Page 28 of Twisted Souls (Twisted Souls #1)

Zara

I glared after Jaxon, watching his broad shoulders maneuver through the crowded cobbled streets. He had sulked back again on the journey, and I wasn’t as upset about it today—not after our fight last night. Dedra had ridden next to me for most of the journey, explaining what to expect today in the village. I suspected Xavier wanted to do this because he kept glancing at me all morning.

As I recalled the previous night, a flush of embarrassment washed over me. It was stupid of me to have shown my emotions like that, especially to him.

When we had approached Moonhollow, the sight of camps had emerged on the outer edge of the forest. Their large tents had risen in the distance like looming shadows. Guards in emerald and black moved between the tents and I had seen them patrolling the outer edge of the village, just as they had at Blackrock.

Entering the village, I had kept stealing glances at Xavier. Villagers nodded or bowed in his direction, though he seemed oblivious to it. His focus seemed fixed on me. No one approached or called out to him, but the respect in their eyes was clear. Whispers of admiration trailed in his wake, and I noticed more than a few people staring at him, hoping he might stop at their stall or shop. The women, especially, seemed to swoon as he passed, their lingering gazes filled with longing. A strange discomfort had settled over me at seeing it, though I couldn’t quite figure out why.

I had mainly been alone with these men since I met them. Besides the dinner Xavier had hosted, I hadn’t seen him interact much with anyone outside his close circle. Observing how others looked upon him with reverence and desire made me see a different side of him. I kept forgetting he was a king.

I trailed behind Xavier and Dedra as we stepped into the Wobbly Oak, the village tavern Xavier had guided us to. The warm, honeyed scent of ale and wood greeted us as we entered. A bar stretched along the far wall, its polished surface gleaming beneath the soft glow of lanterns. Tables were scattered haphazardly across the room, leaving just enough space for a raised platform in the corner. A man sat there, playing a lively tune from his fiddle, but what caught my eye were the other instruments—harps, and flutes—that played along with him, strumming and plucking as if by invisible hands.

The tavern buzzed with chatter and laughter as we made our way through the busy room. Patrons and barmaids greeted Xavier as he passed, their eyes lighting up at the sight of him. Every table had a different type of creature or Fae that I dared not look at for too long. One in particular caught my eye—a hulking figure like the one I had seen while passing through the village. Its massive single eye swiveled toward me, narrowing with unsettling precision, just as the one in town had. I quickly looked ahead, keeping my gaze on Xavier's broad back.

Xavier led us to a secluded table in the far corner, where the flickering shadows of the lanterns offered a small measure of privacy. Xavier pulled out a chair for me to sit, my back to the wall so I could look out into the tavern. His hand brushed against my shoulder as he walked past, taking a seat to my right, and my mind drifted back to last night, to how Xavier had held me, how he had made me feel safe.

I caught Xavier's eye again, and for a brief moment, neither of us looked away. There was something in his gaze—concern, certainly—but beneath that, something deeper, something I wasn’t ready to confront. My heart skipped, and I quickly averted my gaze, my cheeks heating slightly. I then realized Dedra was no longer with us.

“Where’s Dedra?” I asked, unsure how I could have missed her leaving.

“She didn’t sit down with us,” Xavier said, his brow creasing slightly as he glanced toward the bar. “She’s getting drinks.” His attention shifted back to me. “Are you feeling alright?”

“Of course, I was just distracted,” I replied with a forced smile. He frowned slightly, his eyes scanning the room as if seeking out the source of my unease. I mimicked his action, looking out into the tavern.

Two tables down, my eyes fell on a strikingly handsome male. His broad chest and long, shiny black hair cascaded to his shoulders, making him stand out. His sapphire eyes locked onto mine, and a blush crept up my cheeks. I looked away quickly, continuing to scan the room, though I could still feel his intense gaze. The thought made my heart pound slightly faster.

A low growl rumbled next to me, drawing my attention back to Xavier, whose gaze was now fixed on the handsome male with sapphire eyes.

“What are you doing?” I hissed, my voice barely a whisper as I leaned closer to Xavier.

Around us, the tavern patrons cast wary glances in our direction, sensing the tension that crackled in the air. The beautiful male scowled in our direction before turning away, as if uninterested.

“He was assessing you,” Xavier growled again, his tone dangerously low.

“So, you are going to growl at every person who looks at me now?” I snapped, and Xavier finally tore his gaze away from the male to fix me with an incredulous stare.

“If they're looking at you like that, yes,” he said, a dark glint in his eyes.

I just stared at him, unamused, as Dedra approached our table, bearing three glasses of amber liquid. She eyed Xavier knowingly before addressing me. “Don’t worry about him. He's just displaying typical domineering male behavior. It’s in their nature,” she explained with a wicked smile, raising her glass in a mock toast.

I smiled at her words and clinked my glass with hers. Xavier rolled his eyes at our exchange before downing his drink in one swift motion, his attention again drawn to the male, who was now sitting with his back to us a few tables down.

A barmaid walked past our table, large antlers protruding from her head and hooves echoing against the stone tavern floor. Her dirty blonde hair hung in a braid over her shoulder, and her wide, round black eyes seemed to snap to Xavier as she passed, making her pause and turn toward him.

My skin prickled with discomfort as Xavier flashed her a wide grin. “Darla Hinkle, you're looking well,” Xavier greeted her warmly, and Darla blushed.

“Your Majesty, it’s been a while since you were last here. I hope you're doing well?” Darla's voice was soft and melodic, and I started to feel a calm wash over me.

She glanced in my direction, her warm smile seeming to drag me deeper. My feeling of unease was gone, replaced with a relaxed calm. Her eyes seemed to sparkle, and she turned to Dedra.

“Dedra,” she greeted warmly, and Dedra rose from her seat to embrace her.

I leaned back in my seat, and a small sudden giggle escaped my lips. As I went to cover my mouth, my glass jostled, sending a tiny splash of liquid onto the table and causing me to giggle again. I felt my cheeks flush, though I couldn’t help but grin at my clumsy behavior.

Xavier glanced at me, an eyebrow raised in silent inquiry.

“I’m fine,” I replied, smiling as I rested my head on my hand, my elbow now in the small puddle I had created.

I took a lazy sip of my ale, looking between them all with a smile.

“I think she is calm enough, Darla,” Xavier said kindly, but his words had an edge.

Darla turned to him innocently as Dedra settled back into her seat. “Sorry, Your Majesty. She had so many emotions. I was just trying to help.” She batted her eyes at him innocently, and I chuckled at them. Xavier looked like he was suppressing a smile as he glanced at me.

“It was good seeing you, Darla. Tell your father we say hello,” Xavier said in a clear dismissal. Darla bowed slightly, casting him one last smile as she bounded off across the room.

“She seemed nice,” I said, sighing and taking another sip of my ale. The suffocating calm started to wash away, and I looked down into my glass, wondering what kind of ale this was.

Dedra laughed lightly and patted me on my back. “Darla can manipulate emotions. She feeds off them.” She chuckled again. “It has happened to all of us; I wouldn’t take it personally.”

My brows shot up, and my gaze shot toward Darla, who was taking orders from a table across the room. Her gaze drifted toward me, and a sly smile spread across her face before she focused back on her table.

Anger bubbled inside me as I glowered in her direction, but Xaviers' hand landed on my arm. “Let's order some food,” he said, the corner of his lips curling as he moved his hand away.

Food arrived shortly after, and as I spooned the stew into my mouth, I kept an eye on Darla as she pranced around the room. A sense of restlessness settled over me. I didn’t know why it bugged me so much, but it somehow felt like a violation.

“Where's the ladies' room?” I grumbled, my irritation evident. Dedra gestured toward an alcove in the wall with a smirk, and I nodded curtly before making my way across the room.

Entering the narrow hallway, I spotted the door blocked by two people huddled in hushed conversation. The beautiful male from earlier leaned casually against the wall, accompanied by a tall, muscular woman with short black hair. Her rugged appearance and scarred skin sent a shiver down my spine.

As they noticed me, my heart quickened. The male's sapphire eyes sparkled with amusement, while the woman’s icy yellow gaze seemed to spear into mine with irritation. I didn’t want to turn around, so I rushed past them into the room, closing the door behind me with a sense of relief.

The room had multiple closed-off areas, and I quickly rushed into one, wanting to leave as quickly as possible. When I went to exit the stall, I found the short-haired woman standing before me. Her wicked smile sent a chill down my spine, and a familiar glint in her eye made me uneasy. I scanned the empty room, realizing we were alone.

“Hello, Zara,” she purred, her voice dripping with cruelty. My eyes widened in fear.

“How do you—” I began, but before I could react, she closed the distance between us, her words sending an icy shiver down my spine.

“Morgana sends her love,” she whispered, and darkness enveloped me as the handle of her dagger connected with my skull.

*

The wind whipped against my face, and I felt something rough, like tree bark, beneath me. My head throbbed, and as I cracked open an eye, I stilled, holding my breath.

I was straddling the back of an enormous creature, its scales oozing a sickly green liquid. The thunderous sound of its massive paws pounded into the earth.

A Daka.

Jagged black spikes jutted along its neck, glinting menacingly. An arm looped firmly around my waist, and ropes bound my wrists together, their rough fibers biting into my skin. My arms ached from supporting my weight, but I dared not move and alert them I was awake.

I had to think. I glanced at the ground. We were moving too fast, the surrounding scenery blurring past with sickening speed. The impact with the ground would kill me instantly if I rolled off, leaving that as not an option. I could try to knock them unconscious, take them by surprise, or — “I know you’re awake, Zara,” a silky voice rang out.

Shit. I pushed myself up, the wind somehow not touching my face, and turned to find the dark-haired woman with scars staring back at me, a smirk on her red lips.

“What do you want with me?” I demanded, glaring at the witch.

She barked a laugh. “I’m not even going to answer that.”

“Why won’t she just leave me alone?” I snapped, infuriated at the situation.

“Beats me,” the woman replied, her voice void of emotion.

I swung my bound arms back, aiming for her face in a feeble attempt, but she blocked my attack effortlessly and retaliated with a sharp punch to my face. My cheek ached as her fist collided with it, and I was thrown forward by the force, my body hitting the body of the Daka again. The Daka let out an irritated noise as it continued to run, and I could hear the witch laugh over the pounding of the Daka’s feet. I pushed myself back up, glaring at her over my shoulder. She winked at me, and my cheek throbbed. I scanned our surroundings. We were alone; the beautiful male from before was nowhere in sight. The beast weaved through the dense forest, ignoring any semblance of a path. It barreled through trees, the sound of crashing wood echoing around us. Why would she let it leave such a blatant trail? Were the witches so confident in their beasts that they had no fear? Or…was it because she wanted us to be found?

A trap. She was purposefully creating a trail.

“No,” I breathed, realization dawning. This was a trap for Xavier. They were luring him away from the village, using me as bait to ambush him. My heart pounded at the thought. I had to do something—anything: shit, shit, shit. I had to think.

“I rather enjoy this.” the witch said against my ear, her breath sending chills down my spine. A moment later, something heavy crashed into my head, and darkness claimed me again.

When I awoke, my head pounded, and the chilly air bit at my skin, making me shake. It was quiet, save for the echoing drips of water from somewhere near my head.

I opened my eyes to find darkness. Only a dim light shone on me from a carved-out circle above me, but even that light was dim and coming from somewhere I couldn’t see. My eyes scanned the space, and my stomach sank as I realized I was in some sort of cave.

The eerie darkness surrounding me was thick. I pushed myself out of the puddle I had been lying in and got to my feet. The light from the opening only touched a small circle in the middle, where I now stood.

I brushed off my dress and stared at the opening above me. It was about twenty feet high and roughly the size of a large boulder. The ceiling seemed to arch widely around it, making it impossible for me to climb out without any tools.

Water was pouring in a steady drip from one side, creating puddles under my feet and adding to the dampness of the cave. My dress was wet, soaked from the puddles I had been lying in when I woke.

I hesitantly stepped out of the light's safety and into the darkened expanse, my arms in front of me as I slowly crept across the room. My steps echoed, occasionally splashing in puddles of what I hoped was only water.

After about twenty paces, I reached the cave wall. It felt smooth and cold under my touch, damp with water, and I followed it in one direction. My hands searched the surface as I went, trying to find a way out, but the wall only curved around the room like a cell.

Despair settled in my chest as I realized the only way out was through the opening in the ceiling. I slowly sat on the cave floor, pulling my legs to my chest as a wave of hopelessness crashed over me. I was bait, powerless to stop what was coming. Xavier had no magic, and if something happened to him or the others because of me…a tear slipped down my face, and I felt a surge of anger. No. I wiped the tears away aggressively and stood, glaring at the opening in the ceiling.

I gasped as movement stirred at the far end of the cell. My head snapped in the direction of two unnaturally large blue eyes. They floated near the ceiling, their eerie glow piercing through the shadows. They blinked slowly as they kept their gaze on me, and I clenched my fists at my side, refusing to be scared.

“Who’s there?” I called out, but my voice came out more shakily than I would have liked.

The eyes blinked again, drifting toward the floor with an unsettling fluidity. I couldn’t hear footsteps or any sign of movement, but the eyes now watched me from lower to the ground, their unblinking gaze sending chills down my spine.

“I can see you. Show yourself!” I demanded, trying to steady my voice as a knot of dread tightened in my stomach.

A faint scuttling noise echoed off the stone walls, the sound of tiny feet moving in a grotesque rhythm. The eyes inched forward in the darkness, and I stepped back, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure it would burst from my chest.

“Hello, pretty thing.” The voice was low and gravelly, yet also high-pitched and feminine. It didn’t echo in the room; it echoed in my mind.

I jumped, clutching at my head. “Get out of my head!” I shouted, my eyes widening in fear.

“I was hoping to see you,” it seemed to sing the words rather than say them.

“Who are you? What do you want?” I asked shakily.

The eyes drifted backward, the pattering of too many feet echoing again as they floated up the wall to the ceiling.

“I want many things, but you are running out of time,” it purred, its voice ancient and dripping with malice. “Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock…”

“Stop!” I screamed, the echo of its voice ripping through my mind in a maddening wave.

It stopped, but the laughter that followed was sharp, cruel—sending a shiver down my spine.

“Let me show you,” it whispered, and suddenly, my vision went dark.

“What did you do?” I cried out, but the darkness swirled, and an image began to form. I fell to the floor to my knees, paralyzed by my fear.

I was looking down at a body—the broad tan back of a man, his muscles tensing as he seemed to hover over somebody on a bed. My eyes widened as I recognized Xavier’s tattoo swirling over the shoulder, and I watched as he seemed to thrust, a feminine leg wrapping around him as he moved. I tried to look away, but I couldn’t. I was held captive by this creature, forced to watch. A face appeared underneath him, and I gasped as I recognized my face, twisted in undeniable pleasure as he kissed down my naked body.

The image swirled, and Xavier and I were in a carriage, his head between my legs as I cried out his name as my hands held onto his smooth dark, inky hair. A tattoo similar to Xavier’s on my left arm.

“Queen,” the creature hissed, and I shook my head.

“No,” I breathed.

The image swirled again. Xavier was on a battlefield, sword swinging as he decapitated enemies. Power rippled off him, lightning striking down bodies in his path as he charged across a bloody field. His body blurred, then seemed to double as he transformed into a large, winged creature. The scales on his body shimmered against the darkened night sky as he roared into it, flying toward me, his eyes blazing with fury as shadowy mist speared toward him.

“Destroyer.”

The image shifted to show me looking down at bodies—too many bodies. Xavier, Jaxon, Dedra, Julian, and Theo lay torn apart in the most grotesque way imaginable. Cynthia, my father, and many others I recognized from home lay dead beside them. My stomach turned as a foot crashed down onto the bodies—her face blurred in the vision, but she was smiling wickedly at me, a dark crown atop her head, her hand held out toward me in offering. Morgana.

“Stop, please stop.”

The creature only hissed, and the image swirled again.

It showed me on the battlefield, though I looked different—stronger, clad in battle attire like Dedra’s. Twin daggers were in my hands as I sliced at attackers. Shadows seeped from my body, encircling and dissolving enemies like acid—light shot from my palms, cutting through bodies like blades.

“You have many fates,” the creature purred.

Images swirled in my mind relentlessly. I straddled Jaxon in a dark, damp room; I was in a dungeon, bleeding on the floor and malnourished; I held Cynthia in my arms, blood escaping her lips as a blade stuck out of her chest; My hands were bloody as I tore my blade from Julian's throat, Jaxon’s headless body behind him; I lay on the ground, reaching toward Xavier whose eyes were still as they stared up at nothing, unmoving.

I had to hold back the bile rising in my throat. “Please!” I shouted, unable to bear seeing anymore.

“But what will you choose? What will you decide?” the creature purred, and I felt like I was being pulled, tugged in endless different directions, being ripped and torn apart.

“The fates of so many hang in the balance…” the creature rumbled. “As do our own.” It croaked and then hissed, “We will be watching…”

Its voice seemed to fade, and an echoing pop sounded as my vision returned. My hands still clutched at my head as I panted heavily from the madness that had just occurred. I spun around, searching for the creature, but it was no longer there.