Page 95 of Venomous Lies
“Call me what you will,” I ground out as the girl that I used to love walked out from behind a man I used to consider a friend. “What are you doing here?”
She smiled, the edges so sharp it felt like I was being cut open. How could I have ever thought Ilikedher, much less loved her? She might be pretty, but there was nothing good or warm in the person looking me over with such disdain.
Magick wrapped itself around my throat, tightening like a hangman’s noose. I gasped, and black spots clouded my vision as I tried to get air.
“They didn’t realize the gold mine they had sitting right under their noses,” she bragged, blue eyes glowing with cruel amusement. “But don’t worry, we enlightened them. They promised all kinds of rewards if we brought you back alive.”
“Why?” I croaked. My body began losing the fight for air, those black spots growing larger until I had tunnel vision.
“Because I can.”
ECHO
I had tried looking for Isla in the darkness, but it was no use. No matter how much I stumbled around, I couldn’t find her anywhere.
So much for protecting her with my life.
“Echo!”
Whirling around, I desperately searched for my brother. I’d know my twin’s voice anywhere.
He called out again, his anguish so real I felt my stomach twist and drop. Roars of different supernaturals filled the air as I tried to stumble my way to him.
I cursed as I tripped over a half wall of stone, but I ignored the pain. Finding my brother was more important than the inevitable bruising.
“Aizel!” I yelled out, trying to find him.
Zhara said my brother’s name soon after, which was followed quickly by a growl and what sounded like two wolves fighting each other not too far off. Whimpers, snarls, and the sounds of two creatures colliding made me wince.
Hopefully, she was going to be okay.
“Echo, you wretched—” a shrill voice screamed in the wind, and I stopped, frozen in place. Every part of my mind started to shut down.
She can’t be here.
She doesn’t know where to find me.
I’m safe.
I have to be safe.
Please tell me?—
“Well, isn’t this fun?” a dangerous voice crooned from nearby. “So many little nightmares, so much fun. But a deal is a deal?—”
My mother’s voice was ripped away, choked into silence as I collapsed onto the ground gasping for breath.
“What… What the fuck is going on?”
“Let’s go find your friends, incubus.” The man’s voice sounded closer, and then I was hauled up to standing.
I wobbled on my feet but managed to keep myselfupright, and that was when I caught a glimpse of my rescuer.
White-blond hair, scarily handsome, and pain that rivaled the cruelty dancing in his pale eyes as he watched me find my feet.
“Who—?”
“So many questions,” he said, amused. He considered me for a moment, completely unbothered by the darkness around us. “You can see me.”
