Libra Ascending: An Epic Urban Fantasy Romance (Zodiac Guardians Book 1) by Tamar Sloan (adult books to read .TXT) 📗

If it comes to it, that’s what Brielle must do. Tristan says she’s a Guardian.

If she has to lose a friend in order to save her, so be it.

21

Tristan

Adalind is just around the corner of the next building, pressed against the brick wall. Tristan scans the shadowed alley, straight away not liking where they are. It’s a dead end, meaning they’re trapped, and there are too many shadows, making it harder to spot a Skin.

But before he gets a chance to suggest another location, Brielle grasps Adalind in a hug. “Thank goodness. Quick, we need to get back to the truck.”

Adalind pulls back, shaking her head. “What’s going on, Brielle?” She glances over Brielle’s shoulder and sees Tristan, her gaze flaring. “Has he got you in some kind of trouble?”

Brielle shakes her head. “No. Tristan just saved my life.” She moves closer to him. “I’ll explain it all, I promise. We need to get back to the truck first.”

But Adalind folds her arms across her chest. “Not happening, bestie. I’m not going anywhere until I know what’s going on.”

Tristan grinds his teeth. This is the least safe place they could be having this conversation. Another scan of the alleyway shows nothing but a few trash cans and some crates. But Skins could be plastered against the walls from one end to the other for all he knows. Moving to the mouth of the alley, he leans back against the wall. This way he can see the alley, as well as whether anyone’s coming.

“Look, I don’t understand it fully myself, but dangerous people are here.” The urgent note in Brielle’s voice is unmistakable. “We need to get to safety.”

“I told you he’s trouble, Brielle! What is it? Drugs?” Adalind steps forward, gripping Brielle’s arms. “Has Tristan made you take something?”

Tristan resists the need to push off the wall and get these two out of here. Adalind is talking way too loud. “Keep it down,” he hisses.

Adalind glares at him. “There’s no one here.”

Brielle steps between them, pulling in a deep breath. “We’re not from Earth, Adalind. And there’s an evil trying to destroy us…and the Universe.” Brielle says the words quietly, hesitation apparent in her voice. This is hard for her to tell Adalind.

Although Tristan isn’t sure why she’s friends with this prickly, possessive girl who seems to be determined to put them in as much danger as possible. Not only is she not leaving, she’s talking loud enough to get Chardis himself here.

“Oh my god, he did give you something. You’re tripping.” Adalind grips Brielle’s hand. “You need to come with me, Brielle. Right now.”

Tristan pushes away from the wall. “Like hell she does.”

Brielle glances between Tristan and Adalind, clearly torn. Tristan wishes there was time for her to make this choice. Brielle’s had enough thrust upon her over the past few days.

But then there’s the unmistakable sound of a car door slamming. Tristan glances down the alley way, knowing he won’t see anyone, but still locking his muscles when he finds the street clear. “We have to go.” They should never have stayed here. “They’re coming.”

Brielle shakes Adalind’s hand free. “The assassins trying to kill us can turn invisible. Please, Tristan can keep us safe.”

Adalind’s chuckle has Tristan spinning around. “You mean like this?”

In a blink, she disappears.

Tristan jolts forward, fury spearing through his veins. Adalind is a Skin! How did he not realize?

Brielle is jerked backward, her feet stumbling as if someone is dragging her further into the alleyway. Her gaze latches onto Tristan’s, her eyes wide and terrified.

“Brie—”

Tristan’s knocked to the ground before he can finish shouting her name. The Skin who bowled him over becomes visible, his face contorted with satisfaction as Tristan’s slammed into the ground.

His back explodes with pain as every drop of air is rammed from his lungs. But it doesn’t matter.

Brielle’s in danger. And Tristan was supposed to protect her.

Before the Skin has a chance to make another move, Tristan slams his fist into the face above him. The Skin’s head snaps to the side, and Tristan makes the most of the momentum. He follows through with an uppercut and the Skin falls to the ground beside him.

Tristan rights himself to see Brielle further down the alley, still being dragged by an invisible Adalind. A few feet away from him, five Skins appear, one by one. They form a line from one side to the other. A wall of assassins between Tristan and Brielle.

Raising his fists, Tristan knows they’re wanting him to come further into the shadows of the alley. Fewer witnesses. Less chance for him to escape.

It’s a trap, but he has no choice. Brielle’s already captured. Without him, she’s Chardis’s prisoner.

She’s better off dead.

The Skins wait, their faces cold and hard. Tristan’s going to have to come to them.

Zarius’s words whisper through his mind. Never face more than you can handle.

Well, Tristan’s just going to have to handle it.

He drops his head, his hands clenched by his sides. “You wanna play? Then let’s play.”

Making like a bowling ball, he runs straight at the middle guy, which is probably what the goons are expecting. At the last second, Tristan hooks left and sends his leg flying wide. The guy closest to the wall never sees the roundhouse kick coming. Tristan’s foot connects with the side of the Skin’s head, slamming him into the unforgiving bricks beside him. He crumples, just like Tristan planned.

Spinning around, Tristan puts his back to the wall. Now, the Skins line up, one behind the other. He’s no longer facing four, but just one at a time.

Tristan grins. “Actually, I don’t mind this game.” He beckons with his hand. “Your move.”

The Skin lifts his fists, his face consumed with the desire to kill. The guy behind him tries to step around, but Tristan twists right and the first Skin follows him, blocking the view for the guy behind him.

One at a time. This, Tristan can handle.

The Skin