Page 232 of Shadowman

Without thinking, I take a step, my foot crunching on a fallen branch.

“Don’t move!” a voice barks.

My hands fly up when a shadowy figure comes out from around a tree, aiming a gun at my face. Blood is rushing in my ears as I try to make him out… It’s so fucking dark and my vision is obstructed by the rain.

He approaches me slowly, two more people emerging behind him.

“Byron?” Trevel says my name, and I exhale, releasing the breath I’d been holding.

He’s here. He’s… still here.

Thank fuck, he’s alright.

Trevel rushes to me, warmth blooming in my chest the closer he gets, and the more I’m able to verify that he’sactuallyhere and unharmed. I have just enough time to register who he’s with—Kent, who’s lowering his gun, and Dr. Love, arms still tied behind his back—before Trevel is wrapping himself around me. Hugging me.Holdingme.

And suddenly, he’s holding meup; keeping me upright because I feel like I could collapse. I’m just so glad to see him… I hadn’t even realized how scared I was until right fucking now.

I didn’t allow myself to feel it… The fear of losing him. But with his arms around me, his firm body pressing into mine and the crook of his neck like the perfect place to rest my weary head, I can’t help it. I melt against him, locking my arms around his waist as the stress of everything going on falls away.

“I’m so glad you’re alright,” he hums, fingers combing through my wet hair.

“I… I had to come find you.” I shudder the words, my lips brushing the soft flesh of his throat. “I was… worried.”

He pulls back, forcing me to untangle from him, taking my face in his hands. He’s…smiling. “That’s incredible, my sweet perfect fury.”

I’m trying to scowl, but I’m sure it’s not working. No matter how uncertain things are between us, I have to acknowledge how much morerighteverything feels when we’re together. I’m not sure if it is, but it feels that way, and right now, I need that comfort.

A throat clearing cuts into our moment, and I look up. Kent has his gun on Dr. Love now, who’s glaring at Trevel and me, studiously curious yetfullof animosity.

“Where’s Felix?” he hisses at me. “Is he alright?? You better not have—”

“Shut up,” Kent barks at Love, then nods, addressing me and Trevel. “Come on. We can’t stay out here… It’s not safe.”

“What happened?” I ask, hoping to gain some more information on what in the holy hell is going on here. “I heard the tower fall…”

“The walls are down,” Kent says, motioning with his gun for Dr. Love to walk. “We have to keep moving. You’re lucky we found you before the others did. Instructions are shoot on sight.”

I gulp, falling into step beside Trevel as we follow them at a brisk pace. “Shoot… who?”

He doesn’t answer me, but Trevel and I share a look of understanding.

Prisoners.

They’re going to be shooting any prisoner who’s found outside of the Pen. And now that there’s a hole in the side of it, I’d imagine that will be at least a few.

Glancing left, I swallow hard.Luthor and Ren are out here somewhere… I know they are.

“We have to go back,” I whisper to Trevel, who peeks down at me. “I need to find—”

“No one is going anywhere until we reconvene with The Ivory,” Kent barks. “Stay close and quiet. That’s an order, inmates.”

Tension weaves through me once more as I walk with them, back toward the mansion. Away from the prison.

I don’t know what any of this means… For any of us.

I just have to hope with everything in me that they’re okay…My friends.

The fear and concern in me are eased, however, when Trevel slips his fingers through mine.