“Get the girls out of here!” Zadyn bellows at Dover before shifting into a massiveOrCat. Cece gasps loudly, skittering back asZadyn tackles one of the creatures to the ground. Their jaws snap at each other threateningly as they fly through a thick hedge. I don’t have time to panic, knowing that every second counts.
This is what Jace has trained me for. I am not helpless.
I am a Blackblood and a warrior.
I call forth my magic, reaching into the deepest, darkest parts of myself. When I force my eyes open, I rip open that well within me and bring forth all the raw power I can muster.
Fire bursts from my palms in a wild display. I throw my hands out, casting my magic toward the two beasts charging from either side. Their matted manes catch fire first before the flames engulf them entirely. Sorscha and Cece scream from behind me as the smell of burning flesh cuts through the air.
A loud splash has me whirling to find Jace on his back inside the fountain. My throat locks up as one of the creatures lunges for him. The water surrounding him begins to collect like a cloud in the air above. It bursts forth in a massive tidal wave that sends the creature flying back into a nearby hedge. Water bubbles and pours from its mouth as it tries and fails to stand. My eyes snap to Kai and his outstretched hand as he drowns the creature. Clutching at its windpipe, it keels over, still vomiting water.
Kai looks at me. He doesn’t pause to ask questions about my flaming fingers. Instead, he presses his back against mine, and we fight methodically, hurling our power out in tandem as our assailants attack.
When my magic begins to sputter out, I dip a hand into my skirt, ripping free the dagger sheathed at my thigh. I move through the swarm of locusts smoothly, reminding myself of all Jace taught me. I am a whirlwind of violent death as I take down one monster after another. But for the amount Kai and I alone have killed, there are still so many.
Something doesn’t add up.
The problem, we realize as the first creature Kai drowned rises and charges at us, is that they aren’tstayingdead.
“Fuck,” I breathe.
Kai’s head snaps over his shoulder to where Dover is doing everything in his power to wrangle the females back through the maze to safety. They won’t budge.
“Dover, go! Get them out!” he shouts, gathering his water affinity.
“No!” Sorscha rips her arm out of Dover’s grasp. I don’t wait to see what happens next.
Three creatures rush at me simultaneously. I blast them back with what's left of my fire as another materializes before me. It knocks the blade from my hand before I sweep its legs out from underneath. As the creature rises, I rip the golden chopsticks from my hair and dig them into its meaty throat. Blood spurts out, spraying across my face as I kick it back, freeing my makeshift weapons.
Jace is almost entirely surrounded now, fighting with a deep gash to his arm. Despite the injury, he is a cyclone of relentless fury. I can hear Zadyn’s growls, but he is nowhere in sight. Kai is now a few feet away from me, hurling out miniature hurricanes to incapacitate the crazed, undying beasts.
But my friends and I are growing tired. I realize that without aid, we will not survive. We cannot win against creatures that won’t stay dead.
Past the point of frustration, I turn and bellow at the girls, “GET HELP NOW!”
My voice is laced with pure command. Their eyes go wide as they shift to something over my shoulder.
A snarl sounds from behind me. I turn to be met with a set of knives to the face, scarcely missing my right eye. Searing pain explodes across my cheek. Blood drips from the creature’s razored talons as I fall to my knees, clutching the face I'm quitecertain is ruined. Tears leak from my eyes, and as they do, I feel my flesh knitting together.
I’m healing myself.
I glance up as the beady-eyed monster drives its heavy hoof into my stomach with alarming force. The air leaves me. I try to drag myself away, but the creature pins me beneath its crushing weight. Its jaws snap at my neck, coating my face with thick saliva. I grunt, holding it at bay with all my might as I call forth my magic.
But nothing comes. I am tapped out.
“Serena!” Jace bellows, barreling through the fountain.
He leaps across the space in one impressive move, driving his sword through the creature’s neck as he lands. The beast collapses on top of me, its blood pouring out in a hot rush of liquid. Jace looses a war cry as three more attack. He slams one of them face-first into another and skewers them both on his sword. They collapse as he wrenches his blade free and spins toward the remaining one. With a clean swipe, he takes off its head. It falls to the ground moments before its body follows.
Jace turns to me. Blood-soaked and panting.
He drops to his knees, pushing aside the monster crushing me. His hand kisses my face where I was sliced.
“Serena,” he breathes.
That’s when I see the beast materialize at his back.
“Jace!” I gasp. “Jace,behind you!”
