Page 75 of Burn of Obsidian

The cobblestones made it difficult to run, and her boots were definitely not built for sprinting. She only stopped once she reached Regents Canal, looking back over her shoulder to find herself alone. The lock was in the distance, narrow boats moored to the side.

“I can’t see him,” Ruhne said, peering out from her jacket.

Wild magic buzzed violently beneath her skin, but even if she could drift, she’d struggle with Ruhne’s weight, too.

“Look out!”

The warning came a second too late, Thea turning just as the Skull tackled her to the floor. Her head knocked hard against the stone, pain sharp enough her vision darkened.

“Get up!” Ruhne wiggled against her, freeing himself from her jacket just as fingers wrapped themselves around her throat. “Thea!”

Her lungs ached, struggling for every breath. Reaching up, she clawed his hands with her nails, but even as she broke skin, he did nothing but tighten his grip. There was no emotion behind his eyes. Not anger, or even determination. It was completely blank, as if he were already dead.

Giving up with trying to loosen his hold, Thea reached around for something. Anything. Fingers brushing against a rock, she hit it across his head. The rock cracked against the side of his temple, blood bursting hot against her face. But still his fingers didn’t ease, her lungs now burning.

Fuck!

With all her remaining strength, she jerked her body to the side, the momentum rolling them both over the edge and into the canal. His fingers loosened as darkness eloped her, the water so cold it knocked any remaining energy. She reached the surface, finally breaking free and able to take a much needed breath. Water choked her, splashing against her face as she struggled.

“Where is he?” she asked, turning to swim in a circle. “Ruhne, where is – ”

“Thea!” Ruhne screeched, hovering high above.

The Skull breached the water by a boat, hand stretched to grip her arm. His face was still perfect other than where she’d hit him, a charm rather than face-paint. Which was an odd thing to care about when she was moments from an unnecessary and painful death.

He yanked her toward him, her legs fighting against him despite the cold. Glitter drifted over them, and Thea noticed Ruhne hovering by the anchor. Gathering the last of her strength, she kicked him straight in the face.

The anchor dropped, the clink of the chains rattling before a heavy thump. The splash was thunderous, the wave catching her in the face as the anchor pulled the Skull beneath the water with it.

“Get out!” Ruhne shouted, sweeping to fly just above her. His wings squeaked, moving far slower than they should.

Thea nodded, spitting the water from her mouth as she swam to the other side. With shaking arms she pulled herself onto the bank, looking over her shoulder. The water was calm, not a single ripple on the surface.

“Are you okay?” Ruhne hovered in front of her face.

Thea spat out more water. “Yeah, I think so.” Her throat hurt, but he hadn’t damaged anything permanently. The entire thing had lasted less than two minutes, and she knew it could have been much worse. Climbing to her feet, she forced herself to walk, following the canal further up until she could cross to a train station. She took the stairs two at a time, going down into the underground. It was much quieter than she expected, with only a few commuters walking through the barriers and down the tunnels. Music drifted from somewhere, a violin playing a haunting melody that echoed against the tiles.

No one seemed to notice her soaking wet, or that she had a pixie flying beside her head, leaving a flood of glitter in his wake.

Pulling out her phone and thanking any god that was listening that it was waterproof, she tried to tap the barrier to pass. Except her wild magic was interfering, not allowing her to press any buttons.

“Bloody thing,” she muttered, trying to calm down enough that her skin didn’t prickle. Her phone vibrated, the screen flashing static as it automatically cancelled an incoming call from Molly. “Fucking…”

A hand encircled her upper arm, and before she could scream, something pressed against her lips.

“Quiet,” Jax said in his familiar rasp.

“Holy shitballs!” Ruhne said. “We thought you were another weirdo with their face painted!”

Thea relaxed back, his body warm against her freezing one. When he didn’t release her mouth, she used teeth.

Jax’s hold tightened for a second before he stepped back. “You bit me.”

“What the fuck?” She turned and hit him. “You scared me half to death.”

His eyes narrowed, sweeping down to take in her wet clothes and hair. “I told you to stay put.”

“And I’m not a dog.” She wanted to shove him again; she even tensed before he grabbed her wrists. With little strength, he pulled her away from the barriers. “How do you keep finding me?” she asked, her teeth rattling.