Page 51 of Glimmer and Burn (Unity #1)

“You didn’t think I was going to let this go that easily, did you?

” Graves’s voice was full of venom, dripping with malice.

He made no show to hide his intentions. There was no one left who would believe the performance anyway.

A void of ebony oozed around Graves’s form.

The color of cold-blooded evil intent. “No, no, no. You and that fucking cunt have stolen my victory. I have nothing. Nothing . As soon as I’m done with the pair of you, I have to leave Unity for good. ”

Devin didn’t speak. Didn’t move.

He only cared about getting to Miranda first. He was calculating the quickest path and possibly distraction, when a single enforcer materialized beside Graves from the shadows.

This one didn’t bother with the cowl and mask.

A Night Fae with pale, almost grey skin and eyes.

Then, his form shimmered and once again he was little more than a shadow.

It had to be the reason they were able to get this far without drawing attention.

Some Night Fae could cloak themselves, a trick with light that rendered them invisible.

But now that Devin knew he was there, it was easier to detect the shimmer.

Even the man’s aura was concealed by the illusion.

The shimmer walked to the chair and, even though he was not built any different than Devin—on the leaner side even for fae—when he pulled on his weapon, he took the entire chair with it, tossing it free with a flick of his wrist so the once solid piece of furniture thudded against the wall.

“Devin?” Miranda.

His heart squeezed.

“Oh, is she here?” Graves’s laugh was manic, terrifying. “How fortuitous that I get to kill two pesky, annoying little birds with one stone.”

“Avery, if you please.”

Devin heard the footfalls on the carpet, his reflexes still sharp. He dodged, picking up the pot of tea and slamming it into Graves’s face. The wild cry of pain was followed by a flurry of curses and barked orders, but Devin had slipped in the adjoining door and locked it behind him.

He turned, expecting to find Miranda still oblivious in the bath, but instead she was just behind him.

And wearing his clothes while brandishing a fire poker in her free hand.

He should not have been surprised. She must have dressed in seconds, the fabric was sticking to her dripping skin.

But even his steely, amazing Miranda’s hands were trembling.

“I heard him,” she said, voice hollow.

“We’re going to—”

The door shattered, bursting into a thousand splinters and fragments over the floor.

Devin took a small risk, diving away from Miranda to throw open the drapes that blocked the window.

The sunset blasted into the room, and Devin felt it like a slap across the face.

He didn’t care about weakening himself, only the other two Night Fae.

And, as he hoped, there was no turning invisible in sunlight.

Besides, the most dangerous person in the room was entirely unaffected by the sun or moon.

“Fuck!” Graves stepped into the shadows. The sun was hardly dangerous or toxic, but so much so suddenly was bound to throw them off.

Avery, now no longer invisible, hadn’t needed time to recover and advanced. Miranda lashed out with her fire poker, striking him with the hooked end. Blood sprayed, but the wound wasn’t deep enough to deter him.

“Nice try.” Graves recovered and took out his own weapon, though Devin suspected Graves would wait until Avery had weakened them enough to eliminate danger.

“You get Graves,” Miranda shouted, easily ducking and dodging every attempt to corral her. “Devin, move, now’s your chance.”

His body felt like it was full of lead, like he couldn’t have lifted a leg if he wanted to and it had nothing to do with the sun. Graves raised his arm to throw the blade, to stop Miranda who was currently the strongest force in the room, and the trance shattered.

Devin caught Graves’s arm, grappling with him until the sword fell with a clatter. Graves kicked at his chest, knocking the air from his lungs.

“You worthless piece of trash,” Graves spat, “How your mother could bear the thought of creating you, I’ll never understand.”

Devin knocked Graves backward, then lunged for the sword. As he lifted it, blade poised to slice through Graves’s throat, the man’s demeanor instantly shifted.

“Don’t. Please, I beg you,” Graves groveled.

And just as Devin was about to drive the blade home, Miranda cried out behind him. He turned, searching for her, fear squeezing his heart.

Pain erupted in his side.

“NO!”

The world blurred at the edges, and something wet and hot and sticky began to trickle down his side. Devin lost his balance.

Where was Miranda? He could hear her.

“Devin? Devin!”

He needed to find her, but he—

Miranda watched Devin sink to his knees. She screamed, but it wasn’t enough. He still hit the floor, eyes flickering closed.

And there was not a force on earth that could have stopped her.

Evading Avery, Miranda leapt clear over the tub.

Graves started to back away. The knife slipped from his shaking fingers. His fear understood it didn’t matter. No weapon would have saved him.

Miranda stalked closer. She used a foot to flick the fallen sword into her hand. She prepared to strike.

“Now, hold on.” Graves held up a hand. “I let your sister live, isn’t that…Avery! Avery, what the fuck am I paying you for? Stop her—”

Graves’s back hit the wall. He held up his arms.

The start of a word formed on his lips. But his final sound was a guttural sputter.

And she did not stop stabbing.

Again. Again. Again.

Blood sprayed in her face and colored the pools of water from where she had left the tub without drying.

Hack. Hack. Hack.

She had to be sure he would never move again.

For her sister. For herself. For Devin.

Only when her body grew tired, did she stop. Then she turned, sword poised and drenched in gore, to Avery.

He held up his hands. “He can’t pay me if he’s dead. I’ll see myself out.”

And he disappeared. Miranda didn’t care.

She let the sword go and raced to Devin’s side.

He had to be alive.

She felt a pulse. He was breathing.

But for how much longer?