So, we trained her in secret. But, someone must have shared the truth of her abilities.”
“Have you looked for her?”
Pretica turned on Rowe, her brows furrowing, her lips tight. “Of course. She is my only blood relative since our parents died when we were children. I searched for days without food or sleep.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Rowe apologized, bowing his head. “Trust me. I know the feeling of loss. My brother was killed in a raid when I was a young man. My wife and child may be dead for all I know.”
Pretica put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Lilae was sorry as well. Wife and child? She’d never have guessed that Rowe was a married man.
“But I am not worried,” Pretica said, leading them through an alleyway between two slate gray towers full of light and conversation as voices wafted from the open archways of dozens of levels. “Ayoki can protect herself. And Vaugner has sent one of his greatest assassins to help her escape.”
“I look forward to meeting Vaugner,” Lilae said.
“You will,” Delia said. “We are to meet him in the Goblin City before we go to Auroria.”
Goblin City?
Lilae stepped closer to Liam so that their arms almost touched.
When he took her hand into his, she couldn’t suppress the smile that followed.
She felt good. Safe. Having Liam take her hand only assured her even more.
Something was going to go wrong.
Lilae just knew it.
THE SHADOW ELF GIRL skipped across the stones that floated on the surface of the green water. Her white tattoos glowed under the light of the blood-sucking fireflies that nested in the hanging leaves of the trees.
The underwater temple was the quietest place to be before dawn, and she could relax without the constant scrutiny of the Bellens that had captured her.
Ayoki knew exactly what she was to them.
A war prisoner.
An experiment.
Yet Ayoki did nothing to stop them.
She sighed, letting out a long breath. Just the thought of using her power—even to save herself and her friend was enough to make her shudder.
“Ayoki!”
Ayoki jumped to another white stone and paused on one foot as she looked back.
Mai’s voice startled Ayoki, but she kept her balance above the still lake. She frowned as the fine hairs on her body stood on end.
The amount of freedom given to her was minimal. The Bellens had her watched at all times as she explored the small plot of land that was encircled by a stone wall.
She was lucky to have any shred of freedom, but even the Bellens were afraid of her, even if they tried to hide it. They gave her space. For now. Until their new master arrived.
The name—Sister Eloni—kept coming up, but apparently there was a new leader, one that made the Bellens speak her name in only hushed tones.
They didn’t call her sister like everyone else.
Mother.
Ayoki never thought that simple word would cause such fear in women who tortured young girls and used their blood and souls to fuel their own beauty and ability to live longer than the typical mortal.
The sound of the screaming erupted from just beyond the path that led back to the village the Bellens had built in the middle of Jiran.
A loud explosion knocked Ayoki from her place on the stone. Her long white hair blew as a gust of wind pushed her down. She hit her chin on the rock, sinking into the dark water. The taste of blood filled her mouth as Ayoki fought the desire to close her eyes.
Mai jumped in after her.
Ayoki glanced up and saw that she had just missed the fire that extended over the lake.
They dove deep into the water as the fire consumed everything surrounding the lake.
Ayoki’s eyes opened to the darkness beneath. An eerie feeling crept into her as she spun around in the clear water, lit by the fire on the surface. A white mist curled up from the bottom of the lake, as if reaching out to her.
Mai glanced back at her and waved.
Hesitant, Ayoki followed Mai as she swam toward the temple. It sat
“Have you looked for her?”
Pretica turned on Rowe, her brows furrowing, her lips tight. “Of course. She is my only blood relative since our parents died when we were children. I searched for days without food or sleep.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Rowe apologized, bowing his head. “Trust me. I know the feeling of loss. My brother was killed in a raid when I was a young man. My wife and child may be dead for all I know.”
Pretica put a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Lilae was sorry as well. Wife and child? She’d never have guessed that Rowe was a married man.
“But I am not worried,” Pretica said, leading them through an alleyway between two slate gray towers full of light and conversation as voices wafted from the open archways of dozens of levels. “Ayoki can protect herself. And Vaugner has sent one of his greatest assassins to help her escape.”
“I look forward to meeting Vaugner,” Lilae said.
“You will,” Delia said. “We are to meet him in the Goblin City before we go to Auroria.”
Goblin City?
Lilae stepped closer to Liam so that their arms almost touched.
When he took her hand into his, she couldn’t suppress the smile that followed.
She felt good. Safe. Having Liam take her hand only assured her even more.
Something was going to go wrong.
Lilae just knew it.
THE SHADOW ELF GIRL skipped across the stones that floated on the surface of the green water. Her white tattoos glowed under the light of the blood-sucking fireflies that nested in the hanging leaves of the trees.
The underwater temple was the quietest place to be before dawn, and she could relax without the constant scrutiny of the Bellens that had captured her.
Ayoki knew exactly what she was to them.
A war prisoner.
An experiment.
Yet Ayoki did nothing to stop them.
She sighed, letting out a long breath. Just the thought of using her power—even to save herself and her friend was enough to make her shudder.
“Ayoki!”
Ayoki jumped to another white stone and paused on one foot as she looked back.
Mai’s voice startled Ayoki, but she kept her balance above the still lake. She frowned as the fine hairs on her body stood on end.
The amount of freedom given to her was minimal. The Bellens had her watched at all times as she explored the small plot of land that was encircled by a stone wall.
She was lucky to have any shred of freedom, but even the Bellens were afraid of her, even if they tried to hide it. They gave her space. For now. Until their new master arrived.
The name—Sister Eloni—kept coming up, but apparently there was a new leader, one that made the Bellens speak her name in only hushed tones.
They didn’t call her sister like everyone else.
Mother.
Ayoki never thought that simple word would cause such fear in women who tortured young girls and used their blood and souls to fuel their own beauty and ability to live longer than the typical mortal.
The sound of the screaming erupted from just beyond the path that led back to the village the Bellens had built in the middle of Jiran.
A loud explosion knocked Ayoki from her place on the stone. Her long white hair blew as a gust of wind pushed her down. She hit her chin on the rock, sinking into the dark water. The taste of blood filled her mouth as Ayoki fought the desire to close her eyes.
Mai jumped in after her.
Ayoki glanced up and saw that she had just missed the fire that extended over the lake.
They dove deep into the water as the fire consumed everything surrounding the lake.
Ayoki’s eyes opened to the darkness beneath. An eerie feeling crept into her as she spun around in the clear water, lit by the fire on the surface. A white mist curled up from the bottom of the lake, as if reaching out to her.
Mai glanced back at her and waved.
Hesitant, Ayoki followed Mai as she swam toward the temple. It sat
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