Page 62 of Land of Shadow

“Gage, I don’t understand.”

“You don’t need to understand. You just need toknow. Now tell me again, what are the bloodlines?”

A shadow along the eaves of the building behind Gage catches my eye. It’s as if it’s moving.

“I know it’s there,” Gage says softly. “Don’t look at it. Look at me.”

My hands shake as he slides his grip from my wrists to my palms. “Look at me, Georgia.” His tone is softer now, more like his normal voice.

“Dragonis, Corvidion, and Tantun,” I repeat.

He nods, his grip easing a little. “Good. There are hundreds of them, maybe thousands. They live underground.” He speaks quickly now, as if he’s running out of time. “They’ve built miles and miles of tunnels, all hidden right beneath our feet. They control governments around the world.” He shoots a look up Pennsylvania Avenue. “They have a foothold here now, and soon enough, they’ll have it all.”

“What’s going on, Gage? You’re scaring me.”

“I have to leave.” He reaches up and presses a hand to my cheek. “I don’t want to, but I have to. I’ve been compromised.”

“I don’t understand. Gage, I don’t …”

“Valen.” He seems to bite the word. “He’ll keep you safe. If he doesn’t, he’s as good as dead.”

“Where are you going?” The hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I see the very real shadow moving like a spider down the face of the building.

I freeze, my blood turning to ice as the shadow materializes into a man on the sidewalk. No, not a man. One ofthem. His too-perfect olive skin and the catlike glow of his eyes set off every alarm bell in my primal brain. A predator.Danger.

“I’ll see you again, Georgia. I promise. If you need me, leave a light in your window. I’ll see it. I’ll come.” Gage plants a hard kiss on my lips. “Now, run!” He pushes me backwards, then spins and pulls a gun.

The vampire lunges at him.

“Go!” Gage yells.

I turn and run, my heart pounding almost as loud as the gunshots that break the stillness of the clammy air.

When I reach the front of the hotel, the soldiers there are already standing with their guns out. “There’s a, a—there’s a—Gage needs help!” I point behind me.

They take off past me as another shot rings out. I dash inside and hit the elevator, my mind screaming at the wait as it rises to my floor. I have to get help.Realhelp. Gage can’t fight that thing with bullets. I’m sure of it. Once I’m inside, I hurry to my bedroom and dig around in my drawers until I find the phone Valen gave me.

I open it up and dial.

The ringing stops with a click.

“Valen?” I can’t catch my breath. “There was a vampire. Gage is fighting it, but I don’t think?—”

The line beeps and goes silent.

“Valen?” I stare at the phone then dial again. It doesn’t ring. No answer. No voicemail.

More shots, this time a barrage of them, and someone screams. I rush to the window and look down, trying in vain to see Gage or the other soldiers. The street is dark. I strain to see something, anything.

But nothing moves.

The soldiers never reappear. And neither does Gage.

* * *

“You were outside after dark.”

I jump from my spot at the window. Valen is right behind me, his face a mask of fury.

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