SERENA
“Feeling better?” he taunts.
A shudder forces its way through me as Zadyn pushes me behind him. The five of us huddle close together, weapons drawn and teeth bared. I back up an inch toward the mirror, tugging on Kai’s jacket with one hand and clasping Zadyn’s free hand with the other.
“You saw what happens to them if you keep up this little game of resistance.”
“What’s he talking about?” Jace barks.
Kylian sighs, completely disregarding him. “I thought you a modern female. Playing hard to get is so old fashioned.”
“So is chaining me to your side until I agreed to be your little woman,” I hiss, venom coating my tone.
He takes a step and our huddle backs away.
“Step away from the mirror or your friends are dead.” Smoky shadows spill into the room, coiling around Kylian’s ankles. The Stryga begin to march forward on those thick, matted horse legs, saliva leaking from their snarling mouths.
We back up again as a unit.
Kylian tenses, but he keeps his voice steady. “You don’t want to do that, darling.”
“Oh, I think I do.Darling.”
His expression turns lethal, hitting me like a thousand-pound boulder.
“There isnowhereon this earth you can go that I will not find you. You belong to me.”
The threat hooks around my bones as I tug Zadyn and Kai backward. Dover and Jace latch onto us at the last second before we fall through the mirror. The last thing I see is Kylian darting toward us, hands outstretched, face twisted in rage as we slip away into the void.
Time stills as if we’ve entered a vacuum. All I see is stars forever and ever. No end and no beginning.
A moment later, we’re spit out onto the grounds in front of the castle. Zadyn helps me up as a line of soldiers bursts through the gates and charges toward us.
“Get to the beach!” Dover shouts.
We break into a sprint. A tidal wave bursts from Kai’s palms, quelling the first line of soldiers. But they’re quickly replaced by more. I hold my gown in my hands—it’s impossible to run in this damned thing. My foot catches on the massive train and I collide with the hard dirt.
But Zadyn is right there, flipping me onto my back and shredding it, leaving a jagged hem mid-thigh.
Woah.
Our eyes lock as he discards the fabric and hauls me to my feet.
Another wave of guards flows from the castle, threatening to cut us off. I’m slow, Kai is slow. We’re holding them back.
As if reading my mind, Zadyn shifts into hisOrCatform and nudges my thigh. I swing my leg over his back, latching onto his long, silky coat.
“Kai!” I shout over my shoulder.
“Serena, get out of here! Now!” he bellows, sweat beading on his brow as he pushes his magic to the brink. Jace and Dover launch into action, swords clanking as they meet the golden soldiers.
“Zadyn, stop! We can’t leave them!” I protest, but he’s already taken off. I have no choice but to hold on for dear life.
With his animal speed, we reach the start of a tropical forest in no time. I can no longer make out the forms of my friends among the sea of gold.
I slide off of Zadyn’s back, and he shifts instantly, gripping my shoulders as he pants, “Go. Through the trees. Mar is waiting.”
“Don’t go?—”
