I prepare myself to be kicked out of the car. After all, the guys have stressed more than a few times that they’ll do whatever it takes to protect their brothers. If darkness is after me, then they’ll be safe if they ditch me.
When Foster splays his fingers across my cheek, I flinch.
“We’re going to get you out of here,” he promises. “Nothing is going to happen to you, but I need you to stay as calm as possible, okay?”
I nod, relief washing over me like the rain outside.
“As lovely as this little moment is, we need to go,” Easton warns. “Now, Romeo.”
Foster’s and my attention snaps back to the window, and then we freeze in horror.
The tendrils of smoke are close; wisps of evil reaching for our car.
“Drive forward into the field while I try to work on creating a portal.” Easton’s palms ignite with vibrant silver flames while droplets of water dew on his skin.
Foster slams his foot down on the gas, and the tires spin before the car jerks forward, ramping off the edge of the road and bottoming out in the field. My seatbelt locks from the impact, my teeth clanking together as my jaw pops.
“Everyone, hang on!” Foster shouts out a little too late.
Still, I clutch the sides of the seat and hold on as he gives the car gas. But with the muddy ground, we’re not speeding up very quickly and the darkness is gaining on us, reaching for the car.
“My queen, can you hear me?” Darkness laughs inside my mind. “Join me now. If you don’t, you’ll die.”
“Shut up.” I throw my hands over my ears, trying to block it out, but the laughter only grows louder.
“Block it out, Sky,” Foster begs as he speeds toward the trees. “Don’t let it get to you, okay?”
“I’m trying.” But darkness is seeping into the cracks of my mind, spinning a web of doubt and calling to a power I never thought I had, a darkness in my veins that begs to spread a plague across the land.
“East, how’s the portal coming?” Foster guides a hand away from my ear then tangles his fingers through mine, his touch sparking heat through my veins and making the darkness within me flicker.
“I’m trying to get one up, but I think—”
Easton curses over the crackling of sparks.
“Fuck! I think the darkness is messing with my powers.”
Foster’s gaze zips to the side of me, and fear reflects in his eyes. “Well, block it out.”
“I’m trying!” Easton shouts. “But it’s fucking powerful, like it’s the goddamn god himself or something …” He trails off, gulping. “What if it is the god of darkness himself? Because it feels really, really powerful, man … Like the end of the world.”
“But, why would he be here …?” Fear abruptly pulsates off Foster as he glances over his shoulder at Easton while continuing to floor the car across the field. “You don’t think that maybe when Mom talked to the headmistress, the hunters had already taken over the school, do you? Because, if so, she may have lied about the room of darkness being secure.”
A slamming heartbeat of silence goes by.
“We need to get her the hell out of here,” Easton whispers, his wide eyes landing on me.
My body turns to ice, goosebumps sprouting across my flesh.
The god of darkness is here?
For me?
It knows what I am.
I’m going to die.
“You’re not going to die,” Foster vows to me, leaving me to wonder if I said my thoughts aloud or sent my feelings down the link. “I won’t let that happen.” His gaze sears into me and, down the link, I feel that he means what he says.