‘Run!’ The voices inside me seemed to scream. The panic consuming every part of me somehow forced my muscles to work. My hands began to fist, and my upper body jerked up. I was still trembling. I was barely able to move, but the need to get out of here was pushing me beyond my limits.Around me, the Moon Tears were greedily pulsing, feeding on my life essence. Perhaps if I somehow pulled myself away, I could regain some of my strength? Sucking in a sharp breath, I planted the heels of my palms against the hard stone on the altar and forced my muscles to pull me up to sit.The Dark Demon's eyes were on me. He still looked like Jarith, but the aura around him was the most terrifying thing I had ever felt. The power radiating from him seemed to stretch all over the hall, or perhaps sneak out through the doors and spread all over the castle. He watched me like a starving predator, ready to devour its prey. His lips stretched into a bone-chilling smile, and he stepped toward me. I flinched
KAIRAThe sound of the groaning door dragged me to awareness. I sucked in a sharp breath as my trembling hand moved up to wipe the cold sweat off my forehead. I had been losing consciousness more times than I could count, and each time, I'd thought I would never wake up again. I had, though. Haizea wouldn't have let me die. Not until she summoned the demon.I wasn't sure what kind of spell she had cast over the crystals in the chamber, but the Moon Tears around me resembled parasites, stealing my life away no matter whether I had allowed it or not. My head fell nearly limply to the side and locked on one of the crystal-filled baskets; they all shone almost as brightly as those fully filled with magic. A bitter smile curved my lips. I was dying, and there was nothing I could do to stop this…The bright light filled the room as four guards marched toward my bed. One of them, a massive man with broad shoulders, lifted me from the bed and tossed me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoe
DEARONI untied the piece of parchment Talon had brought and unrolled it to read the message. My lips stretched into a sly grin, and I drew a more relaxed breath.“Good news?” Torin walked toward me.“Raden finally sent his squads to join ours on the line of Eudoris' border,” I told him.He huffed out a laugh and clasped his hands together. “We actually have leverage now, a genuine shot to crush the Eudoris army.”“Even better,” I said smugly. “General Ameer wrote that they'd managed to defeat more than half of the enemy's squads before the reinforcements arrived. The Fiery Mist Pack is nearly defenseless against our warriors wielding the Moon Tears.”A wide smile curved Torin's lips, but the worry in his eyes remained. “Maybe Raden could move a few squads to help us fight on Sarendonia's side?” He locked his eyes on mine. “I know that we need to make sure Eudoris will not rise again, but…”“You're afraid that Alpha Rain's army won't make it in time to aid us,” I finished for him.He b
KAIRAAn oddly familiar scent filled my nostrils, something reminding me of my old life, one I had nearly forgotten. I moved my head and heard the soft pillow rustling beneath. Its shape, its sound—that, too, felt strangely familiar. The recognition appeared a moment later, chilling me to the core.My eyes opened, and my breath turned ragged. Slowly, I took in the half-closed velvet curtains, the bed I was lying on, the layout of the room plunged in the dim light of early dawn. Collisvale. Gods… I was in my old chamber in the Silver Mountain Pack's castle.Panic triggered my instinct to flee, but the second I moved, the pain exploded. The radiating ache was coming from everywhere. My hand drifted under the sheets, my fingers grazing the thick bandage on my stomach. Then, the images of what had happened returned at once…“Ivelle,” I breathed as a hot tear trailed down my cheek. “Saura…”Haizea's cruel smile appeared in my mind, and fury surged within me. Grinding my teeth, I tried to l
DEARONThe second after Nazo, Rafe, and I had crossed Korendorr's border, my restlessness exploded. Kaira was all I could think of. The darkest fears clawed at my guts, and none of them could be silenced. Nazo and Rafe kept reminding me that Torin had been there to help her, or rather, to stop her in case she had gone too far. But everything within me kept telling me another threat lurked in the shadows of my kingdom.I knew I should have gone straight to Oryndale and informed everyone about the alliance I had signed with Alpha Rain, but I couldn't. I had sent Nazo and Rafe in my stead while I stormed toward Airgead Hills. My anxiety kept growing the closer I was to the Moon Cave. The rational voice inside me reminded that Torin had placed guards for Kaira's protection. Besides, no one aside from the worthy ones was allowed to enter the caves. Kaira should have been safe there. But those arguments did nothing to dissolve the fears within me. Those exploded when I reached out to Kaira
KAIRATorin's eyes traveled from the several shining Moon Tears in his hands to my face. A deep frown appeared, his jaw tightening.I let out a long sigh. “I told you, I'm fine.” I spread my arms wide and spun around two times to emphasize my words. “See?”“You can move,” he grumbled. “That barely says anything.”I shot him a look. “My head isn't spinning, and I don't have any headaches. Not since—”“Since you lost consciousness and slept for three days?” he supplied with a wry smile.I stepped closer to the wagon packed with six bags of Moon Tears and pointed at one of them. “This will help us win. You know it. I know it. Father knows it, too.”“I know,” he strained. “But it doesn't mean I'm OK with you jeopardizing your health this way.”I gave him a soft smile and held his gaze for a longer moment. “Thank you for being here,” I said quietly, placing my hand on his shoulder.He huffed. “I have to be here. Who else would have stopped you from exhausting yourself?”My smile widened th