My skin crawled and prickled, the air in my lungs charged with that familiar spark, and a coldness crept down my body, sentient wisps of black dancing at my feet for the second time in my life. The first time happened mere days ago when I’d been cornered and on the cusp of having my throat sliced clean open. The darkness that had always thrived inside of me had rushed to the surface and reacted. The shadows had saved my life. Then, I’d lied to Jude, too afraid of exposing the truth. I knew exactly what had happened when the masked creatures burst into ash. I had happened.
