Davin shouted, but I was already ducking and covering my head. Light exploded behind me as the flashbang’s tube shattered, turning the world white. I lowered my arms and saw the round object tumble in front of me. Dread pierced me when I saw the grenade. If I’d hesitated any longer, he would have pulled the pin and blown Sawyer and my crew out of the sky in front of me.
I grabbed it and got to my feet, glancing over my shoulder to see the other Hellion swaying and batting its face, scratching its skin as if to rip away the white spots that must have blinded it. The Hellion staggered toward the side of the skiff. I ran for it. I pulled the pin free of the grenade, shoved it into the Hellion’s jumpsuit, and pushed it over the edge. I grabbed the side of the skiff to keep from falling over myself, and watched the Hellion screech as it tumbled through the air. Seconds later, a burst of orange light erupted from the Hellion, blasting it apart and illuminating the rooftops of downtown Westraven. We were crossing the city at a terrifying speed, and I couldn’t see anywhere that we could attempt a safe landing.
Not that Davin would want to land in Westraven. Fear gripped my stomach and my mind like icy talons and I whirled around. Davin hadn’t taken the brunt of the flashbang’s light like I wanted him to. Instead, he lowered his arm and squinted, any humor dying on his face. Furious red eyes glared at me through the slashing, snowy haze.
“Claire!”
Hearing my name caused me to jump. I whirled around to see Riley flying through the air, crossing the distance between the skiffs now that Sawyer had pulled up beside us. He landed safely on the deck of the skiff and wrapped his arms around me, at the same time Davin abandoned the helm, raced onto the deck, and slammed into us with frightening speed.
The autopilot must have been turned on before our charge, because the speed of the vessel slowed and we didn’t instantly lurch to the side. Knowing we wouldn’t crash to our deaths was a small comfort with Davin pinning us both onto the deck. Between the two of them, I couldn’t move. Riley twisted, trying to get his arms up and fight, but Davin struck him so hard in the jaw his head bounced against the bloody floor. After punching Riley again, Davin grabbed my throat and lifted me off the ground. He put his foot on Riley’s throat, trapping him onto the ground.
“The Vesper wasn’t lying when he said you were smart,” Davin growled at me against the aggressive storm. “Thought you had some sense, though.” He tilted his head, looked over my shoulder, and smirked. Somewhere behind me, Sawyer was shouting and cursing. “Wonder how brilliance tastes.”
When Davin opened his jaws, I saw death. It was a black cavern filled with swords and smelled like blood. The moment those jaws clamped onto my throat, I felt that death. I screamed as I was stabbed by dozens of blades, each one tearing through muscle and veins. He squeezed my throat, pushing my blood into his mouth. He clenched his jaw, shredding more skin until my neck burned in agony.
The shouts behind me were lost in the distance. Pushing and beating against Davin’s chest did nothing. It wasn’t long before I couldn’t scream anymore, couldn’t hear anything but the howling breeze. Muffled shouts sounded behind me, and Davin suddenly jerked away from me. I swayed, my head feeling too light. I landed hard on the deck, my throat feeling like it had been branded. Metal struck metal somewhere around me, but I couldn’t see what was going on.
Arms curved around me and pulled me into a sitting position. A warm hand was placed on my bleeding neck.
“Sawyer! Sawyer! We need to leave!”
Riley’s shouts were unheard. Metal continued its violent song.
New boots stomped beside me. I looked around groggily, blinking to see blurred versions of Gemma and Nash.
“Take her back to the ship,” Riley shouted. It was the same commanding voice he’d used
I grabbed it and got to my feet, glancing over my shoulder to see the other Hellion swaying and batting its face, scratching its skin as if to rip away the white spots that must have blinded it. The Hellion staggered toward the side of the skiff. I ran for it. I pulled the pin free of the grenade, shoved it into the Hellion’s jumpsuit, and pushed it over the edge. I grabbed the side of the skiff to keep from falling over myself, and watched the Hellion screech as it tumbled through the air. Seconds later, a burst of orange light erupted from the Hellion, blasting it apart and illuminating the rooftops of downtown Westraven. We were crossing the city at a terrifying speed, and I couldn’t see anywhere that we could attempt a safe landing.
Not that Davin would want to land in Westraven. Fear gripped my stomach and my mind like icy talons and I whirled around. Davin hadn’t taken the brunt of the flashbang’s light like I wanted him to. Instead, he lowered his arm and squinted, any humor dying on his face. Furious red eyes glared at me through the slashing, snowy haze.
“Claire!”
Hearing my name caused me to jump. I whirled around to see Riley flying through the air, crossing the distance between the skiffs now that Sawyer had pulled up beside us. He landed safely on the deck of the skiff and wrapped his arms around me, at the same time Davin abandoned the helm, raced onto the deck, and slammed into us with frightening speed.
The autopilot must have been turned on before our charge, because the speed of the vessel slowed and we didn’t instantly lurch to the side. Knowing we wouldn’t crash to our deaths was a small comfort with Davin pinning us both onto the deck. Between the two of them, I couldn’t move. Riley twisted, trying to get his arms up and fight, but Davin struck him so hard in the jaw his head bounced against the bloody floor. After punching Riley again, Davin grabbed my throat and lifted me off the ground. He put his foot on Riley’s throat, trapping him onto the ground.
“The Vesper wasn’t lying when he said you were smart,” Davin growled at me against the aggressive storm. “Thought you had some sense, though.” He tilted his head, looked over my shoulder, and smirked. Somewhere behind me, Sawyer was shouting and cursing. “Wonder how brilliance tastes.”
When Davin opened his jaws, I saw death. It was a black cavern filled with swords and smelled like blood. The moment those jaws clamped onto my throat, I felt that death. I screamed as I was stabbed by dozens of blades, each one tearing through muscle and veins. He squeezed my throat, pushing my blood into his mouth. He clenched his jaw, shredding more skin until my neck burned in agony.
The shouts behind me were lost in the distance. Pushing and beating against Davin’s chest did nothing. It wasn’t long before I couldn’t scream anymore, couldn’t hear anything but the howling breeze. Muffled shouts sounded behind me, and Davin suddenly jerked away from me. I swayed, my head feeling too light. I landed hard on the deck, my throat feeling like it had been branded. Metal struck metal somewhere around me, but I couldn’t see what was going on.
Arms curved around me and pulled me into a sitting position. A warm hand was placed on my bleeding neck.
“Sawyer! Sawyer! We need to leave!”
Riley’s shouts were unheard. Metal continued its violent song.
New boots stomped beside me. I looked around groggily, blinking to see blurred versions of Gemma and Nash.
“Take her back to the ship,” Riley shouted. It was the same commanding voice he’d used
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