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“Shifter, come to me.” Barric’s command sent an invisible force right to my chest, and I doubled over from its magnitude.
Pain pulsated through my veins as I fought his sway. Something about it reminded me of what Fane did in that alley to stop me from torturing one of Karn’s demons.
Alpha power.
It wouldn’t have affected me if I wasn’t a shifter.
“When were you bitten?” Coltrane’s question was barely audible, and the color drained from her cheeks.
Screw this.
I gathered my strength, sweat collecting on my hairline, and finally pushed through Barric’s influence, my body jerking forward. His outstretched hand missed me as I darted by.
Coltrane cursed. “Someone, stop her!”
My boots slammed against the hardwoods and then screeched as I pivoted and yanked the door to the back stairs open. Going to my room to grab my things wasn’t an option anymore. I had to get out of this house before they caught me.
Barric would force me into his pack, and if Coltrane discovered the Infernal Sol hid inside me, she’d lock me up.
I crashed through the door on the first level of the manor, startling a few ravens walking by. I ignored them and bounded for the front door, my escape only a few feet away.
“Stop her!” Coltrane yelled from the balcony on the second level.
How did she get down here so fast?
The few ravens looked around for an enemy, none of them believing it was me.
Roxie appeared in front of the door, a dark smile curving her lips as she jabbed her finger in my direction. “Tate tried to attack me. Something’s wrong with her.”
Now that the other ravens realized I was the one Coltrane had meant, a couple rushed for the heavy oak door to block it while two crowded around me. Roxie’s smug expression set my veins on fire.
Coltrane descended the stairs with Barric’s imposing form behind her, but I didn’t give either of them a chance to get close. I slammed my elbow into the nearest raven and then kicked the other one, sending her into a table and shattering a decorative vase.
My fight-or-flight instincts went into overdrive, and I rushed toward another group of gathering ravens, hitting the ground and slipping right through them like a baseball player gliding onto base. I hopped back to my feet and dashed through the manor. Coltrane must have radioed ravens to guard the two back exits, but they missed the stairs to the lower levels. There were a few emergency routes back to the first floor and even one that led directly to the courtyard.
Fane had been right all along. He knew how they would react if they found out. The place that had been my home for the last few years had become my prison. And my friends and allies were my enemies.
I jumped over a chair, pivoted, and yanked the door open, flying down the steps faster than any raven. My pulse throbbed as adrenaline and fear pumped through my veins. I’d have to pass directly through the main sparring gym. Hopefully, none of these ravens had any inkling of the storm brewing in the rest of the manor.
My nape prickled as echoes from the gym reached my ears. I took a deep breath and rushed into the room, most of the ravens too preoccupied to notice me—except Hawk.
As soon as he saw me, he stopped fighting with McDonough. “Tate, what happened?” Hawk trekked toward me, his cheeks flushed and dark blond hair damp from sweat.
“Grab her, Hawk!” Coltrane sprinted into the room, panting.
Confusion spread over her nephew’s face. “Why?”
Cold dread sank into my bones. If he came for me, I’d have no choice but to fight him off.
“I’m sorry, Hawk.” My voice cracked as I surveyed the room for the easiest path to the exit on the other side.
“What’s going on?” Hawk was only a foot away when his sneakers screeched to a halt. “What the fuck is wrong with your eyes?”
Ice surrounded me like someone had locked me in a freezer and left me for dead. My worst fear materialized. Hawk noticed my slitted pupils, and the look of horror twisting his features had my knees threatening to give out.
Hawk stumbled back, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe what he saw.
“Stopnow!”
