The Aetherfae Read Online Free PDF

Ozara’s shield held. Once again, the tether pulled hard. Something was terribly wrong. I heard Mom’s voice. She was screaming.

    * * *

    I sat up on the loveseat completely disoriented. Wind blew gallons of water across my body. Everything in the media room was soaked, blown askew, and my senses were going nuts.
    “Maggie, hurry,” Mom screamed. “We have to get upstairs, now.” She grabbed my hand and dragged me with more strength than I knew she had. My eyes adjusted enough to see the hurricane windows blown out across the back of the house. And unobstructed by the glass, I saw a tidal surge lapping over the retaining wall at the back of the patio. The beach was underwater.
    “Mom? Oh god, what’s happening?”
    “The hurricane is much stronger than anyone predicted—it’s slamming Miami right now, and we’re getting the surge.”
    I ran upstairs behind her, Mitch, Justice, and my grandparents. We went through darkened halls to my parent’s bedroom at the front of the house, as far away from the ocean as we could get. The sound of snapping wood and the roar of wind signaled the roof tearing away somewhere behind us.
    Grandma Sophie was crying, but grabbed blankets from the closet. Grandpa Vic had turned white and his eyes were huge. Then I noticed something else. There were ten new Fae. They were fighting with Vilas, Sasha, and Faye, my three protectors. Oh my god.
    While my parents discussed what we should do, I concentrated on the fray outside. Vilas stood between the house and three charging Fae. He exploded into several pieces and I felt him die. Faye closed in behind them and destroyed one, a Water inclined Fae. Then she changed into her natural form and dove to avoid Quint. Oh god, this can’t be happening.
    The first three entered from the gaping hole in the roof, while several more chased Sasha. He changed into his natural form and escaped, moving under the house. When he appeared on the other side, they were waiting for him. He dodged and their attack and dove again. We’re hopelessly outnumbered.
    Faye managed to take out another attacker before she was forced to retreat. She was smart, powerful, but I’d be dead before she could stop them all. A crashing sound echoed through the impossible roar of the storm, and everyone looked at the bedroom door, now rocking in the wind. My family, huddled together, exchanged looks—looks that made my blood run cold. They were silently saying goodbye. Mom began praying in Spanish, and they all held hands. All but me.
    I turned to face the door. It blew open and two Fae in the shape of hulking men walked in. The tallest one, a blond with a determined look, fell into two pieces, split down the middle as my Quint blade sliced through him. He still had a fierce expression when he popped out. The other, in the shape of a black man with a massive brow, growled at me. I felt his Air attack coming, but it was too little, too late. His head rolled across the room, stopping just short of my sneakers before he flashed out.
    Grandma Sophie shrieked. Dad grabbed my shoulders to protect me, but I pulled free. “No, let go. There are more of them.”
    His mouth fell open, and I saw his eyes focus on the dark hall. I felt that one, too.
    “Maggie O’Shea. It’s time to die,” said a small bald man with pronounced cheekbones and blood red eyes. He flashed long yellow fangs, sending my family into hysterics.
    He entered the room and looked me over. His gaze sent shivers down my spine. I lashed out with Quint, but just before it made contact with his skin, he produced Quint of his own. The two balls of energy sizzled and popped against one another for several seconds, lighting up the room in orange strobes.
    “Mom, Dad, get out of here. Run, now!”
    Nobody moved. They stood, watching me, dumbfounded. I blew them backwards, gently but firmly. “Please, get out of here!”
    “I am Nija. I am here for you.”
    Dad roared at him, “I don’t care who you are, get out of my