Page 66 of Broken Lands

Icy rage filled me. If they’d hurt her—

My inner beast flexed his paws, releasing large, sharp claws from where they’d been retracted and scraped them across the cage I’d built around him in my mind long ago.

The agony was instantaneous, and I fell to my knees, grasping my head as bright white stars stained my vision. My breathing quickened as he repeated the motion, striking harder this time, pain causing me to curl in on myself.

This agony was like nothing I’d ever felt before. It filled every space inside my mind, leaving me no room to focus on anything else. Push it down. Push it down. But I couldn’t.

As he swung his claws back and struck a third time, the crippling pain of it causing me to curve in on myself in the sand, I realized he’d never fought me like this. My cage had never been enough. Whatever he was, whatever he wanted from me, he’d been biding his time until he could take it.

White hot blinding pain spread through my body as the beast seized control. The crack of my bones and the raw, otherworldly scream tearing from my throat were the only sounds I could hear despite the fighting taking place all around me.

As darkness took over and became all I knew, it became clear that this time was different. The beast, soul, demon inside of me was not just taking control of my mind. He was taking control of my body.

Maybe I’d finally learn exactly what had plagued me all these years.

Chapter thirty-four

Riley

Lingeringinthealcovelong after Lincoln left, I stared out the small entrance to the ocean, and the star-studded night sky beyond. The air was crisp against my still naked skin, but I reveled in it. I felt alive tonight.

I couldn’t believe I’d only been here for just over a week. Danann already felt like home.

Back in Sommers, I’d had James and Sarie. But that was it. The friends I’d made here, theconnectionsI’d formed were those unbreakable bonds of family. Wrapping my arms around myself, I smiled up at the night sky. Fate was a funny thing. I’d never have expected mine to lay here.

There was still so much work to do before I’d be at peace, finding James at the top of that list. Then I guess I’d have to figure out this damn prophecy. But for now, at this moment, I felt content.

A faint boom sounded from the Academy grounds, and I straightened with surprise, tilting my head and listening closer. Shouts followed soon after, together with a crackling sound that made the well of magic inside me crackle in return.

Something was wrong. Fuck.

Pushing to my knees, I scrambled in the sand for my gown, trying to pull it over my head in such a rush that I twisted myself within it. Wrestling with the silken fabric, I eventually pulled it off again and untangled it.

My heart was beating erratically in my chest as I pushed to my feet, trying to keep my hands from trembling as I tried again to pull on this fucking dress.

Some serious shit was happening, and I was struggling with a fucking dress.

Fuck.

What if my men were hurt? I had to get out there and help.

Twin roars sounded from down the beach at the same time shadows danced in the moonlight filtering through the cave opening. Shimmying into the dress, I frantically hitched it up around my waist and over my breasts, twisting toward the entry, ready to run.

Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom.

The ground shook violently with the explosions as I twisted toward the door and I lost my balance, falling forward.

Before I could blink, a black, hooded figure was before me, one arm wrapping around my waist, catching my weight against me.

“Sorry, love. Nothing personal.” The only warning I had before something hard crashed into the side of my head and the world went dark.

Someone was knocking on the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Groaning, I tried to roll, quickly realizing I wasn’t able to move, both hands chained behind me where my back pressed against a hard, cold wall.

My eyes flew open, and I found myself in complete darkness. The movement made me realize no one had been knocking. The noise was a throbbing pain emanating from the side of my head where I’d been struck and knocked unconscious.

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