Page 261 of Shadowblood Souls
The guardians built this facility into the intimidating natural features of the landscape. The cave opening looms at least ten feet high and nearly the same across, surrounded by mossy crags of stone.
It’s pitch black beyond the small strip of moonlight that touches the very edge of the yawning entrance. We have no idea what we’re dealing with even before we’ve gone inside the building itself.
Andreas and Zian steal over to join us. Relief washes through my chest at having our group all together again.
Without speaking, we move farther around the clearing, over to the side. We’re going to help clear the way into the facility, but the shadowkind are going to kick off our invasion.
Our allies must be watching. The second we’ve gotten into place, a resonantboomreverberates through the woods, shaking the ground beneath our feet.
As I grab hold of a tree trunk to steady myself, the sound of another blast rattles my eardrums.
Firelight dances through the trees beyond the other side of the clearing. We pull back a little deeper into the forest to ensure its glow doesn’t reveal us.
Then we simply watch.
Three guardians in the familiar metal helmets and vests dash from the mouth of the cave. Guns glint in their hands.
One raises a walkie talkie with the other to report to colleagues inside. They march to the edge of the clearing, peering at the flames, but don’t venture farther into the forest.
They’re being more cautious than when I broke the guys out. Maybe the surviving guardians from that escape told stories about how I diverted them.
This bunchshouldn’thave any idea that we were heading their way or that we’d even want to invade their workplace. But with every passing moment, the chances increase that the guardians who’ve been tracking us will figure out where we’ve converged and spread the word.
Every instant could make a difference.
Thankfully, it doesn’t take long for more guardians to come loping out of the cave. A dozen of them set off through the trees to investigate the fire, but five hang back by the cave entrance, scanning the entire clearing.
Yes, they’ve definitely gotten smarter. But I don’t think they’ve gotten stronger.
We can take five no problem.
I flick my claws from my fingertips.
We don’t want to use the guns yet if we can help it. It’s better if the guardians who’ve ventured farther away from the facility don’t realize there’s trouble back here.
The main force of guardians vanishes into the darkness of the woods. And we launch ourselves forward.
Before we’ve even reached them, Jacob has already flung two of the figures against the cliffside, denting their helmets and cracking their skulls against the jutting crags. Zian snarls and pummels one into the ground with a heave of his fist.
I throw myself at the figure nearest to me and plunge my claws right into his throat.
The final guard lets out a bark of warning that’s cut off with a gurgle. Andreas has blinked out of invisibility behind him, jabbing a knife into his heart.
More shouts echo from the depths of the cave. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, but I glance around at the guys and see a resolve in their eyes that solidifies my own determination.
We aren’t the monsters here. We’re freeing tormented children from the real beasts.
Icanbe a hero, in every way that counts.
And we’re working like a team again—a real one with all the trust and understanding that should go with that word. With only a look and imperceptible nods, we spread out to either side of the cave and dash in close to the walls.
The guardians come charging forward down the middle of the space. One has a light fixed to her helmet, the beam bobbing through the darkness.
We spring.
Bodies smash against the walls as Jacob lashes out with his powers.
I sever another throat.
