The Lycan Rebirth (The Flux Age Book 3) by Steven J Shelley Read Free Book Online

aquilans. They were definitely making a beeline for the St Claire property. Each of the attackers carried a machine gun. No doubt they contained silver bullets. On a vague level Florence had to appreciate the sheer professionalism of the aquila. A single call from their healer Alita and there was a death squad armed with specially-designed machine guns on their trail. It was alarming to consider how organized the eagles had become. With this kind of excellence she had no doubt they were capable of controlling flux activity right up and down the Americas.
    “What now?” Florence asked Emmaline urgently. Beyond the pair, Florence’s trainees had germed and were now pacing up and down furiously. How would they handle this live situation? Hopefully some of her training had sunk in, but the reality was they were nowhere near ready. Their only real chance was escape. In theory they would have an advantage against the aquila if the jungle canopy concealed them.
    Florence made eye contact with Emmaline, who nodded and continued up the hillside. Florence and Julian took rear positions, herding the trainees and keeping a close eye on the descending aquilans. Florence saw the death squad wheel gracefully through the air, changing direction to follow them south. She unleashed a string of invective.
    “Damn good eyes,” she said through gritted teeth.
    “One of our strengths,” Julian agreed. The aquilan seemed horrified to be drawn into yet another conflict with his own kind. After what happened at the masquerade ball in New York, Florence had no doubt as to his loyalty. Julian had demonstrated time and again that he was wholly devoted to her. Florence had a sinking feeling his choice might grow to haunt him over the course of his life.
    Risking a searching look over her shoulder, Florence yelled in alarm as several aquilans soared low over the trees behind them, guns poised.
    “Emmaline!” she screamed up the hill.
    The diviner made a hard right, drawing the trainees into a shadowy copse of trees. Florence and Julian followed behind as bullets rang out through the jungle. The dirt at their heels was thrown into the air but they made the cover of the overgrown jungle growth just in time.
    Florence was vaguely aware of hundreds of monkeys chittering excitedly far above her as she clawed her way through the thick green undergrowth. Thinking ahead, Julian had brought a machete and began hacking a path for them to follow. They had all but lost Emmaline’s trail.
    Before long the shrubby growth gave way to lush woodland. The pair could see the blue Caribbean sky through gaps in the canopy. Emmaline and the trainees were sprinting over flatter terrain to the southwest. For the moment there was no sign of aquilan attack from above.
    Florence and Julian rejoined the diviner at a huge, fallen log. They all clambered over together, assisting Emmaline where they could. The diviner was surprisingly fit but of course didn’t have the same physical prowess as the lycans or Julian.
    Emmaline led everyone further southwest, where a thick veil of jungle suggested a reasonable sanctuary.
    Julian hacked his way through the verdant curtain and stumbled forward. Her heart sinking, Florence followed him through and was greeted by warm sunlight. A square of jungle a mile in diameter had been completely flattened.
    “It’s a trap!” Florence exclaimed, hauling Julian into the safety of the jungle. Before she could consider their next move, one of the younger trainees yelped in pain and crashed to the ground. A neat bullet hole had punctured his temple. Numb with shock, Florence felt for a pulse. The trainee was dead.
    “They’re coming from the north!” Julian shouted. Florence saw a line of aquilans walking calmly through the undergrowth toward them. She gauged her chances of making it to them alive. They were slim. The open woodland provided scant cover.
    The only other option was the flattened jungle square. Deep rainforest beckoned on the