Page 78 of Dream Reaper

Talos raked him with a furious glare.

Maybe Jerrid could postpone the inevitable. This was no plan, but what else could he do? He’d banished Dragon, Ava hated his guts, Brynja didn’t trust him, and the girls in the camp were all too young or too scared to be any sort of help in a battle.

Yes, they had superior numbers, but Talos also had flaming fireballs.

And this camp was full of children, so they couldn’t risk giving the dark elf an opportunity to use his magic. They had no choice but to capitulate unless they wanted someone to get killed. No matter how he wracked his brains for an alternative plan, nothing came to him. His brain was a complete, utter blank, filled with nothing but…

Silence.

He’d forgotten what it was like, silence. What it was like to have a place that was his and his alone, a place free of intruders and interlopers. A place free of dragons.

A low, rumbling laugh washed over him, raising goose bumps on his arms, raising the hairs on the back of his neck. His head snapped up, eyes glazing as he realized his mistake.

A place free of dragons, yes, the new voice said around peals of wicked laughter, but you forgot about shadows.

CHAPTER 19

AVA

Ava’s blood ran cold as Talos turned back to her. That all-too-familiar cruel smile curved his lips at the edges, crinkling the corners of eyes, which remained stone cold.

“You’ve put me through a lot of trouble, Ava Blodrhys. You and your brother have always been more trouble than you’re worth.”

Ava’s head snapped back. “Leave my brother out of this.”

“Why should I? You’re not in charge here. I am.”

And yet, Ava couldn’t help but notice the subtle tremble of his hand, the dark circles hugging his eyes, the bloody bandage wrapped around his arm… Unless she was mistaken, Talos was in a bad way.

“When was the last time you ate anything?” she asked, trying to sound amiable and harmless.

Poison.

Yes, that was a good idea. Poison.

Maybe she could slip some into his drink…if she could find any poison in the next five minutes, that is. She looked sideways at Brynja, hoping she could somehow wordlessly communicate her idea to the girl, but Brynja stared at her in mute fury.

Of course she couldn’t read Ava’s mind, not the way Dragon could.

“Don’t pretend you care,” Talos growled, but his tongue snaked across his lips again, and he looked hungry. “But I suppose it would be a good idea for me to eat something before I faint from hunger and accidentally slit this one’s throat.”

Roar’s mother went a little whiter in the face, but she remained perfectly still, to her credit.

Ava flicked her gaze around the camp and found the child and his father standing nearby, holding tightly to one another, both of them staring at Talos with hatred and fear in their eyes.

Ava’s stomach clenched. Oh, she’d never forgive herself if they accidentally got this wife and mother killed. They needed to do whatever they could to keep Talos from harming the girls in the camp.

“If you want me, Talos,” she began, her voice shaking, “I’m here. You can let her go and take me instead. I’ll go quietly.”

Jerrid hissed behind her, but she ignored him. It was her life to throw away as she pleased. Maybe her death would do some good if it saved the girls in the camp. She’d finally have done something worthwhile.

“I don’t want you,” Talos said with a sneer. “You’re worthless to me. What I want is a way out of Eroth, and you’re my insurance. My golden ticket. Although…”

He looked around the camp. “This place does offer a unique possibility. Maybe I could exchange pardon for the capture of runaways.”

One of the younger girls began to cry.

Ava’s nostrils flared, and she took a step forward. “Leave them alone, Talos, or so help⁠—”