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He took a menacing step forward but then froze, tilting his head as if listening to something only he could hear.

“No,” he breathed, his eyes quickly looking around the clearing until they fell on his companion. “Calista, stay here and keep them occupied for as long as you can. Then come and find us.”

The woman nodded and turned her focus back to D.C. and Bear who remained suspended in the air.

“You,” Aven said to Alex, capturing her in his burning gaze. “You’re coming with us.”

“I’m not goinganywherewith you,” Alex argued, raising her blade defiantly.

Aven didn’t so much as blink as he said, “Jordan.”

Alex dreaded the thought of continuing the fight with her best friend. But this time Aven’s order had a different meaning, and she discovered his intent a moment too late when Jordan reached out to grasp the Meyarin’s shoulder and they both dis

She wasn’t quick enough to tap into her new senses again before both her hands were yanked behind her back and her sword was forced from her grip. A’enara disappeared immediately and she hissed at the pain of her arms being tugged almost out of their sockets. Before she could so much as cry out, the pommel of Jordan’s sword smashed into her temple.

She was unconscious before she hit the snow-covered ground.

A stinging pain forced Alex back to half-consciousness, and a second sharp slap to her face woke her completely.

Ouch.

She opened her eyes and winced at the throbbing pulse beating through her skull. Aven stood directly above where she lay in the icy snow, looking down at her with flared nostrils.

“The reason you’re still alive is because I need an answer. If you tell me quickly, I’ll be merciful and end your life just as fast. If you delay, I’ll take great delight in prolonging your pain.”

“At least one of us will be happy,” Alex slurred. “That’s something.”

Clearly her damaged head was affecting her judgement.Note to self: don’t antagonise the murderous psychopath.

Aven snarled at her.

Oops. Too late.

“Answer me!” he demanded loudly, causing Alex to wince in discomfort.

“It might have escaped your notice, but I can barely remember my own name after that sucker punch, let alone what I’m supposed to be answering,” Alex said. “And where are we, anyway?”

They weren’t in Raelia anymore, that much she could tell. But judging by the colour of the forest surrounding them they were still somewhere in the Silverwood.

“How did you fight Jordan when you couldn’t see him?” Aven repeated his question, barely reining in his temper.

“You didn’t tell me where we are,” Alex singsonged. “Quid pro quo?”

Before she could draw a startled breath, Jordan was kneeling beside her in the snow with the point of his sword resting against her windpipe. “Answer him!” he growled.

Alex couldn’t utter a single word, she was too consumed by the fiery blue eyes staring at her out from her friend’s face. Shereached out her hand without thinking and stroked his cheek, whispering, “Oh, Jordan.”

His gaze flickered with what she thought was genuine emotion at her touch, but as he pressed his blade into her skin reality washed over her. This wasn’t her best friend. This was Aven’s puppet. And he was willing to kill her for his master.

“Answer him now or I’ll slit your throat,” Jordan threatened.

Alex stared from his eyes to her hand on his cheek and back again. On her third glance, something other than his hardened expression caught her attention. Maybe it was because she was dazed from the bump on her head, but the swirling darkness in her Shadow Ring seemed more beautiful than usual.

A whispered memory came back to her.

“When your need is great, you’ll be able to activate the Shadow Essence contained within the stone… But you’ll have to immerse yourself fully in the Shadow to do so.”

Then another memory came to her.