Fae of the South (Court of Crown and Compass Book 3) by E. Hall (libby ebook reader .txt) 📕

me. Whatever this is, she did it to me. Rage pierces me. Blinds me. I get up from the table and rush at her. Kicking. Punching. Pummeling.

I have the dim awareness that an explosion issues from somewhere nearby, shaking the room. Or maybe it’s just the force of my rage. I knock Glandias into unconsciousness.

Lea stands by watching with an empty smile.

The smell of acrid smoke fills my nose. Part of the cement wall yields to another explosion. I shield her. I have to get her to safety. After that, I’ll need to rely on her to keep everyone else safe...from me.

The possibility of being trapped in this room or it collapsing on us forces thoughts and action to take shape. The thundering of the bombs seems to be coming from the wall with the clock.

I throw myself into the door. It hardly budges. I repeat the motion until I’m numb to the pain of whatever Glandias did to me. Smoke fills the hall. I move away from it.

Right now, my hunger is a caged thing, clawing and gnashing, trying to get out. Grabbing Lea by the hand, I dive onto my stomach and crawl through the darkness. There’s another tremor. I pause and listen. I hear voices, shouts. My desire for blood increases.

The building shakes. Plaster rains down. Heat comes from the hallway, dry and fast. I divert us into a room free of smoke. Dimly lit, dozens of tables line the vast space.

Lea moves robotically like she doesn’t fully understand the urgency of whatever is happening...or my hunger. The sooner we get out of here the sooner I can feed. The desire is overwhelming. I glimpse the smooth curve of Lea’s neck, imagining her citrus spice taste. I stagger.

No.

Not her.

Not anyone.

I focus on the knowledge of my mind and not my body’s desires. The sooner I get Lea out of here, the sooner I’ll spare her and the world my wrath.

Smoke billows through the original doorway we used, urging me toward a door at the far side of the room. Before we reach it, we plunge into darkness. The power went out. Thanks to being a vampire, my senses are heightened, including my vision.

Another series of explosions urge me to move quickly. An orange-red glow appears on the far wall. Fire. Flames lick the small glass window framed in a metal door.

Yet another bomb blows up nearby and the fire crackles, devouring the door. I scramble, trying to find a window, anything. The room gets warmer. My hand slides along the wall and it’s cooler. Outdoors?

Lea’s breath comes in bursts and sweat pricks her skin. I have to get her to fresh air. I kick and claw at a square of plaster until it comes free.

Dim light and cool night air rush through the hole.

This is it.

I’m about to shove her through, but when we get to the other side, the beast in me will be loose.

We’re both crouched and I grip her shoulders. “Lea, listen to me. Whatever happens, please, don’t follow me. Glandias must have done something to increase my appetite for blood. It’s all-consuming, but I won’t succumb.”

She blinks from the haze she’s seemed to be in as though understanding what I’m telling her.

I nod. “Yes, this is goodbye.”

Her shadowed gaze holds mine. It’s like she’s in shock and is fighting to pull herself to the surface. I know the feeling.

From outside, late-season snow falls from the sky. Either that or we’re north of the city. For a moment, it’s so beautiful, it feels like we’re in a dream. But the nightmare is happening within me.

Lea holds out her hand. The snow doesn’t melt on her palm. It’s ash and almost the same color as her skin. It’s like she’s a shadow of her former self. My jaw drops. Glandias took her shadow.

Lea gazes back the way we came as the flames creep closer. Metal creaks, fire blazes, and soon it’ll consume me too.

Her hands land on me as if to stop me from what I must do. Her eyes dim further. “You don’t mean to run into the fire?” She always knows what I’m thinking.

“I have to. I won’t be able to stop myself. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

Her voice is faint. “This isn’t a goodbye, Tyrren. You helped me. I’ll help you.” She gets to her feet. Her eyes flash. Her arms tense at her sides and fists form. A golden cuff rings her wrist. It starts to glow with a faint reddish hue and then blasts apart.

Crimson magic sizzles along her arms and hands. She waves her fingers in front of my face. “I’m shadow fae now, Tyrren and I’m not sorry that I’m about to use glamour on you.”

I suddenly feel like I’m wearing a mask—like during the Fae Court ball. Where there was ash before now blood rains from the sky. The scent and desire are overwhelming.

“Go outside,” Lea says. Her voice is muffled and sounds far away even though she’s right in front of me.

I follow orders, crawling through the hole and into the bloody rain. I open my mouth, slaking my thirst.

“You’ve had enough,” Lea says, marching me forward.

In the distance, lamplight spills across sleek black armored vehicles like dark stars. We scramble down a hill. The large building we occupied stretches in both directions with no clear beginning or end. Flames dance in the windows, chunks of cement fall away, and yet another bomb detonates.

Lea shoves me into the Humvee. She pushes buttons and toggles switches, but nothing happens. She checks the visor. “I suppose you need a key for a tank on wheels.”

Sirens wail. Lights flash. Voices call and boots pound close.

Even through my suddenly foggy thoughts, I know that if we’re discovered, it’s directly to