Page 42 of Kingdom of Spirits
Marius was already lifting his hands. The golden light once again flashed from his fingers and palms, chasing the last shadow. But the shadow didn’t dissipate. It just hovered over them, not attacking, but not breaking into pieces like the others had.
“Is it coming for me?” Fara had shut her eyes, but she was holding up her fists like she was ready for a boxing match.
“I don’t think so,” Tahlia said, studying the slip of darkness.
Marius growled at the shadow. It seemed to shiver, growing more transparent. Then it zipped away.
The evil sensation that had Marius in its grip increased in intensity. It wrapped him in a shroud of confusion and the world blurred. An invisible chain latched onto his heart and pulled hard.
Chapter 18
Tahlia
Ahumming, howling sound similar to the one they’d heard earlier started up, coming from the forest and sending shivers down Tahlia’s spine.
A flash of light forced her eyes shut.
She opened them as quickly as she could.
Fara was gone.
And so were Marius and Ragewing.
Panic lanced Tahlia and she held her breath. “Where did they go, Vodolija?”
The Seabreak tossed her head, sniffed the air, then eyed the sky. Ragewing and Marius were far above. They must have taken off in a bout of mind-boggling speed. Already, they were a blur flying over the fog. How had he mounted up that quickly? And where was Fara? Had time passed somehow while Tahlia’s eyes were closed against the light?
Ice flowed through her stomach.
“Fara!”
She ran through the fortress, eyes not moving fast enough and her lungs tightening with fear.
Kicking down the door of the first tower she came to, she called out, “Fara! Please answer me!”
But there was only a broken stool, moldy crates cloaked in dust, and the musty air of a land long devoid of life. As she searched the other three towers, she replayed the last moments in her head. The humming. The light. Had the light been related to the illumination that had shot from Marius’s hands when the shadows attacked? She didn’t know. It had been bright, but she hadn’t had time to see the hue of the illumination.
Back in the open area, she lifted a hand to Vodolija. “Did you see anything?”
Vodolija grunted at the ground. But there was nothing there.
“What is it?”
Tahlia circled the area, but not even a footprint marred the muddy spot. Only dirt and a scraggly plant with thick blood-red leaves. Vodolija bumped her from behind, urging her closer to the spot.
“I’m so confused. We don’t have time for this. We might be able to spot Fara. We’ll search for Ragewing and Marius afterward since a dragon is easier to spot than one skinny Fae female.”
Vodolija tossed her head and sparked fire.
“Don’t be angry with me. I don’t understand.”
The dragon lowered a wing and shoulder, allowing Tahlia to climb up into the saddle, but she was obviously perturbed. She blew a spout of flame, bright in the dark.
“Please. We can figure out whatever you’re trying to tell me later. Let’s get up high and see if we can spot Fara. She can’t have gone far.” Or been taken far.
A shiver grabbed hold of Tahlia and shook her hard. Had the ghosts of this wild place taken her? And if so, what would they do to her?
Vodolija took off and Tahlia studied the land beneath them. She tapped the dragon’s neck, indicating she should fly over the forest. It was too dark to see anything really, but what else couldshe do? It wasn’t as if she could just leave Fara. Her palms grew damp and she fidgeted with the reins. The air was wet and cold and that first shiver of fear had turned into a constant, uncomfortable trembling. Trees, trees, and more trees. There was no sign of Fara anywhere.