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They’d made it.

Paxton was grinning.

Roman grinned back.

“Yes!” Shay cheered as Roman twisted back around. “Yes, yes,yes!”

“Phew,” Paxton panted. He dramatically wiped his forehead and gave Roman another little smile in the rear-view. “Close one, hey?”

Shadow exploded through the city with a deafeningbang, shockwaves shaking the car. Roman watched in the mirrors as the new forcefield shimmered above Yveswich, runes glowing all different shades of red as the magic contained the darkness—right in the knick of time.

For now.

It billowed against the forcefield like smoke, spreading to the far reaches of the city. Not utterly blinding, by the looks of it—not yet. But soon.

Close onewas right. They’d made it.

Barely…but they’d made it.

That was what Roman thought, at least.

Until Paxton started screaming.

Not in fear, but in pain.

Roman whipped around in his seat, his pounding heart jumping up his throat as Paxton wailed.“Pax?”

“What’s wrong with him?”Shay yelled, unbuckling her seatbelt.

Paxton was thrashing and bucking and writhing, hands clamped over his ears, his mouth open in an infinite, ear-shattering scream that threatened to saw apart the car.

“Pax,talk to me!”Roman begged, his attention flashing between his brother and the dark road. “What’s happening? Are you hurt?Talk to me. Talk to me!”But he only kept screaming.

Roman watched in horror as the blood vessels in Pax’s eyes burst, red blooming into the whites.

“MAKE IT STOP!” Paxton screamed, his face turning purple, tears leaking from his eyes.“MAKE IT STOP!”

“Pax,” Roman choked out.“Pax?—”

“Stop the car!” Shay shrieked.

Black swallowed Pax’s eyes. Dark lines sprouted in the skin around them, extending into his cheeks and above his brows. Growing and stretching like tree roots.

And he kept screaming. Louder.

Louder.

Shay dove between the front seats.

“PAX—”

Power blasted through the car, shattering the windows.

Roman threw his hand up, shielding his eyes as glass exploded in his face, fragments biting into his skin.

The car sped on without direction, as if it had a mind of its own.

Roman slammed his boot down on the brake, but it didn’t slow.