Isla
Thedarkgodvisitedher nightmares again that night.
When Isla opened her eyes, she was in the middle of a field of yellow and orange wildflowers, birds chirping in the thick trees surrounding them. He sat casually on the ground sharpening a knife, his normal black ensemble far too dark against the bright green grass beneath him.
“I told you I’d see you soon. Come and join me,” he said without looking up, a slight edge to his eloquent tone.
“I’d rather not,” Isla replied. “Why don’t you just send me back?”
The side of his face she could see twisted slightly. “Ah, yes. Back to that cave you share with theelemental. No, I think not.” He said the word “elemental” like it was repulsive.
Isla’s nails dug into her palms, forming little crescent moons. “What do you want this time?” she asked through gritted teeth.
“At this moment, I want you tocome here.” He slammed the point of his knife into the dirt.
Isla jumped at his outburst. She’d never seen him upset; he’d always portrayed a sense of seductive confidence, sometimes curiosity. Never such strong emotions like this. She hesitantly walked the few yards to him, surveying him warily, but didn’t take a seat in the grass.
He pulled the knife from the ground as he stood. She tried not to notice the outline of his strong legs through his black pants, or the way his eyes bore into hers, as if he was seeing beyond her surface. “Now that you’ve found the other elementals, tell me—what was it like to meet them?” He moved until he was inches from her. His knife slid out to catch her chin and tilt her face up. “How did it feel to stand in their presence, knowing how utterly they failed at ruling their kingdom?”
She swallowed, the cold steel chilling her skin. “Why do you hate them so much?”
“Because they had everything,” he said, deadly calm. “And they ruined it. They don’t deserve their power. I would not have made the same mistakes.”
“Mistakes?” she scoffed. “All you’ve done is terrorize us. How do you think you’re better than them?” she blurted before she could stop herself. This was the second time in a single day that she hadn’t controlled her tongue around people much more powerful than herself. She closed her mouth and pinched her lips together, internally chiding herself.
He moved closer, running the sharp edge of the knife across her neck and down her collarbone. One wrong move, and it would slice into her flesh. She didn’t think she was breathing. “Isla, love. So fierce. So loyal. Those elementals don’t deserve your defense of them.”
“I’m not defending them,” she said, her eyes on the knife. “I barely know them. I don’t understand why any of this is happening.”
“You’ll find out soon enough. Your elementals don’t even know why they were summoned to the mountains, do they?”
“Doyou?” she asked, curiosity taking over. He was right, though: they had absolutely no idea.
“Of course.”
She waited for him to continue, but he simply stood there, darkness dancing in his eyes as they flicked between hers, the tip of the knife still resting against her collarbone. She clenched her jaw, frustration and recklessness sweeping in once again. That seemed to be happening more often lately. Stepping closer, the blade barely piercing the sensitive skin at her neck, she said, “If you’re going to bring me here, at least make it worth my time. Either kill me or give me answers, but I’m done with your games.”
A slow smile spread across his face as he took in the bead of blood blooming at the tip of his dagger. Her breath quickened at the way it transformed his features. “Beautiful, vicious girl. I like it when you show your teeth.”
For a split second, she could have sworn his eyes lightened, appearing almost blue instead of black. Isla couldn’t seem to make her body move, but her tongue continued.
“Which will it be? Are you going to kill me or help me?” she challenged.
He shifted back and lowered the dagger, sliding it into the sheath at his waist. “You would know if I wanted to kill you, love. I brought you here to help you.”
Isla eyed him, biting back a sharp retort. Instead, she said, “Why would you help me at all? Aren’t you trying to get rid of the elementals? I know what you did to Kai on the ship.”
“Ah, yes. The sea temptress. Now,thatwas fun.” He paused. “I want to help you because we share a common goal. I need you to find something for me.”
“What makes you think I would find anything for you?” she spat, then instantly regretted her temper.
Hetsked. “I may not be able to affect your mind, but there are other ways to get you to do what I want. How is your dear father doing?”
She froze, her blood turning to ice.
“And that pretty friend of yours. Hmm, she would have been such a treat,” he purred, his finger extending to graze her arm.
“I willkillyou if you touch them,” she seethed.
