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Weak. Broken. Worthless.

Before long, the crystal windows, whitewashed fronts, and weaving ivy had transformed. Neglected and rotting wooden buildings lined the streets instead.

She’d been lost in her own mind for so long that she’d mindlessly wandered, heedless of her meandering course. The buildings around her were unfamiliar, no landmarks in sight to orient herself. How on Elysian did she get there? How long had she been walking?

Long enough that her hands, despite her permanent state of heated skin, shook in the chilled mountain wind. It didn’t faze her though, perhaps even thought that she deserved the biting crawl of pain that stiffened her fingers.

She allowed her mind to empty again, zoning out to the echoes of her boots when she felt a gentle brush against her mind. Her body froze. Her neck convulsed uncomfortably in a shiver, feeling the brush of his magic again.

Soft. Calm. Asking. Waiting.

Alora scanned the crumbling cobblestones and almost vomited.

She felt it again. He wasn’t going to stop. Not this time. With a silent curse on her lips, Alora sealed her eyes shut, willed any ounce of strength she had left into her nerves, and let him in.

Garrik’s voice was broken, and she could’ve shattered from it right there.Are you alright?

“I’m fine.” Lies.

Like hell you are. Where are you?

As if he didn’t know. As if he couldn’t locate her … but perhaps he was allowing her the choice to wander. Swirling smoke and shadow danced around her feet and began to climb up her legs. Was he going to dawn her back?

“I can take care of myself.” She blurted and stepped from the Smokeshadows. “I don’t need your help.”

In the corner of her eye, a shadow stirred, and she went rigid. Was he already there? Or was it her shadow that haunted her every step? The thought only fueled her panicked nerves as she kept moving toward a sloping street full of red, wooden roofed buildings stretching up the mountain.

But his voice chased her again.Turn around and return to camp.

“No. Leave me alone.” She charged ahead and steadied her breathing. Left. Right. Left. Focusing on each step as a distraction.

The shadow in the corner of her view slowly followed.

Alora, I am not asking. You need to come home?—

A shadowed hand reached for her.

“I saidLEAVE. ME. ALONE!” Fists balled in heated determination, she was ready to strike, to save herself from whatever was to come—what Kaine had taught her would always come. Thalon had taught her how to punch effectively. It was starsdamn time to practice on something other than that punching bag she’d burned more than enough holes into.

Alora spun around on her heels, expecting the High Prince to be inches away, unknowing and unprepared. She’d get one good strike in before he’d stop her. But she didn’t care. She picturedhim. Heard the crack of his jaw when the punch would land and hopefully send him stumbling away before she’d run.

But when she took that step, instead of gray hair and the deep abyss for eyes, amethyst eyes stared back. His lean body towered over her, causing her fist to stop abruptly and step back enough that when she swung her arm down, it caught her dagger, sending it tumbling to the street with a piercing clang.

“Sorry, I—” Stopping. Gaping.Stars be damned.The sight of him made her bones freeze over. Garrik’s beauty was unmatchable, but this male … was a close second.

His head was held high, demanding authority and carrying confidence in the step he took toward her frozen body. Pupils as wide as the moon. His shimmering hand wrapped around her upper arm … and squeezed. Almost as if in warning, her magic barreled a white-hot surge, tingling through her to the contact point of his grasp against her skin.

“How did you get out?” The tips of his mouth turned up almost unnoticeably as he spoke. His face—a mix of shock, intrigue, and anger. But something twinkled in his amethyst eyes before his expression melted into stone and straightened his back, letting her loose to pull his jacket down tight. Adjusting the collar around his neck, he said, “Apologies,” and chuckled in a tight breath, “Lady…”

Alora stepped back at his melodious voice as if he were singing her a Celestial song. She reached for her dagger by habit.

Only, it wasn’t there.

“D—do I know you?”

The male’s eyes … he drew her in as if he was someone familiar, like something she’d seen a million times but couldn’t place.

She scanned his face for a moment with a tilt of her head.