Chapter 42 · Echoes of Home

"Who the hell was that?"

Sloane’s hand clamped around my wrist and yanked me back. Hard. My shoulder popped with a sickening click.

I was caught in the middle. Half my body was in the portal, buzzing like a live wire. The other half was still in hell with her.

Then came the voice from the other side.

"Julian? Julian! Oh my god, answer me!"

Maya. My sister. No doubt. That same cracked, panicked tone she used the day Dad died.

"Maya?" My throat closed up. I tried to lean forward. "Maya, is that you?"

"Don't you dare answer her." Sloane hissed. The blade was already at my throat. The cold edge kissed my skin, threatening to open a vein if I breathed wrong. "Who is she? Who's waiting for you over there?"

"It's my sister!" I grabbed Sloane's wrist. Her pulse was hammering against my palm—too fast, too hard. "Sloane, let go, that's my sister—"

"Like hell it is." Her eyes were blown wide, black and void. That shadow armor began crawling up her neck like a living bruise. "Nobody waits for you on Earth. You told me you had nobody. You lied to me?"

"I didn't lie!