AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A dagger.
Nolan’s dagger.
Thirty-Seven
“Don’tmove,”Nolanhisses,hisvoicepiercingthewind.Beneath,darkwavescrashintothecliffs.
“What—”
He presses the blade more firmly against the soft flesh of my neck, silencing me. “If you wish to live, then do exactly as I say.”
Dread claws through my heart. The dagger’s sharp edge is so close to drawing blood. If I even twitch too abruptly, the movement will send the blade slicing through my throat.
“Teleport us to the top of the Aether Tower.” His voice is tempered into cool steel. “Now.”
I say nothing. I only stare up at him.
“Do not make me repeat myself,” he grinds out.
My heart pounds frantically against my sternum. I could teleport us back to the Arcanium, where my father will still be. But Nolan’s dagger is pressed so tightly to my throat, and if he realizes I’ve teleported us to the place, he could kill me sooner than I could scream.
I don’t dare to risk my life. I do exactly as he says.
“L-laxus.” My brittle voice cracks around the spell-word.
The teleportation spell seizes us both.
As we slip through the emptiness, the pressure of Nolan’s dagger fades. The darkness lasts for only a heartbeat, but it’s long enough for me to consider blasting him with my magic.
Then we return to the material world. Before I can cry outtelum, I feel the cool, metallic kiss of his dagger. And all thoughts of escape are banished from my mind.
A gale slams into us and whips across my face. The Aether Tower’s enormous orb of magic roars above, blinding me with its violet light.
“Good,” Nolan purrs. “Now invoke a mind-link with your father and tell him to come here.”
Pressure builds in my chest, squeezing the life from my lungs. I don’t know what Nolan intends, just that it must involve my father.
How could I be so foolish? How could I trust Nolan? Especially when I know so little of him.
I promised myself I would never again be weak, but now my own stupidity has made me fall into this trap.
“And...” I begin, but my voice sounds frail and broken. Swallowing, I try again. “And if I don’t?”
With his spare hand, he traces my cheek. Only minutes ago, that gesture sent warmth pooling through me. Now ice washes through my veins. And when I shiver, it is with fear alone.
“If you choose to defy me, then you will leave me little choice.” His thumb sweeps over my lower lip. “And believe me, I would very much prefer not to hurt you.”
“What do you want with me?” I snarl.
“Everything, Reyna. I want everything with you.”
Bile burns the back of my throat. “And I want nothing to do with you.”
He doesn’t flinch. His fingers trail lower still, brushing down my neck and past the dagger in painfully long strokes. He comes to a stop at the silver locket and toys with it. Then he looks back up at me and smiles. “Oh, but we both know that’s a lie. Why else would you take such good care of this locket? Of our promise?”
“What... What are you talking about?”
He lets out a sigh. “Have you really forgotten me during these three long years? Did you never think I would return for you? For us?”
