to talk me out of this. He just kisses me, the touch gentle and yet filled with such unspoken promise that it takes my breath away.
“Trust me,” I whisper against his lips.
“I always have.”
I kiss him again before letting go and stepping back. Jonah looks away, his hands clenching, and glares at the cottage. Ambrose, on the other hand, gives a hesitant nod in approval. It’s not like I needed it to save my friends, but it’s nice to know that the god has my back.
“If you’re not out in ten minutes, I will burn the cottage to the ground,” he says.
“Like fuck, you will!” Jonah yanks Ambrose back and scowls at him. His features soften when he looks at me. “But in all seriousness, if shit hits the fan in there, I’ll skin Eva alive and wear her like a suit.”
I chuckle despite the gross imagery. “Just have faith in me, Jonah. If nothing else, I’ll be able to take down the force-field and let you in. We’ve totally got this.”
“Ever the optimist, shadow raven.”
“One of us has got to be.” I wink at him, stepping back. “See you all on the other side, baby.”
The three of them watch me turn and make my way to the porch. My smile fades when I climb the first step. I hold my breath, preparing to be shot back onto my ass. Nothing happens. The magic sweeps over me like a sheet of cling film. I wrap my hand around the door handle, and pausing only briefly, twist and enter.
The entire cottage is cloaked in darkness. I wave my hand, igniting the fireplace, and there, bathed in the shadows of its flames, is Eva. She’s holding a blade to Jane’s throat. To my horror, relief floods through me when I see it’s not Sage or any of the others. But Jane is still Jonah’s sister, and an innocent person, too. I need to get her out of here.
One thing I know about force fields is that they’re easier to destroy from the inside. I clasp my hands behind my back and let my magic seep into the darkness. Everything about me has always been dark, so my power merges seamlessly with the shadows. If I can distract Eva for a couple of minutes, I’ll be able to destroy her forcefield and let my guys in.
“Eva,” I snarl at her, surprised by how quickly her poison has spread. The black veins now cover part of her face, which she has tried but failed miserably to hide with her matted hair. “You’re always so dramatic with your arrivals.”
She curls her blackened lips into a repugnant snarl. “What’s revenge without a little flair?” Resting the tip of the blade on Jane’s jugular, she adds, “But I do think that we ought to stop meeting like this.”
Jane’s fearful eyes widen. “Get this crazy bitch off me and I swear I won’t ever be a bitch to you again!”
“Hush now,” Eva warns. “You’re ruining my moment.”
“What do you want, Eva?” I sweep my gaze over her body. The ivory dress hanging off her thin body is torn and covered in mud. She looks like she hasn’t washed or slept in days. “What’s happened to you?”
“War has happened.” She waves her other hand dismissively. “These things are never easy. Or sanitary.”
“Well, you look bloody awful.”
Her eyes narrow into slits. She’s completely oblivious to what I’m doing. “Don’t let my appearance fool you! We are winning this war. Already the titans, and my army, have taken over the Dark Fae Kingdom; something my father never had the guts or power to do. Soon, Draconia will fall, and the entire Forest will be at my disposal.”
I clap my hands sardonically, more as a distraction than anything as her forcefield is lifted from right under her nose. “Congratulations on turning into a tyrannical bitch. Now, what do you want from me?” She glances at the tattoo on my arm. “Oh, this little thing? Yeah. You don’t want it. Trust me. It talks to me all the damn time, especially when I’m trying to sleep.”
the sword counters, and a grin tugs my lips. Strangely my hands shake at the idea of anyone taking my sword…it’s mine. It always will be.
“You will come with me willingly,” Eva says, adding pressure to the blade, “or I will slit this shadowborn’s throat and kill your lovers.”
My response is to yawn and stretch my arms, letting more magic shoot