Page 33 of Solar Shadows

Did the shades shoot me with a shard or with a special crystal gun? And how the hell did they see through my spell?

“Help’s coming,” Jake said. “Help’s coming. Get Isaac over here!” He bellowed that last part.

Was I bleeding to death?

I couldn’t move, pain migrating to my skull, mythroat closing up. The steady drumbeat of my heart pounded languidly in my ears.

Slowing down.

Fading away.

Jake appeared above me, falling to his knees. “Shitting hell.” He pressed his hands to my chest. “Hang in there. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”

I watched the condensation puff from his mouth, clinging onto the hope I didn’t fade away.

I’m not ready yet…

My heartbeat slowed more.

I’m not ready…

Chapter 9

ISAAC

Abeam of light hit me in the face.

Within seconds, I found myself back in Blue Orchard, the drop in temperature like whiplash.

“Welcome back, Sunshine One.”

“Whoa…” I moaned, taking an awkward step back.

The hag cackled, slowly moving around me in a circle. “Isn’t this temperature such a shock to the body?”

That wasn’t what shocked me.

The fae woman was no longer invisible, a faded image of her body flickering before me like a worn-out piece of film. From what I could make out, she wore gray, tattered robes, and her hair fell to her shoulders in matted white curls. A set of violet eyes fixed on me—the most vibrant feature on her. They were the kind of eyes to peel back layers you didn’t want peeling.

But did she know I could see her?

“I have touched you,” she said, her worn brown boots crunching in the snow, loose shoelaces trailing behind her. “We are connected, Sunshine One.” Her grin exposed a set of rotting teeth. “I have you, I have Sweetvoice. How lucky for me to have two beautiful men visit my humble home whenever I wish.” She threw her head back, releasing another cackle.

Riley appeared beside me.

“Make that three beautiful men,” she added.

I let out a squeak. “What…what happened?”

“Got a shard to the left thigh,” he answered, eyes widening.

He looked at me like he was searching for an answer.

I offered him a small nod, hoping we were on the same page.

He nodded back, straightening his spine.

Although I wasn’t a hundred percent certain, I took his reaction to mean he saw her and understood I did too.