Page 175 of To Ashes and Dust
I jerked at the sound of Cassie’s voice shooting across my mind, but it was quiet, despite it sounding like a cry for help—distant, muffled, and almost too low for me to understand.
Cas?
“What happened?” Zephyr asked suddenly, his face grave.
I blinked, trying to calm myself, calling out to her again, but there was no answer. “I don’t know. I just heard Cassie call out to me, but...”
Cassie!
My brothers stilled around me, and I looked at James. “James, track Cassie’s phone. See if you can pick up a signal.”
James’ brows rose. “Oh—aye. Give me a sec.” He grabbed his laptop and got to work quickly as he typed. Seconds felt like hours as he searched.
“Is she not responding?” Zephyr asked, his tawny skin paling.
I couldn’t bring myself to answer him, terror creeping into me. Gods, she couldn’t have... No, I couldn’t let myself think that. She had to be ok. Her time couldn’t have run out already. I’d feel it, feel the agonizing snap as the bond broke. She was alive. She had to be—
But something was very wrong.
“Here,” James said, turning his laptop to show us her location. She was deep in the forest, and I could see the trail they’d taken, their tracks marked out on the program. I pulled my phone from my pocket, dialing her number.
“Come on, come on,” I muttered under my breath, pacing as I held the phone to my ear.
It rang on and on until her voicemail picked up, her voice bright in my ear. “It’s Cas! Leave a message at the tone!”
I cursed, clicking the screen before shoving my phone into my pocket. The park wasn’t nearby, and it would be quite a jump, but I needed to get to her, make sure she was okay.
“Vincent, Zephyr.” I said, glancing around to ensure none of the workers could see us. The coast was clear, the subcontractors all hard at work elsewhere. I drew a deep breath, focusing on that place. I’d not made a jump to a place I’d never been or couldn’t physically see in a long time, but there was no time to make the drive. If I could just get us close enough, Zephyr could pick up their trail.
Vincent and Zephyr nodded, ready at my side as I tapped into the dark void, focusing on the map James had shown me. We just needed to get as close as possible. Ice skittered over my skin, a cold sweat breaking out as the nausea twisted my gut, but I pushed past it. I couldn’t let my focus slip and risk sending us to Gods know where.
The shadows rippled and danced, stretching out until they joined together to form the doorway before us. I stepped through, Zephyr and Vincent close behind me.
Please be okay.
The forest was deathly quiet when we emerged from the darkness, void of any signs it had ever been inhabited by any creatures, as if they had all fled. I didn’t know where exactly we were, whether we were close. Zephyr was already shifting, black fur coming into view through the black mist as it fell from his massive panther form. He dipped his head low, inhaling deeply for any scent.
A distant bark and growl shot through the forest and we stilled.
“Was that...” Vincent started, and it was clear I wasn’t the only one who thought the sound familiar. I couldn’t feel relief, though. The nausea had only intensified, and I blinked as the trees threatened to spin.
Zephyr took off ahead of us, leaves flying beneath his heavy black paws. Vincent and I followed, our feet barely touching the ground. She had to be okay, she had to.
Fates, don’t take her from me.
The snarls and barks grew louder, and the darkness at my core rippled, disturbed and excited all at once. I swallowed, dread sinking deep into my gut. Were there darklings here? It was still daylight.
“You feel that too?” Vincent asked, pulling his trench knives from beneath his coat and sliding the weapons over his knuckles as he gripped the palms of the knives.
I couldn’t acknowledge it. It couldn’t be possible, but I couldn’t deny the familiar feeling, the presence. There was no mistaking it. I descended into the dark void, calling forth my dagger until the weight fell into my hand.
“Holy Gods,” Vincent said under his breath as my worst fears came into view through the trees.
“Melantha,” I growled, and my pace quickened at the sight of the creature, at the snake-like tendrils of darkness stretching out from her lower back, swaying like cobras poised to strike.
Vincent’s eyes widened. “Thalia!”
It was such a relief to see her, her wolf form standing before Melantha. Anger flared at the sight of Cole kneeling behind her, but where was—
