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A car exploded on the nearest street, sending the crowd into a panic. If I had been solid, I would have been trampled. I was powerless to save anyone.
I sat up with a gasp, coming back into my own body. I put my hand to my chest in a useless attempt to slow it down. What was that? A vision?
I rubbed my eyes, reality coming back to me piece by piece. It was dark. Pitch black. My bedroom got dark, but never this dark. And Jagger wasn’t there.
Somewhere behind my racing heart was a deep ache, like someone had yanked a vital piece away. Jagger. Where was he? Who had taken me?
It had to be the Forsaken Lunars. No one else knew—or was supposed to know—about my abilities and shifter form.
I got to my feet. My eyes adjusted to the darkness. Not that it helped much. The room was small, with concrete floors and walls. A light hung on the far side of it, not that I was able to reach it. A glass panel separated me from the other side, and it was teeming with magic. Shit.
I walked up to the glass anyway, to be in a lighter spot. The rest of the room was black, besides that lightbulb and a door on the far wall.
I paced back and forth, the floor cold underneath me. I needed a plan. Getting through the spells protecting the glass was going to take a long time, so I started on that. Whoever had created the spells was a master. I frowned, placing my hands directly on the glass and closing my eyes to focus. Magic vibrated through me, making me shudder.
“We knew you’d try that.”
I opened my eyes to find the Moon Oracle standing in the doorway, Tommy behind her. I’d never seen her standing up. She was more petite than I expected, her long blonde hair appearing even longer because of it. Her long, flowing dress and heavy necklaces should have weighed her down, but she glided into the room.
I glared at Tommy, who was trying and failing to hide behind her. The coward.
“What, are you taking a break from kidnapping kids to kidnap me?” I asked.
“We don’t think we’re kidnapping you.” The Moon Oracle approached the glass, her necklaces clinking together. “We’re just bringing you in to have a conversation.”
“Bringing me in by sneaking past the most secure place in Rouhaven, putting me under a sleeping spell, and trapping me behind glass?” I rolled my eyes. “Sure. A conversation.”
“We know you’re resistant to talking with us, especially since you’ve become so close with the Royals.” The Moon Oracle paced alongside the glass. “I wanted to ask you to join us again. Do you know how powerful we could be with you on our side? A nymph shifter? With all that power over all the elements of the earth? You’re one of the most powerful fae alive, Arden. I thought you’d be a great addition before, but now, I have to have you.”
“No,” I said. “I’m not joining you,especiallysince you—or at least Tommy—try to hurt kids. Taking them from their homes, even if they’re temporary.”
“But we can help everyone together. Remake Rouhaven into something fairer,” the Moon Oracle replied, ignoring my point completely. “Do you know how much you could do? You were an excellent burglar before, but with your earth powers, you’d be unstoppable.”
“Still no. And my answer will always be no.”
The Moon Oracle’s eyes narrowed. “Really? You’re going to be loyal tothem?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? They’re the ones trying to help kids. Trying to help Rouhaven from fae like you, who only cause problems. They have all the power, but they’re using it for good.”
The Moon Oracle snorted and looked at me down her nose. She reminded me of the girls in high school who had tried to make me feel bad for circumstances I couldn’t control.
“How is that funny?” I demanded.
“Arden, the Royals killed your parents,” she said once she calmed down. “They aren’t using it for good. They’re using it to take out innocent fae. You shouldn’t align yourself with them.”
The wind left my lungs in a whoosh. The Moon Oracle and Tommy watched me, waiting for me to speak.
No. I refused to believe that. I knew them. Ilovedthem.
“You’re lying,” I choked out.
The Moon Oracle didn’t take her eyes off of mine. “I’m not. Tommy, isn’t that what you found? In all of your research?”
Tommy nodded.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I still didn’t believe her, but the tiniest ounce of doubt had come in. Not enough to betray them, though.
“I’m still not going to join you. It doesn’t matter what you say.” I leaned closer to the glass. “Fuck you.”
