“Keep her busy,” I tell Natalie, edging toward the bird. The sensation of magic is overwhelming, slamming into me from all directions, and I fight to stay focused.
Natalie dips her chin and faces Sophia, the air crackling as she prepares to unleash her magic. “Sorry we left the place a bit messy. Nothing insurance won’t cover, I’m sure.”
I inch closer to the bird, which Natalie is forcing lower beneath the vortex of debris, but it’s still too high. Sophia’s gaze snaps to me, and then overhead, her eyes narrowed and calculating.
“A little cold for a beach day,” Natalie says, pulling her attention back.
Sophia chuckles. “I’ve got eyes everywhere, honey. A chimera shows up, and I know within the hour.”
I lift the net, but it’s like trying to catch a bullet.
Natalie barks out a humorless laugh. “Eyes everywhere, huh? Too bad that hasn’t helped you catch one. Must be frustrating, failing over and over.”
“Failing?” Sophia sneers. With a flick of her wrist, wood splinters fire at Natalie like a swarm of arrows.
Natalie redirects one of her hands to raise a shield. But her divided attention isn’t enough to protect her, and she grunts, stumbling back.
Bright red lines appear on her face. My heart lurches into my throat.
“Natalie!” I abandon the chimera and race toward her. The sight of her blood makes any other priority fade away.
“Katie, don’t,” she says firmly. “Remember why we’re here.”
I freeze, torn between what I’m supposed to do and the need to protect her. “You’re hurt,” I choke out.
“Go!” She wipes her eyes and smears blood across her face. “I can handle—”
Sophia sends another barrage at Natalie, who struggles to deflect it. Overhead, the cone around the bird breaks apart.
My chest constricts. Dammit, Sophia was talented with magic last time I saw her, but has she gotten even better? The ground beneath her feet cracks with each step as the earth bends to her power.
“I know the coven sent Guardians to Whistler this morning,” she snarls, her eyes blazing purple. “I know where a dozen chimeras are and how they’re migrating. I know Katie arrived at YVR on Tuesday at 3:46 P.M., and you, Fiona, and two Shadows were there to greet her.”
My insides turn to ice. Has Sophia been watching us? Or is she paying other people to watch us?
Natalie falters, red rivers trickling down her cheeks and neck, and the bird seizes its chance to blast through a gap and away from us.
White-hot anger mixes with the fear in my gut, churning and unsettled. I want to hurt Sophia for everything she’s done to Natalie—and seeing the blood streaming down her perfect face only makes it worse. My nails dig into my palms, a tremor passing through me. I step forward, torn over which direction to run.
Then, like a shimmering mirage, a cheetah takes form again, bolting away across the rocky beach.
“Don’t lose it, Katie!” Natalie grits out as she barely deflects another attack. A chunk of concrete slips past her shield and slams into her shoulder, making her cry out.
The sound lances through me. But she’s right—I can’t let it get away.
Fighting every instinct to sprint over and defend her, I force myself to chase after the chimera. Each step away from Natalie feels wrong, like I’m tearing myself in half. My legs are slow and clumsy, but I push on, desperate not to lose it.
Both Natalie and Sophia send obstacles into the chimera’s path before returning their attention to each other. Sophia’s movements are chillingly casual as she sends boulders flying. The world fills with debris like we’re stuck in a tornado. All that’s missing is a cow.
“Leave this chimera to me, and I’ll stop fighting you,” Sophia growls, her long fingers stroking the air as she manipulates her surroundings.
“Aw, afraid you’ll lose?” Natalie taunts, but I don’t miss the hitch in her words as she deflects a chunk of concrete. Blood and sweat trickle down her face, but she can’t afford to drop her hands to wipe it away.
The cheetah makes it to the water and transforms into a seal, diving through the shallow tide toward the open ocean.
My stomach drops. “No!”
I change course and sprint back to the pier, determined not to lose it.
