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The shaking subsided as suddenly as it had begun.

The power was out—not just on the block anymore, but district-wide.

“What the hell was that?” Shay panted.

As if this couldn’t get any worse, they heard the spitting of gunfire, the roaring of monsters, and the rhythmic pulsing of helicopter blades.

Roman’s wide eyes snapped to hers, terror stark on his face. The gunshots outside…the voices, theshoutsShay was just now picking up on…

He and Kylar had not come here alone. There were others outside, and by the sound of the madness going on just beyond these walls, they had run into trouble.

Tanner.

Ivy—if she was out there.

Bile burned Shay’s throat.

They all pushed to their feet and ran like hell for the way out.

36

South Yveswich City Limits

YVESWICH, STATE OF KER

Loren was having difficulty breathing,and this time she suspected that it had more to do with the rapidly declining state of Yveswich than it did her own health.

She clung to Darien’s steady arm as the city quaked. The tremors weren’t as bad over here, but the heart of Yveswich and everyone trapped there would surely suffer their might.

Darien’s family—herfamily. Her friends.

They were all still in there.

She watched in horror as the black mass pouring out of the Void grew andgrew,claiming yet more districts with its blinding grasp. It wouldn’t be long before it would swallow the rest of the city, turning every last survivor into sightless and vulnerable prey. Lights flashed at intervals as missiles were fired into the gloom, exposing hundreds of roaring beasts invading under the cover of darkness. Clawing their way out of Spirit Terra and into the land of the living. Of flesh and blood. To feast. To triumph.

Death would prevail. Unless they could find a way to stop it, death would be the world’s new ruler, and life—balance—would be no more.

The shaking subsided. The piercing screams of the crowd on the highway died off in the wind.

Darien returned his focus to his phone, hitting CALL on the number that had already gone to voicemail twice.

Come on, Dad,she thought. She squeezed her tired eyes shut, her fingers grasping the rain-slick worn leather of Darien’s sleeve.We need you. Please.

Ineed you.She’d always been too proud to admit it, but there were manytimes growing up when she really could have used her father. Either one, it didn’t matter which. And she really needed him now—thisfather. The only person in the city who might be capable of getting them out of here alive.

The warlock with the shaven head—Detective Glen Campbell was the name she had spotted on the identification badge sewn into the chest of his jacket—smirked. “The forcefield’s coming down right now, is it?” he taunted over the pounding rain. He shook his head and sauntered away, though he stayed close enough to keep a hostile watch on them.

Phone to his ear, Darien stared out at the ruins of the city, his saturated hair dripping rainwater down his face. His strong arm was wrapped protectively around her, his eyes black as sin.

“Bright here.” The sound of that brusk voice drifting through the phone speakers sent a wave of relief through Loren’s body, so strong her knees shook.

Oh thank gods.

“It’s me,” Darien replied. A loaded silence followed the greeting, indicating that Roark was shocked to hear from him. Before he could press for more information, Darien continued, “We have a problem. I’m on the I-5, and your men won’t let me through.” He shot a black look over his shoulder. Loren turned, peeking under his arm to see Glen pacing, frowning deeply at them. She had no idea what that guy’s problem was, but she really didn’t like him. Darien went on, “I’ve got one of yourdaughters with me, and the other’s still in the city. If you can’t convince your men to take this forcefield down, neither of your girls will make it out of here alive.”

There was a fraught silence. “They’ve assembled the forcefield already?” Roark’s question—hollowed out with surprise—crackled through the speakers. Loren prayed reception wouldn’t be lost.

“Yeah, and I’m staring down the longest line of fucking traffic I’ve ever seen. They’re not letting anyone through. People are going insane—I won’t be surprised if you start having riots on your hands. Can you help us out, or what?”