He casts a silent glance back at Strife, who has paused near one of the rosebushes and appears suddenly transfixed.
As the door closes behind Halle and all of the hounds, Strife gives himself a shake.
“Damn,” he whispers, but his face has fallen with not even a hint of his mischievous smile remaining, and I’m not sure why he’s suddenly so subdued.
Riot is immediately at his side, a hand gripping Strife’s shoulder, to which Strife returns his brother’s solemn gaze.
“Yeah, I know,” Strife says. “Fun is easy. Getting attached is not. That hound has my heartbreak written all over him.”
“I’m sorry, brother,” Riot says. “Save yourself the pain.”
Heartbreak is a pain that Riot knows only too well.
Back on the island off the coast of Japan, Riot had bonded with one of the female dragon shifters, Miku. She’s the sister of the dragon master who controls the island. All dragon shifters are creatures of light magic.
For the duration of our stay, Riot was still cursed to exist in his shadow panther form, but on the last day, the keeper broke the curse. In his dark elf form, Riot was finally able to speak with Miku.
When she came to say goodbye, he asked her to come with us.
She refused.
As much as I hated what she said to him, I couldn’t deny the truth of it. She said that they were creatures of opposite magics. They would never be safe to be with each other. They would be hunted by both sides because of their bond. She told him she wouldn’t risk his life like that.
I’ll never forget what Anarchy said to Riot as he watched Miku fly away.
She told him to accept the pain because we are dark creatures and we will never be anything but broken.
My shoulders slump.
As much as I’m seeking the truth, right now, I hate it.
I turn to find Anarchy and Rumble studying the cottage, which sits right at the edge of the rose garden on my left.
Anarchy’s head is tilted and her right hand is outstretched toward the cottage’s open door. “There’s an aura around this structure. Do you sense it, Rumble?”
“I’ve felt this magic before,” he says, his forehead puckered. “But where do I know it from?”
Anarchy’s expression suddenly clears. “Our former queen had a room that felt like this.”
Rumble’s eyebrows rise. “Do you think it’s a soul catcher?”
“What’s a soul catcher?” I ask, interrupting them.
“Dark magic, naturally,” Anarchy replies. “Our queen used to entrap bright creatures this way, but it works on anyone with a soul.”
I try to detect what the elves are sensing, but even standing this close to the cottage, I come up empty. The breeze is gentle, the black curtains swaying harmlessly, and the fountain bubbles quietly behind me.
I guess I’m tired. It’s been a long night.
“So much for no tricks,” I mutter. “Halle said this place is a product of my needs, but I guess she must have interfered somehow.”
Emil’s voice sounds at my shoulder. “She didn’t.”
Once again, he has crept up on me.
“This place is your creation, Veda,” he says. “Even an old goddess could not interfere with what you want.”
I turn on him. “Why would I want to trap my friends?”
