AsSophiaplummetsthirtystories, Oaklyn’s car door flies open, and she jumps out and thrusts her arm upward. Dark roots extend from her dagger like living ropes, twisting and growing rapidly. They encircle Sophia’s body, cushioning her fall before she can hit the ground.
“God dammit!” Sky punches the wall. “First division, take the stairs! Now!”
“We haven’t lost her yet!” Fiona shouts, pivoting. “Get moving!”
Four Shadows sprint for the elevator. Panicked shouts break out when they spot Neil lying dead on the floor.
“Later!” someone roars. “We’ll come back for him!”
My eyes sting. My chest is so tight I can barely breathe. Ethel struggles in my jacket once more, and I wrap my arms tightly around her, refusing to let her get hurt.
Below, the car’s passenger door opens, and my blood runs cold as a second person steps out.
“Hazel,” I whisper, icy horror flooding through me.
Wyatt jumps out after her and looks around vigilantly, as graceful as a wolf.
I grab Natalie’s elbow and pull her back from the edge. “We need to get down there.”
We race for the elevator with the others while Sky directs an attack on everyone below—including Hazel.
“Sky, careful!” I shout.
She glances back, confusion plain on her face. “I’m sorry, Katie. This is my job.”
Bile rises in my throat. I stick my arm out to stop the elevator doors from closing and force myself in among the Shadows. Natalie steps in beside me.
“Try to see this from her perspective—” she begins, but I shake my head firmly.
“Don’t.” All I can think is that I need to get to Hazel before she’s killed.
At ground level, debris hails down on the car, stopping the Madsens from escaping. Dust chokes the air so it’s hard to see past the sidewalk—either from the battle or a wall created by the Shadows. I cough as grit coats my tongue.
Through the haze, Sophia stands defiant. Her white-blonde braid is undone, her silk robe is torn, and blood streaks her skin. A red river flows down over her clavicle. She inches toward the car as she fights, her eyes darting between the Shadows and the FJ Cruiser—her only escape.
The Shadows advance. She thrusts her palms forward, and concrete ruptures beneath their boots, sending them stumbling. She lunges for the car, but Natalie is quick, countering with a blast of magic. The two forces collide with a shockwave that knocks everyone off their feet.
I hit the ground hard, pain shooting through my shoulder. Wyatt barks, the deep sound coming from much too close.
Paws thunder. His breath makes a lowhuff-huffas he gallops toward me.
With a hiss and a painful scrabble of claws, Ethel bursts out the bottom of my jacket and blitzes away over the broken pavement.
Wyatt skids to a stop, strides away from Natalie and me. He looks from us to Ethel, his eyes huge. With a “yip!”, he changes course, chasing the fleeing cat.
“Thanks for the distraction, Ethel,” I grunt as I sit up, watching her disappear under a parked sedan. Wyatt barks and claws at the front tire, trying to get to her. Ethel yowls in response, swiping at his nose from the safety of her hiding place.
With Wyatt occupied, my top priority floods back to me. Heart in my throat, I search frantically for Hazel through the dust. Sophia is already scrambling to her feet, still trying to get to the car.
There.Hazel is on her hands and knees, coughing and spluttering. Oaklyn is at her side, helping her up. The protectiveness in her gesture is familiar, making my stomach twist.
The air crackles with energy as magic flies in every direction. A chunk of concrete hurtles toward me, and I roll in time to avoid being crushed. My chest spasms from all the dust, and I cough, my head swirling as not enough oxygen gets into my lungs.
“Katie!” Natalie’s voice pierces the chaos. She hauls me to my feet with one strong arm while her other hand remains outstretched, manipulating debris to shield us. “I’ve got you. Stay behind me.”
Maybe it was the sound of Natalie shouting my name, but Hazel and Oaklyn look over sharply. There’s a heavy pause between the four of us, though the Shadows have resumed their attack on Sophia.
Then, Oaklyn whips her dagger like a snake lashing out, ripping a parking meter from the sidewalk and hurling it at us. Natalie deflects it with a sweep of her arm, sending it into the FJ and denting the hood.With another sweep, she sends a wave of broken pavement back at Oaklyn.
