The shadow lifted a hand, fingers spread in a display that told her it had no intention of fighting. “It may not be real at this moment,” thedrevlicstarted. The voice echoed in her mind, a hundred voices, so loud it made her head throb. It spoke again and she winced. “But that does not mean that something similar did not happen.”
Adara froze, sword falling from her hand. Had her family been turned into these demons that served the Kingdom of Zenura?
“You are acoward, Adara Rhyes,” it spat.
She flinched, like the words struck her physically, and stumbled back.
“You fled your land and left the rest of us here to die! Left the rest of us here for our souls to be devoured by the shadows!” it screamed.
Adara staggered back at its crescendoing words, covering her ears, her sword forgotten in the blood-stained grass.
“You cursed all the kingdoms! All of Blemythia! Damned us all to a wretched fate thatno one,not even the gods, can escape!”
“No,” Adara whispered in disbelief. But she no longer recognized her home. Remnants of her memories had been replaced with darkness. Only shadows occupied the castle of Ignatius, lurking in every corner, chasing after anyone who had survived.
“You destroyed Blemythia,” the shadow creature crowed.
“No,” she repeated with quivering breaths, shaking her head.
Thedrevlicgrew larger and larger until it consumed everything in sight. Not even the light of the stars pierced through its black veil. “You destroyed us all.”
“No!” Adara screamed. Thedrevliclunged for her, and she was plunged into a world of darkness.
Chapter 9
Anear-splittingscreamtoreDominic from his slumber. Leaping from his bed, he didn’t bother to throw on a tunic and rushed out of his cabin.
By the time he burst into the storage room—where Adara slept, opting not to sleep near him nor the others—her screaming had stopped. It was pitch black. With the flick of his fingers, Dominic ignited an oil lantern. Firelight flickered through the darkness, illuminating the room. Adara sat upright on her bedroll with her knees pulled close to her chest. Her arms were wrapped around her legs, nails digging into her skin whereshe held herself curled so tightly, like she’d fall apart if she let go. Her shoulders shook. Her face was buried between her chest and her knees.
“What the Hel happened here? It sounded like someone had been attacked by a bloody lykren,” he said, voice raspy from sleep. His words came out harsher than he intended.
Adara raised her head, glancing at him with glossy, sapphire eyes. There was a hint of surprise in them. She quickly looked away. It was only then that he remembered he hadn’t bothered to put on a shirt. He almost laughed at the flustered expression on her face.
“I . . . Nothing. Leave me alone,” she said, waving a dismissive hand at him. Her voice shook with every word.
He scoffed. “Yeah, like I’m going to believe that was nothing.”
“It was just a nightmare,” she replied, voice rising in irritation, dragging a hand through her thick hair. “Go away, Nite. Not like you care anyway,” she muttered, hiding her face in her arms resting on top of her knees.
“You’re right. Idon’tcare about your stupid nightmares,” he deadpanned.
Adara lifted her head to glare at him.
“Everybody’s got things that scare them. At least yours are all in your head.” It wasn’t until he spoke that he realized he should have kept his mouth shut. He was supposed to be pretending to care about her, so she would return his affections. It was the perfect opportunity to soothe her worries, and he was blowing it.
“You know,” she said, “the goal of this war is to get the other to fall in love with you. You’re not doing such a great job at that.” She laughed bitterly, wiping the corner of her eye before a tear could fall.
Dominic leaned a shoulder against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his bare chest. “Neither are you, love,” he shot back.
Adara uncurled her body, stretching her legs out in front of her as she leaned back on her palms. “I don’t have to try,” she replied nonchalantly, like she hadn’t been on the verge of tears mere moments ago. “I have a natural charm that draws people to me.”
“There’s definitely something that draws me to you, but I wouldn’t call it charm.”
She raised her eyebrows at him, all traces of fear from her nightmare gone. “And what might that be, Nite?”
He suppressed a smirk. His plan was working. He intended to distract her from whatever fear had overcome her in her dream. There was no better way to do that than bait her into those sarcastic remarks she so loved to throw at him.
“I can’t quite put my finger on it,” Dominic said as he stepped closer. He crouched down in front of her, grasping her chin between his thumb and index finger.
