Page 6 of Fated to the Damned
I nod, uncertain of what to say to the woman who raised me. So, I take a step forward, planning to say nothing at all. But her arm grips my bicep, stopping me as I turn my head to gaze into her bright eyes.
"Be careful, Nikolai," she says softly. "Don’t lose your way."
My throat is unexpectedly tight. I must have been thirsty and didn’t notice with all my preparations. I’ll need to hunt soon then.
It’s an effort to force out, "I won’t."
Adelina is satisfied with that as she steps back and I turn to look forward again. I step up into the shadows, climbing into the cool air, and I feel it the second we pass over the threshold. The magic tingles across my skin, coaxing the magic in my veins to swirl as it erupts around me.
I’ve spent my entire life in a wildspont, and yet, as I step out of the caverns, this feels different. Not the magic, though the portal was intense, but the world itself.
The air is soft and sweet, bright on my tongue. I step farther forward as the accolades stumble out of the cave after me, gasps escaping them as they feel the same thing I do.
My wings instinctively spread and flex, and for the first time in a long time, a smile spreads across my face.
4
JESSA
He materializes in front of me. That is the only explanation I have. One second there is nothing but empty air before me, and the next, there’s a tall, pale man standing just in front of me with long, black hair whipping on a phantom wind. I have no option but to slam straight into him.
“What are you doing out here?” His voice is so perfect. Smooth and deep like a rich warm drink, and I want to drown in it. It muddles my senses as his hands grip my shoulders and steady me.
It takes me a minute too long to realize that he doesn’t let me go, though. He keeps me in his grasp as I stare up at him, absolutely dumbfounded.
He is gorgeous.
You’d think growing up around dark elves, I wouldn’t be shocked by another’s beauty, but where the dark elves seemed to bleed cruelty, this man doesn’t. He looks almost human if it weren’t for the ethereal beauty coating his symmetrical and striking features.
"What's a little human like you doing wandering these woods alone?" His musical voice drips with amusement and something far more dangerous. Dread begins trickling down my spine.
I try to tug away, panic rising. "Let me go."
His grip only tightens at my resistance. "Now why would I do that? We were just getting to know each other."
"Please." My voice trembles as I meet his burning stare. "I'm just looking for the wildspont base. I’ve heard there’s a place for humans. For safety."
At that, he lets out a chilling, melodic laugh. In a flash, his face is inches from mine, eyes swirling with something I don’t want to understand. "Poor, stupid girl. You wandered right into the arms of a monster."
Fangs slide from his smile and terror erupts within me. I twist away, his razor nails tearing my shirt as I break free. Whirling around, I bolt into the trees, weaving through the close trunks. Loud footsteps fall behind me as he gives chase and I realize that he must have let me go on purpose.
He wants me to run.
But I don’t have another option so I push my aching legs faster even as my lungs burn. Risking a glance back, I see his silhouette gliding between the branches, dark eyes locked on me. He's playing with me.
Before I can gasp in another breath, he appears again in front of me in a blur of darkness. I careen into his chest, a shriek escaping me. He wraps me in the powerful cage of his arms and wings, eyes glowing with wicked delight.
"Please," I beg, trembling against him. "I just want safety."
"And what makes you think you deserve such a gift?" His voice caresses my ear, sending chills down my spine.
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to calm my racing heart. "I ran from the dark elves. I'm not like them."
He tilts his head, studying me with those burning eyes. "No. You're weaker. But perhaps that weakness could be entertaining."
I clench my fists, anger kindling through my fear. "I'm not weak! And I'm not some toy for your amusement." I suck in a deep breath, knowing I need to find my way out of this situation. “I can give you information! Something to use against the dark elves!”
The man – or whatever he is – throws his head back and chuckles. “We have more than enough humans feeding us what is really useless information about the dark elves. We don’t need another.”