My mind is racing, searching for a way out.
The night has gone silent, except for the rapid beat of my heart.
I have to get back inside the wards.
It’s my only hope.
God, I was so stupid.
But then, so was Trystan. I doubt he’ll survive this. That’s one positive. The bastard will die as well. Maybe if he could shift, we could survive. Fight them off enough to get back behind the wards—but Khaosti said Trystan couldn’t shift. He has no beast.
Where the hell is he, anyway? He’d better not have run away. I’ll be really pissed if I die and that worm survives.
But I have no time to worry about Trystan now; the shadowguard has stopped feet away, their crimson eyes intent. I search for some sign of intelligence, something I can reason with. But there’s nothing. Just hatred. I straighten my shoulders and stand tall—well, as tall as I can. I refuse to show weakness, though inside I’m shaking. I raise my sword as they move close. I sweep, slice, and stab. But there are too many, and they are on me, bony hands clawing. There’s a tearing at my throat, and burning hot fire races through me, searing into my brain.
“Stop.”
I hear the roar as though from a distance.
Is it help? If so, it’s too late. Darkness is pulling me under. My legs are numb, and I collapse to my knees, dragging the things with me. Then everything goes black, but at least the pain is gone.
Chapter 52
Khaos
Iwatchherrunintothe trees. Then I sit for a long time, staring at the spot where she disappeared as the sun falls lower in the sky.
Inside me, Fury growls. He doesn’t approve of the way I dealt with that situation.
He’s right. I fucked up. But Trystan’s arrival has sent my mind into a bad place. I’d been pretending the outside world doesn’t exist, pretending that I don’t have a choice.
Except I do.
I just have to accept the consequences of the choices I make.
Fury wants to go after Amber now.
He wants me to grovel.
But I suspect this time words will not be enough.
She’s gone to see Hecate, so she’s safe while I go and get rid of Trystan. I need to clean up this mess, and tossing Trystan out on his ass is the first step. Then I’ll determine the next.
For that, I need to talk to Hecate. Because I have a confession to make. That’s going to be an interesting conversation… and one I may not survive. If I do somehow survive it, then I want her advice.
Someone shouts in the distance. It’s Thanouq, and I jump to my feet and race toward the sound, toward the village. Night has fallen, and the moon has not yet risen, but I move easily through the darkness.
I meet Thanouq halfway back.
“The wards have been breached,” he says. “Shadowguard.”
“Shit.”
“It’s the western edge.”
My first thought is to get to Amber. I turn toward the village.
“Hecate is getting everyone to safety,” Thanouq says, and I stop.
