Evie turned, giving one last look to the land she’d cleansed and refreshed, and locked eyes with me.
Shit.
Evie’s raven shot into the sky in a blur of feathers and wings. Magic boomed, flowing from her body like a percussive blast. The ground under my feet shifted and buckled, tossing me off balance.
I hit the ground, landing hard on my side. Grunting in pain, I scrambled to my feet.
Evie’s eyes had gone from the soft colors of a watermelon tourmaline to the color of a blood ruby.
I backed up a few steps in surprise. What the hell?
A soft cry escaped her lips before she turned, hauling her shoes and cardigan from the top of the vehicle’s hood, and scrambled into the van.
The driver peeled out, gravel flying in all directions. Seconds later, the only thing I could see were headlights disappearing into the horizon.
Chapter
Ten
“Put your head between your knees and breathe.” Moira’s voice was low and urgent.
A strangled cry escaped me. I bent over, my entire body shaking.
The vampire’s cool hand rested on my back. “Deep breaths, Evie. In and out.”
I dragged in a ragged breath and exhaled.
“Good. Keep going.”
We raced down the highway, the vampire barely braking as we flew around curves.
I’d almost shifted. It was so close I felt the Chimera magic overpowering my Floromancy. Fangs had slipped from my teeth, and the first stirrings of fur rose on the back of my neck.
So close. Too close.
“Someone was out there,” I croaked once I could speak.
“Who?” Moira demanded.
“Shifter. I think. Glowing eyes.” I let out a deep exhale. “I couldn’t make out a form. The foliage was too high, and the beast was crouching. I can’t believe I didn’t sense it the entire time I was out there. Stupid of me.”
Ash leaned forward, hands on either side of the seat. “No. Never. I wouldn’t have expected anyone out here. We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“Do you want me to see if I can find out who it was?” Tess asked.
Banshees had a mist form. She could easily track the shifter or whatever it was. Shifter didn’t feel completely right. The eyes weren’t right for a shifter, but its magic had been locked down, probably to keep me from sensing its presence. I hated to think I’d allowed the creature to get so close because I was distracted. Being distracted could get me killed.
“You don’t mind?” I asked, finally able to sit up now that the threat of shifting had passed.
“Not at all. It’s a nice night.”
“Then please see what you can find out.” I turned and gave Tess a grateful smile, but the banshee had already turned to mist and slipped from the car.
Ash stared at the window she’d disappeared from. “She’s unnerving sometimes.” He rubbed his hands over his arms and sighed. “Think she’ll be okay?”
Moira laughed. “You worrywart. She’s a banshee. I think she’ll outlast us all.”
“You’re probably right.” But he didn’t stop looking out the window trying to catch a glimpse of her.
