Page 2 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

"Ryker, please wake up," I whisper.

It takes another step toward me—a predator stalking its prey. Despite the panic flowing through me, my fingertips tingle. I can’t tell which magic is rising to the surface.

I don’t have time to figure it out because the creature lunges.

We topple over the seat, rolling into the wall a few feet away. Its talons snag into the fabric of my gown, and I use it to my advantage. I lose my slippers as we roll, and when my bare foot connects with its face, I almost gasp at the slimy texture. Its head rocks back before it snarls, and I hear my gown shred. Fabric falls away as it reaches for my neck, but I roll, finding myself in a gathering pile of mist.

I’m assaulted by sinister voices immediately, but at least I still have my sight. The demon turns, its bones sharp and angled and unholy, just before its hand swipes out, catching my corset as its nails screech against the Nakata material. I grip its arm, screaming as I let the molten heat flow out of the well from deep inside of me.

Screeching, its other arm swipes at me. This time, one of the talons connects with my neck before it shoves my arm away. I stumble back from the force of it, finding myself pinned against the wall, two feet from the ramp.

I do a quick look around, finding one of the discarded Hallo guns, but too far out of reach. Where is everyone? They can’t be dead. Surely this demon didn’t kill them all. I shove that thought aside as it grips my arm and lifts me with terrifying ease.

I’d love to use more of my magic, but without control, I risk killing everyone on this transport.

“No!” I kick and flail, my shoulder screaming as it threatens to pop from the socket. My heel connects with its nose—a sickening crunch. It drops me, then seizes my ankle, dragging me toward the cabins. I reach out and grab the metal foot of a bolted-down sofa. “Ryker!”

Shadows swallow me whole a moment later as my fingers begin to slip. I swallow the sob that threatens to come out. I’m on Sgya all over again, holding onto that root. The difference is this time—I have more to lose, but I will not give in easily.

I kick my free leg, connecting with nothing as I flail.

There are only seconds left before my grip falters. I reach inside to that well of energy. I need to see. I let the molten starlight flow freely, to every corner of my being, willing the radiance to seep into my skin.

There’s a growl and then a screech.

I open my eyes to blinding light.

The demon recoils, covering its eyes. Through the glare, I see Ryker. The light dims as Ryker raises his Hallo. The plasma hits the demon’s hideous face, black blood spraying through the air.

Sound returns to me as I hear the echo of the shot, just as its body lands in a crumpled pile of blood.

“Raea.” Ryker gasps, rushing to my side. He doesn’t waste a single second scooping me into his grasp. It’s only when he presses me against him do I remember the blood trickling down my neck.

I hiss, clutching my neck.

“I know. We have to get behind the door,” he says.

I don’t catch what else he says until we are locked in the safe room and he hits the ramp button. Alarms sound as every door in the transport slams shut with a loud clang. All rooms are sealed off except for the one we were just in. The demon's body is coated with ice in an instant, the blood frozen wherever it landed.

I’m placed on the table. Ryker searches my body frantically for more injuries.

“Just my neck,” I rasp.

He shakes his head, still searching like he doesn’t believe me. Honestly, I can’t believe it either.

From the other side of the room, I hear a slicing noise, and then the escape door opens. Our guards—Ezra and Aksel—enter, coated in thick layers of black blood.

“Are you alright?” Ezra asks.

I nod, wincing when I pull myself into a seated position.

“There were five of them. By our count, we have ten dead, and three injured. We were clearing rooms when everything was sealed off,” Ezra says.

My breath hitches. “Who didn’t make it?”

“Staff mostly. Two Regils, a few maids, the cooks—” Aksel says, words drifting off.

Horror and sadness fill my chest. Then Ezra speaks the name that shatters me the most. “—Kuron.”