Another roll of thunder and lightning lit up the woodland we were in, and I could see Dorian’s face in that second. Cunning
and filled with hatred. He planned this. Possibly in the hopes I would become his once Nicholas was out of the way, but
whatever happened next, I’d rather be dead than be with Dorian.
Seconds later, that light inside me was snuffed out.
Ripped from my heart.
Collapsing on the ground in front of me. I wasn’t sure who wrapped my hands in bandages or who lifted me up and put me
back in the carriage.
All I knew was this deep hole within my chest. They took something I had no idea I had up until that very moment. The thing
that always kept me moving forward and making me believe in love.
It was Nicholas. And now, they’d taken it.
Chapter 61
ORNELLA
Dusk had fallen by the time I’d awoke from my pain induced sleep. I passed out once my body hit the floor of the carriage.
All I felt was this emptiness in the pit of my stomach, my urge to fight, to move, to breathe—was gone.
My brother had done this to me.
This act of torture.
He was no longer the brother or friend who I grew up with, someone I trusted with my life. Now the people that surrounded
me were nothing. Nicholas would be furious when he found out what they did, possibly ending the world as we know it in
retaliation.
Did he feel the same thing I felt? This hollow sensation, as if a part of my own soul was torn out. I hugged myself to not
only keep some degree of warmth on my skin, but to try and feel something, sense something. I had no idea where we were
even going, we’d be travelling a lot longer than I anticipated. Were we still at the border?
Willing strength to lift myself up, unbalanced, and wobbly as the carriage moved, I pulled myself up towards the small slit
in the door to see outside.
It was dusk and tree lines surrounded a large waste land. I’d never been to this part of the valley before, but I remembered
seeing it on the map. We were heading North. Back towards the Obsidian Kingdom. Back towards Nicholas.
Watching the sun lower itself in the sky, I hoped we would stop soon. My stomach ached with hunger and my throat was dry
from thirst.
I would make them pay for this.
The twin mages rode beside each other, behind Norok and Dorian. Nora seemed to be at the back, keeping watch. Panya
