Page 51 of Snag
For the briefest of moments, she tests her strength against mine.
I’m the stronger. By far.
But I still don’t expect her to drop everything I’m holding.
I don’t stumble, but under my hold, the malignant essence the dire awry has called forth and twisted from Reck’s blood dies, turning into more ash.
The remaining essence twines around Bellamy’s handsand arms. Thus anchored to her body, it ignites. She screams. The stench of her casting fills the tight hallway, creating a sensation like I’m suffocating.
She screams again, seemingly in utter agony.
Then Bellamy disappears.
“What the fuck?” Rought shouts.
Reck groans, then starts coughing. His throat has already started to heal despite his blood loss being substantial enough to fuel a teleportation spell. Though that might point to the power of the cu-sith shifter more than the strength of the spell or the dire awry who cast it.
I stare at the space that formerly held Bellamy. I don’t understand how she wields essence at all. And I certainly wasn’t expecting her to teleport. Still, the way she tried to twist the energy she stole from Reck’s blood around Rought and Reck felt as though she might be trying to contain or even move them. Chains had demanded as much from her when she possessed Kris’s body the night before.
For a mage, teleportation is a complicated spell, typically requiring multiple casters. Even for a telekinetically inclined awry, teleportation is a rare affinity.
Rought touches my cheek lightly, calling my attention back to the present. The thought of Bellamy having seen my aunt tumbles around in my mind again, instantly intensifying my focus. There’s no more time for training sessions. Two problems have seemingly become one — the dire awry and my aunt’s disappearance — unless Bellamy is bluffing about my necklace.
“Presh?” I ask. “And DeVille?”
Rought’s got his phone in hand. “With Grinder and Pinky, well protected and heading back to the estate. Piston and Pepper are escorting them.”
I nod, mind whirling, sorting through all the fragmentsof revelation that don’t remotely add up. “Would you let Coda know we need a new trail?”
“Do you have any idea how far she could have gone?” Rought asks, already texting. “Can you … sense that?”
I shake my head. “I have no idea.”
He nods. “Rath’s called in more of the Outcast crew, widening our patrol area.”
“She’s oddly powerful,” I murmur thoughtfully.
“I got that.” Rought rubs his chest. Bellamy hit him hard with that malignant curse.
“I should look at that,” I say.
He smirks at me. “It will barely bruise. But I’ll happily strip down for you later.”
Still sprawled at our feet, Reck huffs dismissively.
Both of us turn our attention on him.
“You’re a piece of fucking work,” Rought snarls.
“I’m not the bad guy here,” Reck croaks.
Rought leans over, teeth bared in a clear challenge. “We’re going to have words about your fucking Authority agents, who I had to run off Zaya’s estate. And if I’m not happy with those words, I’m going to beat the fuck out of you.”
Reck appears completely confused by his brother’s vitriol, just for a moment. Then his gaze flicks to me, and his expression hardens, crystalizing into a pure loathing. “You just let her go.” His words come out mangled through his still-healing throat.
“Don’t interfere next time,” I say coolly.
He snorts, then coughs. “I can’t stand the chatter.”
