Page 152

I watch them. Watch the rhythmic flapping of their wings as they take formation. And even down here, I swear I can see every black, gleaming feather on their little bodies …

“Come back.”

I blink and shake my head before taking another step forward.

Only to feel a hard tug behind my ribs yanking me backward.

“I said come back!”Raphael roars inside my head.

“No!” I scream back, but I can’t stop my damn body from obeying him.

Submitting to his will, my heavy, tired legs are forced to retrace all the steps I’ve taken.

Throwing my arms out, I try to grab at the trees, but they only scrape against my fingers.

I become so exhausted, I don’t even know where I am when I finally feel Raphael grabbing me.

Lifting me up and clutching me to his chest, Raphael is so furious and afraid, his body, still naked, shakes.

Too tired to fight back, my head falls limply against him.

“Thank fuck we got to her in time,” Asher says from somewhere close.

“Yes,” Raphael grits out. “Thank fuck.”

Then the world smears around us.

I want to burst into tears the moment I realize we’re back inside the house.

The entire family gathered in the big, open entry room, their worry practically pulses off them.

When we appear, they look at us with different mixtures of relief.

Then I sense some of that relief transforming into horror.

“Oh god,” Chloe gasps. “What happened to her?”

Asher walks up to her and immediately pulls her into his arms. “Don’t worry, my love, she’ll be okay.”

Caden opens his mouth as if he wants to say something, but Asher shoots him a dark look over his shoulder. “Don’t.”

Chloe’s reaction confuses me, but I’m too damn tired to ask her what she meant.

There’s nothing wrong with me… I was simply enjoying the sun for the first time in over a decade.

Raphael growls low and deep, his chest rumbling against my cheek.

“Look at yourself,” he commands.

Even though I’m so tired it hurts, my eyes slide slowly across my body.

The first thing I notice is my skin. Every inch of me is lobster red and looks a little... charred in some places.

I guess I got a wicked sunburn and didn’t realize it.

Raphael growls even louder. “Keep looking! Look at your hands! Look at your feet!”

I look at my hands, at my fingers, and my stomach flips with the urge to puke.