Flashback ( PDFDrive )

“Is that the trick?” Umber asked, taking out another of Sophie’s
knuckles. “Look at me!” she ordered. “Look at me, Sophie!”
Pain had made the world hazy—but it snapped into focus when
Umber turned toward Fitz and asked, “Would it be better if I try this
on your little boyfriend?”
“DON’T!” Sophie gritted out—which was a mistake.
Umber laughed and stalked to where Fitz lay collapsed on the sand.
His eyes were closed and he wasn’t moving.
“I’ve always wanted to break a Vacker,” she said, gathering a fresh
batch of shadows.
“Please,” Sophie begged, “he has nothing to do with this.”
“Of course he does,” Umber insisted. “He’s with you, isn’t he?”
“NO!” Sophie screamed, the sound shredding her throat. But it
didn’t stop the darkness from slamming into Fitz’s injured leg with a
gut-wrenching crunch—followed by a deeper, wetter crackle that had
her spitting bile on the sand.
Even Gethen looked green as he told her, “End this, Sophie. Where.
Is. Wylie?”
“Right here!” a new voice shouted—and for a second Sophie
thought she must be hallucinating.
But Gethen spun toward the sound as well, facing a tall, muscular
guy with dark skin and hate in his deep blue eyes. And he was flanked
on either side by a strawberry blond boy and a battle-poised goblin.
Dex and Lovise had finally arrived.
And somehow, they’d brought Wylie.