Page 7

One moment, the love of my life is standing before me, an invisible barrier between us, and the next, she’s gone.

Gone.

Like a soft laugh drifting in the breeze, never to be heard again.

My heart aches, my soul burns, and my life feels like it hangs in the balance.

The second she’s ripped away from me, I’m overcome with the need to feel her skin against mine, hear her voice soothe me, and breathe in her scent. It’s an instant, unwavering craving that I can’t shake as it grows, burning through my veins as I stand helplessly in the Realm of Shadows.

One glance at Zane and Creed reveals the same pain in their eyes. Helplessness clings to the air, claiming us as its victim as life seemingly continues on the other side of the gate.

I give myself a moment to dwell, to break, to sink deep into the depths of despair, but that’s it. Not a second longer. We need to be positive and focused if we plan to find a way out of here.

“Come,” Brax’s father murmurs, waving for us to follow after him. Brax’s mother hurries to his side and I watch them for a moment, the way he sweeps his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close as he presses a kiss to her head.

We’re not the only ones hurting here, and they’ve been lost to this pain far longer than we have.

Fuck.

“Let’s go,” Zane mutters, patting me on the arm, and the three of us follow after them.

It’s the strangest feeling to walk among… nothing. Not a bird chirping, no rustle of a breeze over leaves, or even the waves crashing in the distance that have offered us comfort at the academy.

Instead, we’re surrounded by an off-white that seems to go on forever. The only thing present is the home before us. I’m sure it would look sweet and comforting in any other setting, but it looks eerie as hell right now.

A white wrap-around porch lures us closer before we step inside the house.

“How is there even a home here?” Zane asks, and I shrug, just as bewildered as him.

“It’s a replica of our home in the outside world. Come, we’ll explain what we can over a drink,” Brax’s mother states, leading the way into a large open kitchen. White wooden cupboards and granite countertops greet us. Small green plants are dotted around the space. The lush colors and added life catches me by surprise, but I keep my thoughts to myself as I take a seat at the dining table with Zane, Creed, and Brax’s father.

We sit in silence, each lost in our thoughts, until Brax’s mother approaches with a tray of steaming mugs, placing one in front of each of us before taking the seat beside her husband.

“Thank you.” I have no idea what it is, and as much as my stomach is in knots, I bring the mug to my lips and take a sip.

Hot cocoa.

Damn, it’s been forever since I’ve had this. My mother used to make it all the time for me when I was small. I smile fleetingly at the memory, a time of calmness and no stress grounding me and giving me the boost of hope I need before reality settles back in.

“Do you want anything to eat?” Brax’s father asks, and I shake my head while Creed and Zane decline too.

“What do we need to know about this place?” Creed asks, cutting straight to the point, and my attention swings to Brax’s parents, desperate for details.

“Well, first, I’m Marieta and this is my husband Peta. Just in case you don’t remember from when you were young. To wager a guess, I’m going to assume that you’re Zane Denver, Creed Wylder, and Eldon Rhodes,” she lists off, pointing at each of us respectively.

“How do you know that?” Zane asks, his smile not quite reaching his eyes as he assesses them.

Marieta smiles softly, taking a sip of her drink before responding. “Creed is the double of his father. I’ve never met anyone as calm and collected as Rosa Rhodes, and the way you hold your shoulders reminds me of Rhys.” She points at Creed with the latter, making a smile appear on his face for a split second.

My eyebrows are almost in my hairline as I gape at her in surprise. I know she knew my mother, that’s how we came to take Brax in when we were younger, but she knows all of our parents? Deep down, that doesn’t surprise me, but it still catches my attention.

“How did you end up here, Marieta?” Creed asks, his jaw tight. I’m sure the reminder of looking like his father isn’t helping him.

Peta places his hand on top of Marieta’s as he addresses my friend. “We were working on an assignment for The Monarchy. After leaving Silvercrest Academy, we were enrolled as researchers in Haven Court,” he explains, and Marieta offers a soft, sad smile.

“A lot of our research revolved around the Basilica Realm, which meant we were involved in battles more than achieving any research most of the time,” she adds, shaking her head, her eyes glazed over as if a memory is playing in her mind.

“We were perfect in battle, darling,” Peta murmurs, making her smile grow wider.