The Shadow Crosser (The Storm Runner 3)

“We have to break down the door!” I shouted.

Quinn’s eyes fell on Brooks, and I could tell she was torn, like she wanted to rush over and check out her sister’s injury. But her warrior training wouldn’t let her—she had to stay focused on the task at hand. Just when I predicted Quinn was about to shift into some massive ramming beast, Alana and Adrik shoved her aside and went to the door. They huddled so close I couldn’t see what they were doing. And then…

Click.

They swung the door open. Okay, they really were professional burglars.

My heart launched into the stratosphere. We were going to make it!

Or that’s what I thought until I saw Ik reflected in the window. She was only about thirty feet away, sprinting toward us with fangs and claws exposed.

Adrik screamed. Alana shoved him through the door as I threw Brooks over my shoulder, willed Fuego back into my grip, and hurried toward the flickering gateway at the rear of the laundromat. The demon’s footsteps were so close. Too close.

For a split second, I considered throwing Fuego at Ik’s ugly mug, but I couldn’t slow down long enough and I didn’t have a free hand to incinerate the monster, either. “HURRY!” I shouted.

The gateway glimmered weakly.

Ten feet.

Five.

Three.

Quinn threw open the dryer and jumped inside after Adrik and Alana. Just as it was about to disappear, I nose-dived into the portal, wishing I could watch as it slammed closed in Ik’s double-crossing face.

Here’s the thing about magical portals: They’re a lot like cars. Some ride like a dream; others are hunks of junk that should be sent to a scrapyard. Yeah, well, we got the junk.

The world spun violently. Hot, turbulent winds sucked the breath from my lungs. I clutched Brooks tightly as white goose down and staticky socks showered us. Then a sudden drop in air pressure made my ears pop. As I was catapulted out of the gateway and rolled across packed sand, I lost my hold on Brooks.

I scrambled over to where she lay near a bent palm tree. She was unconscious and hot to the touch. My heart dropped into my stomach. “Brooks?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Adrik and Alana get to their feet a few yards away. I quickly glanced over my shoulder to see waves rolling gently onto a small beach.

We had made it to Holbox. Thank the gods!

I jumped up, hurried toward the water, and from each hand shot a thick stream of fire fifty feet into the night sky. Rosie knew that red flames equaled SOS, as in Get here pronto!

When I got back to Brooks, Quinn was kneeling next to her and trying to keep Alana at bay.

“I’ve had first aid training,” the girl twin said. “Maybe I can help.”

“This will require something else,” Quinn said. But she let Alana kneel next to Brooks anyway.

“How about a little light?” Alana asked me.

I squatted and ignited a small flame in my palm, allowing Alana to see Brooks’s wound. “There’s something in her arm,” the godborn said. She was too calm, like she was used to escaping demons, falling through magical portals, and doctoring shape-shifters. “I need some tweezers or…” Her voice trailed off as she appraised our surroundings.

“If you guys had come with us sooner,” I growled, “this wouldn’t have happened.”

From behind me, Adrik said, “We don’t even know you! And I bulldozed some of those monsters, in case you forgot. It was totally cinema-worthy!”

“Blame won’t heal her, Obispo.”

Anger, frustration, and panic battled inside me, but I knew Quinn was right. We had to focus on Brooks. “Rosie’s on her way.”

Come on, Rosie. Where are you?

Quinn leaned closer. A small talon emerged from her index finger, and she used it to gently probe the wound. A stream of fresh blood ran down Brooks’s arm as her sister dug out a silver dart tip.