Page 364 of Shadowblood Souls
She jogs forward toward the crest of our section of hill, raising her arms as if to beckon the helicopters, a second of which has swung into view.
“Celine!” I cry out, not even sure what I want to do, and spring at her.
Aboomresonates through the air from the closer chopper. An invisible force smacks into me in mid-leap and hurls me into a tree trunk.
Twenty-Six
Dominic
As the thunderous sound splits the air, I throw myself into the shelter of two broad tree trunks. That might be the only reason I escape being knocked right off my feet.
As it is, I sway and clutch at the nearest branch to keep my balance. Shrieks and grunts carry through the air from all around me.
The mark on my sternum prickles with echoed pain. Riva’s fallen somewhere out there—fallen hard.
My heart lurches. I push myself around the trees, searching for her slim form in the chaos.
My gaze catches on Jacob first. He’s sprawled on his ass in the middle of the path, his hands raised, his face tight with fury.
He’s aiming his telekinetic power at the helicopter. But the same instant that becomes obvious to me, the chopper sweeps by overhead—and drops something from a hatch in its belly.
A strange, glinting net plummets over the path, large enough to slam into Jake and a few of the younger shadowbloods who’dtumbled around him. An electric hiss ripples through its metallic strands, and their bodies jerk with spasms.
Fuck. He won’t be able to toss the helicopters away while he’s being electrocuted.
Where’s Riva? I can’t tell if she’s even okay.
But if she can aim a scream at the guardians?—
I scramble forward through the jungle and glimpse her farther up the path near the crest of our section of hill. She must have fallen to her hands and knees, but she’s shoving herself upright with a wobble.
Zian has reached her already. He grasps her elbow to steady her—and the helicopter whips by again with another glittering release.
Riva and Zian try to spring out of the way, but they don’t quite clear the edge of the net. The electric current jolts through their bodies with a searing pain that jabs into me.
The helicopter circles around. Clancy’s voice booms from the loudspeaker. “Stay where you are, and we will collect you. There’s no need to make this a fight.”
My jaw clenches. He’s already turned it into a fight himself.
But how the hell are we going to hit back when the shadowbloods with the strongest talents are tangled up in electrified cords?
I shove through the underbrush toward Riva, careful not to expose myself on the path where another net could catch me. She’s struggling, trying to claw her way free.
But the moment she jerks one shoulder out from under the twined ropes, another electric shock sizzles through her limbs. Her cry hollows out my gut.
She slumps next to Zian, whose head is lolling with a dazed expression.
I have to help her—I have to help everyone. But what can I do that won’t get me shocked and stunned too?
I swivel around, hastily taking stock of who’s stayed free of the nets.
Up by the crest, Griffin has pulled back into the shelter of the trees on one side of the path. Celine stands across from him, only about ten feet from where I’m poised, her face lifted toward the two helicopters as they hover in search of a landing spot.
She’sobviously not going to be any help. She’s the reason the assholes found us.
Ajax and Devon crouch deeper in the jungle beyond Griffin, but neither of them have talents that could destroy or deflect a helicopter. Glancing farther down the path, I spot Andreas several feet behind me with his arms out as if to shield George, who’s ended up next to him.
Drey is staring up at the choppers. Then his gaze drops to meet mine, his face taut with strain.
