Page 11 of Blackheart

“You’re supposed to be at work,” Luna said playfully, offering a smile.

I did not return it. I had been concerned for her life. Istillwas.

Stone faced and anxious, I pulled the door closed behind me, pressing my back against it as if the lock wasn’t enough to keep it shut. “Sapphires tore through the gate. We’re being attacked. People are dead!”

Riven’s eyes shot up, dark brows pulling together as he noticed my weapon—well, the needle tightly fisted in my hand.

Luna's face fell.

“Are you certain they’re Sapphires?” Riven asked quietly. “Not the Dark Natured attempting another revolt?” It was rareto hear him speak. His eyes bore into mine, waiting for an answer.

Shoulders tense, my face heated. Never had I experienced such intense attention from a Draker, and certainly not from the one bedding Luna.

“I’m sure of what I saw. They’re Sapphires. Lord Dronis is fighting them off,” I insisted, tripping over my words.

Riven grabbed his Draker gear and sword, quickly putting himself together. I shuffled to the side as he rushed to the door.

“Stay here,” he commanded, bumping my shoulder before locking the door behind him.

His steps faded as screams neared our apartment. The attack had made it far past the gate.

Sapphires were truly in the Waywards, and my already small world was closing in.

Chapter 4

An Unnatural Storm

“The Dark Natured are curious things, ever teetering on ruin. Deny them their Nature, and they begin to unravel.”

—Henvri Joye, High Healer

Peering through the window,Luna and I stood shoulder to shoulder. Our eyes nearly touched the pane as blue cloaks filled the streets. Horns sounded, and Drakers charged from the top of the hill.

Metal rang out against metal, the black cloaks fighting against the blue. Their years of training displayed in battle. Even so, the Sapphires wormed through the Waywards, stabbing chests and slitting throats.

It was strange that they were using steel, as they had a reputation for practicing blood magic. They had taken over the kingdom of Lestivia, never wielding a blade.

“Perhaps they’re not Sapphires. They aren’t using blood magic,” Luna whispered, making the same observation.

“Who else would wear their cloaks?”

Why would they attack here? If they wanted the Dark Natured for their army, it made little sense. Most of us werepractically useless. We became ill when using our Nature, and in the time it would take to train us, they may as well have trained their own Sapphires. The Lestivian territory was also weeks of travel away. They would never make it that far with prisoners.

Coming from downhill, Lord Dronis still held his flaming sword, now covered in blood. The brutality in his snarl told me it wasn’t his, and he had every intention of spilling more. Yet, his steps were sluggish, and he visibly struggled against a trio of Sapphires, grunting through each swing.

He’d never be able to take down the army by himself. Drakers were assisting, but they too were being swarmed. He needed the other Witchlords' help.

Luna’s voice was shaky, her fingers trembling. “I don’t understand.”

Throughout the streets, Dark Natured infested the area, as if they could protect the cage they called home. A Stonesender with greying hair walked into the chaos, raising his cracked hands in a gesture of surrender as he approached the enemy. His clothes were ragged and dirty, and his face was pleading. Hebeggedthe Sapphire to take him back to Lestivia.

I shook my head. “Is he fucking stupid?”

Still, the Stonesender supplicated, grey palms faced out. “I don’t want to be here anyway!” he shouted over the chaos. “Take me! I’ll fight for you!”

The blue-cloaked figure held his hand out—an invitation. Giddy, the Stonesender ran over, uncaring of consequences. He approached the Sapphire, so close he was within arm's reach.

“Give me a sword, I’ll help you! I owe no loyalty to the falcon!”