Page 115 of Prince of Darkness and Deceit

No, not my soul. My power.

The light recoils, snapping back into the tiniest pocket of space just behind my heart. But the job is done.

The monster’s claws slide out of me like the needle of a syringe, smooth and painless. Or maybe that’s just the adrenaline talking. I don’t really care.

All I care about is that I’m free.

Free to tilt back as fatigue and gravity take hold.

The sight of the flaming roof crashing down on the midnight-blue monster fills my vision…

Just before I fall out of the window.

23

Hair whips my face. Air whistles in my ears.

I don’t have time to scream, let alone maneuver my body into a better position. I’m too far from the building. I’m going to hit the ground. At this angle, my head will strike first, and it will be a miracle if I don’t snap my neck.

Panic sets in just before a force collides with my shredded back. I gasp from the agony rippling over the torn flesh. Then—I blink up at the starry night sky.

I’ve…stopped. Midair.

What in Velmira?

I turn my neck and gasp. Dark, swirling shadows hold me suspended, as soft as a feathered mattress after a long day spent on my feet.

The dark cloud begins to drop, lowering me to the ground. I exhale and stare at the smoke-filled sky. The fire continues to roar, swallowing every last wooden board that makes up the home.

My eyelids droop, dizzy from blood loss and exertion. But they fly open when strong arms band around my back, taking my weight from the cozy shadows.

“AH!”

I buck upright, but the grip holds tight. A brush of coolness slithers between my back and the arms holding me, cushioning the worst of the pain from the monster’s slices.

The monster!

I snap my head to the window. Flames blaze out of the opening. Surely it couldn’t survive the inferno.

Right?

“Jax,” Rian barks, drawing me closer.

I rest my palm on his muscular chest in a weak attempt to keep some distance between us.

Jaxon appears. Tight eyes trail over me before they lock on the Fae holding me. “What do you need?”

“Get the creature.”

“On it.” Shadows curl from Jaxon’s extended forearms and float up, then dive through the open window.

A screech followed by a wail precedes the home’s wall exploding as Jaxon’s shadows yank the monster through the too-small window. His shadows become solid, immovable bands as they wrap around the beast's charred blue skin.

How is it still alive?

The monster’s sharp teeth snap, and drool flies as it whips its head. Rian turns me before the disgusting fluid lands on me. The Fae winces. The fabric on his shoulder steams where the drool landed before shadows coalesce on the spot and clear away the scalding liquid.

My fuzzy head spins.