Page 51 of The Stone Secret
I’min the kitchen at the dorm surrounded by my friends, but they’re all looking at me in disgust, shouting at me, saying awful things that hurt.
They don’t want me.
I don’t belong.
I’m alone.
“It’s all right,” Serath says. “You have me. You’re not alone.”
I run to him, but he backs away, laughing. “You’re pathetic. You think I want a halfblood weakling for a mate?”
“No. Please no.”
The world fills with light. Romi is standing over me, holding out his hand. Smiling. The pain ebbs, but then a storm cloud appears overhead, and lightning strikes, taking him with it.
He’s gone.
I’m alone. So alone.
I’m standing in the hallway, law enforcement on the doorstep. The rain is hammering down. She’s gone. Mom is gone.
My chest hurts with the loss. My eyes sting from crying. I’m alone. So alone.
The world is dark, gray, and cold. A voice like glass and gravel fills the gloom.
“There you are, little one. Come here. Let me see you.” Dark, taloned hands reach for me.
Terror flares in my chest, and ice shards pierce my blood.
“No. Go away. I don’t like this place. I want to go home.”
The talons reach for me, about to touch me.
“No!”
SHARNIZA
Cam is on her knees, her arms up to cover her head, her sobs filling the silence.
Levi takes a step forward, his jaw tense. “I think that’s enough.”
“No,” Yarrow says. “One moment.”
“What the fuck?” Curi edges toward Cameron, and I join him.
Palia and Ginia exchange worried glances.
“That’s enough,” Touron says.
“Stand down!” Yarrow orders. “One more mom—”
A dark form explodes into being behind Cam. Large and looming with silver slitted eyes and sharp chiseled features, it holds out its hands, and light blazes out of its palms, smashing into the smoke and devouring it.
“What the fuck?”
“What is that?”
“Oh fuck…”
