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“Shit.”
Dannika glanced between the men. “Fill a girl in. Why is this Maverick fellow bad?”
“He isn’t, but he’s loyal, and can create a light circle,” Dayton said.
“What’s a light circle?” Dannika asked.
Raine rubbed his chin. “Maverick can make a circle of light no shadow can penetrate. Maddock is ensuring that no one sees or hears what he and Steele are planning.”
Dannika swallowed. “Steele and Ryder are friends. He wouldn’t betray that, would he?”
“Steele is a clan leader, and we are at war. All the shadow clans are trying to survive. I believe he would ally with any clan that gave him an advantage.”
Her stomach rolled. “We better find out what’s happening at that meeting.”
CHAPTER4
The bright white light illuminated the rock walls of the tunnel. Shiny bits of quartz reflected the ambient glow, making the walkway appear to be encased in stars. A beautiful entryway to heaven, if the source hadn’t been so ominous.
Dannika followed Raine to the end of the tunnel, holding her hand above her eyes when the brightness became too much. Her skin crawled as her blood cooled.
“I feel...” She was unsure how to explain the strange sensation.
Raine held out his hand, signaling for her to stop. “It’s the light circle. Unless you’re at the center, it’s painful to your demon soul. Your shadow is retreating. That is the uneasiness you feel.”
She rubbed her chest. “Does it affect our animal?”
“No.”
Dannika inspected the light source. “I can’t see anything. Are you positive Steele and Maddock are inside?”
Raine nodded. “Maverick won’t use his shadow ability unless it’s requested. New circles are painful to him, and those of us outside the light. They also exhaust his power, which is primarily used at the sanctuary.”
Dannika reached inside the light orb but jerked back when her skin sparked. “Shit. It’s like a static charge.”
“That was a warning. If you walk through the circle, that charge will stop your heart.”
“Okay, so we’re waiting for Maverick to turn off the light bulb,” she said.
Raine’s lip twitched. “We won’t have to wait long. Maverick already knows we’re here. He can sense a shadow or a reaper within ten feet of the light circle.”
“What effect does the circle have on a reaper?”
Raine narrowed his eyes on her. “They die instantly. Weren’t you curious why they wouldn’t enter the sanctuary?”
Her eyes widened. “Maverick guards the children.”
“Yes. Maverick is too valuable to risk. He stays within the caves except to hunt.”
Dannika glanced down the tunnel. “If he’s here, who’s guarding the children at the sanctuary?”
“Maverick can set a light circle and leave it for a short time. This allows him to... feed.”
Dannika shivered. “Don’t remind me. I’ve only fed once, and that was a nightmare.”
“You fed on a deer that had a mortal wound. While you killed and fed, it was not much of a hunt. You’ll have to find more suitable prey in the future.”
Her lips thinned.
