Page 45 of Crimson Shadows
Suddenly, something inside me snaps. Before I can think about what I’m doing, I reach out with my free hand, grab a fistful of Zaiah’s shirt, and pull him towards me. Our lips crash together in a deep, passionate, and completely unexpected kiss.
For a moment, Zaiah is frozen in surprise. Then, with a low groan, he responds, his lips moving against mine with a skill that makes my knees weak. It’s the best kiss I’ve ever had. It’s like fire and ice, sweet and spicy, soft and hard all at once.
My emotions explode into a kaleidoscope of sensations. The fear is still there, but it’s overshadowed by a rush of desire so intense it takes my breath away. My pussy is wet, and I feel powerful and vulnerable, scared and excited. It’s overwhelming and intoxicating, and for a moment, I forget everything else.
But then, as suddenly as it began, it’s over. Zaiah pulls back abruptly, leaving me stumbling slightly. I open my eyes, confused and a little hurt, only to see him with his arm outstretched, palm facing outward.
My gaze follows Zaiah’s arm, and I feel my body freeze in terror when I hear a high-pitched shriek that makes my blood run cold.
Hovering in mid-air, caught in Zaiah’s magick, is a creature straight out of a nightmare. It’s like an oversized eagle, but with distinctly supernatural elements. Its feathers shimmer with an otherworldly iridescence, and its eyes glow with an unnatural intelligence. But what holds my attention are its talons - razor-sharp and clearly meant for slicing and dicing.
The creature struggles against Zaiah’s hold, its shriek rising in pitch until I want to cover my ears. But I can’t move. I’m frozen in place, my back still against the tower wall, the book clutched to my chest like a shield.
As I stare at the beast, my mind reeling from the abrupt shift from a passionate kiss to mortal danger, one thought manages to break through the panic:
What the hell is this thing?
21
ZAIAH
I feltit seconds before I pulled away from Adelaide. I sensed the danger. It was like a shift in the air, a disturbance in the magical fabric of MistHallow. I reacted purely on instinct, throwing out my hand to catch the creature mid-flight.
The Strix struggles against my magick as Adelaide lets out a scream of panic. Its razor-sharp talons are slashing uselessly in the air. Its shriek pierces the night, and I know we don’t have much time before more arrive.
Without hesitation, I wrap an arm around Adelaide’s waist, ignoring her startled gasp. “Hold on tight,” I mutter, and in a blink, we’re no longer in the courtyard but in my bedroom.
I release Adelaide and move swiftly to the windows, shutting them and drawing the heavy curtains. The room plunges into semi-darkness, lit only by the soft glow of enchanted orbs floating near the ceiling.
“Zaiah, what the fuck—” Adelaide starts, her voice shaky.
“Shh,” I interrupt, holding up a hand. I close my eyes, focusing my energy. In a low voice, I mutter a call that echoes through the magical frequencies of MistHallow.
“Zephyr, Corvus, Ignatius. Come.”
Moments later, when I open my eyes, the air shimmers and Zephyr swirls into the room with Corvus in his tight grip. Ignatius blooms into the room in a flaming tower that dies down to reveal his concerned face. Their expressions shift from confusion to alertness as they take in the scene.
“Strix,” I say by way of explanation. “At least one, more on the way.”
Corvus’s eyes narrow. “Strix? Here? How is that possible?”
“What’s a Strix?” Adelaide asks, her voice small and frightened.
I turn to her, taking in her pale face and trembling hands. The book she was carrying is still clutched to her as if it will save her. “It’s a supernatural assassin,” I explain gently. “And it seems someone has sent them to... well, to put it bluntly, take you out.”
Adelaide’s eyes widen in shock. “Me? Why not you?”
“I don’t have that many enemies.”
“Neither do I,” she hisses.
“That you know of. You are new to this world, Little Dollie,” Corvus murmurs.
“So who…” She trails off, looking even more scared.
“That’s the question of the hour, isn’t it?” Zephyr says, his dark energy crackling around him. “The Strix aren’t deployed by just anyone. Someone high up.”
“What?” Adelaide shakes her head, looking lost. “I don’t understand. I don’t know anyone who’d want me dead. I’ve only just arrived here!”
