Page 118 of Caged

A horrifying screech comes from above. My eyes snap up, following the sound and widen at the sight of the chandelier swinging precariously on its chain. Hundreds of shimmering crystals pop and shatter into jagged shards as the light fixture tears from the ceiling.

It swings precariously by half-severed wiring—like a hanged man swaying from the branch of an old oak tree.

What the fuck is happening?

Fear for my Mate pushes me forward, but before I can heave myself to my knees the marble flooring shudders. The ground rolls, pitching me to the side. I fall, landing on my shoulder. I try to right myself but the resounding CRACK of stone breaking apart jerks my attention to the side.

A chasm appears mere inches from Idril’s feet, shooting across the floor like black lightning. Cracks appear in the very foundation and dart up the walls, as if the house itself is buckling beneath the weight of her rage.

The sound still emanating from my Omega is not of this world.

It’s a summoning of righteous fury. A shriek into the Void, and the Void answering back.

It reverberates through my bones, making my teeth ache. The guard closest to Idril raises his fingers to his ears. When he pulls them away they’re covered in blood.

The guards nearest her stumble back. One raises his hands as if to shield himself from her anger. Another screams in fear. The one closest to her falls to his knees as blood pours from his nose and leaks from his ears.

So much destruction.

In mere moments, the entire foyer transforms into a war zone.

And through it all—that scream.

That Fatesdamned scream.

Terrible. Beautiful. Powerful. It pierces through the air like a call to arms. A declaration of war.

Then, as if someone’s flipped a switch, the sound cuts off.

There’s silence. Silence, and the soundless echo of her scream swirling thickly through the air. Not a soul in the room dares to move, including her father.

Idril sways on her feet. She blinks once, slowly, like she doesn’t quite understand where she is.

Her eyes sweep around the room, but I don’t know that she’s actually seeing anything until they land on me. The moment our eyes meet, her vision sharpens.

She wrenches out of her father’s grip with strength that shouldn’t exist in someone so delicate. So obviously starved.

She lunges forward, face set in a mask of determination, and runs.

Her bare feet slip and slide through blood as she sprints straight toward me. She goes down hard, the sound of her knees cracking on marble pierces my heart.

I reach for her instinctively, but she catches herself with both hands, and keeps moving.

She crawls, slips, and scrambles back to her feet. Her beautiful white hair is matted with red blood, tears stream steadily down her face, but she doesn’t stop.

Doesn’t slow.

Her terror pulses through the Bond, accompanied by a single-minded determination that brings tears to my eyes.

I swear I can hear her, the faintest whisper of her soft voice in my mind.

Get to Caelan. Just get to him. You can’t let him die. For once in your life, do something!

Please… please…

Fates, she’s so close now. I only have a second to register that she’s not slowing down before she crashes into me with enough force to drive the air from my lungs.

“Get down!” Her scream is raw, desperate, and full of terror.