Page 74

Chapter

Fifty-Three

Liv

“ K azhi once told me that everyone on Arde marks their skin in some manner.”

The fire cracked, sending sparks across the grass, and Maev stomped at the one that landed near her feet. She sat on a log she had pulled toward the pile of sticks I had just lit without the ease of my magic.

I warmed my hands while the night settled.

“Well, it’s true that most people do. My father forbade Ollo and me from marking ourselves. He made us study, work hard and show the world with our minds how we were different.”

We had to abandon the coastline when it no longer led us north—we crossed a large river and began our journey inland.

We gave up hope of finding Ollo ourselves, and I understood Maev’s desperation to reach her city, hoping there was news.

The twins had a strong connection, even after the wedge driven between them in recent years.

Maev said she could always feel Ollo out there.

She would know if he were gone. So we continued to hope that he would be waiting in Avenmae when we arrived.

We travelled from sun-up to sundown, and had traded some crystals for horses while we passed over grassy plains.

We then traded them in a village the day before yesterday and had a full sack of dried food and a change of clothing.

The horses wouldn’t travel well through the mountain pass that would take us to Avenmae.

“What do the northern Rydavians tattoo themselves with?” I asked around a mouthful.

“Markings of their gods. Suns, mountains, seas, or night. Some like the symbols of the elements to worship the Ikhor. Ollo wanted one when we were fifteen, but Dad said no.”

“Your dad didn’t want to celebrate your legacy?”

Maev’s hair fell around her shoulders as she combed through it with her fingers.

“He wants us to be defined by our character, not bloodline. Because there are always bad people in every legacy, it’s not always a thing to be proud of.

Look at the sun clan in Veydes. I am somewhat glad not to be of that bloodline right now.

At one time, however, I bet many were very proud. ”

Rydavas hadn’t shocked me as my first trip through Veydes had.

The two continents were so alike. The lands we passed through coming north looked identical to the lands I travelled with the Guards.

Maev had led me through plains and forests and within a week’s time, we would be passing through mountains. Past the mountains was her city.

“Day-legs control those mountains ,” she had told me as we walked.

“ The wind clan. White skin and black eyes, like the Guard, Kazhi. They used to have cities built into the tall cliffside. Guardians destroyed the cities before my time. Some records say the Aspis destroyed their homes the last time it rose a thousand years ago. So now, the Days of Wind hide in the ruins.”

I wasn’t likely to see them unless we climbed the mountain, and my sore feet were reason enough to avoid that visit.

A soft and ethereal cooing came from the dark woods beyond. A sound I recognized.

“A night bird,” Maev muttered, thinking I wouldn’t know what it was.

I pictured the large black bird with pointed ears, a long curved beak and round eyes. “They usually only appear for Night-legs,” I said, searching the surrounding forest for it.

Could that mean he was here?

Maev was munching on fruit when it cooed again, getting closer. “I heard them outside my window when I was a girl. Terrifying creatures.” She was watching the fire.

I was transfixed by the woods where a particular spot between trees was darker than the rest.

Something shifted in the air.

“Ollo pretended he wasn’t afraid …”

The shadow moved, and I scanned the forest, hoping for a flash of iridescence.

The swirling darkness grew, edging past the trees and closer to where the firelight met the forest like it was testing how close it could get.

Maev lifted a brow in question, lowering the apple in her hand as she looked behind her. “Do you see something?”

I shook my head. She couldn’t see the swirling shadows, and it usually came when she was asleep.

Everything glowed as if a full moon had risen, bathing the forest in an ethereal light. It shone off the white bark, blades of grass glimmering as they swayed.

A low rumble from deep in the woods made me jump, and I spun back to see it there—the shadow. Standing tall between two trees.

It watched me.

Womannn.

The voice echoed in my head as the forest pulsed brighter, like a heartbeat. Waves of light reflected all around like they were coming from me. Or maybe from it.

Ever since the canyons, it approached me in the form of a man—arms, legs, broad shoulders, a head—but it didn’t reveal a face, and it had never spoken.

It stood watching me. Waiting.

“What do you want from me?” I got to my feet and took a step toward the shadow, and it ducked like it was afraid.

Its shadows swirled on a silent breeze. No sounds came from the forest except for the rustling of leaves as the wind brushed them together.

“What do you want? Who are you?”

Ret-t-turnnn.

“Return? To where?”

The rumbling grew louder, reverberating in my chest.

That same voice rang out, like a cry in a long empty hall.

Returrrn.

The fire faded until the only source of light came from the forest. I turned to Maev, but she was nowhere to be found. The fire, the logs we sat on … gone.

I stumbled backward. The ground shimmered as a wave of light rippled across black sand. My bare feet sank into it, the air turning damp. The forest was gone, replaced by a cave.

My stomach dropped like I was falling, but it was only my mind racing over how the forest was no longer there.

Then a roar shook the ground beneath my feet.

Behind me, the monster crouched amongst the rock and sand, moving its head from side to side. My heart pounded as I realized what its stance showed. Years of training with my mother only taught me the basics of hand-to-hand combat, but I knew what that stance meant—attack.

I turned and ran through rock tunnels that glowed blueish green from worms overhead.

These caves were familiar—so beautiful, so deadly.

The rock walls grew impossibly taller, and the sand turned ice-cold against my feet.

I whipped past stalagmites and through tunnels that led to more cavernous rooms.

The shadow followed me, keeping the same distance but never missing a step. It stalked me, moving like liquid, like water, unnatural.

I picked up the pace, though my body was weaker than ever. I looked back again, and the shadow was closer, crawling over rock and sand. It was impossibly tall and looked more like the Aspis, with curling horns protruding from its head.

It was mocking me, changing forms to scare me.

I tripped over something and landed hard on the ground.

The shadow pounced, towering over me, blocking the light of the worms. It held me in place, its touch cold as shadow hands pinned my arms above my head. Its knees pressed against my thighs as it straddled me.

It lowered its head, swaying back and forth. One dark hand let go of my arms, its second hand strong enough to keep me restrained. Its shadowy fingers touched my cheek, running down my neck and over my collarbone. A steady growl hummed low in its chest.

The cave glowed, turning the shadow above me darker, and when I looked above, I found the crystalline sky. I was in the dream place—the shadow had followed me into it!

“Brekt!” I screamed. “Brekt, I’m here!”

The monster trailed a line between my breasts, and I inhaled the icy air, arching my back. It was painful, so cold it was almost like fire. My magic hummed in response.

The box inside my chest shook, wanting to let my fear and anger take over, wanting the magic to be released.

The shadow’s finger pressed against my skin, pushing into me, and I thrashed against it. Its hand came back up to my neck, and when I twisted my head to the side, anticipating, the shadow wrapped its icy fingers around my throat and tightened.

“Brekt,” I said weakly against the pressure on my neck.

Another roar shook the cavern, and the shadow let go, spinning around.

I gulped for air when it released me.

The shadow monster vanished in an explosion of darkness, and when the last of the dark tendrils disappeared, citrine eyes found me, sending my heart into a frenzy.

Strong hands lifted me to my feet.

My fist flew against a hard chest, and the half-beast twisted me in his grip, turning me so my back was to his chest.

A palm banded around my mouth, stifling my scream. “You called for me, little evil. Now you attack me?”

Let me go , I tried to say, squirming in his grip.

“Shhhh.” His voice was low, warning me to keep quiet.

I scanned the area. Rocks, stalactites, black sand … I was back in the dream place, in the caves below the Guardian Palace, and the roaring seconds ago was from a monster, but not the shadow that followed me. This monster followed?—

“You woke it up,” the half-beast said in my ear. “Now we must run.”

He surprised me by letting me go, his other hand wrapped around mine, pulling me in a different direction. His hair was damp, sticking to his muscular build. The curling horns on his head reached high above me as he padded silently through the black sand, nearly pulling me off my feet.

He stopped to peer around a corner.

He held a finger to his mouth, turning just enough for me to see him—just enough to give me a quick glimpse of his face. There were deep shadows under his citrine eyes. He wasn’t himself, but he was helping me.

He scanned behind me. When he was sure nothing was there, he leaned down. “Turn the magic off. I feel your fear. This place will feed off it, and I will lose any control I’ve been gaining.”

“What’s here? What’s the danger?” I shivered, cold terror running along my spine.

“Not now.” He continued to monitor the caves behind me. “Just concentrate on me.” He squeezed my hand before turning and pulling me forward.