Page 46 of Walking in Darkness

Building it and building it.

Before I turned it on the Kruen that writhed in a shapeless pool on the barren ground in Faydor.

And I wondered if, in my exhaustion, it didn’t feel the threat coming. Because it didn’t have time to take form when I expelled the energy in a blinding flash of light.

Whipping through time and space and realms.

A shock of energy that struck like a lightning bolt in the middle of the toiling pool.

There was only a squeal of outrage and pain before it was consumed in the flame.

A pile of ash.

And there was nothing left.

I collapsed.

Chapter Fourteen

Pax

“Aria!” I barely caught her before she fully crumpled to the ground, and I swept her into my arms.

Holding her close while my heart beat at a manic pace.

What the fuck were we thinking? Standing here on this street doing this? But there’d been no chance I could try to stop her. Not when I knew it was her purpose. Not when I knew it was what she was meant to do.

My attention dashed left and right, searching for a place to hide us as I listened to the single siren grow louder as it approached.

We had to get the hell out of here, or everything we’d been fighting for was going to go up in flames.

Had to assume it was the single gunshot she’d fired that had caused someone to call and report hearing it. The single gunshot that had saved my life.

I pressed my nose into her hair, inhaling her coconut scent, trying to find a semblance of calm as panic flailed against the gratitude I felt.

The overwhelming awe I had for this brave, beautiful, unstoppable girl who was limp in my arms.

Completely drained because she was always willing to give all of herself to others.

To offer it all.

“This way. Hurry.” I was surprised when the hushed voice hit me from the side, and I looked up to find the brown-haired girl hissing the words. She held the hand of the younger girl as she waved for me to follow them with the other.

I didn’t hesitate. I followed them around the corner, jogging to keep up as they ran ahead of us.

Aria’s head jostled from side to side with each thud of my boots on the sidewalk.

Harsh pants were ripped from my mouth by the exertion.

They hustled along the sidewalk before they stalled out at a tiny alley that cut between this building and the next.

The older one ushered me and the younger girl ahead of her before she ducked in behind us. The blonde teetered on her heels, trying to balance as she ran, her movements entirely different from before Aria had helped her.

That gaunt hopelessness was gone.

Now her gasps were sharp and raking as we raced between the two buildings all the way down to the intersecting road.

We stopped at the end of it, still hidden in its shadows.