ature w

w. Behind them, the fog pulsed with unnatural energy, glowing faintly with sickly gr

, sword drawn, eyes constan

under his breath. "I'l

ead. "We stay together. Whateve

ticed earlier. She was still shaken from the vision, her mind spinn

or de

that meant, the trees ahead opened into

nd gold with the crest of the kingdom over his heart. His golden-blond ha

d, relief and somethin

roze. "

panion. The one person who had always been there in silen

ong, tall, and composed. His sword hung

Ronan said, voice fi

in front of Elara, his sta

o Kael, quickly sizing

ly," Kael s

's shoulder, gentl

onan's... trusted. He was th

ael aske

tripped of rank for disobeying or

"They're hunt

council is calling you a threat. They say your magic is unstable-that you

heavily on her chest. "They

worse. Something is moving beneath the city. In the

them. Magic-hunters. Mercenaries. The

ason to rise again," Ronan sai

oment, none

ietly, "Why are you

't stay behind while they turne

believe that? You served the people who locke

accusation hung

g with something old-guilt, pain, maybe ev

th caught. "

died," Ronan said, his

le

ntil it was too late. The king said your mother was falling under dark magic. That she had to be contained... sile

d direct

rying to p

t beneath her feet. "You

lt thick in his voice. "But I stayed. I swore to

him coldly. "Th

ve to trust me, Prince. But

d the hilt of his

ra said, her

tepped bac

d at her sides, her magic flickering

"I need people who will fight with me. Because

snarling growl echo

og re

t, blade drawn.

beast, part smoke, with red glowing eyes and long, jagged limbs. It

tepping forward to shield

ing, circling the cr

ear and fury in the air, rising in her like a tide. She opene

ure lunge

e passed through mist instead of flesh. The

the blow and striking hard, hi

houted. "It feeds on fear. I

said, "but you'll need t

o her side, forming a wall between her and the cr

from the pedestal glowed beneath

uage, but in one that came from deep ins

grew t

e screamed

ing from her chest, her voice ring

ow, trapped in the mortal plane-a

h of black smoke

ng was sil

before she could fall. Ronan moved quickl

ael asked, voice

e," she s

voice raw. "You're stro

ngth and sharp eyes, Ronan with his open grief and

n't just speak o

oke o

.. might