yourselves. I want no part in any of this.”
His face told me enough that he didn’t like my answer. He made no move towards me, instead turned away and stared up at
the moon. Those howls disappeared in the distance as a cold wind chilled the air, wrapping around me.
“This can all go away, Ella. I promise you now, nothing will happen to you but only if you help us. I am asking as your
brother, not as your king.”
“You are not my king,” I snarled back, again he didn’t flinch. As if he expected this reaction.
“Then I am asking for Talia, for our mother. This king of yours holds great power deep within the belly of his castle, and
we need to get it. It’s the only way we are to protect ourselves from him.”
Great power? I thought for a moment, not allowing him to see how my mind raced with different possible answers of what
he could be talking about. In the belly of the castle? I tried not to allow my face to show my shock as I realised what he was
talking about, turning away slightly from the moonlight.
The portal. Was that the great power they spoke of? I’d seen it myself and the ripples of magic that surrounded it. How
Nicholas was quick to act when I scratched myself, allowing blood upon the stonework. He told me the Goddess herself had
closed the portal, how dark and dangerous monsters lived on the other side.
Was Norok afraid Nicholas would open it one day to unleash hell on our world? No, he wouldn’t do anything of the sort.
But why did they need me?
“Why do you need my help to open…”
I stopped before I could finish, without thinking my mouth had betrayed me and Norok’s face almost lit up, realising what I
said.
“To open? Open what? What is it the king hides?”
I dared not say another word, shutting my mouth tightly and crossing my arms around my chest. No, I would not tell them
anything, if it meant harming Nicholas in any way, I would take this secret to my grave.
“If you do not tell me Ornella, Dorian will torture it from you.”
“And you will allow him to do that to your own sister?”
“If it means keeping our people safe, then I must.”
If anyone was under a spell, it was my brother. The Norok I knew would never have allowed anyone to harm his family—
his sisters. He would have died to protect us. I knew what torture Dorian suggested and my body shuddered at the idea of his
skin laying forcefully upon mine.
Bile tried to break free, but I swallowed hard to keep it down.
“Dorian will not lay another hand on me. Norok I cannot tell you what you seek. Please just trust me that Nicholas would
