“Speak!”
Her voice fled when she opened her mouth. A burst of Essence had Serenna’s body flying toward his outstretched claw, propelled by a blast of force. Colliding with the metal of his gauntlet, he seized her neck like a vise. The grip bit into her skin as sharp canines flashed in front of her face.
“If I have to ask two fucking questions to retrieve one satisfactory answer,” he snarled, “then this is going to rapidly deteriorate into an unpleasant experience for you.”
A tremor rippled all the way from Serenna’s head to her toes as she swallowed the scream coiling in her throat. “I don’t see how this day can get any worse,” she whimpered, her words hoarse around the fist constricting her air.
His crimson eyes flared like stoked flames, an outpour of his loathing assaulting her.
Serenna’s vision blurred.
Agonizing fire blazed through her veins as rending scalded every nerve. Spine arching, Serenna released a strangled howl as the darkness threatened to incinerate her bones. Heart thrashing against her ribs, her limbs contorted, body twisting in excruciating and unnatural ways. Searing anguish raged, the all-consuming torment dragging her toward unconsciousness.
Released from the male’s gauntlet but still constrained by the shadowy bindings, Serenna slumped, dazed and panting when the rampant contractions of her muscles finally stopped. Blood flooded her mouth from where she’d bitten her cheek. She stared unblinking at the floor, reclaiming her breath as the memory of pain retreated.
Her power was there, in the crypts of her mind. Waiting. Finally, Serenna’s instincts roused. She snatched at her magic. Moments. She only needed moments to spin a portal to somewhere—anywhere—else.
Power erupting, Serenna blasted out a wave of rending from every pore. As if ignited by her outburst, the fires in the lamps flared, casting wavering shadows against the stone. Papers on the table shot in the air, the figurines on the map scattering. The explosion of power crashed around the room, rattling the sconces affixed to the walls.
Her magic bounced uselessly off of the male’s shield.
Unfazed by Serenna fighting for her life, he stood with his arms crossed across his leathers, not appearing taxed at all. The arrogance was all too familiar as something about his angled features clawed at her mind.
Gritting her teeth, Serenna channeled her hate along the nexus lurking between them, the second silver cord in her Well connecting her to this…this…abomination. His presence soiled her mind, scum clinging to a stagnant pond.
Warring to break out of rending’s hold, Serenna hurled shock waves of Essence at the male, her chest heaving from the effort. She threw her entire Well against him, hacking at the darkness constraining her.
His lip curled, shearing her magic with a slash of rending, affording her no more attention than one would a bothersome gnat. Serenna felt just as insignificant. Just as helpless. Recognizing her power was futile against his, she slowly let her shadows dissolve.
“Release me,” Serenna demanded through clenched teeth with all the authority she could muster.
The male stepped forward, stooping to growl in her face. “It wasyouwho opened a portal and breachedmyfortress.” The words he released flayed her cheek with a repulsive heat. Steel edged the low tenor of his voice, promising more pain. “You have no right to make demands.”
“I have every right!” Serenna shrieked, her voice shrill with despair. “You wraith brought war tous! For no reason!”
As soon as the statement left her mouth, realization clubbed her like a blow.He must be able to portal.This…wraith thing had sensed her presence and traveled to Centarya—that was the only explanation. He used the bond to cross the realms, just like she did.She was the reason the wraith were able to attack the academy—the reason so many had died.
It’s all my fault.Heart sinking below her ribs, Serenna blinked back tears of guilt.Have I really been so stupid not realizing I had another bond?
“You elves—half-elves—whatever you scourge are, forced my hand with your military island.” The male’s gauntlet squealed as it snapped into a fist. “I can only imagine it will be a matter of time before your kind scours the lands for us. Destroying my people. Hunting us like animals.”
Serenna’s arms twitched against the restrictive shadows as she battled for her freedom. His words prompted a scathing remark, her chest constricting with a panicked storm. “We wouldn’t even have a military academy if it wasn’t for you monsters attacking Kyansari!”
The muscles in his jaw flexed as he gritted his fangs. “We haveneverattacked Kyansari.”
“You’re lying,” Serenna seethed.
“Read the bond,” he sarcastically taunted, sneering. “You’ll find I’m not.”
“I don’t want to touch your filthy mind.” Rage bubbled up inher throat. “Dissolve this connection and you’ll never see me again.”
“Oh, you’re not returning to your elven kin.” He straightened, cracking his neck.
The blood drained from Serenna’s face.He can’t keep me here…
“Now, I am going to ask a final time.” His eyes burned with an unnatural glow. “Why do you have a Heart of Stars?”
His persistence regarding the relic left Serenna bewildered. Heartbeats stretched in the silence between them. To avoid being on the receiving end of rending again, her stubbornness fractured.
