Page 69 of Expose Me

Water splashed violently in every direction as black shapes blurred in movement, the Vuulectians clashing in battle.

The ones that had been about to descend on us came rushing through the portal only to be immediately met with resistance. I had no idea what was happening, but I had a feeling it had everything to do with the Onuei. The Vuulectians were at war, tearing each other apart already.

There were many more and varied weapons than the zaps here. Some had whips, others crossbow-like weapons, and I had to duck as a spear went sailing over my head. All of them had those electric tips like the zaps. They were the only weapon I was familiar with, so I ignored the rest and tried to summon a zap.

I sighed with relief when one appeared in my hand. I was never certain my ability would work in another realm, but it hadn’t failed me yet and wasn’t about to start in this new one.

Some of the Vuulectians were clearly on our side, because they rushed over to protect us as Zey pulled the Onuei out of his pockets and laid them out on the ground. But they weren’t the only ones who’d noticed our arrival, and they had their hands full.

I threw the zap at one of the Lineg as they took down one of our defenders and rushed for Zey. Pain shot through my side, and I winced, but I hit my mark.

Zey’s eyes darted to the prone attacker only a few feet away, then scanned me, zeroing in on my wound.

“Sky. You’re hurt.” He sounded downright pained and looked genuinely worried.

“I’m OK. It’s not that bad,” I lied. “You do your Onuei juju, and I’ll keep a lookout. Hurry.”

If he didn’t succeed at his mission, his people looked like they’d destroy each other until there was no one left to lead. And then all of this would’ve been for nothing. If he didn’t save his world, he couldn’t help me or himself.

Priorities.

He narrowed his eyes at me but quickly got back to his task.

“You’ve been extra bossy today,” he mumbled as he cradled the window crank in both his hands and held it up above his head.

I chuckled, even though it hurt. He’d been about to saybitchy, notbossy.

If we actually make it through this, I promised myself,I’m going to tell him I love him.

There were no magic words or special ritual. Zey just closed his eyes and held the Onuei, and after a few moments ... something happened. It was difficult to understand, because there was no glowing, no magical sparks or ethereal sound. But I still felt like I somehowknewwhen the Onuei was released from the inanimate object.

It almost felt like taking a deep breath of the freshest air—the kind that was cleansing and calming and made you feel connected to nature.

Whatever magical barrier had kept it from going to the next True Leader must’ve been gone—perhaps removed by the warriors fighting to protect us—because I felt it when the Onuei disappeared.

The Vuulectians must’ve felt it too, probably with far more clarity than I did, because for a split second, they all paused. Everyone in the area stopped and turned their faceless heads in our direction.

Then the fighting started up again, even more fierce.

Zey picked the necklace up next. I summoned another zap and threw it at an attacker. I missed. My wound was making me slow and clumsy. Thankfully, someone on our side took the attacker out before it was too late.

Bodies were starting to pile up in the water all around us. Some of them roused and stumbled to their feet after a while but many didn’t. Were they dead? Or just stunned so badly that it would take them a long time to recover, like the group I’d electrocuted at the dump that night?

I felt that deep breath feeling wash over me again. Another Onuei was released from the object it had been hiding in. That time, the fighting barely stopped.

Zey dropped the necklace and picked up the ribbon.

In a last-ditch effort, the Lineg rallied and rushed us. Our protectors couldn’t stop them all. I summoned a zap into each hand and braced myself, shuffling over to block Zey. If I could even buy him a few seconds, it could make all the difference.

I managed to take out two of them—between getting punched in the face and kicked in the knee. But there were too many, and they were desperate, and I was injured.

Two of the Lineg rushed Zey. One of them stabbed him in the neck with a zap, and he went down. The other one snatched the ribbon.

I tried to make myself run after him, push through the pain, but a third Lineg tackled me, and I screamed.

Even through the pain, I could make out what was happening around me.

The fucker with the ribbon was trying to get away, but the good guys weren’t making it easy for him and his growing group of fighters.

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