The shadows between the trees warped and stretched toward us. My head pounded with a dull throb that made my vision blur every few seconds. I gripped the wooden shaft of the halberd until my knuckles ached, my boots sinking slightly into the damp earth.
Around me, the girls shifted into a defensive circle without being told. It was a practiced movement that made my chest tighten for a moment. They knew exactly where to stand when things went bad.
"They are here for me," I said. My voice sounded like I had swallowed a handful of dry sand. I could feel a heavy, greasy pull in my gut that synced perfectly with the movement in the trees.
"Do not be stupid," Celeste said. She stood slightly in front of me, heat haze shimmering off her skin. "We are all together. We are all targets."
"No," Astra whispered. Her fingers rested lightly against my sleeve. She looked like she was staring at a ghost. "Adrian is right. They are being drawn to him."
