Claimed by Light by Reese Monroe Page A

the two guards regarded them with deep coal-black eyes. “Hey guys,” Dev said.
    They simply motioned them forward.
    “Not big on talking. I get it.” Dev glanced at Slade. “Come on.”
    He stepped into the slice of darkness, and it swallowed him up. Crackling energy bounced through the air as Slade neared it. Whipping wind and a rush of cool air penetrated the long-sleeve shirt he wore.
    “Move along, visionneuse .” The guard on the right nodded.
    “What did you call me?” Slade couldn’t understand French, but the word sounded familiar.
    The guard pushed Slade into the void. Instantly his lungs emptied from a pressure on his chest so great he was sure it would crack. Icy air prickled his exposed skin, and a tremor rattled through his body.
    Surely he was going to die.
    Something hard made contact with Slade’s shoulder, and he realized he’d landed. Flopping onto his back, his burning lungs demanding air, he coughed and rolled one more time until he was on all fours, gasping, eyes watering.
    “Now that was graceful.” Dev slapped Slade’s back.
    “As if yours was any more so, fledgling.” A deep voice resonated through the dark air.
    Dev straightened, and the smile faded from his face. Slade looked up, still working to catch his breath and not puke up a lung. This was worse than any hangover he’d ever had. Even after his twenty-first birthday bar crawl.
    A giant demon stared down at him. He had bushy black eyebrows, biceps the size of basketballs, and white fangs against his pale skin.
    “You must be Jace,” Dev said.
    “Get up,” Jace instructed Slade. “Shake it off. We mustn’t linger near splice openings.”
    “I thought this one was protected?” Dev asked.
    “Always assume protection can be breached.” Jace strode away.
    Slade scrambled to his feet and scanned the area quickly before Dev started leading him away. Trees lined the gravel path with only the moon to light the way. “Where are we?”
    “Colorado. Northern Rockies. But we’re leaving at once. The target is on the move.”
    “Where to?”
    “South. Not sure where yet.” Jace tromped onward, not looking back. “Got a car here for you. Supplies and information are in the backseat. You’ve got seventy-two hours.”
    “Or…” Dev’s voice cracked.
    “Or you two will have to answer to Votar.” Jace trotted off. “Happy hunting.”
    “Are you fucking kidding me?” Dev fisted the front of Slade’s shirt. “You better know what the hell is going on here.”
    Slade smacked his hand away. “Get off me, man. I don’t know anything.”
    “They handed me my first kill in a hotel room, the body primed and ready. I just needed to make the final cut. I don’t know what they’re doing with you, man, but now I’m a part of it, and so help me if you fail, I’ll kill you myself.”
    “Shut up.” Slade opened the back door to the SUV and found a bag sitting on the seat. “Let’s see what we got here.”
    “What’s that?” Dev asked over Slade’s shoulder.
    “Let’s find out.” Slade opened the bag and reached in.
    A vision knocked him on his ass.
    Lena leaned against a car, her eyes closed and facing skyward. A slight breeze shifted strands of hair across her face. She slowly let out a long breath. But then she flinched and stood straight.
    Addie stepped out of a gas station. There was a star on the door behind her. Jay’s…yes, Jay’s gas station. She dropped her bags and grabbed her head.
    “Addison!” Lena darted toward her. “ Merde .”
    “Dude!” Dev thumped his fist on Slade’s shoulder, tearing him out of the vision.
    Slade sat up and realized he was on the ground, propped against the back tire. Son of a bitch, that vision hurt. It hit him like a baseball bat to the skull. That’s new.
    “Your eyes flashed white. As in pure, really hot to touch, angelic white! Nearly seared my retinas, asshole.” Dev squatted before Slade. “Something’s not right here. Very, very not right, man.”
    “Shut