Page 76 of Blade of the Nightking

“Now, Levinica.”

She lifted her gaze to the open terrace, where the curtains whipped wildly in the wind.

The bond snapped.

The force of it punched the breath from my lungs.

“They are two shores,” she murmured faintly. “And I…” Her fingers tightened around the necklace. “I am the bridge between.”

Somewhere in the castle, I heard a distant crash, a shout. Hamish bellowed.

Aedric didn’t so much as glance toward the door. “Now, Levinica!” he yelled. “What did you see?”

She tossed her head, as if trying to clear it. “I touched him. But he is only half. To see clearly, I need the whole.”

Aedric went still. Dangerously still. “He?”

Levinica blinked slowly, her haunted stare drifting once more toward the open doors.

The bond inside me pulled so taut I swayed on my feet.

My gaze dragged helplessly toward the terrace. Toward the darkness beyond the violently thrashing curtains.

Something was out there.

“Aedric…” I whispered.

He didn’t hear me.

He raised his hands, fire blooming in both palms and gathering into two blazing spheres. Then he drew back to throw.

“What did you see?”

The shadows moved.

They tore from the corners of the room and slammed into him, hurling him backward hard enough to extinguish the flames. Thick bands of shadow wrapped around his body, pinning his limbs to his sides.

From the darkness itself, as though he'd always been there, stepped Veylan. He smirked and crossed his arms, his tattoos writhing over his skin. “Hello again Aedric.”

His gaze slid to me, and the smile spread slow and oil-slick across his face. The shadows swept over me next, binding me just as tightly, dragging me down beside Aedric.

Veylan approached, looking down at us with those fathomless eyes.

“There are debts to be paid,” he said, almost gleefully.

Footsteps sounded in the doorway. Cold dread curled through me as I turned my head⁠—

—but it was Hamish.

He drifted into the room, feet hovering above the ground, caught in thin threads of violet light. His face was bruised, one eye swollen, a thin line of blood trailing from his mouth.

Behind him stepped Layne. Smiling.

Veylan inclined his head. “Segolayne.” Aedric blanched, staring at her like he was seeing a ghost.

“Soul-eater,” she returned smoothly, stepping forward. With a flick of her hand, the threads around Hamish snapped and vanished, and he dropped to the floor.

Hamish shoved himself up instantly, but he didn’t make it a step. A thin blade flashed from beneath her apron. He froze as the edge pressed to his throat.