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CHAPTER TWO

T he pain struck first, raw and merciless across Naya’s face, then came the blood, hot and fast, spilling down. A circle of Omegas tightened around her, their expressions shifting from suspicion to alarm at the blood spurting through the fingers she pressed against the wound.

One of the Omegas to her right spoke, her tight voice carrying through the canyon. “It’s a nnol ttaehh mael .”

Naya didn’t recognize the words, but gasps shot out into the air from around the circle, horror transforming all the Omegas’ faces.

She tried to organize her thoughts, the pain worsening with each second.

“I-I need to….” She automatically reached for her awareness to access magic to stanch the wound.

As soon as she accessed it, it jumped outward in every direction, and shock hit her.

Powerful magic was embedded in the entire canyon—from the river that flowed through it, to the high walls—all of it pulsed with a slow, heavy thrum.

She hadn’t originally noticed the magic surrounding them, which reminded her of the magic in her forest.

The crystal at the top of the tall Omega’s staff began to gleam, as though it had been hit by sunlight. All of the Omegas stopped moving at the sight of it.

“Stop that,” the tall Omega said sharply to Naya. “Are you trying to kill us all?”

Was that crystal gleaming because of her?

“Stop accessing magic,” the tall Omega said again. “You don’t need it to heal, we will do that for you.”

Naya hesitated for a moment and then reined in her awareness, pulling it back like she would a physical limb.

The crystal’s light dimmed instantly, and the Omegas visibly relaxed, though wariness remained in their stances.

Naya kept her eyes on the crystal. She’d never seen anything like it.

In her land, it took application of will or language to move or affect magic.

How could this crystal merely sense an awareness? And why had they all tensed?

The tall Omega, who appeared to be the leader, barked orders to the others, and suddenly hands were on Naya’s arms, steadying her.

The lead Omega strode forward until she was directly in front of Naya, her dark eyes scrutinizing Naya’s face.

“How did you get this wound?” she demanded.

“You are not an Omega of the ssukkǔrian . Who did this to you?”

Naya stared at her. They were speaking the Common Tongue.

She leaned back slightly, her thoughts whirling, realization creeping over her.

She didn’t know anything about these Omegas.

From everything Akoro said, she’d thought they’d been abandoned and discarded, left to fend for themselves against dangerous magic that was destined to kill them.

Yet here they were armed with weapons in a beautiful, magic-laden canyon that no one in Akoro’s council had listed on any of the maps.

They spoke the Common Tongue, and their use of magic was sophisticated, especially if they were ones who’d brought her here.

And if they had, they were no different from Akoro when he kidnapped her.

She had to be careful. Just because they were Omegas, who she’d assumed were destitute and in need of her compassion and help, didn’t mean they were friendly.

She opened her mouth to ask a question, but a wave of dizziness lurched through her—a floaty disorientation that made the world tilt and sway.

“She’s losing blood,” the tall Omega said. “Bring her to the healing caves. Quickly!”

The group of Omegas half-carried, half-guided Naya into the winding canyon, their movements swift and efficient.

Naya tried to take in her surroundings, to gauge where she was being taken, but the pain in her face was too distracting.

It didn’t seem as bad as when she’d been back home, but blood already poured down her arm and dripped off her elbow.

Huge stone walls on the right gave way to a hidden entrance—a narrow fissure in the rock face, barely visible unless one knew exactly where to look.

Inside, the air was cool and the sound of running water echoed off stone walls.

The Omegas led her deeper, their steps confident in the dim light that filtered through cracks in the ceiling.

The cave opened into a larger chamber, where pools of clear water gleamed in natural stone basins, steam rising from some in gentle, billowing clouds.

In the center of the cave stood a flat stone platform and surrounding it were shelves carved directly into the rock walls.

The shelves were laden with clay jars of varying sizes, bundles of dried herbs, and rows of instruments crafted from what appeared to be bone, clay, stone, and other materials she couldn’t identify.

“Place her there.” The leader pointed to the platform.

They guided Naya onto the cool stone surface, the sensation grounding her momentarily through her dizziness. Above her there were crystals embedded in the cave ceiling refracting what little light filtered in, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the shadowy stone walls.

The Omegas moved with practiced precision around her. One pressed a cloth to her face to stem the bleeding while another gathered items from the shelves. A third kindled a small fire in a stone basin nearby, the flames casting dancing shadows across their solemn faces.

“How are you going to heal me?” Naya asked, her voice sounding weaker than she realized.

The leader approached, her expression grave as she leaned over her. “Who gave you the nnol ttaehh mael ?” she asked again, ignoring Naya’s question.

Naya held her gaze without flinching. She was a striking woman with features that commanded attention.

High cheekbones stood prominent beneath fierce amber eyes that held both wisdom and ferocity.

Her skin, a dark sand color similar to Akoro’s, bore intricate markings along her temples and jawline, not scars, but deliberate patterns that enhanced rather than marred her beauty.

Her hair, pulled back in dozens of tight braids interwoven with small beads of bone and stone, framed her face like a warrior’s crown.

“Was it King Sy?” she added.

Naya’s expression grew weary. “Tell me why—” She stopped abruptly, alarmed to feel blood filling her mouth. just like it had when she escaped back home. Was she as far away in this canyon?

Another Omega in flowing cream-colored robes stepped forward, her hands cradling a wooden bowl filled with a paste that smelled of herbs and mineral-rich earth. “I have the paste,” she said, looking closely at the wound. “And I’ve brought the knife.”

The leader nodded. “Good. Prepare her.”

Two Omegas moved to hold Naya’s shoulders, pressing their weight down on her chest. Another positioned herself at Naya’s head, forearms gently but firmly framing her head to keep it still, while hands secured the base of her skull.

“What are you doing?” Panic surged through Naya, and she struggled against their hold.

“Be still,” the leader commanded, her voice calm but authoritative.

“The nnol ttaehh mael is no ordinary wound. It is bound to the one who gave it to you. The farther you are from them, the worse it becomes.” Her eyes were piercing as she leaned in.

“If we don’t sever the connection, you will bleed to death. ”

Naya’s heart pounded against her ribs. The memory of Akoro’s blade against her skin flashed through her mind—the strange coolness that followed the pain, and the way the wound had healed completely in his presence. “How do you do that?”

No one answered. Another one of the Omegas approached, holding a dagger that sent chills through Naya’s core. Its curved blade was similar to the one Akoro had used.

The robed Omega with the bowl scooped out some of the paste and applied it carefully to Naya’s face. A tingling sensation accompanied the searing pain.

“Hold her steady,” the leader instructed, bringing the dagger close. She looked at Naya. “This will be painful, but it’s necessary. We’re not trying to harm you.”

Before Naya could protest further, the tip of the blade pressed against her cheek, exactly where Akoro’s cut began.

White-hot agony exploded across her face as the Omega dug the blade in and drew it along the path of her wound.

Unlike Akoro’s cut, which had been followed by cool relief, this was excruciating—as if the knife tore through not just her face but through her entire body.

Naya screamed, the sound echoing off the cave walls.

The Omegas held her firmly as she writhed against their grip.

The leader made a second cut, a little higher than the first, again following the path Akoro’s blade had taken.

The pain intensified, tears streaming from Naya’s eyes, mingling with the blood on her cheeks.

Her vision darkened at the edges, consciousness threatening to slip away.

“One more,” the leader said, her voice sounding distant through the haze of pain. “Stay with us.”

The third cut was the worst—a line of fire that seemed to burn through Naya’s very being. Her scream burned her throat, tearing out of her and echoing against the stone walls around them.

And then, abruptly, the pain stopped.

Her screams faded to a whimper as her strength ebbed, her body going limp beneath their hands.

A strange, pulsing tightness throbbed at her cheek.

Through tear-blurred eyes, Naya saw the leader wiping the blade clean.

Someone also gently wiped her face, the herby scent and metallic smell of her blood mingling in the air.

“Give her the draught,” the leader said quietly.

An Omega approached with a small cup, the liquid inside giving off a sweet, floral aroma. The hands that cradled her head, lifted the cup slightly as the rim pressed against her lips.