Page 105 of MidKnight
I ignored him, grabbing the sharpened hairpin from the strap on my arm and wielding it.
Blue swooped down near my head. But he couldn’t tell exactly where I was. Only where I was going.
I hurried toward the mouth of the cave.
I could still see Declan’s thoughts as Quinn projected them to us; Declan’s vision grew hazier as Abbas stabbed him in the thigh.
Sard. Sard.
I did not allow tears to fill my eyes. I shut that shite down. Only rage, I breathed to myself. Only rage.
My feet kept moving.
Suddenly, Declan looked up. There, rising from the water at the far side of the cave was the sea fairy. The one who’d sucked down a ship without a second glance.
Her white, accordion-style wings fluttered in the air, sending droplets of water splattering across the stone floor. Her body glimmered in the light of the lantern Ember had set on a desk at the far end of the cave. There were scales edging every feminine curve and they glowed, pearlescent.
A giant wave rose out of the subterranean river. It splashed across the floor, supporting her and surrounding her as she floated forward.
“A sea sprite,” Declan whispered in disbelief.
I tripped over a body on the side of the mountain. I had been too focused on Declan’s vision. I pulled myself up, still stumbling toward the cave entrance, still ignoring Ryan and Quinn and Connor as they fruitlessly chased after me.
In Declan’s vision, Ember bowed, going to her knees when she saw the sea sprite. She muttered, “I wish you’d bow,” before a golden mist full of sparkles forced Abbas abandoned his sadistic play with the severed hand and do the same.
The sprite’s black eyes took in Declan—in my body. “This one wears a crown.”
Ember nodded. “She’s the daughter of the thief who stole your Avia.”
That caused the sea sprite’s head to jerk as she took a second look at Declan. Her eyes narrowed.
Beneath the sea sprite, the water rose higher, as high as a castle wall. It moved her closer to Declan. His gaze lifted to track her.
That’s why he only noticed the water freezing from the bottom to the top at the last minute. Declan’s gaze went down just in time to see a dozen ice spears fly straight at him.
I love—
Declan’s vision faded to black. Quinn’s voice in my head cut off.
Numb disbelief filled me. My feet slowed, then stopped as I heard distinctive thumps behind me.
I turned away from the cave and ran back down the mountain.
I came upon Ryan first. He was face down in the dirt. I sheathed my weapon and dropped my cloak. I shoved and shoved his huge shoulder until I could turn him over. His curled eyelashes framed empty chocolate eyes. My giant. My protector.
A battering ram slammed into my chest.
No! I thought. This isn’t real.
I stumbled to my feet and ran back further. Quinn was laid out on his side, his dark hair hiding his grey eyes. I pushed his hair away and reached out with my mind. Nothing. There was nothing in his eyes. Nothing in his naughty mind to respond to me.
A tornado opened and howled in my ears, battering me with thoughts and emotions as jumbled and sharp as debris.
Connor was only steps behind Quinn. By the time I reached him, his body had already paled. He was already cold. My sweet, childhood love … was gone.
Donaloo and Cerena walked over to me, where I crouched.
“They had a bonding spell?” Cerena asked.
