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Glass shattered, thuds and grunts filled the room. She hid further behind the suit of armor and slammed her eyes shut.How are you talking to me? Is it Hel’s magic?

Atlanta started screaming and she pressed her hands over her ears.

There was only silence for a few breaths and then he said,It’s not Hel’s magic. It’s something else.

She smiled and focused on him, picturing his beautiful face.I’m in an abandoned white manor. Everything was overgrown outside. There is a name on the door, Nerinhall. That’s all I know. We must still be in the Valley somewhere.

“I’ll kill her, Atlanta! I swear if you don’t back off, I’ll run her through, and you can watch her die.”

She whimpered.Hurry, Thane. Synick said he will kill me. He’s fighting with Atlanta.

I’m coming.The tone of his voice was different; he was afraid.Can you get outside? Can you hide?

I don’t know.She peeked out from behind the armor. Feathers were scattered everywhere, the two sofas were torn to shreds. The wooden chairs at the table were broken.

Atlanta slammed Synick into the wall a few feet from her, cracking the stone.

A squeak escaped her throat, and she dashed for the entrance door.

“KATANA!” Atlanta bellowed. “Get back here!”

With tears sliding down her face, she threw the door open and leapt down the steps. Something crashed behind her. She pushed harder, driving her legs, pumping her arms.Thane, I’m outside. I’m running!

I’m coming.

There were no other homes close. There were only empty fields, not even woods to hide in. There was no one else here. How far away was Thane? She had only moments before?—

Arms wrapped around her from behind, she screamed, clawing and throwing her head back and slamming it into his jaw. The left hand was gloved… “No!” she shouted. “No!”

Brutally strong arms twisted her around and she came face-to-face with Synick. He pulled her against his chest and leaned down to her ear. “Going somewhere, goddess? The fun is just starting.”

She shoved her burning, glowing palms to his face and dug in her nails. His scream rang in her ears, his skin melting under her touch. “Get off of me!”

Something hard cracked her in the side of the head. Pain came first, then darkness threatened, she stumbled back and fell down the dirt road. Blood dripped across her face, and she put one arm in front of the other, dragging herself along the ground.Get up. Get up.But the ringing in her ears was too loud, everything spun and tilted, she couldn’t tell up from down.

“You didn’t fight last time. This is much more entertaining.” A shadow loomed above her.

She twisted to face him and scooted back. The blade of his sword was bloody. “You killed him,” she whispered. Her vision was coming back into focus. The door to the manor was wide open. Atlanta was nowhere. “Youmurderedhim?”

“He’s not dead. Even if he’s angry at the moment, he’ll come round to my side. We’ve been best friends for too long for him not to. And when I bring you back to him, he’ll see that.” He smiled and took a step closer. She scrambled backward and, rising, she ran again.

“Thane!” she screamed. “Please come…” her voice cracked as she sobbed.

His footsteps thundered behind her. “Thane? So, you are a whore like Atlanta said. Maybe I’ll take my turn too.”

He grabbed the back of her top, tearing the fabric. She twisted, pulling out of it, leaving her in a thin cream camisole and kept running.

Thump, thump, thump,he was right behind her. Her heart was going to beat out of her chest. He caught her hair and dragged her to a halt.

“Let go of me!” He threw her to the ground and was on top of her before she could move. “No! NO!” His rot smell filled her nose, and she gagged.

“Tell me how to dismantle Valeen’s magic wall.” He wrapped a hand around her throat and squeezed.

“I don’t know.”

“You’re lying. What were you doing in the smithy?” She spit in his face, and he slapped her. It merely stung compared to what Atlanta had done. “Tell me how to get out of here.”

“I do not know,” she said through her bared teeth.