Page 192 of Wrath of the Fae

I hear Tessa scream at me as she flies in my direction.

‘RAVEN!’ she calls desperately. ‘LOOK!’

She’s pointing past me. I turn to see three bodies being carried up to the tear by Ivan’s machines.

Ivan’s distracting me.

‘It’s Rhea!’ She screams, beating her wings furiously as she tries to get to me. ‘And the guys! He’s taking them!’

I reach out through the Bond but feel nothing. My markings remain, but I can’t reach them.

They’re out cold.

And I know in my heart that he has Reid and Cyrus. And I know the third form is my sister.

‘What a pleasant surprise to find out my little beastie was with child. Oh, how fortunate. She never was as strong as you, Raven. Always the weaker, even though she is technically the eldest of you two. Born ten minutes earlier and screaming like the little cretin she is. Not like you. So calm when you came into this world. You were already so at ease with the pain and blood you were destined for. I have my final piece. You lose, daughter.’

Ivan’s machine holds out his metal hand, and a purple spray hits my face from its wrist.

It forces its way down my throat, burning and suffocating me.

‘I will see you soon.’

I fall.

thirty-five

Myheadspins.Mythroat burns. My eyes stream, and my ears ring as whatever this smoke is works its twisted powers over me.

I’m down. I hit the courtyard hard, leaving a crater in my wake from the impact.

I can’t stand or summon my powers. I wretch and groan, desperately trying to roll over and reach my feet. My wings fail to spread or beat. Every attempt to push myself up ends with me flat on my face.

But I keep trying. I have to! He has Reid and Cyrus.

He has Rhea, the final piece for his machine to meld this world into his.

I claw across the ground, pulling myself along and trying to get my wings to lift me.

The sound of the carnage left behind by the attack becomes a dull soundtrack of groans and sobs.

The smell of smoke hangs thick in the air. I swear, I can taste the blood of all those we have lost.

I sit. It takes all I have, but I sit. I try to call them through the Bond, but nothing connects.

They’re gone. I know it. Ivan has them all.

I continue staring at the sky. Drones swarm the tear, waiting for me or anyone else to try to go after them.

Ash falls around me like snow, and plumes of smoke rise.

Tessa is by my side, desperately trying to get me to my feet.

‘We have to go after them!’ she pleads, straining to lift me. ‘Raven, get up!’

Stumbling on uneasy legs, I stand.

‘What did he hit you with?’ she asks.

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