Chapter 454

• I leap aside and, thankfully, land on the mattress instead of the ground. The shadow narrowly misses me, and the air around my head displaces from its passage, whipping my hair around my face. I bounce precariously on the edge of the bed and nearly fall off onto the floor, though I manage to catch myself on the blankets.
• All three men shout in surprise, but I’m too busy trying to get my limbs back in the proper order to see what’s happening.
• Finally, I manage to lever up onto my hands and knees and glance wildly around for the shadow, ready to leap into action if it comes for me. Then I freeze.