Page 99 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“No, Corbin,” Lange retorted. “She had you fuckingkidnapped. They could have killed you right then and there. She didn’t care. She’s after something, and she’s using us to get it. We deserve to know what we’re about to die for.”
But Eviana said nothing as she held his malice-filled stare. She knew her eyes were just as hard, revealing nothing, and Lange released her face with a mirthless scoff.
“You’re just as bad as the Legacy,” he sneered.
“I don’t know why you ever thought otherwise,” she replied flatly, still not daring to move. Corbin still stood before her, even with Lange stalking a few paces away.
“If you told us, we could help,” Corbin said quietly.
“Don’t bother, Corbin. I already tried,” Lange spat, kicking a discarded water bottle to the other end of the truck. “She’s a selfish cunt that poisons everything and everyone who comes in contact with her. We should help deliver her to Valter. Maybe then he’d spare our godsdamn lives.”
“Lange!” Corbin barked, his head snapping towards his lover. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
But Lange didn’t answer. He just shook his head before dropping back onto the bench, staring resolutely ahead.
Corbin slowly turned back to Eviana, and she saw it then. The subtle shift in his eyes. She’d been waiting for it. The largerpupils. The change from hazel to a pale gold. The shape even became a little more almond shaped.
More feline.
His hands landed on either side of her head, caging her in as he leaned down. His voice was soft and cold, so low she wasn’t sure even Lange’s Fae hearing could pick up the words. “You’re changing him. Whatever the fuck you’re doing is changing him. So this is what’s going to happen.” Each word was accompanied by a low, fierce growl. “We’re going to get this truck to stop. You’re going to get us out of here, and the moment it’s safe, you’re telling useverything. If not, we’ll do exactly what Lange said and turn you over to your Master.”
“He’ll still punish you,” Eviana said evenly.
“As long as you’re back under his control and unable to even breathe without his consent, I don’t think I give a fuck.”
She stared up at him because for the first time in decades, something stirred in her chest. An emotion she hadn’t paid any mind to for years and years. An emotion that never served her.
But she felt a trickle of fear. They meant it. They would give her back to Valter, who was currently far too close for comfort, and then she would never save the only person who truly mattered to her. She could understand their anger in that regard. They cared for each other in the way she cared for Priya. Would kill and torture, burn and endure for each other.
She let them see none of that though. Right now she needed to focus on getting into the woods, far from Valter. Once she’d gotten to Priya, gotten the girl to safety, she’d gladly turn herself back over, as long as Priya was no longer an option for him.
So Eviana gave Corbin a sharp, curt nod, and he pushed off the wall. She stayed rooted to the spot, watching him approach Lange. Watched as he reached out and tilted the male’s face up to his own. Watched as some silent exchange happened between them before he bent down, brushing his lips against his.
Then he held out a hand, pulling Lange to his feet. She wasn’t sure what they were doing as they stood on one side of the truck before rushing to the other. Back and forth they went, throwing all of themselves into the sides.
And the truck started rocking.
It was like they were on a godsdamn boat with the full strength of two Fae males going back and forth. Eviana stumbled, dropping to her knees at one point, splitting them open, but she scrambled back to her feet. Grappling for the glove, she crouched near the doors, trying to keep her footing.
Someone in the truck cab pounded on the box, a muffled order to “Knock it the fuck off,” carrying to them, but they didn’t stop. Even when the truck slowed, pulling off to the side. Even when they were panting with exertion, they didn’t stop.
And when the truck stilled completely, Eviana pressed the bloodied glove to the doors, hearing the latches click. She pushed a door open and hopped out, moving quickly. The sentinels weren’t even fully out of the cab yet when she conjured vines and snapped them out, wrapping around their necks and yanking them to the ground.
She dropped low, pressing her hand to the asphalt. Her power delighted as it called up roots from the nearby trees, the streets buckling under their strength and the cement exploding around them. Fragments of rock rained down, but the roots rose up like a dome, keeping her protected. Wrapping around the bound bodies. Dragging them down through the rubble to the earth below, strangled cries dying out.
The escort vehicles were screeching to a halt, and she knew they had only seconds. Eviana whirled back to the truck, finding Lange and Corbin wide-eyed.
“Holy fuck,” Lange murmured.
She quickly made her way over to them, reaching into the truck and grabbing the pack she’d left just inside. Pulling out hermakeshift weapons, she passed one to Lange, keeping the dagger she’d taken from Raven Harbor for herself.
“Are the winds warning you of anything we can’t see?” she asked, pulling the pack onto her back while they jumped down to the rubble-strewn ground.
“Why do you keep asking that?” Lange demanded. “And why didn’t you give Corbin a weapon?”
“You have your powers, but Corbin is more. You know it. I know it,” she retorted, moving to Lange’s side. “We need a shield to buy us time. Now.”
Lange didn’t argue, throwing up a hand and creating a hard shield of wind. She watched the sentinels struggle against it, one with air magic trying to counter Lange. He was more powerful though, even if he grunted softly at the exertion.
