Page 76 of Devour the Dark

You’re not supposed to be here, I think, narrowing my eyes at him.

But he’s too far gone to the pain to read me.

Blood is running down his front, pooling on the stone floor and filling in its cracks.

“You Maddred brothers, so predictable,” the Myth says, circling behind me. “Your egos, the size of the moon.” She clucks her tongue.

I snort. “And Myths are any better? I’m not the one trying to overthrow the Seven Isles. Trying to steal what is not mine.”

“Oh?” She raises a brow. “Was it not the Maddred family who tore through Wonderland? Destroyed the Heart Court?” She ducks down in front of me. “Yes, I know what you are.Jabberwocky.”

I haven’t heard that word in eons.

The longer I was on this side of the glass, the more I believed I was born to the Seven Isles.

But I wasn’t.

Roc and I were born in Wonderland, our family driven out by the war between the Suits.

It was so long ago, that it became a myth in my own head. No longer my story.

I barely think about it now. Jabberwocky. We are mentioned in some of the stories, some of Wonderland’s world leaking overinto the Seven Isles. But no one this side of the glass would know how to identify one. So we’ve stayed hidden in plain sight. Hidden behind titles, wealth, and secret societies.

Apparently, we no longer have that anonymity.

“Let’s see,” the Myth goes on. “Ruined Wonderland. Then settled in Darkland. Was it also not you who stole the Darkland Shadow and then destroyed theDarklandcourt?”

Across the room, Roc tilts to the left. How much time does he have before he’s unconscious? I might need him if we’re to get out of this.

“Where is it?” the Myth asks.

“Where is what?”

“The Darkland Shadow?”

Roc and I lock eyes.

I gave it to him when he was last on Neverland. I don’t know what he did with it. He clearly didn’t claim it, or he wouldn’t be in the predicament he’s currently in. I could never shift when I had the shadow, whether I wanted to or not.

“Trust me,” I say, trying to distract, “you don’t want to fuck with the shadow. It nearly killed me. It’ll tear you in two.”

“I don’t want it for myself.”

My vision is slowly returning and the witch is coming into focus. She’s tall, curvy, with curly black hair and lips painted a bright shade of pink.

My hesitation has her rolling her eyes. “It’s not that complicated. Roc gives in to my sister. Then he—they—claim the shadow and their rightful place on the Darkland throne.”

We all suspected as much, but now that the plan is out in the open, I can do something about it. Hopefully. Maybe. So long as Win stays away and Roc doesn’t die on me.

“You can’t have it,” Roc says, slurring his words.

The Myth laughs. “I figured you’d say that.” She waves her hand at the man guarding the door. He jumps to, pulling thedoor open. Several more lackeys come in, dragging Wendy and Hook.

“Now, Crocodile.” The Myth gestures for her guards to bring her new prisoners into the center of the room. Wendy fights them. Hook seems put out but compliant. They’re forced to their knees. Knives are put to their throats.

And we’re predictable?

She goes to my brother and yanks the blade from his gut.

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