Page 59

R yker’s been here a week, but you would think he just showed up, walking right out of the shadows with the way everyone acts around him.

Well, everyone that isn’t us, Rosalynn and Darian.

Yesterday one of the girls who collects the laundry cried when she saw him before running away. She left the pile of dirty clothes and almost fell down the stairs in her rush to get away from him.

It took two counts of ten for me to calm down so that I didn’t chase her down and shake her.

It’s hard to remember that to these people, Ryker is the thing of their nightmares. For all I know, he could be responsible for killing one of her loved ones, burning down her village, or something else that’s equally as terrible as it is traumatic.

Ryker isn’t that to me; he’s actually the opposite.

He saved me that night in the woods, and again when I went to the wrong village, and when Lyle tried to attack me and…

Shit, Ryker saves me a lot.

Which is why I’m so protective of him, why I hate the way people look at him, eyes full of fear or hatred.

At least I think that’s why, or what I keep telling myself.

Whatever, it doesn’t matter why, I just know I hate it.

“You can’t expect their minds to change about me this quickly, Darling.

” Even with my eyes closed, I feel him as he steps up beside me; his presence soothes me, taking the edge off my anger.

We stand in silence for a moment before his fingers find mine, tangling them together.

The action catches me so off guard that my eyes fly open, the guard who’d just shoulder checked him forgotten as I look up at him.

He looks down at me, and while there’s sadness in his eyes along with that ever-present self-loathing, there's something new too.

It takes me a second to realize what it is, but when I do, I can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips.

Hope.

Hope is a powerful thing.

The first time we trained, it was just us, something I’m more than okay with.

Then slowly the guys started joining us again, just like they used to in the clearing.

One day Rosalynn comes out, and the next, Darian comes too.

Ryker is used to the guys, but having the King and Queen watch you can be unnerving even if you aren’t the son of the most hated man in the realm and responsible for the destruction of villages and the death of their people.

He doesn’t hide, though; he stays with me, continuing to teach me how to control my magic, all in hopes that we can save Lyle and free Ryker from his father for good.

He might have been able to resist his call, but I want him free of Draven forever, so he doesn’t have to keep looking over his shoulder, worrying he might lose control at any moment.

Yesterday we trained, and it was the first time Ryker really let loose the way he used to.

We destroyed half the training grounds, but when we were done, Darian had come to talk to us, asking Ryker a bunch of questions he couldn’t answer about his abilities because they aren’t his.

Darian seemed disappointed that he couldn’t learn more, but told Ryker he was here if he ever wanted to try to look into it and figure it out.

Every day that passed attracted more people, until I’m pretty sure every guard and resident of the castle was watching us.

It wasn’t only Ryker who made them afraid, and them seeing how my shadows have grown didn’t seem to help. Not everyone is a judgemental ass, though; a lot of the servants and ladies-in-waiting don’t seem to mind what powers Ryker has since he’s hot, so I guess at least there's that.

Then there’s Nero, who I didn’t think could hate me more.

Boy, was I wrong.

“I miss the clearing,” I whine to Ryker as we finish our spar and head back into the castle for lunch. I finally feel like I’m getting the hang of my magic, but it takes a toll on me. By the time we’re done training, I’m exhausted and starving.

Ryker thinks I’ll get used to it and that it’s only like this because I gained so much magic so quickly without ever being able to train it. I hope he’s right because at this rate, I feel like I’m going to single-handedly eat the kingdom dry.

It doesn’t help that we train twice a day now.

Once in the morning like this for my shadows and once after dinner.

Our nighttime training isn’t a show, though; instead, the King and Queen have kept it very hush-hush, not even allowing the guards to be posted, and while I’m happy to be away from Nero’s prying eyes for it, I can’t help but feel like something is wrong.

Why else would they hide that the guys have access to the more refined versions of the elements?

The only thing I can think is it must have something to do with me.

“These are your people, Serena, they need to get used to you,” Garrett tells me, and while I know he’s trying to help, his words do the opposite as he reminds me yet again that I’ll someday be the queen.

Yippie, as if they don’t hate me enough already. I’m sure they will love having me rule them.

My stomach turns, and suddenly I’m not very hungry. I skid to a stop; the guys doing the same as they look at me with varying degrees of confusion.

“I… I’m not that hungry,” I tell them, trying to force a smile, but it feels fake, and I let it drop.

“I’m going to go take a nap. I’ll be back down before dinner.

” Stepping back, I hook my thumb over my shoulder, pointing back to the main staircase as I make my way back toward it, as if they don’t know which way the room is.

“Do you want company?” Pike asks, and I want to kick myself when I see the concern in his eyes. This isn’t their problem, but somehow I keep making them worry and putting their lives on the line.

“No!” I say too loud and too quickly before trying again. “No, I’m fine, you guys eat.” I nod toward the main hall and pray to all the gods who will listen that they let this go.

Ever since Ryker came back to the castle with us, I’ve noticed a shift in the guys.

I have a little more freedom; I’m allowed to go places without one of them always being right there.

Maybe it’s because they know I don’t have any reason to sneak around anymore.

Not that I don’t love being around them, but sometimes I need time to breathe, and having them around would only worry them more.

“I’ll be up to wake you in a few hours.” Blair presses a kiss to my forehead, tilting my head back so that I meet his eyes. I only let him look for a moment before I pull away, quickly moving toward the stairs. If I let him look too hard, he’ll see the mess I am inside; he always does.

“Eat some food for me,” I yell back, trying to lighten the mood, but my voice sounds flat. Shit, I just need to get out of here. I turn on the spot and all but sprint for the stairs, feeling their eyes on my back as I go.

I make it all the way to the room, closing the door behind me and falling back against it before I slide down to the floor.

Panic threatens to choke me, but I know the guys will feel it if I don’t keep it together. I’ve been so busy trying to learn to control my magic I haven’t found time to build my mental wall the way the guys have.

Letting my head fall back against the door, I let the pain ground me as I take a deep breath in through my nose, blowing it out of my mouth slowly. I do it a few more times before I stop shaking, and the burn of tears at the back of my eyes goes away.

Is pushing all this down healthy? Probably not, but the last thing I need right now is for all the guys to rush in here.

No, what I need right now is a nap. Peeling myself off the ground is hard; every muscle is sore despite how often I train.

I swear I always feel like I got hit by a car at the end of the day, but thankfully by the morning I’m good enough to do it all over again.

For a moment I debate just curling up in a ball and sleeping right here.

I’m tired enough that I’m sure I’ll fall asleep despite the cold stone, or maybe because of it.

I only entertain the thought for a moment, though.

I can’t imagine Blair would be happy to find me on the ground when he comes to wake me up.

The guys like to think I give them a hard time on purpose most days, and while sometimes that might be true, the fact that I make it to the bed should be seen as a declaration of love, if you ask me.

I flop down at the foot of the bed, fully dressed, shoes and everything, and I know I should move, but I can’t bring myself to do it.

Before I can think too deeply about it, I’m asleep.

It’s dark, and not a normal dark, but the kind where you can’t see an inch in front of your face. I blink rapidly, hoping my eyes will adjust some, but it’s no use.

I should be afraid, but something about it feels familiar…

My head is foggy as I look around, unsure where I am or how I got here. The last thing I remember was going up to the room to take a nap, and judging by the cold feeling of stone pressed to my cheek, I’d say I’m not in the bed anymore.

“Hello,” I yell or try to. Instead of loud and strong, my voice comes out hoarse, and my throat stings as if I’m sick or maybe haven't had anything to drink in a few days.

I push up to sit, extending my arms out in front of me and then to the sides, trying to see what might be around, but all I’m met with is empty air.

What the hell is going on?

“Serena?”

The voice in my head isn’t my own, but it’s familiar.

“Theo?”

“Yes! Oh gods, Serena, I’ve been trying to call out for weeks, but my magic is so low I thought I’d never reach someone!” I can’t see her, but I can hear the excitement in her voice . Despite that it lacks something, some of her usual pizzazz I’ve come to expect with her.

“What do you mean your magic is low?” I ask as her words finally register. She’s a Goddess, even if not as powerful as someone like her mother, Aranyani, she’s still powerful.

So how can this happen?

“I don’t have time to explain. My magic is low, but I need your help.”

“What can I do? Do you need me to come save you?”

“I don’t know where he’s holding me.”

“Who?” I ask, though I’m pretty sure I already know the answer.

“Draven.” Her voice cracks, low and terrified, and it makes me so mad. She said weeks… Draven has had Theo for weeks!

That would explain why she hasn’t come around recently. I’d thought maybe she was busy; Garrett suggested she might not realize how long she’s been away, seeing as she’s immortal.

I’d missed my friend and had about a million questions for her after that day in the cabin and all the while she’s been here, held prisoner.

A moan fills the air, followed by a shrill scream, and if I were there, I’d probably have chills. The sounds of that place are the things of nightmares, a lot like the cries of whatever it is that wanders the Forgotten Forest.

Oh god, is Draven responsible for the twisted magic there?

“Serena, listen, I don’t know how much time we have, but I need you to call your mother.”

Of all the things I thought she might say, that wasn’t it.

“What?”

“Your mother, call her. If there was ever anyone she might answer, it’s you.” She’s practically pleading with me now, but for some reason I can’t seem to comprehend what she’s asking of me.

“My mother is a mortal woman back on Earth,” I tell her, hardly able to force the words out around the lump of emotions lodged in my throat.

“No! Stop, you know that’s not true. You are so much more than this, than some girl who washed up on the shore. You have to know that with everything you can do.”

My lungs feel like someone is squeezing them as I attempt to breathe but only manage shallow breaths. If this weren’t some kind of weird dream vision thing, I’m pretty sure I’d be on the verge of passing out as I try to make sense of what’s going on.

I know Talia isn’t my birth mother. I know that even before I was on Earth; I was here, washed up on the shore where a fisherman found me and took me to Rosalynn.

“I can’t…” I choke out the words. I want to help Theo, but I can’t do what she’s asking; even if I could, it wouldn’t do any good. I wouldn’t have been washed up on the shore alone if my mother wanted me.

“Yes, you can. Please, Serena.” The desperate plea in her voice tugs at my heart, but I can’t do what she needs.

I’d be calling to nobody. How does she not understand that?

The room goes quiet around us, so quiet it’s as if there is no sound, and for a moment I wonder if I’m even still with Theo.

And then I hear it.

A rumble to my right, low and deep and monstrous.

“I smell you, my shadow princess,” Draven purrs, sniffing the air and groaning, making my stomach roll. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill your friend, at least not yet. I still need her for when I come to visit. I have to make sure you’ll behave, after all. It’s up to you if she survives or not.”

Despite the darkness, I can feel him as he gets closer; the urge to flee or throw up, maybe both, hits me hard enough that my stomach cramps, and I wonder if I can throw up in a dream. I guess we’re about to find out.

‘Call your mother,’ Theo hisses in my mind and suddenly I feel as though I’m falling and Theo’s gone.

I jerk awake, flying up in the bed to look around Garrett’s room, my heart hammering in my chest, sweat dripping down my face.

Was that real?

It sure as hell felt like it…