Page 130 of Land of Shadow

I push against him, but I may as well be pushing against bedrock. He growls and bites down harder, my vision going woozy, my hands falling to my sides. There is no pleasure, no euphoria. Only a sinking dread, the blackest horror.

A roar snaps me back to full consciousness, and then I’m sliding down the wall. The pain in my throat remains, but the vicious pressure is gone.

A whirlwind of destruction rages just outside my hazy vision. I wipe at my eyes and realize they’re flooded with tears. Something splinters, and I duck and cover my head with my arms.

“Angry, brother?” Theo’s laugh is followed by the sound of something exploding.

The room is still for only a moment before Valen roars and bits of ceiling and wood crash down, littering the entire room with debris. I crawl to one of the upended sofas and cower there as the two of them fight. Claws and fangs and blood, they wreck everything they touch. I press my palm to my throat to try to staunch the bleeding.

“Never fucking touch her!” Valen yells and choke slams Theo on the floor. The beams beneath shatter from the impact, and they fall out of my sight. The carnage continues anew somewhere below me.

I crawl away, seeking shelter anywhere but here. Another door is ajar just ahead of me, but I have to clamber over chunks of furniture to get there. When I do, I fall forward and roll, then lie still for a moment and try to blink away the black spots that float in my vision.

“Hell.” I groan and maneuver onto my side.

“Georgia?” a voice whispers.

I sit up, going lightheaded as I do. “Juno?”

“It isn’t you. It can’t be you. They killed you.” She mumbles incoherently as I get to my knees.

She’s against the wall, her arms pinned out beside her. Crucified. Her head lolls forward, her once beautiful curls thin and stringy, covered with gore.

“Juno!” I stand up, swaying on my feet, and go to her.

“You’re dead. I’m sorry. You’re dead,” she whispers.

“No. I’m not dead. I’m here, Juno.” I keep one hand pressed to my neck and use the other to gently grip her chin and lift her face to me.

I choke on a sob when I realize one of her eyes is gone. Only a bloody, black gouge remains. The other eye is swollen completely shut.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Tell Georgia I’m sorry. Tell her I thought it … I thought … I …”

“I’m getting you out of here.” I move to her right arm and pull back the bloody sleeve. Underneath, a metal stake has been hammered through her wrist, pinning her. “No.” I grip the head of the stake and try to yank it free.

Juno wails in agony, her head lolling forward again.

I let go. “Juno, I have to try. I have to get these out.”

“No,” she cries.

“Please, let me help. I have to—” I yank again.

Her scream pierces my heart, cutting me open. I stop. Realization is a cold stone in my gut—I can’t free her.

“Tell Georgia I love her. Tell Georgia …” Her words die off in a moan. “Georgia’s dead, you worthless fool. You killed her. You killed your own sister.”

The room shakes, and I cover Juno as Theo flies through the wall across from us and lands in a bloody heap at our feet. He has to be dead. White bone protrudes from his skin in several places, and there isn’t a spot of him without splatters of blood. Even so, I take a step back and keep myself between him and Juno.

Valen follows Theo in, his fangs and claws long as he stalks his brother.

“Valen, help!” I cry. “She’s bolted to?—”

Fast as thought, Theo grabs my ankle and yanks.

I fall as he rises, pulling me into his arms and grabbing a handful of my hair.

“Stop!” he yells. “Stop or I’ll tear her fucking throat out!”

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