Page 169 of To Ashes and Dust
Cody slid in front of us, arms shooting out defensively.
“What a lovely surprise this is,” Cole said flatly, tilting his head as he eyed me. I took a step back, terror surging through me. Kat stood at my side, her brows furrowing as she peered at Cole from around Cody.
“Cas, you and Kat get out of here,” Cody said, his eyes fixed on Cole.
“What areyougonna do?” Cole taunted, taking a step closer, sizing Cody up. “You’re no warrior. Besides, where will she go? How far could she get? Can you even run anymore, Cas?”
Oh God, how had he found us? Did he know about what happened to me? How? My hand dropped to my hip on instinct, and I cursed, realizing I’d left my daggers at home. Shit. Shit. Shit. I’d fallen out of the habit of carrying them with me. I hadn’t left the house for weeks, so they’d sat untouched on my dresser.
“Kat, we need to get out of here, no—”
Kat released my arm and brushed past Cody, and my heart lurched as I reached for her, coming up short as she spoke, her voice calm and relaxed.
“You’re late, Cole.”
61
CASSIE
The earth shifted beneath me, the forest spinning and silencing as the words left her lips, each crunch of the leaves under her feet echoing in dizzying clarity. Cody and I stood frozen as she walked toward Cole.
You’re late, Cole.
My feet wouldn’t move, couldn’t move as I watched her approach him, my heart leaping into my throat. “Kat! Cole’s not who you think he is!”
“Oh, I know exactly who he is,” she crooned, each step threatening to stop my heart.
I swallowed, my throat so dry I nearly choked. “This isn’t time for jokes, Kat. What’re you talking about?”
Kat stopped at Cole’s side, turning to face us as she propped an elbow on his shoulder. Cole didn’t react, his eyes not meeting hers.
“Your time’s almost up, so I had no choice but to push the plan into motion.”
I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see straight as the world spun. Cody didn’t move, his eyes fixated on Kat and Cole.
“But you… you couldn’t possibly—” Cody stammered, the color draining from his face.
Kat’s eyes shifted to him, and I almost didn’t recognize the look in her fern-green eyes. It wasn’t my best friend standing before me; it was as if she were someone else entirely.
“I guess I can let you in on my little secret,” she said, lifting her chin as she pushed away from Cole. As if she’d had a layer of magic over her, the shell of her appearance crumbled away like dust. Her coppery hair faded to black waves, her rosy cheeks turning pale and gray, blush lips tinting black. Her clothes broke down as well, revealing a slender body clothed in slivers of shadow that barely covered her. Long black claws replaced her manicured fingertips, sharp enough to skewer a man. Her lashes lifted, revealing bottomless black eyes, darkness swirling to every corner as she turned her gaze on me.
My heart stuttered. I’d never forgotten those eyes. The images I’d seen from Cole’s memories flashed before me, and my own memories of the strange darkling I’d encountered in the alley jolted through me, a rush of panic taking root.
“Melantha,” I muttered, and Cody stiffened at my side.
Her smile widened, lips parting. I stepped back at the sight of the serrated teeth they’d hidden.
Cody shook his head, disbelief painting his tongue as he spoke. “You were attacked by darklings...”
“It was too easy to fool you all into thinking I was the victim. I will admit, even my darklings got a bit too excited when I appeared before them in mortal skin,” she said, Cole remaining still at her side, like an obedient lapdog.
Her eyes shifted back to me, her words full of pity as she spoke. “If you hadn’t arrived in time to rescue me, they might’ve actually torn me apart. To think, you could have been rid of me all together, but you just had to save your best friend.”
Cody’s breaths grew uneven, his eyes flickering as if he were searching for any signs he missed. “This isn’t possible. I… we—"
“Kept an eye on me?” Kat—no.Melanthafinished, her black eyes flashing as she laughed.
I wanted to cry, scream, lash out. A maelstrom of emotions churned so violently within me I thought I might burst. My eyes burned as my mind began to put all the pieces together, and I ground out, “Did you turn the real Kat?”
