Vanish (Firelight #2)(62)

The great wave of dark earth, twigs and shredded grass—nearly as tall as the trees surrounding us—propels Corbin back, flings him several yards through the air and slams him to the ground with crushing force.

I gasp, dropping to the ground and covering my head with my hands to ward off the raining earth. Tamra does the same not far from me. We’re not in its direct path, but we still get hit with some of the debris.

Squinting against the clearing cloud of dirt, I find Will, meet his gaze, see the astonishment there that mirrors my own thoughts.

“Look out!” Tamra screams.

Corbin is back up. Blood dribbles from a gash in his head. He touches it lightly and examines his fingers. His expression turns brutal at the evidence of his injury. With a shout, he surges back into the air.

Before Will has a chance to do . . . whatever it is he did again, a second streak of black crosses my vision. It’s so fast that at first I think it’s more debris that Will sent soaring on the wind.

I follow the object, look around wildly, locate it. Him. Cassian.

He crashes into Corbin and pins him to the ground.

They strain against each other, ancient creatures, beautiful and wild in their draki forms, all black with quivering leathery wings.

Corbin claws with his hands, grunting. Spittle flies from his lips as he tries to bring his talons across his cousin’s throat. I cease to breathe, can only watch.

It all happens so quickly. A mere second . . . but I can’t move.

Cassian fumbles one hand on the ground and grabs a large rock. I gasp as he brings it down—clubbing Corbin in the head with a savage blow.

Corbin stills, his head lolling to the side.

I take a hesitant step forward. “Is he . . . did you . . .”

Panting, the ridges of his nose vibrating, Cassian casts his eyes over his shoulder at me. “No. He’ll come to soon.”

With a heavy breath, he rises in a single fluid motion, his wings great sails behind him, and I realize he’s more natural this way, more comfortable as a draki than human. For a time, I felt the same way. Now I don’t know what I prefer. What I am more—draki or human.

“Jacinda,” Will says my name, coming up beside me. I reach out and slip my arm around him. Lifting my gaze to Cassian, I let that say everything. Let the gesture speak for itself.

Cassian stares at us both, and I hold his stare, trying not to let anything he may be feeling penetrate and influence me. Still, I pick up a trickle of sentiment from him. Anger. Regret. Sorrow.

The words I’m sorry rise to my lips, but I can’t let them fall. Can’t apologize for the way I feel for Will.

“You’re leaving,” he announces in his rough, guttural tongue.

In a blink, I demanifest, fold back into my human shape. “Yes.” Tamra is there, helping me slip my tattered shirt back on.

Still watching me, Cassian follows suit, demanifests and stands before me wearing only a pair of torn jeans. He glances at Tamra. “She’s going, too?”

“I’m right here,” she snaps. “You don’t have to talk about me like I’m not.”

I follow his gaze to my sister. Her eyes spark like shards of ice as she glares at Cassian . . . and I think her infatuation with him might truly be at an end.

“You’ll leave the pride?” I’m not sure who he’s asking.

“After everything that’s happened?” I wave a hand. “Why would I stay?”

“Because there are things bigger and more important than what you want,” he returns, his gaze flicking meaningfully to Will.

“You’re not one to talk about putting aside wants.” Tamra’s voice is venom. “You wanted Jacinda and made certain that you got her. That wasn’t for the pride. That was for you and no one else.”

“What’s she talking about?” Will growls beside me, his hand tightening on mine.

“Do we really want to do this now?” I glare at each of them and motion to Corbin. “He’s liable to wake up any moment and we’re too close to pride grounds.”

A muscle feathers across Will’s jaw. Still glaring at Cassian, he tugs me toward the truck. “You’re right. Let’s get out of here.”

Cassian’s voice follows me. “Run away, Jacinda. You’re good at that.”

Will stiffens at my side, but it’s Tamra who comes unglued. She spins around, all spitting fury. “Don’t be so self-righteous! You want to know where we’re going? And none of us want to go there, let me assure you of that. We’re going to rescue your brat of a sister who got only what she deserved because she was spying on Jacinda.”

“Miram?” His gaze shoots to me. “Is that true? You’re going to rescue Miram?” His gaze swings to Will. “She’s not dead?”

Will holds silent for a long moment, and I hold my breath. Finally, he answers. “She lives.”

Something passes over Cassian’s eyes. A lightness that had not been there seconds ago. I sense his relief. “Then I’m going with you.”

“What?” Tamra demands, chasing after him as he stalks toward the vehicle. “I don’t think so!”

“She’s my sister,” he returns, his voice tight, his lips barely moving.

Tamra looks helplessly at me and Will, her eyes perfectly communicating her plea: Don’t let him come.