Page 15

Bumpy? Could my situation be anybumpier?

“I’m Vanessa, by the way.”

“Ayla,” I gritted.

“Ayla…” Her gaze wandered to my ears and antlers. “Ohhh! Are you—”

“Shh. Your princeling hasn’t figured it out yet.”

“He’s not my princeling,” she snickered. “Still though, that’s going to be quite a surprise—”

—Stomp—

Something grabbed my waist. Air was forced from my lungs. I twisted, failing to turn. A Shade held me.

“Zayne!” the sprite cried, shrill and desperate. “Wake up!”

He obeyed, stirring on the far side of the boat. There was no time to wait for help. I grabbed a dagger and stabbed the Shade. Its grasp weakened, and I wiggled away.

Another Shade stepped into place. I kicked their chest. Grabbing my second dagger, I prepared my next attacks, plunging each dagger into the nearest two Shades. The attacks slowed them down, but without magical weapons, the Shades did not turn to ash.

They rebounded. Four Shades became six.More.I lost count. I kicked and slashed.

“Go. Away!” Vanessa cried. Water splashed across my face as a watery blast pushed another Shade off the boat. Yet the sprite’s attacks were elemental and unable to destroy the Shades. We needed a magical attack.

More rose, and the throng grew, crowding the boat.

Zayne fought from the stern of the ship. He swung an enchanted sword, turning Shades to ash. Realizing his weapon, the Shades directed excess members of their horde to him.

I misstepped, stumbled, a mistake amongst the chaos. My knee buckled—

The Shades sprung, unified in their unnatural synchrony. As one immobilized my arm, another grabbed me. More secured my legs.

Quickly, the Shades pinned me down. My throat constricted—the fear of being trapped. I squirmed and bit and clawed. Like hell would I be stopped now.

Yet their binding held. My breathing hastened.

If I couldn’t move, what did I have left? The handkerchief was gone. There was the ruby ring…

If only the Firewolf hadn’t forsaken me, absent ever since the night everything went to hell. She might have warned me of this danger.

I bucked again, using all my force. I freed my foot and kicked the nearest Shade, forcing them to fall into the sea. Two more rose to take its place, trapping me again. Holding me firmer.

They were going to brand me.Zayne had tried to explain. I hadn’t quite grasped it then, but I did now. Once I had their Brand, I’d be forced into Gloom… to become one of them.

No, no, no,my heart pounded.

I fought. Without progress.

A new sound rose, piercing my panic. “Brand me.”

Was that… Zayne? Shades filled my view, filling my nose with rot. I couldn’t sense anything but the undead.

It sounded like him, but different, enhanced. This voice was ethereal, rising above the noise, sounding larger than the Living Realm. A regal command.

The sound of his authority… He calmed me.

I noticed the pressure at my hand. My fist clenched around my ring. It seemed warm. It was a small sensation, the pressure of the ring. Yet, I concentrated on it, inviting something to ground me.