Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4)(128)

Footsteps came hammering down the hall. “Witch, what have you done?”

Zander looked at her. Fear rounded the woman’s eyes, and she began to age. “Something’s wrong. I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

Zander never answered. A bearded man with gray hair, wearing a robe, came rushing toward the cell. He latched on to the bars and stared in.

Evil shone in his eyes.

“What have you done?” he yelled at Zander.

“Who left from our gates just now?”





Chapter Thirty-seven

Perry had spent over six hours soaring, searching, hoping for anything that would lead him to Miranda. He knew Burnett wanted him back, but to

stop meant failure.

I love you. He could hear Miranda saying it. She’d told him that last night, right before they’d gone to sleep.

I love you.

The memory echoed louder, but as good as it had felt then, it hurt now. “If you loved me why would you leave? That’s not love.”

Bitterness, anger, and fear all gave his wings strength.

He started to turn around when he caught something under the trees. Something moving through the woods. Moving fast. Something blue.

He descended to try to see what it was.

I’m sorry.

He ignored the voice and flew downward to peek through the trees. But the branches appeared to shift, blocking his view. He started down,

shocked when the vines and limbs laced together, preventing his entry.

This wasn’t normal. This wasn’t natural.

It had to be magic.

To hell with that.

He shot up, straight up. Flew hard and high. Only when the air thinned, did he start back down. Tucking his wings, molding into a teardrop

shape, he dive-bombed downward. Fast, faster, his speed over two hundred miles an hour. His third eyelid moistened his eyes to keep debris out.

The fine bones in his nostrils kept his lungs from exploding.

Nothing protected his heart. His heart was already broken.

He shot through the interlocked vines, the limbs ripping his feathers hurt like hell, but his next impact with the hard earth, would be worse.

It would kill the bird, but ultimately Perry would survive.

He felt each bone crush. Felt the heart of the bird stop beating. Felt the life as he lived it now end. Then he started to shift.

Pain. Raw agony like he’d never felt tugged at his sanity. He fought the pain pulsing through him, needing answers. He tried to get up but

lost consciousness instead. The pain that took him away now brought him back. Opening his eyes, he saw the tree limbs moving toward him. “No.

”

He forced himself to stand on legs still broken. Then he saw her. Dressed in light blue, red hair flying in the wind. Tabitha. Her feet pelted

the ground as if running from the devil himself.

*

“Open your cell, old woman!” the man screamed.

“Don’t do it!” Miranda said under her breath. “Just because he asks it—”

Zander’s eyes met Miranda’s. She heard the woman’s words in her head. I’m sorry. Don’t argue or fight them now. Wait until you are

outside. Ask the trees for help. You still may make it. If not. Death is better than this.

“Now!” the man screamed and wrapped his fist around the bars.

Zander winced but moved to unlock the prison door.

Miranda saw the fury in the man’s eyes and knew he intended to cause Zander pain.

No. Miranda pleaded in her head. But Zander didn’t listen. She unlocked the gate.

The older of the men grabbed Zander by her hair and pulled hard. She cried out. “Who did you let out of that gate?”

“No one.” Her voice trembled.

In her head Miranda heard Zander. Don’t show your tattoos. Wait.

Miranda felt a storm brewing inside her. Felt her skin tingling and crawling.

“It’s time.” The two robed men from earlier walked up. “What are you doing?”

“I was walking along the north side, I heard the gate open. I went there, but the corridor was empty. No one came in. So someone must have

left. We need to send someone.”

Had Tabitha just gotten out? Don’t let them go after her.

The younger one moved in. “But Zander’s here. So is the girl. Who would have left?”

The old man wearing a robe, who still held Zander by the hair, yanked harder. “She’s up to something. I feel it.”

The younger man spoke up. “I told you she’s outlived her usefulness. Leave her here and we’ll take care of her later.”

“No!” Miranda shot forward.

All three men looked shocked that she dared to speak.

“See!” the older guard said and slapped Zander across the face. “You have failed to teach this one the rules. What good are you?” He

reached back as if to strike her again.

“I will follow the rules.” Miranda squared her shoulders, struggling to keep her voice meek. “I’ll do what you ask,” Miranda said, “but

only if she comes with us. To the ceremony.”

The younger man stared at Miranda. Or rather leered. “Give her what she wants.”

“I think it’s dangerous,” the older one said.