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Will’s cousin stabs a finger at me “We’ll start with you—whatever the hell you are”

“Get away from her,” Cassian commands

Xander’s attention swings to Cassian “And then we’ll uyand how it is you fell off that cliff with Will and don’t have a scratch”

“Where’s Will?” I blurt I have to know

Xander jerks a thumb to one of the nearby cars “Passed out in the back” I squint through the glooure sluht as well be an ocean away When last I saw hiain He was hurt, but conscious I shudder to think what his own fae that

“He needs a doctor,” I say

“Later After I deal with you two”

“Look,” Cassian begins, stepping in front of me “I don’t knohat you think—”

“I think you need to shut up I’ mistake

Cassian growls, his skin flashing a gli charcoal There’s a flurry of round, his expression as stunned as the half dozen others gathered around us

“Get him!” Xander shouts

The others converge on Cassian I screae at the s sounds of fists and move toward them, determined to help him, but hands restrain me

An anirowl rumbles on the air It’s Cassian Several hunters hold hirins as he plants a boot on his back With his cheek pressed flat into asphalt, Cassian’s gaze locks onto vertical slits

Stea air rushes pastfor hi we can talk our way out of this That he doesn’t need to reveal himself as a draki, too Maybe I can still protect him Maybe he can make it out of here with Mom and Tamra

The cold kiss of a gun digs into my ribs and I freeze Mo anything foolish to help me “Stay with Tamra, Mom She needs you!”

Xander’s dark gaze roves over me contes”

It’s a battle not to let the fear s me in a fiery wash—a shock that I don’t shift into ht now

“Jacinda,” Cassian shouts les

Xander keeps talking “Don’t worry I’un We’ll keep you alive and figure out what the hell you are”

They’re beating Cassian now as he fights to get free

“Stop!” I shove past Xander, but Angus blockshim “Stop! Please, stop!” My heart twists It’s them or us

Fire erupts in s and climbs up my windpipe

I can’t let them take us

Before I can release the blazing breath, a sudden gust of cold swirls around e in temperature

As I whirl around, ht of Ta ide eyes several feet behind her

My sister’s face is dead pale, her eyes not her own anyray chills my heart A vapor rolls off her like stea in an ever-expanding cloud around us

She arches her body in a sinuous ripple, tearing at her blouse, ripping it in a fierce limmer with a lustrous pearly sheen

I’ve only seen such color on one other soul Another draki Nidia: the shader of our pride I watch as the roots of Tah the rest of her hair

The vapor intensifies, a chillingthat covers the township in a cool blanket Shielding us fro the minds of those who stumble into our sanctuary

“Tamra!” I reach for her, but Cassian’s there, free fro me back

“Let her,” he says

I glance at his face, recognize the deep, prilad Happy at what’s happening What can’t be happening Tamra’s never manifested before How can this happen now?

In the moment I look away, it’s done By the tiround Her gossa above her silvery shoulders

“Ta with this new reality My sister’s a draki After so long After thinking ould never have this in common More than that—she’s a shader

Her eerily calaze sweeps over all of us on the road Like she knows precisely what to do And I guess she does It’s instinct