Shadow Kissed 03 - Shadowman

quick, heart drumming so loud in her ears she almost wished it would stop so she could hear and think. But then she’d be dead, so maybe not.
    â€œShadowman!” she screamed.
    The creatures recoiled slightly, and Layla took advantage of the brief thinning to join Zoe and Abigail. They stood back to back, though Abigail was all but useless.
    Zoe grabbed Layla’s wrist with her free hand. “Are you here?”
    Layla knew what she meant. “Yeah, it’s really me. We just have to hang on. Shadowman will save us.”
    Any minute now. These creatures had picked on the wrong people.
    Coming, coming, coming, they chanted at them, inching closer.
    â€œAbigail—” Zoe began helplessly.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Layla said. Her chest hitched with the sound of Zoe’s pain. “He’ll take care of her, too.”
    Except there was no way out for Abigail. Her body was utterly wasted, eaten away by her tremendous gift. Segue had been her hospice while she declined toward the inevitable. If there’d been any medical recourse, Adam would have pursued it long ago. They were all here because Abigail, so full of Shadow in life, had died and Twilight had come to claim her.
    Zoe’s labored breaths dissolved into a sob. “It’s not fair!”
    â€œShhhhh,” Abigail whispered. “Let me go, Zee-baby.”
    Zoe swiped tears from her face. “Nope. We’re in this together. You and me to the end.”
    One of the creatures made a fast click with his teeth. Reached bony hands toward Layla. She slapped him back, but the contact blasted her senses. She struggled to keep her balance, blinking away stars.
    This could get worse before it got better. Zoe needed to get out. And now. Layla had to convince her to leave while she still could.
    â€œI’ll take care of Abigail,” Layla offered. “It’s my time to go, too.”
    â€œI can’t. She’s all I’ve got.”
    â€œNo, you’ve got a whole life to lead. When Shadowman comes, you need to go with him. This place will mess with your head.”
    â€œShe’s my sister. ” Again, the sound of an open wound, a heart so ravaged that even if it managed to heal it would be deeply scarred forever.
    â€œI had a sister once, I think.” Layla had her own heart scars.
    â€œDid you lose her?”
    Layla didn’t remember, but that didn’t seem right. She recalled a pressure on her hand and a stubborn refusal to let go, like a tether to life. “I think she lost me.”
    Light drew Layla’s gaze up, glittered in the trees, moved closer. So bright it made her eyes prick and tear. Someone was coming.
    The odd creatures around them rose to attention, then scattered into the trees, leaving only their voices behind, Coming, coming, coming.
    Angels? They’d work, too. Custo could get them out of here. Send word to Shadowman.
    Saved.
    But from the dark emerged a man of incredible beauty, each step an artful placement. His hair was rich brown, his fae eyes black. He was clothed in gossamer threads, but might as well have been naked for all they did to cover his glorious body. And with the soft smile he threw her, Layla knew that the other creatures might have been part of Faery, but this man was fae.
    â€œOh, shit,” Zoe said.
    A young woman joined him. She had magnificent golden hair, a pair of scissors at her waist, and a waterfall of a skirt spilling around her. Gorgeous.
    And another female, naked and sleek. She spoke in a fluid language that came out in a kind of running-free verse song.
    Scissor Lady answered, while the man settled his gaze on Zoe.
    Layla had no idea what the language was, but she understood everything that was said. They were divvying up the spoils. Scissor Lady wanted her.
    Shit was right.
    Layla hated name-dropping, but what the hell. “Shadowman is our friend. He’ll be here any minute.”
    â€œFriend?” Scissor Lady asked. “Aren’t you his lover?”
    Layla pushed her shoulders back. If Scissor Lady knew so much, she should know enough to keep away. “Yeah, that, too.”
    â€œHe’d have to find you first.” The fae man slowly stroked the line of his collarbone. Then his pectoral muscle. He feathered his fingers down his belly. Looked like he’d have a good enough time all on his own.
    The naked woman clapped, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “A game! A game!”
    Layla