Chapter 26 · Not Her Replacement

The vial hit the floor and I didn't.

Darius caught me before my knees buckled. His arms locked around my ribs and everything inside me was burning. Not the kind of burn you get from a stove or a bad fever. This was different. This was my blood deciding it wanted to be something else.

"Isla." His voice came from somewhere far away. "Stay with me."

I tried. I really did. But the red key was still glowing in my hand and the light was spreading up my arm like a infection. Except it didn't hurt. It felt like waking up after sixteen years of being half asleep.

Vivienne's laugh echoed down from the stairs. "Oh this is perfect. The bond's locking in and she has no idea what she just activated."

Darius shifted his grip. One arm stayed around me and the other went for the gun at his hip. "Kyle. Get her out."

"Through what exit?" Kyle had his own gun up and aimed at the stairwell. "She's got the only way out covered and you know it."

My vision blurred. The basement ceiling swam in and out of focus. I could smell everything.