Page 10 of The Crown of Nyx

The hunt.

My chest burned from more than just the lack of air. It burned with fire and vengeance. It burned with power.

I reached into the well of magic building within me. More than ever, it was full of untapped power. And it so badly wanted to be unleashed.

Electricity crackled along my skin, and I summoned it in my hand. I threw my arm back, aiming in the direction of the beasts, and let the power fly free. As I did, lightning struck the sky, violet and bright, illuminating the darkness of the forest, cutting through the smoke-filled night.

It was a message to Dante and everyone else.

I was alive, and I would not be beaten so easily.

We ranfor hours until the sound of vehicles cut through the tense silence. My breath burned with each sharp inhale, nose running from the chilly air. All I could smell was smoke, no matter how far we ran from the fires.

Somehow, we’d kept to the Queen’s Road, following the long, winding passage from the palace. But now, rumbling cars sped down it. Or up it. One dark vehicle caught my eye as it cut through the night towards the palace itself.

Who?I asked no one in particular, too afraid to speak any words aloud.

Phoenix Compound,Maeve replied. From the front of the group, she held up her fist, which slowed us until we came to a halt.

It took all my power not to collapse. Everything burned. From my muscles to my lungs. The least my magic could do was give me a bit more stamina.

Though when I glanced around, I was a little happy to find I wasn’t the only one winded. Rowan leaned against a tree, face tilted up to the sky as he sucked insharp breaths. Adrian, who had been keeping pace with me on my other side, bent over, gasping for breath.

It made me feel less insecure about how badly I hurt from that run. I needed out of the ball gown I wore, too. One too many times, it’d gotten caught on something, almost making me lose my footing.

Maeve paced the tree line as more and more vehicles rushed past us.Are they with Dante or us? I asked Maeve, watching the darkness with furrowed brows.

She stopped between two trees, tension rolling off of her. It was like we were all holding our breaths, waiting for Maeve to make a move. To decide whether it would be safe to go again.

Right as another car entered the periphery of my vision, Maeve stepped out onto the road. My heart stopped in my chest and fear set in. I tried to race after her, but a different set of arms pulled me back before I could break through the trees.

“Let go of me,” I growled, just low enough for Hawk to hear.

His arms only grew tighter around my stomach and chest as he hauled me back into the shadows. The SUV speeding towards Maeve came to a stop, shouts sounding from within.

The driver’s side door opened, and a male dressed in all black slid out from behind the wheel. He wore a mask from what I could tell, but Dante could have warned his people to start dressing like actual agents to fool us.

My heart thundered, but the male lifted his arm and bared his wrist for Maeve. They were speaking, but their voices were hushed, and any super hearing I had before was gone.

What are they talking about?I asked Elias.

He’s offering Maeve a chance to read his memories and prove he isn’t with Dante,he replied carefully.The rest of his team will offer the same, he claims.

Something in my chest twisted, a voice in my head telling me this was too easy. That something bad might happen. That this was too easy, too simple?—

Maeve grabbed the male’s wrist as soon as realisation hit me.

“Stop!” I screamed, ripping myself from Hawk’s grip. All attention turned to me as lightning danced between my fingers, racing up my arms as I stalked out of the forest.

Anger flashed across Maeve’s face. She started for me, but I only had the agent in my line of sight. Up close, I noticed the clamminess of his skin, how his eyes shifted warily between Maeve and me.

“Ivy,” Maeve growled, stepping in front of me. “Don’t.”

I spared her a glance before side-stepping her and making my way to the male. He backed up several steps, fear flickering across his eyes.

“Get all of your team out here, now,” I commanded, stopping within arm’s reach. I didn’t let go of the lightning. Not yet.

What are you doing?Maeve asked, her presence appearing at my back. Even angry, she didn’t try to pull me away. Even if she hated this, she trusted me.

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