Page 57 of Elysian

Cassiel straightened, and there was no hint to tell me what he thought. He was serious. That angered me, quite desperately. He would have me released while he remained captive.

“Cease making plans!” I shouted. Cassiel was telling Egan to get me out of here without him.

Panic squeezed my throat. Images of his crumpled body, of them using him for their entertainment, of his pain, filled my head.

“Egan.” I shook my head. “I cannot leave him. Please . . .” I croaked.

‘Stubborn,’ Cassiel all but growled in my head.

“I will not help him.” Egan yanked the effigy, but I held on tighter. “Amara, release it. I will not let him escape. But you . . . you can run.”

I drew straighter.

‘I want you to duck in three . . . two . . .’

He moved, and Egan’s eyes flicked up. His hand squeezed. Panic seized my throat. I cried out, shoving his cheek with my palm. A flare of pressure began in my stomach, traveling outward to my fingertips in a sweep. Egan’s eyes rolled back, and he crumpled, hand going limp. I hugged the effigy, backing away from his limp body as I panted.

What had happened?

A touch on my shoulder had me whirling.

“It is me.” Cassiel caught my arms. “What did you do?”

Not what occurred but what did I do . . .

My heart raced at an abnormal speed, pounding so hard I could feel it.

“I do not know,” I breathed, staring down at his unconscious body. I stared at my hand, then at Egan.

Cassiel whipped his head toward the empty path. “We must go.”

He grabbed the grimoire and handed it to me as he collected the fallen sword. He angled it as if about to slide it through Egan.

“No,” I blurted.

His eyes thinned. He opened his mouth, but before speaking he swung his head around.

“Fuck,” Cassiel snarled, turning so fast that I smashed into his back.

“What is it?”

“I hear steps ahead of us,” he answered grimly, pulling me opposite where he looked.

I staggered after him, still reeling, my chest still aching.

Shouts increased from down the hall.

An arrow swished past and thudded into the door sill behind us.

A second arrow sliced his arm, and blood welled. Cassiel tossed the sword with a clatter.

‘Hang on to me.’

He wound his arms around me and lunged forward, but not the way I anticipated. Cassiel crashed his shoulder into the glass pane. I choked on a scream, grinding my teeth as the impact drove the breath from me. It could not have been more than a few beats, but it stretched, then we lay on the ground with a thud. His hand on my head forced my cheek against his chest. Even though he cushioned me with his body, landing made my teeth click together and my head swim. The grimoire and effigy slipped from my grip.

I grunted as the air was pushed out of my stomach.

Even before I caught my breath, I pushed up, ignoring the aches and pains rifling through my limbs. Cassiel remained on the ground.