Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

King Novel 21

er 21

Chapter 21

The market is alive with noise, but all I can hear is the blood rushing in my ears as I bole through the maze of site, y fixed on the man ahead. Fucking bastard. I'll get you.

He's fast-too fast for someone who looks as though they've skipped a few meals- t I'm fueled by something durger than adrenaline: anger.

This asshole has been stalking us, and I'm done running.

I dodge a fruit stand, the smell of overripe bananas slapping me in the face, and nearly crash into a vendor pelling for fresh fish. The man darts left, into a narrow alley between two brick buildings. Perfect. hhaed Opphet Exucky when i dost

avoid.

But do I stop? No, because apparently, I have the survival instincts of a drunk squirrel.

The alley smells like damp stone and regret. My boots slap against the uneven ground, the sound echoing as the walls dose in on me. I glance around, my pulse hammering. No sign of him.

Then, like a bad horror movie cliché, he appears behind me.

"Shit!" I whirl around just in time to block a punch aimed at my face. The force of it jars my arms, but I hold steady, shoving him back.

"Who the fuck are you?" I snap, my voice shaking more than I want it to.

He doesn't answer. His face is a mask of rage, his dark eyes drilling into mine as he lunges. I duck, the air above me whiding as his fist misses my head by inches.

Okay, so he's strong. But guess what? So am I.

I don't know where the hell this burst of strength is coming from-adrenaline, maybe? Or something else entirely. But it's there, and I'm not wasting it.

I grab his arm, twisting it behind his back with a satisfying crack. He grunts,

struggling to break free, but I slam him agains the wall, pinning him with my body weight.

"Start talking," I hiss, my breath hot against his ear. "Why the fuck are you following us?"

He coughs, trying to turn his head to look at me. "You'll regret hiding him," he wheezes, his voice raspy but steady. "You don't know what you've done."

"What the hell does that mean?" My grip tightens, my nails digging into his skin.

He doesn't answer. Instead, he slams his head back, catching me in the chin. Pain explodes in my jaw, and my grip falters just enough for him to shove me off. "Coward!" I yell, lunging for him, but he's already running.

I don't chase him. My jaw aches, my hands are trembling, and I can't shake his words. You'll regret hiding him. You don't know what you've done.

the hell does he mean? Who is Enoch,

mind races with questions I don't want to answer, but one thought stic. like

the wall and step back into the market. The normal

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Mar

Chapter 21

alley. My gaze falls to a crumpled piece of

poster Enoch and I saw

regal and commanding even in black and white with the bounty below. I pick it up, my heart thudding.

crazy. Enoch isn't...

"Taryn!"

coachman storms toward me. His face is flushed, his expression a

been waiting? This is

him off. "Calm your ass down. I'm here, aren't

carriage. As we pull away, I glance

Could it be...?

forcing the thought away. Obnoxious. Absolutely

doubt lingers, gnawing at me

58

glare before hopping out. He mutters something under his breath, but I'm too drained to deal with his

is already waiting at the door, her face lit up as if she's been nominated for some humanitarian award. She clasps her hands dramatically, her nails glinting like claws in the sunlight.

under my breath, shoving the bags into her outstretched

chest. "You're such a dear for taking care of this. Really, I can't imagine anyone

Fuck you too.

dignify that with a response, spinning on my heel

me. Gritting my teeth, I head

at a half-eaten apple as if it insulted his ancestors. Thank

up when he senses me, and just like that, my

up the brown paper bag. "Look what I got

furrows in confusion, but he stands and follows me as I set the bag down. I

"You take pictures with it-freeze moments in time so you can

them later."

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pure off, and

flipping the camera to w wy o

be cave middays wide and lips pared

I'm cackling like a

that's when i