ground. His anger was visible as his purple eyes shone in the darkness.
"You will take me to her, or you will die," he hissed.
Atticus struggled to get to his feet. He had to do something.
"What?" Celine spat at the Glycon. "So you can torture some poor woman because you think she belongs to you?" She shook her head and pulled her arms across her chest. "You're just going to have to kill me because there is no way in hell I'm helping you."
Thrax reached out a giant hand and wrapped it around her neck. Atticus watched as the Glycon lifted her up by the neck, his fingers squeezing as he did so.
Celine clawed at his hands and struggled to breathe, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.
Atticus had to find the strength. If Atticus didn't, he was going to watch the woman he loved die right in front of him.
With the last bit of will that he had, Atticus launched himself at the large Glycon, his body slamming into him.
Thrax released Celine in surprise and stumbled backward. Atticus hit the ground where the Glycon had once stood.
Celine, gasping for breath, wrapped her arms around him. Her body shook. "We go together," she whispered.
She pressed her lips to his neck and instantly the connection opened between them. The air crackled around them, and a blue light filled the space.
Atticus wasn't certain what was happening but knew it was giving him strength. After a moment, he could feel the connection weaken.
Celine slumped unconscious, and he stood with her in his arms.
Thrax stared at him in surprise. "What did you do?"
Atticus shrugged. There was no point pretending he understood what had happened.
Thrax turned his head to the side in irritation. "Doesn't matter," he said. "I will tear you both apart piece by piece."
Atticus prepared to run. He likely wouldn't get far with his leg still injured, but they wouldn’t stand there and let themselves be slaughtered.
Suddenly a radio crackled, and Atticus frowned as the sound cut into the night. He realized it was near Thrax’s waist on a belt.
"It's done," a woman's voice came over the line. "Bring the men back home."
Thrax pulled out the radio. "I still haven't found what is mine," he growled over the line, glaring at Atticus and Celine.
"We have what we came for. Now pull the fuck back or face the consequences, and you’ll never find what you want.”
Thrax’s eyes flared up bright purple, and Atticus knew he wanted to defy the woman on the line.
Atticus nodded to the Glycon. "Better hurry back to your master," he said smugly. “Agatha’s waiting.”
Thrax glared at him before releasing a piercing scream into the night. Several more voices sounded in the distance.
"I will have what is mine," Thrax yelled before bursting into a sprint into the darkened forest.