“The coven?!” Avery shrieked.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.How did they find us?!
“Look!” Zaela's voice boomed as she pointed into the distance, her finger aimed at two figures materializing from swirling shadows atop a hill.
Jace’s stare flashed to meet mine, and his worry shot down the bond. Worry for us. Worry for our innocent people that rested safely only a mile away in the distance.
“Veli…” My voice dragged out her name as fear slammed into me.
This couldn’t be happening. Not before we’ve had a chance to fight.
My aide’s eyes glowed as she stared off at two of her lost sisters. A moment later, the wind ceased, and the skies cleared faster than I could blink. The dark clouds formed by their shadows evaporated from thin air.
“It is Madalae and Empri,” Veli announced to us.
The witch twins.
We all remained on high alert, ready to strike if necessary.
“What is it they want? And where is Azenna?” I growled.
Suddenly, their eerie voices echoed all around us in unison, as if it were flowing through the air. “We wish to speak to the heir of the realm. Alone.”
“Of course they do,” Veli hissed.
“Not going to fucking happen,” Jace growled as he tightened his grip on the pommel of his sword.
My gaze drifted to the sky as Nox circled above us. A grin formed on my face then.
“I won’t be alone,” I stated as his hazel stare locked on mine. I gave him a quick wink as my feet pushed me forward, hand remaining on the hilt of my sword as it now hung at my side.
I swaggered my way across the vast field as the heat of the sun beat down on me. The natural breeze gently tugged at the loose strands of my dark hair as Nox’s shadow soared overhead, hovering directly above me.
The twins wore mirrored, stern expressions, revealing no hint of vulnerability as I approached. The atmosphere was charged with tension as their crimson stares were locked on me, unblinking.
When my steps halted at the base of the hill they stood upon, the twins glided down as if they were carried by the breeze. We now stood face-to-face, merely ten feet dividing us.
Empri offered a sly, menacing smile. “I must admit, I’m surprised you listened to instructions and approached us alone. You have a unique reputation for going against whatis expected of you,Elianna Valderre.” She uttered my name in a sinister manner, the sound slithering out with an underlying threat.
“And how have you heard of this?”
“The winds whisper all things,” Madalae supplied. “However, I am pleasantly surprised.”
My grin returned as my head tilted to the side. “Who said I’m alone?”
A moment later, the ground violently shook beneath our feet. A deep growl rumbled through Nox’s chest as I felt his menacing presence at my back. His giant, horn-covered head levitated over my shoulder as he hissed at the witches before me—terror flashed across their features briefly as my wyvern stared them down while guarding me.
A wicked chuckle left Empri. “And I now see that your reputation precedes you.”
“My enemy has never played fair when it pertains to the victory in this war, so nor will I.”
“Who claims that we come as your enemy, Elianna?” she asked. “Perhaps we come here as a favor.”
“And why would such a thing be true? The last I saw you, you were aiming to harm not only those I love but also attempting tostealmy wyvern.” The words left me in a snarl, matching the beat of Nox’s growl as it persisted behind me.
“We thought you may say that.”
“Because it’s the truth. It wouldn’t be a difficult guess,” I barked. “Now tell me what you’re doing in these lands before I have Nox set his blaze upon you.”
