Page 19 of The Tracker's Dawn: Sunderverse

The street before me was littered with bodies and remains from the explosion. The strong tang of Mekare’s magic burned in my nostrils. I blinked trying to get my bearings. When my head stopped spinning, I quickly marked Jake’s position. He was also recovering from the blast, shaking himself and sending bits of glass flying in all directions. Eric and Prince Kalyll were also all right. The Prince was shedding his scorched cloak, which had caught the worst of the blast. He stared at the conflagration in dismay, surely contemplating how to deliver the message of Gonira’s death to his family.

My gaze drifted to the roaring flames that had now reached the second floor and were making the wood groan.

Rosalina!

I started toward the building, but Jake was there in an instant, blocking my path.

“No, Toni!”

“Get out of my way.”

“No, listen—”

“I have to get her out,”I shrieked, all logic gone.

I snarled and snapped my teeth an inch from his snout. He would not stop me. I had to get Rosalina. I would not abandon her. Blind with desperation, I slammed my body into Jake’s, pivoted to one side, and dashed toward the fire. I’d almost made it to the sidewalk and was about to leap inside the building when I smacked into something hard and invisible.

Seeing stars, I shook my head. It took me a moment to figure out what had happened.

Damn you, you fucking witch! Let me through!

I scratched at the barrier with my sharp claws, desperately trying to tear it.

Eric appeared at my side in his human form. He was fully clothed and looking down at me with a mixture of pity and irritation.

“Quit it, Sunder. We need to get out of here.”

“Fuck you! I’m not leaving her.”

“Oh, ye of little faith.” He rolled his eyes. “Rosalina isn’t in there. She’s safe with Damien, I assure you. That mage doesn’t fail. Let’s get out of here before the cops show up.”

CHAPTER 7

As soon as we enteredEric’s garage, I leaped out of the car and left my three companions behind. Prince Kalyll had come with us since his cousin was also here. It was where we’d agreed to reconvene, preferring Eric’s house to Damien’s because it had never been compromised—Blake and that annoying Copper Mage, Jensen, had gotten in Damien’s place.

I ran all the way to the second floor in my wolf form, taking huge leaps up the stairs. I skidded to a stop on the main floor, my claws sliding on the floor until I gained purchase on one of the rugs. The surrounding glass walls were dimmed and a few of the lamps were on. That was where I found Damien, kneeling in front of a couch in front of Rosalina, obstructing my view of her.