Page 86 of Shadow Master
I ran as fastas my legs could take me, slipping into blur mode to reach him just as he began to siphon. The wave hit me hard, taking me down to the ground. But then the heat at my solar plexus flared, feeding power back to me and shielding me from the siphoning effects of Kash’s ability. I stood on shaky legs and took the final steps toward him. The hound he was riding hit the ground, and I caught Kash, dragging him off the beast before it could roll onto him.
The army approached like a storm, but then the horses began to slow. Some toppled, some staggered. Fir bolg drooped and swayed, falling off their mounts to be trampled by the warriors behind them.
Kash’s eyes rolled back in his head as he continued to siphon. His back arched, and he groaned—a sound that was a mixture of pain and pleasure.
I dragged him onto my lap and cradled him, watching as the first wave of our enemy faltered. Just a few seconds, Madam Latrou had said.
“Stop.” I shook him. “Kash, you have to stop.”
Even though his efforts wouldn’t be enough, not without backup, not without our army to take advantage, he still needed to stop.
I reached for the shadows, but this time they didn’t answer me. Tears of frustration pricked my eyes as Kash finally stilled in my arms. His chest heaved, and his amulet flared to life.
He opened his eyes and looked up at me. “You idiot,” he said. “Why didn’t you run?”
“Stupid question.”
I pulled him closer and wrapped my arms around him. There was no outrunning death now, and in that moment, there was nothing but crystal clarity.
“I would have loved you, Kash.”
He gripped me tighter. “I fucking know.”
And then a blinding light ripped the air in front of us, and furry paws reached for me. I caught the flash of gray eyes and the curl of a too-wide smile, and then the world shattered.
Twenty-Eight
HYDE
“Turn around.”
No,Athos growls.
“Let me off!”
No.
If I leap, I’ll break a leg and be useless. I hold on, my heart breaking. Indigo. Fucking hell. Indigo.
I come abreast of the others.
“Where’s Indie?” Devon calls out.
I want to hit something.
“She fucking went after Kash,” Lloyd says. “Turn around,” he orders his hound.
No,Athos says.We get them to safety like the Shadow Master ordered.
“Fuck you!” I slam a fist onto his flank.
I’m sorry.
I can’t. I can’t lose her.
“Motherfucker!” Devon cries out.
“The militia,” Orion says.
