Page 72

Only to find empty air.

What’s wrong?

Behind him this time. The voice was morphing, changing into something far,fartoo familiar.

Skye?

Taly’s voice. That was Taly’s voice, calling to him now.

Where are you, Skye?There was a soft whimper, as though she were crying.Please…

His mind raced. Could she really be here? Aiden had found her horse and her necklace, followed a trail of her blood to the palace, but what if… what if she had found her way into the tunnels? There was a station beneath the palace that used to be a private platform for the queen and her guests. What if that was the reason Aiden’s locator spell had led him in a circle? Not because she was dead but because she had gone down below.

Injured and bleeding—what if Taly had crawled her way back home?

Skye?

“I’m here!” He ran towards the sound.

Where are you, Skye?

Behind him again. He abruptly turned, but a flash of that same blue light came shrieking towards him.

Find me!it urged as it streaked past him, leaving a long ribbon of light trailing in its wake as it disappeared around a corner.

Skye made to follow, but another blue wisp zipped around the curve. He backpedaled, stumbling over the tracks along the floor. Somehow, he caught himself, swinging his sword as he adjusted his footing. But the phantom twisted midair, swooping for his hand.

CRACK.

The shock ricocheted up his arm. His entire body jerked as the pain blasted through him. There was a clatter, and he realized his sword had dropped from the hand he could no longer feel, still flaming on the ground.

Another shock hit him square in the chest, and he crumpled.

Why aren’t you trying to find me?

Another flare of blue light joined the first.

Because he’s a coward.

A third now.

Because he can’t.

They were all using her voice, buzzing around him like gnats.

Or maybe…

What?

Say it.

They giggled softly, like it was some grand secret to share.

Maybe he just doesn’t care enough.

Skye dropped to his knees, pressing his hands to his ears. “Not real,” he murmured. “This is just in my head.” It was just the dark and the lack of sleep, the guilt and the grief finally getting to him.

It’s your fault, you know.