Chapter 19 Serena
SERENA
“Feeling better?” he taunts.
A shudder forces its way through me as Zadyn pushes me behind him. The five of us huddle close together, weapons drawn and teeth bared. I back up an inch toward the mirror, tugging on Kai’s jacket with one hand and clasping Zadyn’s free hand with the other.
“You saw what happens to them if you keep up this little game of resistance.”
“What’s he talking about?” Jace barks.
Kylian sighs, completely disregarding him. “I thought you a modern female. Playing hard to get is so old fashioned.”
“So is chaining me to your side until I agreed to be your little woman,” I hiss, venom coating my tone.
He takes a step and our huddle backs away.
“Step away from the mirror or your friends are dead.” Smoky shadows spill into the room, coiling around Kylian’s ankles. The Stryga begin to march forward on those thick, matted horse legs, saliva leaking from their snarling mouths.
We back up again as a unit.
Kylian tenses, but he keeps his voice steady. “You don’t want to do that, darling.”
“Oh, I think I do. Darling.”
His expression turns lethal, hitting me like a thousand-pound boulder.
“There is nowhere on this earth you can go that I will not find you. You belong to me.”
The threat hooks around my bones as I tug Zadyn and Kai backward. Dover and Jace latch onto us at the last second before we fall through the mirror. The last thing I see is Kylian darting toward us, hands outstretched, face twisted in rage as we slip away into the void.
Time stills as if we’ve entered a vacuum. All I see is stars forever and ever. No end and no beginning.
A moment later, we’re spit out onto the grounds in front of the castle. Zadyn helps me up as a line of soldiers bursts through the gates and charges toward us.
“Get to the beach!” Dover shouts.
We break into a sprint. A tidal wave bursts from Kai’s palms, quelling the first line of soldiers. But they’re quickly replaced by more. I hold my gown in my hands—it’s impossible to run in this damned thing. My foot catches on the massive train and I collide with the hard dirt.
But Zadyn is right there, flipping me onto my back and shredding it, leaving a jagged hem mid-thigh.
Woah.
Our eyes lock as he discards the fabric and hauls me to my feet.
Another wave of guards flows from the castle, threatening to cut us off. I’m slow, Kai is slow. We’re holding them back.
As if reading my mind, Zadyn shifts into his OrCat form and nudges my thigh. I swing my leg over his back, latching onto his long, silky coat.
“Kai!” I shout over my shoulder.
“Serena, get out of here! Now!” he bellows, sweat beading on his brow as he pushes his magic to the brink. Jace and Dover launch into action, swords clanking as they meet the golden soldiers.
“Zadyn, stop! We can’t leave them!” I protest, but he’s already taken off. I have no choice but to hold on for dear life.
With his animal speed, we reach the start of a tropical forest in no time. I can no longer make out the forms of my friends among the sea of gold.
I slide off of Zadyn’s back, and he shifts instantly, gripping my shoulders as he pants, “Go. Through the trees. Mar is waiting.”
“Don’t go—”
But he’s already gone.
I debate running after him, but with these cuffs I’ll be more of a hindrance. I can’t just leave, though. I can’t get my feet to move.
A furious wind picks up, tossing my hair around my face. I squint up at the sky. The tiny black speck grows closer and closer until its shadow eclipses the sun.
Then I hear it. A dull whooshing sound. For a moment, I think it’s a dream. But there is no mistaking that sound as it floods me with relief.
Wingbeats.
“Oh my god,” I whisper.
Furi bursts through the clouds in all her ancient majesty, weaving purple streaks across the sky as she beelines for me. I let out a wild cry, flailing my arms above my head.
She’s alive. And she’s here! My heart feels like it’s about to burst.
How did she find me?
Her wings slice through the air, and the power she exudes has every tree, every palm, every grain of sand bowing to her. She looses a battle cry, followed by a puff of blue fire.
The ground trembles beneath her as she settles and lets out another loud howl. I race toward her and throw myself down around her thick leg, tears bursting from my eyes.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I cry.
Her purr reverberates through my bones as she dips her head, and tucks me beneath her chin. Nuzzled against her, I feel a sense of completion. Of hope.
Her barbed tail curls around me, thumping against the ground and melting my heart. I can’t hear her because of the damned blood ore, but I know she is feeling all that I am right now. I peel back to look at her, stroking my hand over her sloped nose.
“I’ve missed you so much, girl. Feel like saving the day?”
The challenge registers in her cat-like eyes, and I swear to god, she’s smiling. When I scale her back and take my place on her worn-out saddle, she lets out a howl to rattle the earth. Her head tips back as she flaps her wings, and we blast into the sky.