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And ahead, the stone paved road was full of cracks — shattered in many places. Some areas were so ruined that wooden planks had been used to cover the holes …

Even the massive metal fortress doors were bent inward as if they'd been struck by an explosion.

Was this all the creature's doing? If so …

A brief flicker of hope danced in my chest.

Maybe that thing really could take care of Frexin.

My fists clenched.

… perhaps the terrifying creature in the skies wasn't my enemy …

"I see that smile, Witch," Tye said, voice cold. "But there's a reason Frexin wantedyouhere."

My smile froze, fear billowing in my gut. "She wouldn't …"

His yellow eyes tightened. "Oh, but she would."

Chapter 20

Kaiya

"Absolutely not!" I hissed, eyeing the dark sky above us. "My job was tofindrelics — but that one has already been found. It's here — right now!Killingit is someone else's job."

"True." Tye nodded. "But my team and two others have tracked it, trapped it, and thrown everything we have at it multiple times. That thing just won't stay down. It comes back for Frexin every time. And …" His eyes narrowed. "Shethinks you can find a way to stop it."

I bit back a disbelieving laugh. "That — that's fucking ridiculous!"

Another crash sounded, followed by more falling screams.

"I agree," he growled. "But Frexin won't listen. I even tried to get you on my team, where I would at least have some control of the situation." He crossed his arms acrosshis chest and glared at me. "But we know how that went."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, I can confidently say that I'll be much happier working for another team …anyother team … rather than being partnered with a spying, traitorous asshole like you."

Tye's jaw clenched as though he were about to say something, but he stopped.

"Tell her, Tye," a familiar, snide voice said. "Tell her how she spoke too soon."

My stomach sank to my toes.I knew that fucking voice.I'd fantasized about ending the owner almost as often as I'd dreamed of ending Frexin.

Mage Korym.

Tye pushed me behind him with a massive arm, and my heart gave a thump.

The mage stepped from the shadows, brown eyes narrowed, light metal collar wrapping his neck above the dark cloak he wore.

"Good evening, Agent Fordyth. Miss Maderoth," he said cheerily, the smile never quite reaching his eyes.

"Korym," Tye snapped. "You're not in charge of her until tomorrow."

The other man just chuckled. "I've just come to welcome my new team member and escort her to her lodgings — as any leader worth his salt would do."

My stomach twisted.Anyone but him. Hells! I take it back! Even Tye was better than this fiend!

"No need to hide your displeasure,Miss Maderoth," Korym said. "I can't say I like the idea of you joining my team, either. But if Lady Frexin commands it, I will obey. We both know how unpleasant herlessonscan be."

He ran his finger along the scar across his neck where Frexin had slit his throat as a punishment after the Preying Wilds. He'd survived thanks to his strange dark magic, but he'd looked neither happy nor healthy afterward.