Page 53 of A Shadow of Betrayal

“I’m sorry, Valen,” I whisper, making his lips turn up a little.

“What for? Are you the one that attacked me? Are you secretly keeping me prisoner somewhere? Under some sort of magic that I can't break through?” he asks, then frowns, looking me up and down like he’s trying to decide if that’s exactly what I did.

“No! I would never,” I shout, then bite my lip when he starts to laugh. “I really haven't, Valen. I've only been a Ranger for a week,” I admit, making him frown.

“A week…” he repeats in confusion, leaning back on his hands and staring at me like I’m a puzzle. “Explain that to me. Hunters are born Hunters, Mi Sol. They are not created.”

I nod, agreeing with him. “Yeah, I've always had the sight, but I think I might be Fracti,” I admit, making Valen scoff under his breath.

“Trust me, Meyer,” he practically purrs my name. The way his silky smooth voice runs over my skin makes me shiver, and not from the cold. “You are not broken. Leave it up to your elders to call those who aren’t as gifted broken.” Valen scoffs again, angrier than he had been only moments ago.

“You don’t like the Seniorem?”

“No. I do not. They bend the rules to fit their wants and needs. They were put in the position of power to protect Earth from the Beastia. Now they seek out power and don't care who they step on to get it.”

“Oh…” I say, not sure what else to add. I’m almost excited that I have someone that shares my thoughts, but it's obvious Valen knows more about the Seniorem than I do. I just thought they were creepy old men who liked to kidnap people. “What’s the Beastia?”

“The Demons,” Valen says with a wave of his hand.

“And you call the Demons Beastia because?” I prompt, wondering if that's a Europe Umbra Hunter thing or a Valen thing. I look down at my feet as the numb feeling slowly leaves, making my toes feel like a million tiny needles are being shoved into my feet. I hiss between clenched teeth as I try to wiggle them.

“That's what we call them where I come from. Are you still cold?” Valen asks, sitting up and looking at my feet in concern before sliding over, grabbing them in his hands, and growling under his breath when he feels how cold they are. “Where the hell are your shoes?” I grimace when Valen’s warmth makes my feet sting more, but grit my teeth as he slowly rubs them, his soft hands gently easing the sharp pain away, coaxing the blood to circulate.

“I show up in this damn dream in a dress and slippers every freaking time,” I grumble, groaning when his thumbs rub over the arch of my foot. “When the Demons chased me, I lost them in the snow.”

“That's unfortunate,” he whispers, his hands moving up to my ankles, a soft green light flickering under his palm. I can feel a warmth slowly grow and watch his hands in fascination as he keeps rubbing my feet.

“Warmer?” he asks after a few heartbeats of silence. I nod, realizing I really was. My feet don’t hurt like they had, and even my arms feel better.

“Yes, thank you,” I whisper, looking up at him and then gasping when I see blue fabric covering my arms. “What the hell?” I look down at myself, my dress no longer clinging to my frame. It’s been replaced with soft silk blue pants and a matching long-sleeved shirt. Valen grins and winks at me when I look at him in surprise.

“Sorry they aren't any warmer. I can only manipulate what you create,” he explains, and I smile, emotions overwhelming me after everything I’ve been through tonight.

“Thank you, Valen,” I whisper, trying to control the waver in my voice. Valen beams at my thanks, his magical hands still rubbing my feet.

“You're very welcome, Mi Sol,” he whispers, his gaze flickering back to the fire when it snaps and crackles. A frown slowly forms as he stares at the fire before he looks back at his hands, his movements slowing.

“What's wrong?” I ask, fear suddenly flaring back up as I stare at the cave's opening. Have the Demons returned?

“You’re waking up,” he whispers, and I look back at him in confusion before realizing I can no longer feel his hands on my feet. The cave around us begins to fade, and Valen sits back, a sad smile playing on his lips as he watches me intently. A wave of disappointment hits me, not wanting my time with Valen to be over yet. What if I never see him again? I have more questions that I think he might be able to answer.

“Will I see you again?”

Valen smiles and nods. “The moment you call, I'll be here, Meyer. But be careful of who you trust, Mi Sol. You have entered a dangerous world. Trust yourself and your instincts over everyone else,” he warns before the cave and Valen completely fade from view.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Razar

Keeping to the shadows, I watch the girl with the white hair as she throws pathetic punches at the Jennings boy. He keeps readjusting her feet and posture, trying to get her to strengthen her core in order for her to become a competent fighter, but she’s not grasping the concept. I scowl at her, the darkness inside me perking up with interest as I watch.

Meyer.

I scowl, hating that this girl has gained my attention. Not in the way my brothers seem to be panting after her, but she has pulled my focus all the same, and it pisses me off. I huff out a silent laugh when the Jennings boy slaps her stomach, yelling at her to tighten her muscles. She scowls and slaps his back, earning herself a dark glare from the young boy.

It's like watching a cat play with a mouse. What the Jennings boy doesn't know is that he’s not the cat in this situation but the mouse. One day very soon, he will realize who he is playing with.

Looking around the room, I take in everyone who is fighting, Hunter and Ranger alike, watching them with a keen eye, letting my senses run free. There are several powerful people here with unique abilities that are wasted under the guidance of this pathetic operation. It's sad, really. Seeing all this potential and knowing it's all going to waste.

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