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"What?" I screamed, stumbling to my feet. "NO!!"

Frexin cut me off with a hard look and a single finger, which meant I was to be quiet or someone else would get hurt.

So, I bit my lip and glared at her, pain crystalizing into something jagged and sharp inside me as crossbows pinged and bolts hit the waters below.

Each one was like a dagger in my chest.

It was dark. Maybe they would be hard to hit. Gods — let them get away!

"Did we show up sooner than you'd expected, dear?"

I looked back at her, confused. Theyhadarrived quickly … and in force, with crossbow trained guards in tow.

"You can thank Lieutenant Fordyth for that." She motioned towards the shadows, and the bond thrummed in my chest as Tye stepped out of the crowd of guards.

I felt stronger as he moved next to Frexin, his dulled yellow eyes catching in the moonlight, face expressionless.

"Why?" I snarled.

He opened his mouth to speak, but Frexin silenced him with a gesture not unlike the one she gave me.

"That bond between you two has its perks," she said with a grin. "Especially when one of you will doanythingto get rid of it."

Tye continued to stare ahead, unmoving. I clutched my chest, feeling raw and betrayed as the bond thrummed in me.

Was this why he'd wanted me to run? Had he known it was coming?

Gods — some part of me had wanted to believe him when he said he hated Frexin, but how much of what he said was a lie?

Anger rose in me, burning away all other emotions.

"I should have fucking known," I snarled. "Once a loyal dog, always a loyal dog."

Tye only shifted.

I turned on Frexin. "I remained here. Just as you required," I ground out. "You have what you want. Let the others go."

"True," she said with a grin. "And for that, I won't chase those who make it to shore." She shrugged, grinmorphing into something more feral. "Unfortunately for you, the area outside of Dragon's Peak has experienced a sudden rise in the wraith population. I don't think they will make it very far."

My hair stood on end, and I looked towards the moonlit shores.

Shapes splashed in the dark waters, making their way to the moonlit beach on the edge of the walled off port. I strained to see if anything waited for them. Up and down the beach, dark forms shuffled about.

"Gods, no! Please, help them!" I pleaded.

Frexin shook her head. "You know I won't, Kaiya. It's too late. They're already dead."

Fury and rage boiled over once more, and I spun on my heel.

"What do you WANT from me?"

She smiled and waved her hand dismissively. "Don't be so dramatic, dear. Now come along." She strode towards me, skirts flapping in the wind. "Let me show you your new home."

Chapter 18

Kaiya

Frexin's fingers bit into my upper arm as she guided me towards the railing overlooking the port, the wall of guards parting for her without a word.