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Chasin’s grin spreads. “Your numbers are thinning.” He raises both hands, and magic slams into our barrier. It pummels the shield with the force of a cat five hurricane, sending us skidding back across the floor.
Gritting my teeth, I dig deep and plant my feet to the ground.
“Hold it!” I yell to Delaney.
Behind us, metal clashes again as animals growl, and bodies hit the ground with deafening thuds. Still, I don’t look, unwilling to risk shifting my balance even slightly. I can only hope Chasin was lying and that the fallen aren’t ours.
Someone screams, and I shove both hands further out, magic pouring from every cell of my body. The edges of my vision begin to blur from exhaustion, but I don’t give an inch. We merely have to make it to the door.
Then we’ll be free.
Time seems to slow as a man behind me roars in anguish.
Delaney’s magic sputters out, and pain explodes in my back. I maintain my hold, though, desperate not to quit on my friends. I’ve already let them down in more ways than I can count, and even if it kills me, I will hold this barrier.
I have to hold this barrier.
But as another bullet rips into my shoulder, I lose it and fall to my knees right beside Delaney, who’s lying on her chest, cheek against the concrete. Eyes open, tears stream down her exposed cheek as she lies there completely immobile.
My blood hammers in my ears, making the horrific scene play out in complete silence.
Heels click against the marble floor, coming to a stop just before me. Odette leans down and cups my chin, yanking my face up to hers. “Your friends should have killed you. It would have saved you so much pain. Now, you will suffer as they will.” Magic singes my skin and sends me onto my back. I fall down, and as the world fades away, my mind travels to a place far from here, to a reality where we chose to run.
And survived.
