Page 66
Story: Devoured By Shadows
He needs to feed.
She wondered if his eyes would turn black and his canines would grow—like Elias’ had when he didn’t have enough essence. Because surely, he was ravenous after traveling all this way.
One problem at a time.
Turning her gaze toward another bellow of the greater demon, she spotted Hadeon on a knee, one hand pressed to his shoulder. Blood flowed between his fingers. Jessamine blocked several blows from the zaol, but her movements were slower than they should be.
They were all exhausted.
Please,she thought toward that strange, too-thick mist.If you’re here, help us.
She hoped the shadow fae were nearby and felt her magic. Traveling north toward the mountains had been a gamble, and they were about to find out if she had been right.
No, not her. The presence.
The weight that had settled on her shoulders slowly lifted, dissipating in the stirring breeze.
“Where are you going?” she croaked, feeling her lower lip split.
Jessamine’s scream rended the air. Slowly, Arabella turned toward the zaol.
She summoned the shadows, knowing it would take all her remaining strength. But she pulled the dark from the immense desert, breathing it in until it filled her.
As before, her emotions faded to the background. The immediacy of her fear retreated until it was like the ocean’s waves crashing miles away. Her senses sharpened, and she realized she could see a few feet into the mist. Were those footprints at the base of the mountain?
The strange presence returned, wrapping around her like a cloak, and she didn’t question it. She welcomed the power that came with it. Something bubbled up her throat. When she opened her mouth, a language she didn’t know spilled from her lips. The voice didn’t sound like hers. It was harsh and guttural, and the words came out in a hiss. As she spoke, the mist stirred as though awakening.
Come, she willed.Come now.
Just as suddenly as the unknown language had flowed into her, the power faded. It was as though the cloak slipped from her shoulders—and with it, the shadows retreated into the sands.
The last of her strength spent, she collapsed in the sand beside Breckett.
Either they would die, or help would come. They were entirely at the mercy of the mountains.
Before her eyes fluttered closed, booted feet emerged from the mist.
Chapter Fourteen
ELIAS
With a flick of deft fingers, Magnus removed a blade from his robes.
Fear squeezed Elias’ throat at the sight of the syphen. But there was nothing he could do as Magnus strode across the tent toward where Elias was bound hand and foot to the X.
While he’d been given periods of respite after feeding on Magnus where he could collapse on the tent’s carpeted floor, every day brought him back to this torture device.
The sorcerer’s eyes flicked up to his, as sharp as the edge of the blade he held.
“My erox found where your enchantress was,” Magnus said. “She took refuge in the Twilight Court within the estate of one of the princes.”
Elias’ heart drummed in his chest.
Had they taken Arabella captive? If so, where were they keeping her? Was she within the encampment even now?
“But she and her friends left before we could intercept them,” Magnus continued, a fire alighting in his eyes.
Before Elias could even breathe a sigh of relief, a band of air wrapped around his throat. His vision swirled, and the tent went in and out of focus. Pulling at his restraints on instinct, he tried to break free. His wrists quickly became raw, and he felt the trickle of blood down his forearms.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66 (Reading here)
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128