Page 45 of Feeding Beauty (The Lost Girls #5)

“I called them.” Aurora’s head whips up, a wild panic in her eyes. “I warned my parents. I told them Mal was coming for them. But I didn’t give them enough warning. They aren’t prepared.”

“Is that true?” Ariel looks from face to face. “Is she immune from Rosari powers?”

“If she’s been gorging on mage blood and absorbing their powers,” Cinder says slowly, “then it very well might be the case. But who knows what aspects of Talon’s fae abilities she’s taken on.”

I share a look with Aurora. Silently, we communicate that no matter which ones she gets, it will be bad.

“Well, sounds like we better go find out,” Snow says, standing up in a ready position. “I got to change real quick, and then I’m good to go.”

“I don’t have time to wait.” Aurora pushes to her feet as well. “I have to go now.” She raises a finger at Snow. “And you are going to have to explain the catsuit and daggers eventually.”

All eyes turn to her.

Snow laughs nervously, eyes darting between us. “What? I took a Halloween costume too far and now it’s just…useful.”

“Going by way of the border would add at least an hour to the trip,” Rap says, slowly. Then she walks to the tree, resting a hand on the bark. “What if I told you there was a shortcut?”

“Oh, ho, ho, boss lady,” Kai says, rubbing his hands together, “I’ve always liked your style.”

“You can’t go,” Aurora protests, crossing to Rap.

Rap’s brows raise in surprise before her expression flattens. “Oh. Is that right? Well, I’d like to see you try to stop me. Or them for that matter.” She nods toward the rest of the group. I follow her gaze and see what’s written on their faces. They don’t plan to be left behind.

“She’s right,” I add, standing. “This isn’t your fight.”

“Of course it is, you numbskull.” Snow rolls her eyes.

“Family fights for family,” Ariel says, lips thinning with determination.

Aurora and I have another one of our silent communications as we both realize the same thing. There’s no stopping our friends. Or rather, our new family.

“It’s time to go home,” Aurora says.

And though I’ve been wanting her to say those words for the last few months, they only fill me with dread now.

We step through the secret portal Rap opens in the massive oak tree, leaving behind the uneven hardwood of Poison Apple to arrive on lush green grass.

Fresh air hits me first, clean and rich with flowers, the kind I remember from childhood. A sky spread wide and endless above. For a breath, the Realm of Roses is as it should be — open, green, untouched.

Then the dream shatters.

Smoke curls up from the village below, thick and black against the night.

Flames snap across rooftops, spitting sparks into the air.

People run through the streets in chaos, their shouts breaking into screams that pierce the fields around us.

A woman stumbles, clutching a child to her chest, before vanishing into the crush of bodies.

A man falls, dragged down by pale hands, his cry cut short.

Vampires.

Above it all, wings blot out the stars. A massive shadow glides over the Realm of Roses, and fire rains down in a burning arc. Mal.

“She grew wings.” Aurora repeats the words, but they come out numb, disconnected.

“And she can use my fire.” I grit my teeth.

“We’ll help the villagers,” Ariel shouts to be heard, already rolling toward the village despite the uneven grassy terrain. “We’ll put out the fires and get people to safety.”

“Care for assistance with that, and maybe a push?” Kai offers. Ariel waves him on, and he takes the handles of her chair before racing forward to the village with vampiric speed. Rap gives us a curt nod and sprints after them.

“What do you say, Cinder?” Snow asks, tapping the daggers along the belt of her catsuit. “You kill the thrall on anyone Mal is forcing to do her dirty work, and I’ll stab any of the ones who are just here because they wanted to party?”

Cinder side-eyes Snow. “Done this before, Snow, darling?”

Snow shrugs. “It’s good to have a hobby.”

With that, they charge toward the village.

“We’ve got to get to my parents,” Aurora says. “They aren’t going to stand by while the village is terrorized. They’ll sacrifice themselves to try and stop her.”

I rip off my jacket, already in a run. “I’m on it.” My wings extend, and with a few powerful flaps, I launch into the air.

Aurora calls my name, and I turn. Her jaw trembles, her eyes dart between me and the fight ahead, panic and hope warring in them until it’s all I can see.

“Talon, try not to hurt her too badly,” she yells up at me.

I cock my head to the side, not understanding.

“She…she says she can break the curse.” The expression of hope and dread tells me she debated even telling me.

My heart soars out of my chest with a hope I didn’t know possible.

Mal could undo what she’s done?

Aurora could be free?

Terrified screams send my heart plummeting right back down to earth again.

I nod and fly off, already knowing I have to stop Mal at any cost. Even if that cost is me and Aurora.