Page 181 of Powerless

Jagged teeth are clamped around my shoulder, tearing at flesh and fur. I roar and raise my uninjured arm, ready to finish this with one swipe.

A flash of light momentarily blinds my sharp eyes and I stagger back, stunned as I’m returned to my senses.

I was about to kill her.

I need to change back. Now.

Blinking, I look down at where Andy should be laying beneath me. But there’s nothing there. A sudden shadow looms above, drawing my attention up towards the sky. Well, where the sky would be if I could see it.

Vines and thick foliage have created a barrier over the top of the maze, a dome of greenery enclosing us completely. I hear the rustle of feathers and a flash of wine-red wings flapping against the thick ceiling.

She’s shifted into a falcon, trying desperately to fly up and over this maze with no luck. A valiant effort, but one that the Blooms cannot allow.

Andy screeches, trying to claw at the branches trapping her in this cage. Then she’s diving back towards the sand, blinding me with a flashing light. I blink and she’s back in her jaguar form, not giving me a second glance before limping away.

I don’t waste another second before shifting back. My clothes are still intact, if not soaked with blood. I’m covered in deep gashes, the one on my face stinging as blood streams down into my eye. But it’s the bite mark that draws my attention. It’s deep and dripping blood, the outline of a set of sharp teeth imprinted into the skin of my shoulder.

And it hurts like hell.

I rip off a strip of fabric from the hem of my shirt and wrap it around the wound, trying to stop the steady flow of blood. My very bones seem to ache as I head off again through the maze, having wasted far too much time clawing at my cousin.

Right.

Left.

Left.

Screams.

I still.

Another cry.

Right.

Left.

Right.

I stop, suddenly.

The faintest tingle of power bubbles in my veins. I focus on it, willing it to grow stronger. It does. And I don’t hesitate to grab hold of it.

A smile splits my bloody face.

Looks like a Bloom got too close.

ChapterFifty-Seven

Paedyn

“Don’t worry,I’ll make this quick. Sadly, I don’t have enough time to play with you.”

I spin around slowly in the narrow path, facing the owner of that cold voice and even colder brown eyes.

“Blair,” I say stiffly.

She steps towards me with a smile twisting her lips. “Hello, Paedyn.”

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