Page 162 of Wrath of the Fae

Blood. It needs blood.

There’s a splash. The whole body of water moves, pushing me away from the stone circle. My fingers slip from the surface, and I kick hard to return to it.

I’ve lost the boys. Their golden shimmers are in the distance. I think they’re fighting the creature. Whatever it is. The water shakes when it roars. It swirls as they throw powers at it.

I pull free my dagger and slice my hand. My blood seeps into the water. The creature screeches, and I slam my hand onto the stones.

It’s resisting, perhaps because this portal leads to another realm. Maybe it needs more than blood.

Something wraps around my waist. Something hard and unyielding, snaking around my middle and crushing me. Bubbles explode from my mouth as I feel something pierce my side. The guys attack the creature, and the water swirls and groans as they do.

I press my hand hard into the stone.

One of the guys yells. The last of their air escapes their lungs as they cry out in pain. I feel that pain as if it’s in my own body. It’s Reid. As he exhales, I feel his fear. He can’t fight off the monsters and defend me without breath in his body.

Neither of them can.

Whatever is wrapped around my waist tightens, and my ribs groan as I’m crushed.

I channel all I am into this arch. All my love and determination.

The water is deafening with gurgled screeches as the Dark Fae attack.

No. No, I will not die here. I will not allow them to die here.

NO!

I send out a final surge of power, throwing all I have at the stone circle.

In my desperation, that darkness within surges. Anger and hate bubble inside me like a writhing sea.

And I embrace it. I call it. I demand it rise and erupt.

The markings appear on my body. Runes, the entire length of my arms.

When I hear the calls of my creatures through the stone circle, those dark little things and great big terrors in the Fae realm, the stones glow for me.

The water moves as it all connects. A great circle of pillars is so bright I would squint if I could.

Faster the water roils and churns before it begins to pull us in.

Monsters and all.

twenty-nine

Thefamiliaremptinessofthe portal wraps us up. Utter silence. No air. No movement. Nothing.

And when I crash back into the world, I find it bitterly cold. The water follows us through, and I hear the boys yell as they’re spat out. As the portal's power begins to fade, sealing it closed, I force myself back to it. Back to the glowing arch I see, decorated in those glorious markings ahead of me. I slam my hand on it and recharge its power, making it glow brighter.

Whatever I am touching is agonisingly cold.

Ice. I am touching the smoothest ice, and my feet are inches deep in snow.

As I attempt to regain my breath, the water slams into me as it flows through the portal and painfully cold air assaults my lungs.

The deafening sound of a distant battle reaches me. Swords are clashing. Souls are dying and killing.

‘Shut it down!’ Cyrus roars, trying to pull my hand away. ‘You’ve landed us at the edge of a fucking battle!’

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