Page 42 of When Monsters Rise
Shegrabbed my arm. “Thereare more coming.Wehave to help.Together.”Shelooked up at me with fire dancing in her eyes.
Itore my gaze away and up to the rooftops where several more herald’s claw had appeared.ShemandSarqhad taken out four of them, but they were flagging.
“Whatcan we do?”
“Channelthrough me,” she said.
“What?”
“Pushthe power through me; the relic fragment will focus it.Wecan kill them.Together.”
Ididn’t know that was a possibility, butItrusted this woman. “Okay, what doIdo?”
“Takemy hand.”
Igrasped it and pulled her to her feet.Mypalm tingled with the evidence of her power.
“Doit.Now.”
Iopened the door inside me, jerking as the power flooded me, rushing down my arm and intoJilyana.Shepushed out her free hand and pointed at a herald’s claw.Ajavelin of dark energy shot out and slammed into the claw.Itlit up white and glowing, then disintegrated.Shepointed at a second, and a third, taking them out one by one, somehow turning theMorningstarpower into a weapon.
Mychest ached, heart expanding as a burning lit up inside me. “Ican’t…Ican’t hold it much longer.”
“Justa moment more.”Shetook out another claw.
Therewere still three left.Ihad to hold on.Ihad to—
Battlecries filtered past the rush of blood in my head, and a moment later,Baraqeland his team barreled into the fray.Thefresh wave of watchers tipped the balance in our favor.
Islammed the door shut, sagging on my feet and gasping for air as the last of the claws were torn to shreds.
Thefight was over in seconds, but if not forJilyana,ShemandSarqwould have been overwhelmed.
Shemwiped blood off his face and strode over to join us, his gaze equal parts wary and speculative as they raked overJilyanaand me. “We’lldiscuss this when we’re in a safe place.”
“Thebank,”Bastiansaid, joining us. “Everyoneis at the bank.”
“Inthat case, lead the way.”Shemlooked down at my hand inJilyana’s. “Youcan let go of her now,” he said to the djinn.
Shereleased me and ducked her head, butIcaught the hurt on her face before she did, and annoyance flitted in my chest.She’dhurt him, lied to him, and tricked him, yes,Iunderstood that, but she’d been used herself.Allshe wanted was to go home, and instead she’d been held captive for decades.Whatshe’d done was wrong, but she was trying to atone.
“Thankyou,Jilyana.Thankyou for saving our lives.”
Shelooked up at me in surprise. “You’remost welcome.”
Bastianpulled me into a hug, squeezing me tight. “Iwas so fucking worried about you.”
Ihugged him back, tension draining out of my limbs. “Iwas worried about you whenIsaw you out here with the claws.YouandBeeboth…”Iclosed my eyes and reveled in the contact.Hewas safe.We’dmade it out.
Hebroke the hug and tucked me against his side, then looked over atShem. “Okay, now we can get going.”
“Let’smove,”Shemsaid.
Thewatchers flanked us as we set off down the street, and after a few momentsShemfell into step beside us. “Don’tget too close toJilyana, either of you.Don’tgive your trust so easily.Promiseme you’ll be careful around her.”
Iglanced over my shoulder atJilyana, who looked suddenly lost and adrift, and couldn’t help the twinge of empathy that filled me.Butwas it real?Orwas she somehow putting it there?She’dbeen in my body, in my head…Shemwas right.Ineeded to be wary.
BecausewithJilyana,Iwas literally playing with fire.
