Page 67

ORION

The moment my eyes landed on her, the world shifted. The crypt tore away from me, ripped apart like paper, and then—

Pain.

Bone-jarring, world-wrenching pain.

I slammed back into my body just in time to feel it collide with a headstone.

I landed hard on the damp grass, my breath ripping from my chest. My body burned, and for what? Because Xander’s dumb ass didn’t think to hide my body somewhere that wasn’t practically gift-wrapped for a fucking ambush?

I turned just in time to see a wall of muscle and horns barreling toward me, hooves raking the earth.

Fuck.

I rolled to the right, seconds before the Minotaur could trample me. Its bulky form smashed clean through the headstone, his momentum powering him onward.

I was right there! Eve was within reach. Now, I was out here playing matador with a six-ton slab of rage instead.

My head spun as I got to my feet, twisting the ring on my finger until the sword was fully formed in my grip. Adrenaline coursed through my body as I watched the Minotaur pivot and turn his charge back in my direction.

“No red flags this time, buddy,” I shouted after him. I had no idea if these creatures could understand us, but that never stopped me from trying to rile them up.

The Minotaur responded in kind, a guttural roar cleaving its throat as it launched itself forward. I was ready for him this time.

I braced myself, seeing nothing but blood-soaked horns bearing down on me.

I twisted mid-step, slamming my boot into its side.

It staggered, just enough for me to whip my sword around, carving a deep line across its back.

The Minotaur reared, blood spurting from the gash as I pulled away, narrowly dodging its flailing arms.

I stepped around it, twirling my sword in the air. “What’s the matter, buddy? Bad back?”

The Minotaur roared, spit flying as he charged once more. My blade sliced across its chest, but it barely flinched. The next second, claws raked across my ribs, tearing through skin and muscle like paper.

I staggered back, barely keeping my footing. Too slow. Too fucking slow.

I dodged left, but its fist caught my shoulder, sending me spinning. I barely managed to slice across his arm before the second punch crashed into my skull, snapping my head sideways.

The world tilted, and then I hit the ground. “Fuck,” I groaned. I cringed at the taste of the blood in my mouth. This was not going so well.

Of course, the Minotaur didn’t hesitate.

His shadow loomed over me, two clawed fists raised high before slamming towards the ground.

Relinquishing my grip on the sword, I rolled.

Claws pierced the grass where I had been lying, but the Minotaur was moving again, leaving grooves in the frozen soil from his strikes as I continued rolling.

By the third roll, my head was thoroughly dazed, so I tried something different, kicking out at the beast.

His claws grazed my shin as my boot collided with his chest, sending him toppling backwards. I darted to the right, reaching for my discarded sword just as the Minotaur got to its feet, charging towards me headfirst.

I twisted, raising my sword a second before impact. The horn plunged into my shoulder with a sickening crunch, tearing through flesh, heat searing through the wound.

But my blade was already sinking deep, cutting past ribs, piercing straight through muscle and lung.

The creature gave a violent jerk, claws flexing, trying to hold on. A final snarl ripped from its throat, its breath turning ragged, desperate—

I wrenched the hilt, twisting the blade deeper. The snarl became a gurgle. The fight left its body in a slow, shuddering exhale.

The creature collapsed forward, its massive weight crushing me against the dirt. My magic sparked weakly, trying to stitch my shoulder back together even with the horn still lodged deep in my flesh.

I pressed my free hand against its still-warm hide, pushing, shoving—too heavy.

“Gods, you’re a heavy fucker.”

I gathered what strength I had left and forced it off me.

“Shit,” I hissed the word through gritted teeth, pressing a hand over my shoulder as my magic began to stitch me back together. Just enough to get me back into the fight. I hadn’t been able to get a good look at Eve, but I needed to make sure I had something left to help her.

The thought alone got me upright. She was down there. I heard her scream. I had to get to her now.

I swayed on my feet, vision swimming. Blood ran down my chest, cooling on my skin and pooling on the grass beneath me.

Didn’t matter. I had to get to her.

I forced one foot forward. Then another.

I didn’t even make it to the church steps before the world tore open again.

The darkness hit like a freight train—raw magic, heavy and absolute, tearing the air from my lungs.

I’d never seen him wield it like this.

But I knew that shadow.

Atlas .