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“Dallas, get back!” Max grabbed her and leapt behind the closest vehicle, covering up her body with his, just as the thing jumped.
It landed on the car, windows shattering, tires popping from the force and immense weight. Bits of gravel, metal, and rubber flew.
As Max watched the creature’s shadow, defined by a streetlight, he used his magic to build up a wall around him and Dallas, shielding them from being scented or heard.
The thing snuffled, foul breath puffing out in white streams.
Max didn’t dare move. One of his hands was covering Dallas’s mouth, the other clutching her to his body.
Finally, the thing stopped showing interest, their scents lost in the chill wind.
It threw its head back and roared, the sound shattering all streetlights in the area. Glass showered the asphalt.
Max ducked his head, Dallas doing the same against him, tucking her own under his chin.
The creature took off into the night, heading straight for Angelthene Boulevard. It cleared the freeway with a mighty leap, vehicles swerving out of shock. When it hit the ground on the other side, smaller demons fled, the streetlights off in the distance rumbling from its heavy gait.
Max eased up off the ground, glass fragments tinkling as they slid off him and hit the pavement.
Dallas stood too. “What was that thing?” she whispered, shaking glass out of her hair.
That was when Max saw Darien.
Covered in blood, his jeans and long-sleeve practically black with it, he was sprinting out of the market. He almost ran right by when Max called his name.
“Darien!”
Darien stopped, boots skidding. His eyes—black, a webbing of the same shade surrounding them—were wild as he found Max and Dallas standing by the pulverized car.
“It’s heading straight for the carnival,” Darien said, the words strained between panting breaths. “I have to stop it.”
The carnival. Bloody hell.
Dallas shrieked, “You’re going after that thing?”
“I’m coming with you,” Max said. “The others are at the carnival.”
“I know, I just talked to Trav.” He looked like he was about to bolt, and maybe Max shouldn’t have said it, but he did anyway.
“Loren’s with them.”
Darien’s face went white. “What?” he snapped.
“She came by the house a little while ago. She was looking for you.”
By the time Max had finished his sentence, Darien was already running.
—
The flashing lights of the carnival were dizzying.
While Loren had once found the tinkling music, the colorful lights, and the din of voices exhilarating, they were only a distraction tonight, the place too loud and far too crowded, bodies everywhere.
The place was stuffed full with rides—bumper cars, carousels, rollercoasters, a Ferris wheel. There was apple bobbing, balloon-and-dart games, water gun and crossbow games, ring toss, plastic ponds filled with rubber ducks. Werewolves who swallowed silver swords, venefica fire eaters, diving acts, daredevil shows. The cool evening air was weighed down with the scents of fried dough, funnel cake, cotton candy, caramel apples, potato wedges, hot cider and chocolate. So many smells, it was a wonder Sabrine was able to separate them.
An hour had to have passed, and there was still no sign of Blue. But Sabrine and Logan were tracking her scent with success. The trail Blue had left behind when she’d fled from the attack had yet to lead them out of the carnival, which meant she must be hiding somewhere in here, among the labyrinth of food trucks, vendors, and rides.
Lace’s eyes were a gleaming onyx as she scanned the area, using her Sight to periodically check on the others, who were conducting their own search at the other end of the boulevard.
