Page 27

I vaguely see Theo in my peripheral kicking at what’s left of the bolt, trying to free himself. I should move. I should run, but what’s the point? There are two of them and one of me.

I’m as good as dead.

Jace has scrambled back, looking petrified. Lucy drops Mike and advances toward Jace. The front of his pants grows wet as he stumbles back, hardly able to keep himself upright. Her fangs crunch into his neck with a sickening sound and she throws his limp body to the ground.

Holy shit.

She turns her head toward me.

‘Well, well,’ she purrs. ‘Who are you?’

She starts toward me, steps slow and deliberate.

‘Tara, move!’ Theo’s voice cracks like a whip.

I take a step back and stumble, my ankle catching on a rock. I hit the ground, scraping my hands. Lucy’s nearly on me. A sound tears through the room. Theo’s cage doesn’t just open – it explodes. Theo steps through, eyes as black as night.

He’s not human. Not even close. He moves faster than I can track. Lucy turns, surprised at the movement. Theo slams into her and they crash into the wall, stone and dirt crumbling around them. She hisses, claws slashing at him. He takes it and shoves her back, away from me. She recovers fast, eyes wide now.

‘What the hell are you doing?’ she growls at him. ‘She’s one of them.’

‘Leave her.’

Lucy bares her teeth. ‘You’d kill me for a human?’ she spits.

‘Who is she?’

‘She’s not a part of whatever this is. Just leave her.’

Blood streaks down her chin, and her hair is tangled around her face. She straightens, shaking off the impact like it was nothing, eyes burning with something cold. She examines me. As if trying to work out what’s so special about me. I don’t quite understand either. Why is Theo willing to save me? They could end me right now, like the others, and never look back.

‘I’m sorry, Theo, but I have no allegiance to her. I can’t let any of them live.’

‘She’s not one of them—’ Theo starts, but Lucy is already moving.

She lunges and I scream. I try to scramble back, but my body won’t move fast enough. I can feel it, the panic closing my throat, the knowledge that I can’t get out of this situation. She’s faster than me. Stronger. She is going to rip me to shreds.

Theo steps between us. There’s a flash of something silver in his hands – where did it even come from? A weapon one of the boys had on them? Lucy collides with him mid-strike, but Theo absorbs the impact. He drives her back, away from me, pinning her with inhuman strength.

‘Don’t. Touch. Her.’

‘You’re protecting her?’ Lucy’s voice twists into disbelief and rage. ‘Who is she?’

‘I said leave her, so just fucking leave her!’ he growls, looking frustrated now.

Lucy slams her fist into his side. He winces but doesn’t let go, even though he looks starved and beaten, just like her.

‘We leave no one standing, Theo. What’s happened to you?’

Theo’s eyes flick to me, as if he’s unsure himself.

‘She’s not like the others,’ he says. ‘She’s caught up in this, too.’

She backs off a step, staring between us. Her eyes narrow into slits as she glares at him.

‘She will kill you, Theo. Don’t kid yourself into thinking she’s not a part of it. Did she know you were here? Did she let you out? Don’t let her innocent doe eyes fool you.’

In a blur of speed, she vanishes.