CHAPTER 115: CHAPTER 115: THE CHASE IN THE MUD

THROUGH THE WINDOW, Mailah could see the pursuing helicopter struggling to match their movements.

It loomed closer, its spotlights cutting through the mist like blades of white fire. The sound of its rotors was deafening now—a pounding rhythm that matched the frantic beating of Mailah’s heart.

"Can’t you lose them?" she yelled over the roar.

Chen’s reply was a growl of concentration. "I’m trying! But they’ve got power enchantments—see that shimmer around the rotors? Someone boosted their engine with magic."

"Of course they did," Mailah muttered, half hysterical. "Why wouldn’t they bring demon-enhanced machinery to a casual evening chase?"

Grayson shot her a look—equal parts exasperated and fond. Even now, even here, she still found a way to make him almost laugh.

But the humor died as a flash of red streaked across the sky.

The enemy helicopter had fired something—no, not a missile. The object glowed crimson, then burst into a cloud of burning dust that spread unnaturally fast, crackling against their protective shields.

"Flare spell!" Grayson snapped. "It’s meant to disorient and track us."

Chen’s voice was taut. "We can’t outrun that—they’ve locked on."

Grayson cursed under his breath, then unbuckled his seatbelt.

"What are you doing?" Mailah grabbed his arm. "We’re in the air, Grayson!"

"I’m fixing it," he said simply, as if stepping into open sky was the most rational thing in the world.

Before she could argue, he reached for the hatch handle.

"Don’t—!" she began.

But he had already pushed it open, and the roar of wind filled the cabin. The blast whipped her hair across her face, her breath stolen by the sudden surge of cold.

For a terrifying moment, Grayson was silhouetted against the night—coat flaring behind him like wings, eyes alight with that unnatural silver fire that made her forget he was only half human anymore. Then he was gone.

"Grayson!" she screamed, lunging toward the open hatch.

Chen’s arm shot out to keep her from following. "He’s not falling, Miss," he said tightly. "He’s flying."

And he was.

Outside, through the chaos of air and light, Mailah saw him—dark against the stars, the faint shimmer of his power trailing behind him as he dove toward the other helicopter. He moved too fast for mortal sight, a streak of shadow and light that blurred through the storm clouds.

Elin whimpered softly, half-hiding her face. "Is he—?"

"He’s fine," Mailah said, forcing her voice to steady even though her pulse was sprinting. "He’s absolutely—"

A distant explosion interrupted her.

"—fine?" she finished weakly.

Chen smirked despite the tension. "That’s one way to deal with a flare spell."

From below, a fiery blossom briefly lit up the sky. The pursuing helicopter wobbled violently, its lights sputtering before it veered off course.

Then, just as suddenly as he’d left, Grayson was back.

He landed with inhuman grace, boots hitting the metal floor of the helicopter with a heavy clang. His coat was scorched in a few places, his hair wind-tossed, but he looked infuriatingly composed.

Mailah stared at him, torn between awe, fury, and something dangerously close to admiration. "You jumped out of a flying vehicle."

He shrugged, brushing ash off his sleeve. "Seemed faster than waiting."

"You could’ve died!"

"I could die doing a lot of things," he said mildly. "Most of them involve you, interestingly."

Mailah’s jaw dropped. "That’s not funny."

"Wasn’t meant to be."

The silence that followed was thick enough to drown in. Even Chen looked like he was doing his best not to intrude.

Finally, Mailah folded her arms, pretending her heart wasn’t pounding hard enough to bruise. "You’re insane."

Grayson leaned closer, voice dropping low enough for only her to hear. "You knew that when you agreed to be my wife, even if it was a lie."

Something sparked between them—sharp, electric, impossible to ignore. Her cheeks burned. "That was pretend."

"Was it?" His gaze caught hers, steady and devastating.

She opened her mouth to reply, but the helicopter jolted suddenly, cutting her off. Chen swore under his breath as the controls flickered.

"What now?" Grayson demanded.

"Something hit us—damage to the rear rotor!" Chen barked. "We’re losing altitude!"

Mailah’s stomach lurched as the helicopter tilted violently to the left. Elin screamed, clutching at her seatbelt. The city lights below began to spin, a dizzying kaleidoscope of silver and black.

"Brace yourselves!" Chen shouted. "I’m going to try to land us in the marsh outside the city perimeter!"

The world became a blur of motion and sound—wind howling, metal groaning, Grayson’s arm wrapping tightly around her as the helicopter spun.

And then—impact.

The landing was brutal. The aircraft slammed into muddy ground with a shuddering crash, mud and water splattering across the windshield. The rotors sputtered to a stop, their slow spin echoing into the night.

For a few seconds, all Mailah could hear was her own breathing.

Then Grayson exhaled. "Everyone alive?"

Chen groaned. "Barely. That landing’s going to haunt my dreams."

"Elin?" Mailah unbuckled quickly, turning toward the trembling woman. "You okay?"

Elin nodded weakly, still clutching her seatbelt like a lifeline. "Alive. I think."

Mailah exhaled shakily. "Okay. Good. Great. We’re all alive. Just... muddy and probably concussed."

Grayson pushed open the door with one sharp motion. Cool, damp air flooded in. The helicopter had come down in a patch of marshland, surrounded by reeds and trees that looked eerie in the moonlight.

"We need to move," he said. "If Varrow’s forces were tracking us, they’ll be here soon."

Mailah groaned. "I was really hoping we’d get at least five minutes before another supernatural disaster."

Grayson’s lips twitched. "Welcome to my life."

They climbed out, the mud sucking at their shoes. Mailah’s once-beautiful gown was now a disaster of torn silk and grime.

"Perfect," she muttered. "I look like a drowned debutante."

"Still beautiful," Grayson said without hesitation.

She blinked at him. "You’re concussed."

"Possibly," he said, smile faintly crooked. "Still true."

Before she could respond, a low growl rippled through the air.

Elin froze. "That sound—"

"Demon hounds," Grayson said, his hand immediately going for the blade hidden in his coat. "Varrow must’ve sent them ahead."

Mailah’s heart skipped. "How many?"

"Three," he said after a brief pause. "Maybe four. Hard to tell over the swamp’s energy."

"Three or four? You’re guessing?"

He gave her a sidelong look. "Would you prefer I lie?"

"Absolutely!"

He smiled then—a sharp, wicked thing that made her pulse jump.

The reeds rustled again, and glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness—one pair, then two, then too many.

Mailah’s breath caught. The creatures that emerged looked like wolves sculpted from tar and shadow, their bodies rippling with dark energy, teeth gleaming like molten glass.

Grayson stepped forward, positioning himself between them and the women. His power flared, a soft silver glow rippling down his arm to the blade in his hand.

Mailah’s instincts screamed at her to run, but something stronger rooted her in place—trust. Maybe foolish, maybe reckless, but real.

The first hound lunged.

Grayson moved faster than she could see. His blade sliced through the air, meeting the creature mid-leap in a burst of light and shadow. The hound dissolved with an unearthly shriek.

The second one came from the left, and Mailah barely had time to grab a fallen branch and swing. It connected with a dull crack. The creature staggered, but didn’t fall.

"Mailah!" Grayson shouted. "Behind you!"

She turned just as the third hound lunged for her.

Time seemed to slow—the glint of fangs, the sound of her pulse—and then Grayson was there, arm around her waist, spinning her out of harm’s way. His blade struck true, the creature disintegrating in a shower of black mist.

They landed together, breathless, tangled in the mud. For a heartbeat, the world narrowed to the heat of his body against hers, the sound of his breathing, the look in his eyes—wild, protective, alive.

"Are you hurt?" he asked softly.

"No," she whispered. "Just—muddy. Terrified. Maybe emotionally unstable."

"That’s my favorite version of you."

She laughed, despite everything—half delirious, half hysterical. "You need better taste."

"I have excellent taste," he said, eyes glinting.

Before she could reply, the last hound snarled behind them—but a single gunshot rang through the night, cutting it short.

The creature fell, disintegrating before it hit the ground.

Chen lowered the weapon, smoke curling from the barrel. "I wasn’t going to let you two have all the fun."

Mailah exhaled shakily. "You just shot a demon with a gun."

"It’s enchanted," Chen said casually. "Family issue."

Grayson smirked. "Remind me to tell my brothers to give you a raise."

"Already deducted hazard pay," Chen said dryly.

Mailah stood, still trembling slightly, her dress plastered to her skin. "What now?"

Grayson scanned the horizon, his expression hardening as he caught sight of the faint outline of trees beyond the clearing. "We head north," he said. "The estate isn’t far from here—an hour, maybe less if we keep moving. If Varrow sent those creatures, he might send another. We have to get back before he finds our trail."

Mailah nodded, heart still racing from the chaos they’d left behind. "Then we’d better hurry."

He started moving, his long strides cutting through the wet ground. The swamp hissed and sighed beneath their boots, each step releasing the smell of mud and rot. The night was heavy with moisture, and the trees loomed close, their branches clawing at the dark sky.

Mailah kept close behind him, glancing over her shoulder every few minutes, expecting another shadow to emerge from the mist.