Page 136 of Destiny of a King

She held it out to him.

His attention went first to her face and then to the object resting on her palm. The necklace Feena had managed to briefly mention that Adira had shown her just before her abduction. He had forgotten all about it.

Adira pointed toward the carving on the tree and back at the necklace.

Dravic took a closer look at the necklace. The same symbol was etched into it. He took the necklace carefully from her and examined it more closely.

“You’ve had this all along?”

Adira nodded.

Fiora flew nearer. “Let me see.”

Dravic held it where she could.

Fiora’s expression had turned unusually serious. “What is Adira doing with a Morvane necklace?”

Chapter Thirty-Two

No Way Out

What Awaits Within

Dravic had no time to consider it or how it was that Merek’s directions sent them straight into the hands of the Morvane Clan.

A shout sounded somewhere behind them. Closer this time.

He shoved the necklace back into Adira’s hand and she quickly stuffed it into the pouch and slipped that into her pocket.

Dravic caught her hand, and they ran.

The shout behind them was joined by another, then another, coming from different directions. Their pursuers were spreading out, attempting to drive them toward a destination Dravic could not see.

He changed direction.

“Fiora, stay ahead of us.”

The fairy darted through the trees while Dravic kept Adira close beside him.

The forest grew denser the farther they went, but it was not only the thick growth that slowed them. The land itself seemed to change around them. The trees grew twisted, their bare branches reaching across one another overhead like long, crooked fingers. Roots rose unexpectedly from the frozen ground, forcing them to watch every step.

Something black and narrow slithered across their path.

Adira drew up sharply.

Dravic pulled her against him and watched the creature disappear beneath a tangle of roots.

“Keep moving,” he urged.

They did, but not for long.

A branch suddenly swept downward in front of them.

Dravic yanked Adira back.

The branch hung there for a moment before slowly rising again.

“Bloody land,” he muttered.