Page 114 of Promise of Darkness
Thiago drives forward, thrusting his sword into the ripple. Half his sword vanishes, as if it’s plunged through time and space itself. I’ve never seen anything like it. It reminds me of a portal, though they’re only to be found in the middle of a Hallow.
Harsh, raspy laughter shivers down my spine.
From behind me.
There’s a blur of movement at my back as I spin, a creature leaping out of nowhere toward me. I lash out with the knife, but the blow glances off its arm. I can barely make sense of what I’m seeing as I try to dodge the swipe of its claws.
It’s several feet taller than I am, and shockingly thin. A gaunt face flashes in front of me, large hollow sockets hiding the dark gleam of eyes. Some sort of black leather armor covers its body.
“Vi!” Thiago yells.
“Busy!” I block its next grab, snatching at its wrist to try and throw it past me. The second I grab its skin, my fingers burn, as if I’ve touched pure ice.
The second I flinch, the creature backhands me across the face.
It’s like being hit by a runaway carriage. I stagger backward, my face hot and bruised and the world spinning around me.
“Get down!” the prince yells.
Call it instinct, but I hit the ground just as a wave of pure darkness washes over the top of me. The creature is thrown back into the wall, screaming a high-pitched scream as Thiago’s Darkness shreds it.
Then it vanishes.
Thiago crouches at my side, hauling me to my feet. Shadows writhe around him like wings. “Let’s move.”
“What was that thing?”
“Things.There were two of them. And nothing good.” He shoves me ahead of him, and we sprint down the alleyway.
The second we’re in the main street I feel safer, but I can’t help sensing that itch on the back of my neck that tells me we’re being watched. A couple of fae fill the square, and there’s no sign of our attackers, but I don’t want to take any chances.
“Where to?” I ask, bending over and panting. My body’s beginning to tremble with the aftermath of the fight, and the left side of my face is hot and swollen.
“Back to the palace.”
“Are you sure?” It hasn’t escaped my notice that the only one who knew where we were going is Kyrian. “You don’t think it’s suspicious that we’re attacked in his city?”
“It wasn’t Kyrian.”
“Why? Because the pair of you are such good friends?” I roll my eyes.
Thiago shoots me a frustrated glance, his lips thinning. “Because whatever they were, those things are Unseelie. And Kyrian despises the dark fae. He won’t be in bed with them.”
My brow says it all. “Isn’t Stormhaven warded nine ways to the Underworld? How did they get in if the wards are activated?”
Thiago slows, raking a hand over his mouth. “They couldn’t. Unless the wards were down.”
“Who’s in charge of the wards?”
He doesn’t answer.
It won’t be Kyrian.
But the wards that protect the city will be activated by someone high within his council.
“It’s not Kyrian,” he repeats firmly.
“As you wish.” I’m not going to argue. Not with someone who’s set their mind in stone.
