Page 88 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
Predator and prey.
It pulsed between me and the corner I needed to rush down on.
I fisted my palms.
This wasn’t normal magic–not any I’d seen, at least.
No caster, no clear origin, no purpose.
Other than watching me, perhaps.
Hyperaware of my every breath, I slid to the side.
The line vibrated and flashed in front of me.
I clenched my jaw and took a bigger side-step, this time to the other side.
The flash jolted after me.
I exhaled loudly, my breath turning to smoke.
In the distance, I heard the honey carriage's rickety wheels creaking down the road.
Shit.
My jaw clenched to the point of hurting.
I only had a few minutes to escape this city.
Time was running out.
I narrowed my gaze on the purple line, a stubborn thrumming, living thing.
But I was more stubborn.
I was no doe waiting to be hunted–and nothing and no one in this world would keep me from my Clan.
I jumped to the side.
It followed.
I twirled around to confuse it.
It zapped straight in front of me.
It didn’t just block me. It felt like it chided me. Like it knew what I was about to do and was having none of it.
We danced our strange, magical dance to the tune of the carriage’s creaks.
Finally, when they stopped, I propelled myself and vaulted over the line, landing behind it in a crouch that knocked the air out of me.
White spots danced in front of my eyes from the strain.
Before I had a chance to stand, the maddening hum began, so loud and fast I had to cover my ears.
It rattled my bones and bled into my ears.
A great big gaping roar erupted in my head.
