#FridayFlash: Blood Bound

This may, or may not, be how Logan and Payne met. We’ll see what happens the more I learn about them.

Blood Bound (Logan’s Angel)

Trying to run from Umbri was never a good idea, or so I recalled from hours of lessons. Yet when three appeared from nowhere, running was my first reaction.

I couldn’t hear their pursuit, but knew they’d catch me quickly enough. My mind wasn’t throwing anything helpful out for consideration. After all those years of training, I couldn’t think of a single useful spell?

Risking a glance back, I slammed into one of them and would’ve fallen if not for the arm that latched around my waist. Before I could scream, he tossed me onto a shoulder, turned and ran.

Interesting turn of events, and I was having trouble catching my breath while bouncing up and down. Then just down, as one of his companions thumped into us and we all fell. Rolling free as the two Umbri began fighting, I scrambled to hands and knees, wondering where the third one was.

As soon as I was on my feet, I took off running again. If I was able to make it back to the compound, then I’d be safe and the guards would handle the Umbri. Later, I’d be in huge trouble for sneaking out, but that wasn’t as important as not dying.

Not dying became absurdly important exactly three seconds later, as the third Umbri’s claws raked my left arm. This time, I did scream while dodging. He followed, eyes gleaming yellow in the bits of moonlight that filtered through the trees.

I was screwed. Blood was running down my arm, he was licking his lips and then, the one that had grabbed me lunged out from under a tree. They rolled, clawing, tearing at each other. Why that one was so determined to catch me led to thoughts almost scarier than simply being killed.

He made short work of the other, catching me before I’d managed to get far. One hand wrapped around my wrist and he shifted, revealing his human form as tall and in a foul mood, judging by the scowl he wore. “Be still, witch.”

“I don’t think so.” I’d finally thought of a spell to use, but before I could form it, he bit me. Hard and right on the wrist, teeth tearing through flesh. “Ahh!”

Beating on him with my free hand didn’t result in being released. He just growled, and then I realized what he was doing as ice slipped through me from the new wound. It was a fate worse than death, and one that would probably result in just that.

He was trying to claim me as his mate.

With his free hand, the Umbri caught my fist, teeth still locked onto bone and into flesh. The icy sensation changed to one of scalding heat, and I vaguely heard footsteps around us as others of his pack drew near.

But what held my attention was that change in temperature. He wasn’t claiming, but offering.

Realizing neither of us would make it out of the forest alive without the other’s help, I accepted the offer, and magic bound us together. Power flashed through me, spells whirling helpfully about my mind.

“You know that it’s forever, right?” I asked as he released my wrist.

He nodded, lips coated in my blood. “Forever’s going to be short unless we get busy, witch.”

Well, at least he was able to focus on important matters. Turning, I formed a spell and sent it winging away. “Good idea.”

Later would be time enough to regret my decision – if we survived.