“Correct.No need to kill you myself when the Harvesters are more efficient.”A laugh.“If you survive, there’s fresh sugar cane waiting for you. Assuming I don’t eat it all.”
I hated him. With all my hearts and might, I hated him.
A bony hand wrapped around my ankle and yanked me hard. I jerked in the air, my starry wings flinging haphazardly as I was snapped to the right then flung to the ground.
The star gate. I had to get to the star gate.
I couldnotfight this. Not alone.
If you choose to live by your stomach, we’re given no other choice. We will choose to let you die by it.
But I didn’t have anything! This wasn’t remotely fair!
“Fair.”A snort was heard down my mind. A brush of shadow pushed against my thoughts.“She thinks her precious temple isfair. How adorable.”
“Shut up!” I screamed out loud as I shot to my feet, taking off again.
“You dance too much, Star of the Age.”
“That’s not me!” I screamed, racing for the star gate.
I blocked out the sound of the Spirit Harvesters, and somehow, I put a protective shield around my mind against Quazar. I changed my flight pattern, flying in zig zag motions to throw off my pursuers. I begged for another Seraphim, a Legionnaire,anyoneto show up and help me.
No one did.
I pushed harder, unwilling to just give up. If I could make it to the star gate, I would survive. I felt lightheaded, nausea weakening my flight, as hunger made me sway despite my adrenaline. But I kept flying. If I slowed, I would?—
Jagged teeth latched onto a pair of my wings, shredding through the tips, dragging me down. I screamed, tears streaming down my face, as my wings were torn through to the bone, golden blood spewing.
“Whycan’t we feast? She isdelicious.”
I drew on my starfire, using it to boost me into the air. Then I shot out another burst, that sent me careening with such brunt force over the islet, I nearly missed the star gate. As my visionblackened, I focused on the star gate, while pulling every trace of blood back into myfyusedbody, unwilling to let my leaking blood reveal what hid beneath my skin. Especially not in the presence of these monsters.
I could feel my blood vessels reforming, healing, coming back together, as parts of my body patched itself enough for me to remain intact. The Spirit Harvesters lunged for me again. I reached the star gate, and threw myself into it, racing across. The moment it spat me out, the star gate closed.
I rolled over and over across the marble floor before landing in a heap. My breaths were ragged, as I covered my body with my torn wings. My vision blurred. I had a splitting headache and everywhere burned.
Hèls. That was absoluteHèls.
But I survived. By some burning miracle I survived.
I cried, the stinging tears snaking down my cheeks. I’d nearly lost my life in a miserable way again. Terror filled my chest as I tried clinging to my sanity. I couldn’t shake away the nightmare that was the Spirit Harvesters. Maybe if Quazar and I had worked together, maybe I could have ended the life of at least one.
Instead, I got my tail rocked. Bad.
Someone started slow clapping as I wiped my tears, still hiding under my draping wings, hyperventilating. I checked my hands. My arms. They were bare. No exposure of what lay beneath my skin. Embedded in my blood.
Bend, but do not break.Burn, but never bleed.
I was failing miserably at that.
I slowly lifted my head, my cheeks wet with tears, to find Quazar’s eyes glowing with triumph. He squatted by me, tilting his head
“Well, well. She survived.”
“I hate you,” I seethed, baring my teeth at him.
He waved a hand. “I don’t really give a rot, Starling.” His eyes fell to my hands. I tucked them into the folds of my wings. “You evaded Spirit Harvesters. How?”
