Page 25 of Where Darkness Falls

But it’s too late as the second intruder snatches her.

In her shock, she drops the torch, and we’re cast into darkness.

I struggleagainst my captor’s tightening grip, but I’m not strong enough to fend them off. My mind races, trying to think of any solution to this predicament, but nothing comes to mind. It’s as if my bloody brain decided to take a short reprieve just when I need a brilliant idea the most. Cara’s screaming ceases when tiny bright orbs of burning fire float around us. The arm of my captor is wrapped in dark obsidian steel, and my stomach lurches.

I trail my eyes up his arms, landing on the face of a king’s soldier. He’s pinned me with only his lower body and left arm, while his right is still swirling in the air above him.

Fire wielder.

A blood-curdling scream sounds from my right as I watch another soldier attempting to restrain Cara. There’s a spark of fight in her eyes as she kicks and punches with all of her might, but the soldier is bigger andstronger than she is. He—having enough of her antics—slaps her across the face, stunning Cara, which gives him the advantage he needs to fully pin her down. The man slowly trails his finger down her cheek.

“Stop! Let her go,” I plead, thrashing against my soldier’s hold.

“Shhhh. You must be quiet. I’d hate for anything untoward to happen to your friend,” my captor whispers against the shell of my ear.

I fall silent.

“What a clever woman,” he purrs. “Don’t worry, angel. It’ll be over soon.” He nips at my ear, and I shrink back against the wall, as if that would create enough distance between us. He laughs against my neck, finding my futile attempt to evade him amusing. His right hand trails along my arm, then my waist in slow, calculating movements. “I’ve been watching you all night. I must say that the way you dance is quite… alluring. I know you saw me watching you from the shadows. Yet, you continued dancing with the others. Was it a show just for me?”

Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as my heart rate thumps at an alarming rate.

I was right.

Someone had been watching us from the dark recesses of the night. He was waiting for an opportunity to take advantage of me and possibly Cara.

His full weight is leaning into me now. “I knew I had to have a moment alone with you,” he continues. “If you cooperate, I promise that I won’t hurt your friend.”

“May the Abyss claim you,” I snarl, spitting into his eyes.

Unexpected delight flits across his features. “Oh, you want to play, angel?” he whispers, gaze darkening. “Good, because I like it when they’re feisty.”

Then, his hands are roaming and gripping me in areas that he has no right to. The physical contact sickens me, and everything in me wants to flee from what is happening and think about something else—to go somewhere else.

“Don’t touch her,” Cara shouts, her tone feral. “You can’t do this to her.”

Another slap reverberates in the space.

“Keep your mouth shut, or I will do worse to you,” the second soldier sneers.

I go numb as my mind recoils within itself. All he’s done is touch my body, but I know that worse is yet to come, and there’s nothing I can do. I’m giving up, I realize. The beautiful words that Cormac spoke just hours ago aren’t enough to keep me grounded here.“Just because he cannot see your worth doesn’t make you any less valuable.”

Right now, all I feel is worthless.

I’m not even strong enough to stop unwanted touches.

Then, an odd warmth and pressure spreads across my forehead.

Release me,a voice rumbles.

I look beyond the soldier, searching for who spoke.

But, there’s no one, except the four of us.

The soldier grabs a fistful of my hair as he continues trailing his fingers along my body.

Fight back, Maeva,the voice commands.

There it is again, and still I see no one.