Easy prey! His mind shouted.

She braced for attack.

Out of nowhere another man, at least one hundred pounds heavier than her, stepped into her path from the darkness of an alley.

She turned and moved in the opposite direction, never making eye contact with her foe.

Remain calm. She heard Tara’s words whisper in her ear as if she was standing by her side. Don’t show fear. Myra tried, but the day’s events rushed into her mind.

Fear blossomed and grew.

She quickened her pace and walked directly into the path of a second attacker.

This one, lanky and thin, had skin that held a deathly hue of green. He undressed her with a look, chewed on his tongue, and licked his ugly, sore-covered lips.

Keep moving. She attempted to walk around him. The vicious man blocked her path.

Scooting to the side, she stepped past him.

He laughed.

“Excuse me.” She moved again, her heart raced.

He stood close enough for her to smell stale tobacco and something else she couldn’t identify.

“Lookie what we have here, Cutter.” He reached out and touched her hair. “Now ain’t you soft an’

pretty.”

Frozen in place, she felt his fingers whisk past her cheek. She pulled away.

“Now what could you possibly need out here at this time of night? Whatcha need? A hit?”

Myra started to breathe faster, her heartbeat soared as she battled her losing fight with fear.

He grabbed her waist and shoved.

She landed against his vile companion. His smelly body heat suffocated her.

“Where you going, lil’ lady? We’re just gettin’

this party started.”

Looking over, she saw the sneer from the man standing behind her. His partner laughed.

Trapped, her mind raced to find a way out.

Myra saw a garbage can across the street on the sidewalk. With little more than a glance, she focused and raised it five feet into the air with her mind.

Then she let it drop.

It crashed to the sidewalk with a bang.

Both men turned.

She stomped on the instep of the one who held her. He roared in pain and let go.

She ran, her legs pumping faster than any time in the past.

Footsteps pounded the pavement in pursuit.

Headlights of an oncoming car shot out of the darkness.

Myra ran toward it and waved her hands for help. Brakes screeched when the car almost slammed into her.

To her dismay, it swerved around and didn’t stop. The driver leaned on the horn as he drove away, leaving her alone with her enemy.

Myra ran into the dark alley. It was a dead end.

There was no escape.

The men were a few feet away. Fear gripped her throat. They’re coming…

Chapter Three

He missed her by half an hour. Jane Doe #33

registered into the mission on the wrong end of town. The staff gave a positive ID and men he recognized as known felons out on parole told him she had been there.

She was gone. No one saw her leave.

It was past ten, and the streets were bare except for those people who lived on them.

He drove with his windows opened so he would hear each sound. He followed every noise. She was out there somewhere in the urban jungle. Those who would stalk her would be no less deadly than a jaguar or lion.

A horn blasted his thoughts. He heard a woman’s scream. With his heart racing, Todd gunned the engine in the direction of the desperate outcry.

They advanced on her slow and steady. Myra gritted her teeth and nestled into their heads. Repulsive images of violent hands moving over her naked body sprung forth in her mind.

They laughed.

With no place to run, her mind raced and bordered on complete panic. She forced herself to calm down. It was the only way to survive what they had planned.

No knights who served her family would hear her cry or come to her rescue.

She could only depend on herself and her magical Druid gifts.

“If you turn around now, I’ll let you go,” she said, her voice wavering.

They looked at each other and broke out in laughter.

“And if we don’t?” the big one asked.

She watched each of them, trying to see which one would attack first. The smaller man’s movements were jerky and unpredictable. Cutter held lust and murder in his eyes, his intent clearly written in his thoughts. His eyes told her he had killed before. “God’s teeth,” she muttered.

Again they laughed. The lanky one ran toward her. Closer…

She pushed the wind from beneath his feet.

His unsuspecting frame hit the ground, halting his laughter.

Myra tried to dart around Cutter, but he grabbed her arm in a deathly grip.

She screamed—surprising them both. When she tossed out a hand, the garbage piled up next to the drain on the street burst into flames. With a flick of the wrist, the fire leaped toward them.

She ducked even though her arm was still in Cutter’s grip.

The flame caught Cutter in the chest. He let her go and started beating the flames off his shirt. He danced around in circles yelling.

Clutching her bag to her chest, Myra ran again.

When she looked back to see if they followed, she stumbled straight into the chest of another man.

Myra burst out of the alley as if the devil himself chased her. Todd caught her around the waist, and at the same time leveled his gun at the men who followed her.

“Police!” he yelled, halting the man and silencing the woman’s scream.

The skinny one was in his sights, but the larger man heaved himself over the chain link fence and moved out of firing range.

Todd shifted his eyes to the top of the woman’s head buried deep into his shoulder. In that second, the scrawny guy made his escape.

He would have given chase if he’d had back up.

Instead, he holstered his gun and focused on the woman trembling in his arms. He didn’t know who was more startled, her or him. Renewed fear for her safety quickly replaced his relief at finding her.

She held on to him. He found his arm inching around her waist and pulling her close. She let out a slight whimper that reminded him of a wounded animal scared and alone.

“They’re gone. Shh... It’s okay now.” His hands stroked up and down her back.

Her body relaxed and the tears started to flow.

She mumbled something in a language he didn’t understand.

He couldn’t tell if it was an oath or a prayer. He pulled away and looked at her. “Did they hurt you?”

She shook her head. “If you hadn’t come...”

“They’re long gone and can’t hurt you now.”

Nodding, she sucked in a deep breath in what Todd thought was an attempt to control her emotions.