Page 13 of Solar Shadows

I heard her snarl, the snow-kicking coming to a stop.

“You!” she hissed. “What have you done?”

Uh-oh. “Apart from freeze my balls off?”

She screamed again, charging at me, the footprints coming in fast. According to Drake, she couldn’t hurt him on account of him not being here physically.

That didn’t stop my bladder threatening to give up.

“Stay away from me!” I roared, trying my power again, preparing a fist to smack her down with.

“I will taste of the celestial men!”

She was on me, a hand grabbing me by the hair, dragging me forward.

Guess I wasn’t so safe in this place after all.

I swung my punch, colliding with what must have been her knee. She shrieked and her body hit the ground with a thud, leaving an imprint in the snow. She thrashed, making a psychotic snow angel, giving me a chance to get to my feet.

Adrenaline broiled in me like cheese on toast under a hot grill, my pulse racing with fear, my scalp throbbing with pain from her hair pull.

“I will have you! I will have you! I will have you!” she bellowed.

Not even after a million lifetimes, hag!

I turned and lumbered toward the trees, willing myself to stay vertical, barking commands at my legs to work harder.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Her hurting me changed the game, dialing the risk factor up a notch.

“The Sun!” she howled. “The Sun! The Sun! The Sun!”

I saw her footprints charge toward me again. I braced myself, ready to take a mighty swing at her while my heartbeat accelerated.

Fingers crossed I cracked her in the face this time.

As those footprints came within feet of me, I made my swing. Met air, stumbling forward in shock, almost taking a dive face-first into the snow. But I steadied myself.

Shitting hell. She’d gone right through me.

“I see,” she muttered from behind me. “I see the holes in my boat.”

Ugh. Her voice set fire to my already delicate patience.

I took a breath, rubbing at my aching chest, more than ready to kill her if the opportunity presented itself.

Please and thanks. That would be fucking marvelous.

“This is merely the beginning,” she responded. “My time will come.” She coughed lightly. “I apologize, Sunshine One. I didn’t mean to lash out. I hope I didn’t hurt you.”

She caressed my rage button with her bullshit. “Seriously? Hello? My hair?”

Of course, she cackled. Yes, so funny. Pardon me while I pee my pants.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m so over this.”

All I heard were heavy breathing and a snooty sniff, before she said, “Until next time, Sunshine One.”

I made the same speedy transition back into my world, staring at the mansion’s living room ceiling. I blinked at the terracotta and gold décor as I sat up.