“Good night.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Something heavy pressed into Thalia’s chest—a weight that nearly crushed her rib cage.
Her breath stuttered as something pricked her collarbone like sharp needles. Thalia’s lids peeled open.
A headless creature hovered above her, tendons and muscles twisting to replace the face that’d been cut off.
Thalia screamed, trying to escape the creature, which was very much alive.
The creature raised its stubby neck, the muscles coiling like snakes to reform its head—
Cassius slammed a dagger into the creature’s side. It fell backward off the bed, writhing on the ground. Cassius grabbed another dagger from his nightstand, moving faster than she could blink, and shoved it into its side.
The creature’s body convulsed, twitching, as he pulled out his blades. He whirled to her, eyes bright. “Are you hurt?”
Thalia shook her head, too stunned to speak. Small pinpricks of blood patterned her chest, soaking into the red of her gown.
A flicker of light caught the corner of her eye the same moment it caught Cassius’s. He jerked to the window, his jaw tightening as he looked out the paned glass.
Lights were moving through the trees of the forest surrounding the castle. Not just any lights—torches speared their flames into the night sky, illuminating the gathering crowd in the castle’s inner courtyard.
“Fuck,” Cassius said.
Thalia scrambled to his side, getting a better view. The entire courtyard was filled with Vampyrs, each holding a light as though they’d burn the place to the ground.
“That’s Julian,” Thalia gasped, catching sight of the dark-haired Vampyr with green eyes. He led the pack, his gaze rising to their window. “And Lord Adrian.” Apparently, Julian’s father had found his banished son. As soon as Lord Adrian spotted them in the window, he pointed.
Cassius grabbed Thalia’s arm, yanking her out of the way just as an arrow pierced the glass, shattering it.
“Fuck,” Cassius growled again, shoving Thalia away from the window.
“What is he doing?” She whirled as shouts drifted through the broken window.
“Making a point.” Cassius grabbed his clothes, shoving himself into his boots before strapping on his sword, which he’d propped against the fireplace. “We need to get out of here. Now.”
Thalia didn’t have to be told twice. She found her own clothes, shoving on whatever she could find before she and Cassius crept to the door. He eased it open, peeking his head out into the quiet hall.
Nothing.
But deep within the castle, pounding echoed, wood groaning as if the mob of Vampyrs was trying to break down the doors.
Cassius’s hand slipped into hers as they left their room and quietly ran through the castle. They turned the corner and stumbled into a group of five Vampyrs, their weapons drawn.
“Go!” Cassius roared, pushing her behind him.
Thalia stumbled, turning just as he plunged his sword into the belly of one of the Vampyrs. His other hand plunged into the spine of another, and Thalia only caught a glimpse of severed vertebrae before she bolted.
Thalia’s heart pounded as she skidded around the castle halls. She had no idea where to go. Which way would lead out—
She slammed into the hard panes of someone’s chest.
Immediately she reared back, drawing her dagger.
“Hey! It’s me!” Keegan held up his hands, eyes wide.
She clutched his arms, pointing a shaking finger behind him. “Cass—”
