I sank mental claws into the bundle of lights flickering in the shadow's core and yanked.
It resisted, and I had one second to think I'd failed.
There was a ripping sensation, then the creature's magic tore from it.
The shadow ribbons dissolved, black smoke rising from them.
I hit my knees, nearly toppling into the portal by accident as the bindings abruptly loosened, their smoke caressing my skin before dissipating.
Liam slid to his knees beside me seconds later, his eyes glowing with white hot fury. There was a hole inches to the left of his heart that still bled sluggishly. Other than that, there was no sign his wound bothered him.
I heaved in a sobbing breath, one hand lifting to touch the hole.
He pressed my hand against his chest, pulling me to him and away from the portal.
Anton walked up. "Would anybody like to tell me what just happened? Where did the shadow creature go?"
Makoto's expression was thoughtful. "It's as if the magic sustaining it was used up."
My skin itched as something solid slid down my arm.
I jerked, lifting my wrist to find one last scrap of shadow clinging to my forearm. The size of a small kitten, it quested along my sleeve, finding the edge and sliding under it, pressing its cool length against my skin.
Liam pulled up my sleeve so we could watch as it felt and prodded.
Strange enough, I didn't sense any threat in it.
At least not until little balls rolled off it, diving into my skin like they were water drenching a parched desert.
Birds formed. Two took shape on my upper wrist, their wings spread. Around the base of a tree a ribbon wrapped, taking on the shape of a snake.
"Now, isn't that interesting," Anton said from beside us. There was speculation in his eyes as they rose to meet mine.
Liam rumbled a warning next to me.
One side of Anton's lips quirked up. "Don't worry boss. I won't tell anyone. Aileen and I are friends, after all."
My head jerked. "In what world?"
Anton started walking away. "I saved you, didn't I?"
He had a point, but it wasn't one I was willing to concede. Anton and the others were dangerous even under normal circumstances. The only reason Nathan had wormed his way inside my guard was because he held a lot in common with a fungus who wouldn't go away no matter what you did.
Liam's hand landed on mine, distracting me with the lingering trace of fear hiding in his expression.
"I expect you to show me the secret friend handshake later, Aileen," Anton called.
Nathan twisted. "What handshake? You didn't show me a handshake."
Connor's look was cool. "I am the keeper of this handshake. You will need to go through me."
I ignored their ridiculousness, leaning forward and pressing my forehead against Liam's neck, fighting the urge to rock against him. He wasn't the only one dealing with the surplus of leftover emotions from the battle.
I thought for a second that I'd lost him. This had been close. So very close.
Warm lips pressed against my skin and then his hands squeezed in warning. I untangled myself from him, standing as Thomas burst into the gym at a sprint.
He scanned the room, taking in the scene at a glance. Power boiled around him, enough to make my head pound.
