Page 4 (1/2)

Chapter 1

So

Of course, I start out flying in these dreams Because that’s what I do What I am What I love

A feeeks ago, I would have said it’s what I love ed since then Everything, really

In these dreah the sky, free as I’ happens because suddenly I’ in a tailspin I clutch air, ry wind I pluirl, not a draki at all Powerless Lost

I feel that way now: I’ I can stop none of it I’htmare

I alake before I hit ground That’s been ht I hit the ground And it’s every bit as painful as I expected

I rest lass of theand watch the night rush past h theover rock yards and stucco houses, searching for an answer, a reason for everything that’s happened

The world seeaze drifts to the dark sky above us A deep, starless sea beckoning, pro sanctuary

Mo as she talks to Ta to coax a response frolance over my shoulder Tamra shivers in Mom’s arms Her eyes stare vacantly ahead; her skin corpse pale

“Is she okay?” I ask again, because I have to say so I have to know Did I do this to her? Is this, too,with her?”

Mom frowns and shakes her head at me like I shouldn’t speak I’ve let them both down I broke the unbreakable rule I revealed my true form to humans—worse, hunters—and ill all pay for the ht that sinksuncontrollably I cross ht still them

Cassian warned ht’s work, and I wonder whether it’s already begun I’ve lost Will Ta worse Mom can hardly look atinsidein front of Will’s fa dry air to reach him But if I hadn’t manifested—hadn’t flown to Will’s side—he’d be dead, and I couldn’t bear that thought I’ll never see Will again, no matter his promise to find me, but at least he’s alive

Cassian says nothing beside et Mo with hiers hold tight to the steering wheel, his knuckles white I doubt he’ll relax his grip until we’re free and clear of Chaparral Probably not until we’re safely back in the pride Safe I strangle on a laugh—or it could be a sob Will I ever feel safe again?

The town flies past, houses thinning out as we near the edge of town We’ll be gone soon Free of this desert and the hunters Free of Will This last thought claws fresh the already bleeding wound into be done about it Could there ever have been a future for us? A draki and a draki hunter? A draki hunter with the blood of h his veins

That part of it all still stu to penetrate I can’t closepurple blood in the night Liketo accept this terrible truth No matter how valid Will’s explanation, no e the fact that the stolen blood of h his veins

Cassian exhales slowly as we leave the city limits

“Well, that’s that,” Morows between us and Chaparral

I turn to find her looking back through the rearShe’s leaving all her hopes for a better future in Chaparral It’s where erea fresh start, away from the pride And noe’re headed back into their midst

“I’m sorry, Mom,” I say, not just because I should, but because I mean it

Moets nothing out

“We’ve got trouble,” Cassian announces Straight ahead, several cars block the road, forcing us to slow

“It’s thee to utter past numb lips as Cassian pulls closer

“Them?” Mom demands “Hunters?”

I give a hard nod Hunters Will’s family

Glaring headlights pierce the dark and illuaze flicks to the rearviewback around, running for it in the other direction But it’s too late for that—one car ures step in front of our car Cassian sla wheel, and I know he’s fighting the ili them somewhere

Hard, biting voices shout at us to get out of the car I hold still,so deeply—as though I were trying to reach my draki buried underneath

A fist bangs down on our hood, and then I see it—the outline of a gun in the gloom

Cassian’s gaze locks withwhat I already know We have to survive Even if itI already did, that got us in this jaht in the first place And why not? It’s not like we can reveal our secret more

Nodding, Iout of the car to face our enemies

Will’s cousin Xander steps ahead of the others thrusting his set away?”

Crushing pain fills ht Ash gathers at the back ofmyself for whatever may come

A hunter beats a fist on the back , shouting at Mom and Tamra “Get out of the car!”

Mo Ta Rock; her wheezy breath scrapes the air Her amber brown eyes, the same as mine, look cloudy, almost filmy as she stares into space Her lips part, but no words escape I step close and lend a hand, helping Mom support her Tam’s icy to the touch, her skin not skin at all Chilled marble

Cassian faces Xander, regal as the prince he essentially is Light glints off the purple and black strands of his hair

Ihow I can convince Xander he didn’t see me manifest “What do you want?”