Page 83 of Voyage of Fury and Fate

“What’s with all the name-calling?” I tease before hitting her once more. The blow is more than her weakened body can handle. She hits the wall and slides to the floor in a crumpled pile. “If you think Kragen doesn’t have his hand in this entire situation, you’re dumber than I thought.”

Samirah’s face transforms into a creature from nightmares. She flies off the wall, moving straight toward me. The world slows down, giving me the ability to see every detail of the situation. The roar of the waves stops, the whisper of the wind goes silent, and my body focuses on nothing but Samirah. Without any thought, I grab her throat mid-flight, wrapping my fingers around her throat tightly until her body and head are no longer connected. She falls to the floor in a sickening thud and immediately begins to disappear.

I wipe her blood on my already-stained pants. “Told you I wouldn’t ask again.”

Turning back toward the stairs, I take in every inch of the narrow lighthouse. I don’t know what’s going on outside, and I don’t take the time to figure it out.

“Alex! Autumn!” My voice echoes through the building. “Make a sound, do something to let me know where you are!”

Dammit, I don’t feel his energy anywhere. I run the length of the staircase, looking in every nook and cranny along the way. Other than remnants of broken furniture and rusted metal, the lighthouse is empty, which means the children are not inside.

I move outside not sure what’s waiting for me. Patrice and Everly are standing in the same spot as before, but the image in front of me is terrifying. Luna and Micah are still in human form, lying on the rocks with Topher lying on top of them. All three of them are convulsing from whatever Everly is doing to them.

My eyes are drawn to Thorne. He and Amelia are fighting each other while Patrice cheers them on. Thorne is exhausted and filthy, while Amelia is covered in blood.

“Thorne! What’s going on?”

“Not in control,”he breathes through our connection.

Not in control? What does that mean? My eyes turn back to Everly.

“Everly?” I yell toward the young girl. Tears are streaming down her cheeks, as she stands victim to her crazy kidnapper. “Are you doing this?”

“Why don’t you show her, my dear,” Patrice says with a sick smile. “Show Mommy what you’re capable of.”

“Don’t make me, Mother,” Everly begs. “I’m not strong enough.”

“Do it, or they die.”

I step in front of the duo, blocking Everly from the pain she’s causing my friends. “Leave her alone, Patrice.”

“Oh, for God’s sake. Why must I do everything myself? If you release them, your brother and sister will die. Do you understand me, Everly?” The immortal vampire doesn’t respond as she wipes a tear from her cheek. “You just can’t find good help these days.”

Patrice turns her attention toward me before landing on top of me, knocking me to the sharp rocks below. Feeling the strength return, I stand, straighteningmy torn shirt. “My patience is running thin,Mother. Where are the Alex and Autumn?”

Instead of answering, Patrice runs toward me faster than my eyes can track. Like before, the world around me slows. The cries of my friends are nothing more than faint echoes as the fight behind me moves in slow motion. In front of me, Patrice is running toward me with her teeth bared and death in her eyes. I don’t wait for her arrival.

Leaping through the air, I land behind her, wrap my arm around her throat, and twist until there’s nothing left holding her head and body together. Patrice’s body collapses to the rocks below, followed by her head. “You’re right. It is hard to find good help these days.”

The moment Patrice is dead, Everly releases whatever control she has over the lycan and vampires. Amelia and Thorne stop fighting, both collapsing to the rocky terrain as Topher moves toward his wife, still in wolf form. Luna and Micah sit up, working to catch their breath.

“I’m sorry,” Everly whispers. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”

Everly collapses into my arms the moment I reach her side. “It’s okay,” I console her. “No one blames you.”

Thorne joins us. He’s covered in blood, and his clothes are practically nonexistent. “Are you okay?” he asks, out of breath.

“Yes. Samirah’s…gone.” Thorne nods in understanding. “I can’t find Alex and Autumn.”

“They’re underneath,” Everly mumbles the words into my filthy shirt.

I pull away, looking her in the eyes. “Underneath where, Everly?”

She points to the solid rock underneath our feet. “Underneath,” she repeats.

“I’ll go,” Thorne pants.

“No. You’ll never make it. You’re too weak and need to heal.” I look around the rock at my friends who are recovering from the battle they just fought. “It has to be me.”

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