Page 133 of Blood & Claw

He hadn’t even hit the ground when she moved toward the remaining warrior. She was barely aware of her hands moving, only that her knife suddenly seemed cumbersome, and the desire to tear his flesh with her fingernails was stronger than anything else.

Behind her, Kayla cried out a warning.

Cornered, the man fought viciously, his eyes glowing silver as he lunged and slashed with his blade. Gods, he was fast.

His pulse fluttered in his throat as he fought. She tracked it.

Kayla called her name again, her voice edged in panic, but Ailsa didn’t look her way, didn’t break her concentration.

All she wanted now was to open his neck. And she would.

Dodging the vicious swipe of a blade, she ducked under the man’s guard and clawed at his throat. Her nails dug into flesh—and ripped.

Blood welled, and he staggered back.

Kayla lunged then, elbowing her out of the way and stabbing him through the eye.

And then Darach drove his sword into the warrior’s side, bringing him down.

They stood over him, watching as he died, twitching.

Blood spread beneath the warrior in a dark, steaming pool. Ailsa stared at it. Her mouth started to water. The pulse in her throat hammered so hard it hurt.

One step. That was all it would take.

And then she’d drop beside him, she’d press her hands into the warmth, and taste—

“Ailsa!”

Kayla’s voice cracked through her thoughts.

She blinked.

The rich scent of blood was still there, but the terrible pull had loosened.

Suddenly, she was staring at a corpse instead of food.

Breathing hard, Ailsa turned to Kayla and pulled her into a tight hug. For a heartbeat, she simply clung on. “Thank the Gods,” she gasped. “They didn’t harm you.”

Kayla wrenched herself free of the embrace, jaw tight, hazel eyes startled. “How did—”

“Not now,” Darach cut her off. “We don’t have time.”

Kayla turned and dragged her gaze down him. “Who the fuck are you?”

34: A LONG WAY FROM HOME

“I HIRED HIM in Farnoch.” Ailsa wiped her bloody fingers on her skirts and deliberately avoided looking down at the gaping throat of the warrior sprawled just a couple of feet away.

“Let’s move,” Darach ordered. “There’s still one of them out there.”

Ailsa nodded, even as her heart started to pound like a hunting drum.

Aye. They couldn’t let him escape.

They left the corrie, weaving through the press of pines, before Darach came to an abrupt halt. “He’s gone east.”

“How do you know that?” Kayla panted.