Page 176 of Black Sea

I slowly regained consciousness, opening my trembling eyelids as the ringing in my ears dulled all other sounds. I was lying on the thin layer of snow. Mornon was beside me, still unconscious.

Calien’s Crystal lay on the ground between us. And it no longer glowed, as black filaments swirled inside.

I was about to take it when I noticed Mornon waking up. His eyes immediately found mine. The flames in his pine-green irises went out, and the burning veins on his face gradually receded until they disappeared.

He was back.

He had come back to me.

“Amlach,” I whispered, reaching out.

But just as our fingers were about to touch, the ringing stopped, and suddenly, the sound of dozens of boots pounding the ground flooded my ears.

Next, Amlach was engulfed by a barrage of punches and kicks.

“No, no!” I screamed hoarsely.

Though I felt like a massive boulder weighed down every part of my body, I tried to stand up and defend him, but a powerful blow to the back of my head made me collapse again.

And the last thing I saw before I passed out was a gush of blood spurting from my mate’s mouth.

98

Nauriel.

I woke with a start and sat up as Amlach’s voice echoed in my mind. My watchful eyes quickly took in the rustic surroundings. My dirty hands immediately recognized the softness of the sheets below me.

My onyx bramble tiara, armor, and boots had been removed—I was only wearing my black leather robe and trousers. I caressed the torn fabric on my stomach, then placed one hand on my heart.

I waited and waited.

But

I

Didn’t

Feel

Anything.

Neither the darkness that had infected every part of me nor the blood that had mingled with mine in every vein and artery.

Amlach had taken everything back.

He had left me . . . alone.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. A cry rose in my throat, but I refused to let it out.

Nauriel.

I whipped my head toward the arched glass doors, my senses on high alert. Why was I hearing his voice? Where on earth did it come from?

I jumped out of bed, then froze. Without the magic granted to me by the Spirits, I felt so . . . normal. Without Amlach’s darkness, I felt so . . . light.

I didn’t like it.

I wanted to feel the power flowing through me again. I wanted evil’s sharp teeth to sink back into my bones and its lust to lick every corner of my being.