Page 25 of The Never Queen

Panic flits through my chest as pain burns through my skull.

The twins are fighting off several assailants.

Pan is fighting with fists while Vane uses the bat.

Why are none of them using their magic? Why can’t I use mine? I know I’m not an expert at it yet, but usually when I’m in trouble, the shadow leaps into action.

I twist around, trying to get leverage but I’m quickly yanked again, losing my footing. And as I go down, I notice a faint purple glow from beneath the man’s black coat.

And it’s almost like whatever light is emanating from it, is buzzing along my skin.

“Let. Me. Go.” I get my feet beneath me and dig my heels in.

A fist connects with my face.

Stars burn behind my eyes.

The sharp metallic tang of blood coats my tongue.

My breathing quickens as my mind races. What the fuck should I do?

Come on, Shadow. Help me!

But that familiar pulse of the darkness is just gone.

I’m in trouble. I’m in serious trouble.

And the boys are not fairing any better.

Bash is down on his knees, someone kicking him in the ribs.

Kas is fighting off his own attacker while trying to help his brother. And Pan and Vane are fighting off multiple people with bats.

I’m dragged farther, the grass giving way to pavement. A car door opens.

Fuck.

The panic kicks up.

It’s now or never.

Just as the man pivots to shove me into the back of the waiting car, I sink to my knees like dead weight, putting me at the perfect vantage point to punch him in the balls.

His grip on me immediately falls away, and I hit the pavement, scooting backward as he curls into a ball, howling.

I think I’m free, but the first man is quickly replaced by a second, my sweatshirt balled in his fist, wrenching me around.

Fuck.

Fuck.

A third shadow appears, and it feels like my chances of escaping are dwindling by the second.

Until the third shadow takes out the man holding me with a left-handed hook. And as the man goes down, the mysterious third shadow produces a gleaming dagger, sinking it into the man’s chest.

As he falls to the pavement, blood gurgles up his throat.

The man I punched in the balls finally rouses himself, only for the blade to find him next.