12
MAX
“Poor little blood summoner.” The voice slithers into my ear, digging like claws so deep, my body locks from the pain. “Struck down by the barrier. Did you think you were that special?” She scoffs. “You are not of the inspired, the intellectual. You are not the one true ruler.”
Eyelashes fluttering, I groan, rolling onto my back. The sky above is no longer the lush forest of the Woodland territory or the red haze of the Shadowlands. It’s grey, like the kind of sky before a thunderstorm that threatens to drown everyone whole.
The area is open, full of grey rocks, dirt, and barren bushes that are more bundles of twigs than anything else. In the background is a pair of pillars, made of pearly stone, etched with deep grooves and lines. They’re cracked, from time or weather, and there is a hard pad beneath them.
Behind that is an old palace, falling down. Clearly no one is here to care for it. It’s overgrown with weeds, some vegetation taking over the windows.
Sitting up, I look at the shrouded body of the woman from before. Still covered in black, the crown drips red all over her chest andshoulders. Standing with her gloves hands clasped in front of her, the woman stares down at me.
Gone is the energy from our last interaction. She feels menacing now, full of unseen wrath that’s just waiting to take me down.
“I’m so happy to see you again.” My body doesn’t hurt—not how I expected it to. After being thrown through the forest, I assumed I’d have wounds.
But I feel normal. Tired, but whole.
“Whoareyou?” Her voice cracks. “Who do you hail from?”
I rub my eyes. “I’m not answering you.” Telling her who I am won’t help me.
I can’t see her face, but I know she’s glaring at me. “Who are you?”
“Who are you?” I counter. “A demon from the abyss?”
A shrill laugh cuts the air. “You’ll never save him,” she coos. “Poor little blood summoner. Full of hope and love.”
“I will save him,” I growl, standing. The world tilts and my head spins, but I refuse to stop looking at her. She’s not someone to keep at my back. “Whoareyou?”
“Love never saved anyone,” she whispers. “Love is weakness. Love is pain. Love is the reason forallof this.”
“No—”
“You’ll see. You’ll see when your love isn’t enough to save your beast. When he’d rather kill you than allow you to change him back. And I’ll still be here. And then, it’ll start again.”
Everything tilts further, and my stomach lurches. I fall into a boulder, clutching to its ridge to steady my feet. The world, full of whites, greys, and silvers spins together into a tight blurring vortex of light. My ears pop and without warning, I fall backwards as if shoved.
Deep into a black hole, I wave my arms, praying to cling to the wall for stability.
But it doesn’t happen. I just fall.
Bolting upright,strong hands hold me as I flail. The stench of sweat and the sweetness of blood assaults my nose before my vision clears.
Baris holds my arms, concern flashing in his dark eyes. Looking over his shoulder, I recognize the cottage. They must have brought me back when the barrier threw me.
At once, my body starts to ache and my ears rings. The world spins and I blink, choosing to stare at my father’s face, instead of the moving walls.
I’m going to vomit.
I open my mouth and Baris shoves a cup of water at me. “Drink. You took a hard charge.”
Charge. Energy. It knocked me clear across the field.
As I sip, there’s a howl at the door and both Fae, Mal and Reid, rush back inside. A makeshift door has been bolted to the stone, covering the only exit. The cottage rocks with a loud clang and I lower my head, the nose too sharp for my sensitive hearing.
Mal barricades the door with his shoulder as Reid comes to my side. “Great. You’re awake. How do you feel?”
