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Movement flickered out of the corner of my eye. Even as I spun and was blasted in the face with foul, rank breath, I knew it was too late. Claws fell from above, eager for the spray of blood my severed head would bring.
“Ugh!” A force slammed me from behind, burying me under body and snow. Alisdair’s roar shredded my eardrum, letting me know he took the hit that was meant for me.
“Stay here,” Alisdair bit out.
“What? What are you—? Alisdair!”
He climbed off me, heading straight for the mass of claws and fangs that claimed our friends. Leaving me behind.
“Alisdair?” I flipped on my back, terror flooded my senses and whiting out my mind as more, more, and more Taken burst out of the trees—descending on me. “Alisdair!”
“Argh!” They pounced on me, drooling jaws glistening, and smacked hard—cracking their noses and spurting oozing, black blood on the barrier.
Heart yammering, I reached out, my fingers tracing the cool glass.He protected me. Alisdair saved me.
The creature leaned over me, looking straight into my eyes as its lips peeled back. The first time I saw the Taken, I saw madness in their orbs. This time... I saw intelligence.
Fear flooded me deeper and more chilling than the cold. I wasn’t safe. We weren’t safe. No one in Elva or beyond was safe as long as these beings roamed the world. Trapping my gaze, the monster looked directly at me as it raised its fists, and smashed it on the glass.
The first strike sounded the call. The Taken went wild—pounding, kicking, scratching, punching, and attacking the thin barrier protecting my life.
“Alisdair!” I strained to find him through the chaos. It was so dark— Why was it so fucking dark in this cursed hell forsaken by the sun! I couldn’t see where Alisdair was, or if he’d gotten to Foalan, Eadaoin, or the others in time.
Bang! Bang! Craackkk!
I snapped up, alighting on the long crack spiderwebbing over my head.
Their leader shoved one away from the pack. I thought it was to stop anyone else from getting to me first, until the creature came back with a branch.
Yes, very intelligent.
The branch fell in an arc, pounding the crack wider, wider, wider.
“Alisdair!” One final scream, and the glass shattered.
“Ana!” His voice found me as claws encircled my throat, hauling me off my feet. “Shut your eyes!”
I snapped my lids shut, screams leaking through my teeth.
“Anchana!”
The sun exploded.
Light burst before my lids, assaulting the thin, sensitive barrier and flooding my irises. Bright spots stunned me, throwing my head back—and finding myself falling.
I crashed to the snow, the claws around my neck gone. I peeled my lids open and white-hot light blazed my eyes to dust.
No. That was the sight of the horrid, unnatural creatures before me—exposed and laid bare.
I took one look at them and screamed. Almost as loud as they did.
Dropping on all fours, the Taken fled before the light, the fight, and all—racing into the thick and twisting trees.
My chest heaved, rocked by ragged, rapid breaths that wouldn’t come in fast enough, and left too quickly. I dropped to my knees, my hand falling beside a pretty, purple flower—sprouting rapidly, as if wanting to gift me beauty after witnessing hideousness.
“I—I—” I willed moisture into my dry mouth. “Is everyone okay?” I croaked.
“We’re alive.” I turned to see Foalan staggering to his feet—a sword clutched in one hand, and his bleeding arm clutched by the other. “That’ll do for now.”
