Aeson straightens, his brows furrowed. “Theron, these tracks... they lead straight toward the vólkin house.”
“Let’s get going then,” I say as I cast one last look at the strange, enormous tracks. “We’re dealing with something far beyond what we’ve ever faced.”
Kaël grumbles under his breath, “Something far beyond a giant chicken, apparently...”
“Kaël,” I growl with a glare. “Focus.”
He nods quickly, falling silent. We cautiously follow the markings on the ground. They’re consistent, which means the creature was walking in a specific direction. No change of pace, no deviation. It knew exactly where it was going.
My nose twitches, and a knot forms in my stomach. Something about this feels off.
“We’re almost there,” Aeson says.
I give a curt nod, my focus on the path ahead. After a few strides, the house comes into view. It’s well constructed, the work of an experienced vólkin. The energy transfer is skillful. The shape, size, and the way it’s grown from the surrounding trees mirror the structures in Ávera. Whoever built this was one of us. There’s no mistaking it.
I take a few steps closer, scanning the area. No sign of the creature. The massive tracks are gone, vanishing without explanation. My jaw tightens. What is happening here?
Then I catch it—a scent. It’s familiar.
I turn toward it, my muscles tensing as I follow the trail. My steps quicken as the scent grows stronger. I round the house, and then I’m rooted in place.
Goddesses above.
29
BOUND BY BLOOD
“Maybe one day, we’ll live somewhere green. No uniforms. No orders. Just flowers and books with pictures and stars so bright we forget who hurt us.”
—Linnéa Fenrówe, age nine
Gregor
The darkness is absolute. My eyes are covered with a thick cloth, denying me any sense of location or direction. The air is damp, musty, and it smells of mold and decay. I can feel the cold, rough surface of the stone wall against my back and the hard floor beneath me. My hands are bound behind me so tightly the ropes cut into my wrists. Every movement sends a jolt of pain through my exhausted body.
Since they took me, everything has been a blur of agony and fear. They dragged me here, wherever “here” is, and left me. I’ve lost count of how many days I’ve been trapped in this darkness. The only sounds are the distant voices and footsteps above and the drip of water from the ceiling.
My stomach growls. I’ve hardly eaten. They’ve given me just enough water to keep me alive and thrown some dried bread on the floor. My throat is parched, my lips cracked and dry. Each breath is a struggle. I’m completely miserable.
But the physical pain is nothing compared to the mental torment. The constant uncertainty, the fear of what might happen next. I’ve tried to stay strong, to hold on to the hope that I’ll find a way out, but each passing day makes me believe my end is near.
The faces of my captors... their cold eyes. The threats, the beatings, the games they play with me. I am nothing more than a pawn in their hands, a tool to be used as they please.
The sound of footsteps approaching pulls me from my thoughts. My heart races. What new torment will they bring today? The footsteps stop in front of me, and a rough hand grabs my chin, tilting my head up.
“Gregor,” a cold voice says. It’s the stranger who found me on the road, the one who promised help only to deliver me into this nightmare. “How are you feeling today?”
I don’t respond. What can I say? My mouth is dry, and my voice feels like a distant memory. The stranger’s grip tightens.
“You’ve had a week to think about your situation,” he continues. “Do you understand the gravity of your position?”
I nod in his hold. There’s no point in resisting. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way.
“Good,” he says, releasing my chin. “We have a task for you. A mission, if you will. Succeed, and perhaps we’ll consider your cooperation. Fail, and Linnéa pays the price.”
The mention of my sister makes my heart beat faster. I’ve endured this torment for her sake, to protect her from these monsters. At least I know they need me and won’t kill me. Or her.
“Wha... what do you want me to do?” I manage to croak out.
