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My calves and thighs burned as we caught up with the others and raced out into the courtyard. Mist stormed into my eyes, blurring the world around me, stinging my pupils with its thick, wet haze. But we just kept running, winding away from the castle toward the streets and bridges that cut through the city below.
Kalen kept glancing my way, his brow furrowed in concern. But I would not stop and I would not complain. My mother was out there, and she needed our help.
I refused to let myself think the worst, even when another feral shriek rent the murky night.
I’d seen what shadowfiends—pookas—could do. The image of their vicious fangs and claw-like talons was not something I would soon forget.
But I had to hope. I had to believe that it wouldn’t be too late.
A main road cut down the side of the hill, right through the heart of the city. We ran past rows of homes built from gray stone, topped with orange roofs. My lungs burned as we continued onward, passing through a small square with a well and merchant stalls that were shut for the night. And still, we kept running, past a pub and an inn and a blacksmith workshop. All dark inside, windows and doors latched tight. A few people looked out their windows as we ran by, no doubt awakened by the screams and the thundering of footsteps.
At long last, we reached the gate. It was a hulking mass of metal. The top of it wasn’t even visible from down here. It just vanished into the shadowy mist.
A guard, dressed head to toe in steel armor, rushed toward us, breathless. “A group of humans came through earlier. Eight of them. When the screaming started, I sent two guards out there, but they haven’t returned.”
“Why did you let them go out there by themselves?” I couldn’t help but ask. “They’re helpless.”
The guard stiffened. “You humans are not prisoners here. If someone wants to leave this city, they can. Unless I’ve misunderstood our king’s commands.”
“It’s all right, Eitan.” Kalen nodded toward the gate. “Open it.”
Eitan grunted and stomped away. A moment later, the gate creaked open, and a sudden gust of chilly wind billowed the mist around us. Kalen motioned toward the others.
“Formation,” he commanded. “Tessa, stay behind me.”
I glanced around as the Mist Guard took up a V-shaped formation with Kalen in the front. Moving just behind him, I gripped my dagger and started walking as the five of them marched out into the darkness. They held their weapons at the ready. Kalen curled his hands out in front of him while Alastair held a sword and Fenella clutched two daggers. In the back row, Toryn carried a spear and Niamh held a bow in one hand and an arrow nocked and ready. Gaven was the only one, other than Kalen, who looked ready to wield magic. With narrowed eyes and open hands, he scanned the mists.
Another scream—this time human—ripped through the night. My feet itched to run as my mind warred against me. I’d made a promise to Kalen not to run ahead, but that vow chafed against my every instinct. We were moving slowly, creeping along in the shadows while my mother was out there somewhere, likely terrified.
Maybe even hurt.
A burning sensation rose up inside me, a desperate need to race forward with no thought to the consequences. The intensity of it choked me like a fist gripping my throat. I struggled to breathe, to think, to keep my footsteps moving forward. And, for a blink of an eye, all I could see was darkness so profound that it felt as if I were no longer even a part of this world.
Kalen stopped short. I crashed into him, and the sudden jolt forced me out of that despairing darkness. The pain and rage flickered away, loosening its hold on me.
I shook my head, wondering what the hell had just happened.
Kalen cast a quick glance over my shoulder. “Everything all right?”
“I’m fine,” I said tightly. “Just keep moving. We need to find them.”
“Shh.” From my right side, Alastair held a finger to his lips as he gazed around us. “One is nearby.”
As if to answer his statement, a ball of fangs and fur exploded from the mist. It hurtled toward us with outstretched claws, a wailing shriek ripping from its open mouth. Terror clawed its way up my throat as the Mist Guard shifted toward the beast. Niamh loosed an arrow but missed, the tip punching the sandy ground.
“Alastair, go!” Kalen shouted as the beast landed only a few feet in front of us.
With a roar, the fae swung his sword. His steel sank into the creature’s neck and liberated it of its head. A lump clogged my throat as the head tumbled toward us, its vacant yellow eyes staring right through me. It reminded me too much of that day, of that moment I’d thought my sister was dead.
I shook aside those thoughts and turned just as more shadowfiends raced toward us. And then more. My gut twisted as I counted them.
There were at least twenty.
And not a human in sight.
“Mother,” I gasped.
“Kal,” Niamh shouted out a warning. “There are too many of them!”
