Page 42 of The Panther's Price

Figures dropped from the cliff’s edge, five, no six, maybe more. Veil rebels, no House insignia. Burned-black leather, masks covering mouths, eyes wild with zeal.

“Hunters,” Lucien hissed.

Evryn knew that they were here for her.

Lucien struck the first before he touched the ground, shadow lashing out like a whip across the attacker’s throat.

Evryn scrambled to her feet, adrenaline cutting through confusion. “How did they find us?!”

Lucien parried a second blow, growling, “We’ve stayed too long.”

Another bolt whistled by her ear. Evryn ducked, instinct flaring.

Her shadows pulsed out in a wall, but they weren’t fast enough to stop the third hunter crashing into Lucien from behind.

Lucien staggered, caught off guard.

The blade in the hunter’s hand gleamed red.

Evryn’s vision tunneled. She didn’t think. Didn’t breathe. Justreached.Her shadows screamed.

A burst of light exploded from her chest—not flame, not shadow, but something older.Silver and black, lined with veins of deep gold. It ripped through the air, straight into the hunter pinning Lucien.

He was thrown back like a rag doll, landing yards away—unmoving.

Silence.

Every shadow stilled.

Lucien knelt where he’d been, breathing hard, staring at her with something between awe and terror.

Evryn’s knees buckled.

He was there in two strides, arms catching her before she hit the ground.

“I’ve got you,” he said, voice low and rough.

She couldn’t stop shaking. Her hands trembled so hard she couldn’t unclench her fists. Her pulse pounded in her ears.

“Evryn,” he said, gripping her face, forcing her to look at him. “Breathe. With me.”

She tried and failed. Tried again.

“Count it,” he whispered. “Four in. Four out.”

She matched him. One breath. Then another.

Her body finally listened.

“What the hell was that?” she gasped.

Lucien didn’t answer immediately. His eyes were scanning the brush, tracking movements, reading danger as the other shadows dissipated.

He pulled her tighter.

“I don’t know. But if anyone else saw it, we need to move. Now.”

They didn’t stop until the sky had deepened into twilight, and the summit was two ridges behind them.

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