I sob in relief.Jinx! Help me!
Tori!Jinx reaches down the tether that joins us. Terror vibrates it, turning my familiar’s voice into a panicked screech.Swim, Tori!
Tears burn me and I can’t breathe, the claws too deep in my chest.I can’t.
Shut up and swim!A spitting hiss echoes through my mind.Swim, Astoria! Swim to me!
I kick, thrashing.Jinx!
Don’t leave me!Pain harshens Jinx’s voice.Tori, please.
I won’t. I sob.I won’t!
With all my strength, I scream, my mind stretching until pain throbs. In the distance, my bond touches Jinx’s and the demon’s power surges. A roar echoes in my mind. Jinx’s power pulses, bowing my back.
The familiar ripples in her demon form, ancient and terrifying. Her power bounds down our bond and the oil screeches. She plunges into the ocean, the oil recoiling from her to reveal the true dark waters from before my curse tainted it.
The collision of power is blinding. A war wages within me, Jinx’s power surging against the oily corruption that threatens my Entropy Thread. My mouth stretches wide from the agony as I’m pulled apart from the inside.
Jinx wraps a great clawed hand around me, the oil clutching desperately around us. In the tongue of the old ones, Jinx hisses,This soul is mine.And rips me from the ocean. The corruption surges, reaching out in a mighty wave that threatens to drag us both under.
Lucas’ light erupts. The darkness screams, shrinking back, and I am dragged free.
I gasp a painful breath, my too-wide eyes blinking. The first thing that greets me is Lucas, his honey eyes bloodshot and tears streaming down his face. His hand trembles in mine and he chokes, “Oh, thank fuck.”
I go limp in his strong hold. It feels like my flesh has been through a meat grinder, but Lucas holds me tight. He buries his face in my long hair. “Tor. Oh fuck, Tor.”
My right hand is still in his tight, bleeding hand, and my other wraps around his neck. A sob escapes me, my eyes squeezing shut as I turn into his heat, pressing my face into the tips of his tattoo. I breathe in his scent in great, gulping breaths. I want to cry for years and years while curled up in his arms. I want to hold Jinx’s small, fluffy body and breathe in her kitty scent. I want my bed in my bookshop.
My voice is so small I don’t recognize it. “Take me home.”
Lucas rasps, “Trying.”
Then the world returns to me. Chaos reigns around us, magic crackling and clashing. I gasp, lips parting as I behold the mighty magical shield that wraps around us. My gaze follows it until it lands on Valen.
He pants, sweat trickling down his forehead, his hands splayed as he holds his shield in place. On the other side is none other than my father. The Archweaver hurls incantation after incantation, trying to beat Valen’s shield to a pulp. My father’s eyes glow bright with pure rage, blood pouring down his body from a thousand splinters still embedded.
Valen gasps, falling to his knees.
My arms tighten around Lucas.
Valen huffs behind him, his eyes meeting mine, “Run.”
Lucas shifts me in his hold and my fingers turn to claws. I have no idea what is going on and if Valen was part of the betrayal or blindsided by his father’s schemes. I have no idea if this is him correcting a wrong or showing his true colors to the Order. All I know is that there are cracks forming in his shield and a murderous gleam in my father’s eyes.
If we leave, Valen will die.
“No!” I call on my magic, but it splutters. I suck in a terrified breath. “No! Valen!” Lucas scoops my legs up and I scream, “VALEN!”
Atticus roars, “Kill her!”
Valen braces, shoulders tightening. “Over my dead body.” He throws his magic forward, his shield turning into ice. It shatters, sharp spikes plummeting towards the Archweaver.
Most get thrown off course, but one sinks deep into the old man’s leg. My father screams and lifts his hand. Valen gets ready to counter, but his hands are shaking.
Ice crackles angrily, wrapping around Atticus’ hand. He turns to see Vincentius’ enraged, blistered face. His voice booms, “That’s my son!” And blasts the Archweaver across the entryway until the man crashes to the ground and rolls. Vincentius turns towards Valen, his eyes wide. “Run!”
Valen hesitates.
