Page 209 of Infernal Bonds

I twisted and pushed back, trying to put distance between myself and my attackers, but the blood running down my legs from my scraped knees caught my attention.

The pajama shorts and T-shirt provided little protection from the rough surface of the roof. At least I’d worn my combat boots.

I’d hoped the bright liquid Rinlora’s mother injected me with would have made me heal faster, but it didn’t seem to be the case.

I hadn’t worried about pain because I hadn’t felt it.

I still didn’t feel it.

The adrenaline kept the pain suppressed, but it couldn’t stop my injuries. I needed to be careful.

An angry Shyrlivi with horns like a bull grabbed my ankle and dragged me toward him.

I kicked out, the sole of my combat boot connecting with his nose, making him howl in pain. I scrambled away, forcing myself to my feet.

The rooftop door slammed open again.

“Raelynn!”

I spun at the sound of Ezra’s commanding voice.

When Ezra’s icy eyes took in my bloodied appearance, his white sclera flooded black, and his shadows flared out around him, grabbing the nearest Shyrlivi and consuming them whole.

Zeke rushed out behind him, followed closely by Cyn.

“The basement’s empty,” Zeke called out to Ezra, his words trailing off as he took in Ezra’s shadows before spotting me.

They’d found me.

Relief hit me so hard I almost collapsed as the adrenaline waned, making my vision blur. It looked like two Zekes were fighting beside Ezra.

Ezra had taken care of at least five Shyrlivi, but more closed in from the door and fire escape. Either Cornaith or Dugorigi had sent an entire army to ensure they secured me for Kairian. At least twenty Shyrlivi were on the rooftop with us.

“Get her to the stairwell,” Ezra ordered Cyn and Zeke. “I’ll keep them off you.”

Someone grabbed me around the waist, taking advantage of the distraction.

I screamed and drove my elbow into their gut, but it did nothing. Their arm tightened, and my feet left the ground as they dragged me backward.

Darkness swept across the roof as Ezra’s shadows shot in my direction like vipers, latching onto the man holding me and ripping him away, causing me to drop to the ground.

My knees hit the rough surface, and I finally felt the pain as the gravel bit into my torn flesh.

Chaos erupted as Ezra’s shadows moved from one target to the next.

I crawled forward until I found something to help pull myself up. Once I steadied myself, I ran toward the only three people I trusted.

When someone stepped in my path, I changed direction, and the shadows consumed them. Then they consumed another.

Cyn and Zeke were fighting their way toward me, but the shadows made it hard to see. Without them, though, I was as good as gone.

When three Shyrlivi closed in on Ezra, distracting him and his shadows, the woman from before stepped in front of me.

“I told you we weren’t supposed to let you get hurt,” she sneered. “Now look at you.”

“Fuck you.”

“Now don’t be rude,” the man next to her said, stepping forward.