Page 5

“Where did a pretty elf like you learn to do that?”

A chill ran down Layala’s spine at that voice, those words. He’d said that once before. She bit down on her lower lip to keep herself from smiling. She wiped the black blood off on the moss of a fallen log before she turned around. Thane, her beautiful Elf King, stood casually against the tree she’d previously hidden behind, arms folded, ankles crossed as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He hadn’t cut his hair in the last few months, and it now grew down past his chest to his upper rib cage. He kept it tied back tonight and wore plain clothes, not appearing as the king he was.

“Thane,” Leif said, startled and nearly tripped over his own feet, dropping into a bow.

“What are you doing out here?” Piper shoved her sword back into the sheath on her back and pushed stray red hair off her fair-skinned, freckled face. “It’s dangerous for the High King.”

“It’s dangerous for all of you. Why are you three going behind my back, sneaking out at night? You think I wouldn’t notice?”

Layala stood, stepping in front of her companions, shielding them from his wrath. She figured this day would come sooner or later. They’d been out here looking for pale ones for six weeks at least. She was sure he noticed prior to this night but why he came now instead of another day made her nervous. “I told them to come with me. Don’t be angry with them.”

“Of that I’m certain.” He was quiet for a moment, bright emerald eyes searching the trees above as if they held the answers he needed. He finally leveled her with a hard stare. “You can’t keep doing this. If any of you are bitten—”

“We won’t be. How is this any different than fighting in battles near the Void?” This was the only thing that gave her purpose at the moment. The more she heard reports on death counts and burning homes, the more it drove her.

“It’s not different,” he snapped. “Which is exactly why I don’t want you out here. Especially in the dark. All it takes is one single mistake. You’re not invincible, Layala, and you’re putting their lives at risk.”

“So, what if it’s dangerous? Everywhere in Palenor is dangerous now.” She didn’t even trust more than half the people in the castle walls.

He pushed off the tree and sauntered toward her. Leif and Piper shrunk back under his intimidating presence, but Layala stood her ground even if her heart beat faster. Thane had rarely been truly angry with her and tonight that fire in him flared. “Yourobsessionwith finding him has to stop. When the Black Mage wants to make demands, he will.”

“If we can find out where he is we can plan a sneak attack. Take the upper hand.”

He glanced down at the black blood pooling near his boot. “They aren’t going to tell you where he is. I wouldn’t be surprised if magic kept them silent, making them unable to speak of his whereabouts. And the dead don’t talk, Layala.”

“Neither do the living. That’s why they’re dead.”

Thane blew out a heavy breath and his nostrils flared. He shot a glare at Piper and Leif that would make lesser soldiers wither. “Get back to the castle.”

They moved like fire licked at their heels.

Layala and Thane hadn’t talked about the shift between them since the day Tenebris died and she’d nearly killed Talon. The very same day the claim about them being gods reincarnated put a chasm of uncertainty between them. He looked at her differently now, like she was someone else. Like she wasn’t the elf maiden he fell in love with but someone he was uncertain of.

His unease wasn’t simply that he held a grudge against her for the selfish move she made to save her aunt. The throwing star that nearly killed his sister seemed to still be lodged figuratively, even if he claimed he’d forgiven her. Talon still wouldn’t look at her.

“Don’t be angry with them,” Layala whispered.

“I’m angry with you.”

It took effort to meet his brilliant green eyes. “Be angry with me then but leave them out of it.”

A moment later, he turned and yelled over his shoulder. “Come back!”

“Thane, don’t punish Piper and Leif.” Layala grabbed his hand and gave a gentle squeeze. She didn’t want to use her feminine wiles to charm him, but she smiled and batted her eyes. His scowl only deepened.

“Who else have you dragged into your nightly crusades?”

“Just them. They want to fight, to make a difference.”

“They have other jobs to do.” He lowered his voice, and said, “I have spies all over Adalon looking for him and no one has seen him. He doesn’t want to be found. And even if we did, I don’t know if we’re strong enough to take him out right now. I fear the day he shows himself, and so should you.”

Layala blinked and opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words. Thane hadn’t admitted he was afraid of the Black Mage ever before. She didn’t think he feared anyone. “You don’t understand, I must do something, Thane. I can’t just wait around doing nothing.”

He pulled his hand out of her grasp. “There are a thousand other things you could do other than trudging through the dark woods looking for trouble.” His voice was sharp, edgy but not frightening. “You could practice your magic. Hell, you could even collect plants with your aunt again as long as you stay close to the Valley and in the daylight.” He paused. “You could research the old gods—something to spark your memory.”

“I don’t want to remember. That life haslongpassed,” she snapped.

He shook his head, and a small smile cracked his anger. “You’re as stubborn as a mule. Worse even.”