Alastor dragged me along after them, and I nearly tripped as I tried to avoid a chair that was flying through the air toward the pulsing glow. A Tendril snapped toward me, whipping along my side before twisting around my wrist.
I cried out as it yanked my arm, digging into my skin like a sharp, molten manacle.
Immediately Alastor swung his sword, severing the Tendril just past where it gripped me. It shriveled and fell away, leaving raw, open welts behind.
“There’s no more time.” Alastor yanked me the rest of the way to the glowing circle. We had to dodge a wooden chest that was flying into the golden light. The ground wobbled under our feet, like the whole house was pulling itself apart around us.
Alastor twisted me around to face him, his hand still closed over mine. This close to the glowing portal, the pull on the amulet was so powerful that his strong grip was the only thing keeping it here. My own fingers were barely holding on.
For the first time, I saw something like true gratitude, even kindness in his eyes. It softened his face considerably, and it made me wonder how someone who had such tenderness inside him had come to be so brooding and angry.
“Ahsto alare’in tothla cla.”
I had no idea what those words meant, but it was clear from his tone that their meaning was significant. And then he leaned forward, and before I knew what was happening his lips were pressed against my brow.
It was so tender, so unexpected, that for a moment time seemed to slow. I never would have expected this man capable of such gentleness, but here he was, treating me like some sort of beloved, precious thing.
And when he straightened, breaking the contact, it felt like I’d lost something.
He didn’t say another word. But slowly, his eyes never leaving me, he uncurled his hand from around mine, grasped the amulet firmly in his own grip, then stepped backwards into the light.
Sadness fluttered in my chest. I’d only known these men a couple of days—and I wasn’t even sure Iknewthem now—but they’d introduced me to a world of mystery and wonder that I didn’t want to lose just yet.
In helping them return home, I’d sent them away from me forever. It felt silly to mourn them, but Idid—it felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest and pulled into the portal alongside them. It was like—
Pain slashed across my back, knocking me to my hands and knees.
I gasped, then gasped again as more burning pain sliced up the back of my left arm. Then my right calf muscle. Something wrapped itself around my ankle,hssssssing through my jeans and into my skin.
The Tendrils were still here.
I’d assumed they would disappear once the brothers had escaped through the light. But they hadn’t—and now there were no blades to cut them back.
Another Tendril wrapped around my left elbow, tugging me off balance as it raised welts on my skin. I screamed in pain and rage and panic, clawing at it with my other hand. It seared my fingers and my palm, but I was able to tear it free.
All around me, the Tendrils kept coming, burning and whipping, trying to catch me wherever they could. The one around my ankle tightened while another twisted around my opposite thigh. The tentacle I’d just pulled off my elbow found another grip around my upper arm.
This is it. I’m going to die after all.
And then, out of the corner of my eye, something flashed.
I twisted my head. There was a piece of broken glass on the ground—possibly from the huge window, which was no longer visible behind the huge glowing circle of light. It wasn’t much, but it was sharp, and that’s what mattered.
With my free arm, I reached out and grabbed the shard of glass. It was just large enough to serve as a small blade, and I curled my fingers around the end of it, grinding my teeth against the pain as it dug into the welt-covered skin of my palm.
And then I slashed.
First I cut through the one on my arm. Then I twisted around and severed the ones gripping my legs. Once those had fallen away, shrieking as they dissolved, I slashed wildly through the air, trying to force back any others that came near.
But I’d only earned myself a temporary reprieve. When I managed to get myself into a crouch so I could plan my escape, I found the room overrun.
Where before there’d been dozens, there were now at least a hundred Tendrils, and they completely blocked my path to the door. Even with a real weapon I’d never have been able to make it through.
Once again, the certainty of death set in. I didn’t even have the presence of mind to dodge the boot that came flying through the air toward the golden light. It struck me on the side of the head before bouncing off and disappearing through the portal.
Wait—the portal.
Slicing through a couple of Tendrils who reached for me, I turned back to look at the circle of light. That light led out of here. To another world, yes, but away from certain death.
