Fallen For Four

floor as darkness erupted from Dr. Ashworth's

cracking as something else took fuller control. His skin str

w energy coalescing around his hands. "

on accelerating muscles bulging, jaw elonga

ialized, midnight feathers gleaming as he po

eart hammering against my ribs. "How

my feet. His green eyes had gone completely vertical, li

n anything that broken should be able to. The vampire caught its wr

ed teeth as he struggled against the

a monstrous hybrid of man and wolf. "I'll handl

toward a bookcase against the far

horror as the shadow creature pinned Kaiden against th

alm against the bookcase. Ancient symbols flared to lif

c's pained cry echoed behind us as Rhys pulled me into the darkne

ue light that hovered above his palm, illuminating rough stone

found more frightening than the creature we'd left behind. "And believe me, i

se!" My birthmarks burned beneath my

r energy signature lights up like a beacon when you're emotional. It's

orrying about student loans, and now I'm running

f stairs. "Exiled from the Seelie Court for crim

s that ev

the insubordination." His jaw tightened. "Specifically, I refused to kill a child. A child

, the air growing cooler. "So... you've

last Guardian lived eight hundred years ago. I wasn't dire

appened

es fixed ahead.

blood run cold. "And that's

lied quickly. "Different players.

the traitor

ron door inscribed with more of th

he stone wall, pain erupting across my back and skull. Through blurred visi

odic voice that raised the hair

g from a gash on his forehead. His expression was

eathtaking ethereal features, hair like spun silver, and eyes the same vertical-p

," she said with mock concer

and sister? The family resemblance

and the newcomer. "You shouldn't be here, Lyra. The Court

lie Queen never could freedom from the iron chains of human expansion." Her gaze shift

ed, struggling to stand desp

ourse. She's quite eager to meet the new Guardian." Her eyes flicked back to

em, Lyra," Rhys sai

ed you about the Guardian's presence at the Archives. What you did with t

r where I was?" I whispered, loo

off his sister. "Lyra and I share a blood-bond. She can

Lyra confided with false sweetness. "And you, Guar

ible," I said. "

perceptibly. "Time work

ilver energy crackled between her fingers. "Maven grows

other passage hidden behind the torchbearer statue twenty paces back. It

t leavi

t," he cut me off. "You'll be m

. Rhys countered with a shield of emerald energy that shattered upon impact, th

fed. "The human real

g human about this realm is its occupants," he retorted, drawing a slender dagger

to flee. But my legs refused to move as I

r own blade a cruel thing of twisted silver. "But sh

f metal that echoed painfully off the stone walls. Green and silver energy sp

arks pulsed beneath my skin, responding to the magical energies saturating the

de me whirl around. Kaiden appeared at the turn, his clothing

ver the magical cacophony.

wings singed and one arm hanging at

parasite," Kaiden replied grimly. H

embedded in his shoulder, silver energy crawling like veins beneath his skin

ounced proudly. "A gift from Ma

Rhys gasped, dro

pressure in my chest exploded

Lyra shrieked, throwing her arms up to shield her eyes. The m

issed. "You're not

ot defensive but offensive, targeted. It wrapped around Lyr

anded, genuine fear breaking throug

was doing or how to stop it. The power

ic called urgen

arranging themselves into a pattern I didn't recognize. Pain seared throu

h, too fast," Dominic sho

g my shoulders. "Scarlett, focus

now so bright it hurt to look

I could respond, he pressed his foreh

ng a counterbalance to the burning light. The relief was immediate and overwhelming. I s

conscious but alive. Rhys knelt beside her, his expression unreada

pered, my throat raw as if I

" Dominic explained, approaching cautiously. "It's l

odded toward Kaiden, who

ight and shadow. Creation and void. It's.

s added, staggering to his

nterrupted. "If Lyra found t

asked, looking at

," Kaiden

's people find her, they'll extract ever

aiden demanded. "We take your

, blood matting his fur. "We kill her," he snarled, voice dist

rprising myself. "No ki

men sta

formation we need," I continued, strong

orrected wearily. "Bu

't the traitor him

explain. "His sister accessed his thoughts with

"You're awfully quick to trust

e. "And you're awfully quick to thro

what Maven wants division. We secure the f

d to help Rhys bind Lyra with what looke

er," Rhys warned. "Especial

, picked up Lyra's limp body and slung her

assumed was the garage, I caught Kaiden watc

, too exhausted

e said quietly, "I felt

liar

rough me rather than at me. "Like

lapsing against the wall. The wound in his shoulder had turne

examining the wound. "We need to ge

ary?" I

ined tersely. "Warded agains

" I asked, eyeing Lyr

n said grimly. "It was built

e. "And how exactly did

the group as we reached a modern ga

grief. "She was betrayed by the one person she trusted

y eyes. "The vampire who swore to protect

laugh. "History doesn't just rhyme, sta

I was beginning to understand the weigh

runk of a black SUV, "that one of us is destined to be yo

ring into mine, "is destined to betray you to Maven.

g the night beyond. As we piled into vehicles,

these four supernatural beings, one of

would deliver

d away from Kaiden's mansion, the poison spreading visib

g against my shoulder as we sped into the night toward