Page 63 of Stealing Embers
A blast of pain explodes on my right cheekbone—I see stars.
The bands of arms around my neck tightens as Lilith tries to cut off my air supply, hoping I’ll blackout. If I let that happen, it’s over. I won’t be able to defend myself, let alone Steel.
The heat that has wrapped itself around me like a boa constrictor whirls across my skin in a frenzy, mimicking my frantic thoughts. The glow emanating from my body throbs. A low beat resonates in my head, shaking my eardrums as the pace and volume increase.
Lilith curses.
Ronove’s next punch lands in my gut and leaves me gasping.
I buck, trying to loosen the Forsaken’s hold on me, but my strength wanes along with my air supply.
My struggles turn sloppy and weak.
“I’ve got her,” Lilith snarls. “She’ll be out any moment. Dispose of the boy.”
I looked to the left.
Blackness threatens the edges of my vision, but I spot Steel flip onto his stomach and struggle to his hands and knees. He shakes his head, completely unaware of Ronove’s intentions.
I try to yell out a warning, but it comes out as a pathetic wheeze.
Ronove stalks Steel like the practiced predator he is. His nails are elongated daggers waiting to bite into Steel’s flesh.
No! Mine!
My back bows with a renewed effort to escape.
As Ronove lifts his hand to deal Steel a killing blow, the heat surging through my body races to my chest and surges, as if a million volts of electricity have been forced into my heart.
My scream drowns out the noise around me as my body arches.
My muscles contract painfully. My body lifts into the air, hair blowing around my head in a tornado of movement.
I’m on fire.
At least, that’s what it feels like.
My skin melts beneath an unstoppable inferno.
The agony spreads from my chest to my arms and legs, then up my neck and onto my face before wrapping around my body to consume it whole.
Golden light engulfs my vision.
Something sharp punches out my back, forcing muscle, tendons, and tissue to rip and reform.
I gasp in a dry breath of boiling air as the new part of me arches.
A phantom limb that’s been contorted and concealed for too long straightens in a pleasure- and pain-filled stretch.
My feet touch the ground and the golden light dims, allowing me to see the alleyway once more.
The world around me is bathed in the light shooting off me. The two Forsaken are cowering against the brick wall across from me. And one very confused Nephilim stands to their left.
Steel takes a determined step toward me. His hair is ruffled, his clothes covered in dirt and wet from the ice and snow, his hands balled into fists. Even without a weapon, he’s a fierce sight to behold. With golden light kissing his features, he reminds me of a modern-day Adonis, dressed in a Henley and dark washed jeans.
“It’s you.” His whispered words are filled with awe and float to me on a rippling band of light.
I begin to ask what he means, but I catch a sliver of movement to my left and turn my head in time to see both Forsaken disappear around the bend of the building.