Unmade (Unborn #4) - Amber Lynn Natusch Page 0,15

he could argue, she was on the opposite shore, grabbing his twin and bringing him over. She stopped long enough to kiss Kierson, then took off, headed for my father’s chambers.

“We need to get above and have Trey take you four somewhere that Kaine will not look for you—”

“We’re not fucking running like pussies,” Casey said, true offense in his tone.

“You, dear brother, are most certainly not a pussy, but you have no house to return to, and Kaine will seek vengeance any way he possibly can. He will strike down anyone I care for to bring me to heel, and if it is all the same to you, I would prefer you not face an entire army of Dark Ones alone just to prove your archaic sense of manhood.”

“I won’t be alone,” he said, looking at our brothers.

“Do this for me,” I said, stepping closer to him. “Please. I care for so little in this world…”

Those eternally dark eyes softened, and he nodded.

“We will go to Chicago,” Pierson said, heading toward the gates.

Together, we ran until the light from Earth shone through the opening. Then a deep voice stopped me short. I turned to find Deimos lurking behind us, standing where he had not been standing just seconds before.

“Go,” I said to the others. “Get Trey to come for you. I will check in soon.”

“Khara—”

“Go!” I shouted, looking back at them. Their stern expressions let me know how much they disliked being sent away, but they knew I was not in danger. Not from Deimos, at least. They had seen what I was capable of. If Deimos challenged me, he soon would, too.

“I have news of my brother,” he said.

“I do not have time for this. I need to return above and see to matters.”

“You mean see to Oz.”

“Jealousy does not suit you, Deimos.”

“As Oz does not suit you,” he said, coming closer.

“Kaine and his Dark Ones will certainly be here soon to reclaim what they feel is theirs. If that small part inside you that you claim to have truly does exist, then you will keep my father safe from harm when they arrive.”

“Khara,” he growled, snatching my arm, “My brother grows bolder by the hour—”

“He is a matter for another time, Deimos.”

“He will kill you!” he shouted, pulling me close. “He will break you as he broke Eos if he finds you.”

I leaned in close, my lips painfully near his. “Then do as my father has asked and eliminate the problem. Ares seems to think he knows how to do this. Perhaps you should ask him about it.”

His eyes went wide, and I capitalized on his surprise to pull away and fly down the corridor, his anger chasing me through the open gates. My brothers and Trey disappeared just before I could join them.

With a sigh of relief at the knowledge they would be safe, I looked above, prepared to return to Oz. Instead of a clear, open sky, I found one peppered with hundreds of black, deadly wings. They were too close to try to escape to the cabin, as they would surely follow. Instead, I pulled my phone from my pocket and scrolled until I found what I needed. I sent an urgent message, then tucked it away, freeing my hands should I need them.

The seconds passed like hours as the Dark Ones approached, tightening their ranks to appear like a swarm of locusts—a plague upon the Earth. Kaine led them into a dive, their speed unnerving as they plunged toward the gates—toward my position in front of them. He slowed, undoubtedly hoping the speed of his approach would allow him to scoop me up and take me away; or perhaps he planned to cut my head clean from my body, which seemed likely given the sword he pulled from its sheath.

Prepared to call my lightning, I stood still, unwavering under his attack. As he grew close enough for me to see the rage in his eyes, my fingers sparked. Then Trey appeared out of nowhere beside me. His hand captured mine just as the blade sliced through the air, and the two of us disappeared into the ether.

5

We stood before a massive building I did not recognize, Trey’s hand still holding mine. I felt unsteady on my feet, the effects of his travel magic still coursing through me.

“It gets easier over time,” he said. “The first time is always the worst. It used to totally drain me to courier people around. Now it’s not