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"Children, children," crooned Isaiah. "This isn't how the game works. You're breaking the<br />
rules." A cruel smile played over his lips. He found us amusing, no real threat at all. Honestly?<br />
He was right.<br />
"Fast and far, Mason," I said in low voice, never taking my eyes off the Strigoi.<br />
"My, my … if looks could kill …" Isaiah arched his eyebrows as something occurred to him.<br />
"Are you thinking you can take us both on by yourself?" He chuckled. Elena chuckled. I gritted<br />
my teeth.<br />
No, I didn't think I could take them both on. In fact, I was pretty sure I was going to die. But I<br />
was also pretty sure I could provide one hell of a distraction first.<br />
I lunged toward Isaiah but pulled the gun on Elena. You could get a jump on human guards—<br />
but not on Strigoi. They saw me coming practically before I even moved. They didn't expect me<br />
to have a gun, though. And while Isaiah blocked my attacking body with almost no effort<br />
whatsoever, I still managed to get a shot off at Elena before he seized my arms and restrained<br />
me. The gun's report rang loud in my ears, and she screamed in pain and surprise. I'd aimed for<br />
her stomach but had been jostled into hitting her thigh. Not that it mattered. Neither spot would<br />
kill her, but the stomach would have hurt a lot more.<br />
Isaiah held my wrists so hard, I thought he'd break the bones. I dropped the gun. It hit the floor,<br />
bounced, and slid toward the door. Elena shrieked in rage and clawed at me. Isaiah told her to<br />
control herself and pushed me out of reach. All the while, I flailed as much as possible, not so<br />
much to escape as to make a nuisance of myself.<br />
And then: the sweetest of sounds.<br />
The front door opening.<br />
Mason had taken advantage of my distraction. He'd left Eddie with Mia and sprinted around me<br />
and the grappling Strigoi to open the door. Isaiah turned with that lightning-fast speed of his—<br />
and screamed as sunlight poured over him. But even though he was suffering, his reflexes were<br />
still fast. He jerked himself out of the patch of light into the living room, dragging Elena and<br />
me with him—her by the arm and me by my neck.
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