LOGIN“Kien, take our daughter and leave this island! We both already knew this was going to happen! Lyrielle has to fulfill her part of her prophecy! You can’t allow her to die here!” my mother said. My father turned toward me and nodded in response. He then looked toward the Finders and threw somethin
I knew that we were not safe, especially if the King of the North had sent them. “Please!” I shouted. “I will go with you. Don’t kill anyone! Let my father go, and I will be whatever you want me to be!” Even though that was not what I wanted, I had to do it because I would rather sacrifice myself th
I placed a hand on my chest as I hid myself behind the door. My heart pounded hard against my chest, and each time I heard a scream from those outside, I jumped in fright. No matter how I tried to cover my ears, I could hear them. It was as if they were begging for my help. “We are not giving up a
~Lyrielle~ My fingers stilled on the fragrant herbs I was collecting when a loud scream sounded from across the field. Before I could figure out what was happening, the villagers who had gathered with me to collect herbs started running toward me. “What is happening!” I demanded from one of the
I stepped forward, the orb’s light blazing through my tunic, casting shadows that danced like specters across the walls. “Try that again,” I said, my voice low, dangerous, each word dripping with the promise of violence, “and I’ll turn you to ash right here.” Lyrielle’s hand brushed my arm, her touc
The arena was a explosion of color and life, a sprawling circle of stone and magic that seemed to hum with the energy of Katula’s heart. The high walls were draped with banners in every shade—crimson, emerald, sapphire—fluttering in the evening breeze, their edges catching the glow of hundreds of la
Each time I tried to give up, I remembered what happened to my family and how the royal family was enjoying their lives. That made me desperate for power and to be at the top, so I trained harder, kept up with the hardship, learned to live with pain and by the fourth month of practice, I stopped fal
~Lyrielle~ “Snakes? You—what the hell is this training?” I demanded.“To erase your fear,” she responded, pointing to the second tub. One bite, one burns—both will forge you. Stand up and see.”I gulped visibly and stood, peering into the second tub, hoping it wasn’t worse. It was hot water, steami
Natty. It was the first time I’d ever heard their names, the first time they took turns speaking to me. “Here,” she stretched forth her hand for me to take. I had doubts at first about what could happen if I took it. I didn’t trust any of them but when she stretched it out longer, I took it and let
~Lyrielle~Six months. I didn’t see or hear from Arineth for six months. It was as if he had disappeared without a trace, leaving me behind in the abandoned building with the masked women. I knew he must have been communicating with them, but I got no response when I asked. It was as if they were tr







