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19

KIM

My glasses fly off my face and skid across the floor.

Zephyra didn’t mention this part. It’s not past her to surprise me, but something tells me Evan is going off script right now.

Nova starts to run, then falters. He swings his arms around her and holds the blade to her throat.

Fuck.

No.

This was not part of the plan.

The tip of the blade pierces her skin. She lets out a strangled cry and struggles against him. Her skin is glowing. Sparks start to drift into the air, but she must be keeping them locked inside because of that damn cuff on her wrist.

Evan is facing away from me, but I can see their reflection in the mirror. His arm around her waist. The blade at her throat.

“Evan, if you kill her, the queen will END you,” I yell.

Evan’s eyes are black inky pools. He’s panting, salivating. He can smell her blood and it’s driving him crazy.

He spins around, and now Nova’s facing me, completely naked, in the clutches of that fucking monster, I hate myself more than I ever have.

I pick up my own shard of glass and stagger to my feet, even though it’ll do absolutely nothing.

Nova’s eyes widen as Evan drops his blade. “You’re right,” he growls, pulling her hair back over her shoulder.

He pauses, grins at me, then sinks his teeth into her neck.

Her body stiffens. She winces, and cries out.

And he begins to devour her.

I expect her to struggle, but her arms go loose at her sides and she closes her eyes.

His hands are all over her. Up and down and grabbing and groping.

When they move to her breasts, he suddenly coughs and staggers backward.

His mouth hangs open.

“Fuck. My mouth. The bitch burned me.” He sticks out his tongue as if he’s looking for a drink of water. “Is her blood supposed to be hot?” He’s looking at me as if he thinks I have an answer.

Nova turns and splays out her fingers. In the mirror, she meets my eyes, then flits her gaze to the corridor.

She’s telling me to take cover.

Fire flickers in her palms.

She flexes her fingers.

She throws her head back, and then…. a pair of enormous fiery wings explode from her back. So huge they fill the room.

I jump back into the corridor and huddle in a ball, hands over my head.

There’s the sound of something crackling.