Page 21 of Lethal Souls

She glances warily at Milandra again, who is glaring daggers at both of us.

Of course I trust you. But please keep your wall down.

I will. I place a kiss on her forehead, and she clings to me before I can step away.

“Right.” I walk toward Milandra. “Let’s not keep your precious queen waiting any longer.”

THIRTEEN

WILLOW

I feel nothing but dread as I watch Caz follow Milandra to the balcony.

One moment they’re standing there, and the next, with just a spark of blue light, they’re gone.

Despite him being gone though, I can hear his thoughts. He’s made it to Kessel. Through his senses, I can smell that familiar scent of salty ocean and the floral breeze.

Where is everyone? I hear him ask.

What’s happening?

The village is vacant. I don’t see anyone. There’s a pause. I’m getting a bad feeling.

Is she taking you to Warren?

No. We’re going up a ridiculously tall staircase. One moment.

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. There’s a slight increase in Caz’s heart rate. It doesn’t seem like fear, but more like he’s exerting himself.

There’s a palace at the top, towering above the trees. Didn’t see this the last time we were here.

That’s surprising to hear. Hassha has a palace?

Think so. Strange she didn’t show us. Another reason I don’t trust her. Wait. Shit! What the fuck is that?

“Caz?” I call. “Caz?”

I stand up and pace the room while repeating his name, but he doesn’t answer.

Then I realize…

He’s put his wall up.

FOURTEEN

CAZ

I’ve seen many things in my lifetime, but never did I expect to see the creature thrashing about in the cage above me.

You’d think Hassha’s towering palace would’ve captured my attention most, but taking in the details of the interior as I pass through has been put on the back burner.

This creature’s wings are dark and waxy just like the rest of its body. It’s bald, with teeth sharp enough to rip through flesh. It screeches as it clutches the bars of the gilded cage, and when its eyes snap to mine, it glares.

The eyes are what throw me off.

I expected eyes of a monster—a set of ghoulish, ugly irises that accompany nightmares—but the eyes this thing has are completely humane.

And familiar. Very familiar.

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