Page 72 of What Lies Within Masks & Shadows

“Her?” Jade hissed as she considered her from head to boots.

He spoke again, the language dripping from his mouth as if he had been born of its tongue. And when the words stopped, the common tongue filled his voice. “Do not think I won’t.”

Those words alone … they speared something wholly terrible in Jade’s eyes. Turning them from uncontrollable rage to … pure unadulterated terror. Was that even possible? Could Jade even possess a bone in her body that could be convinced to cower from spoken words?

Relentlessly gripping her necklace, Jade stormed away without another word, the darkness silhouetting her out of sight.

They were alone.

Garrik peered over his shoulder, eyes tracking Alora as she lifted Jade’s sword from the grass. Tears still streamed down her face, but she raised it, hand quaking uncontrollably. “Don’t come any closer,” she commanded with fear plaguing her eyes. “Don’t,” she repeated.As if pleading with him would matter.

Garrik stalked closer. “I told you to stay in camp.” He swung his forearm, hitting the sword with such force it tore from her hand and landed in the darkness.

Alora stumbled a step backward. She lifted her arms in front of her face, expecting a heavy blow to follow the High Prince’s advance, but only his words struck.

“Did you not consider the consequences?You could have been killed.When you leave camp, you are not only risking your life but everyone around you. Do you have any idea what I would have—” He choked back his rage and grabbed her forearms, pulling them away from her face.

“I … I’m sorry.” And suddenly, it wasn’t the face of the High Prince staring down at her. That horrible, enchanting face was merging into a creature so vile and so awful. Her body began to cower. No matter how strong she was. No matter how many times she fought back. Kaine was there, and he always carriedthe power. Even now, when he was stars-knows-where, he still controlled her body.

Garrik’s face softened, and she felt her veins fill with sharpened glass. He released her, turning away with tension thrumming across his shoulders.

Leading the horses to their side, Jade returned and stood in silence. Still scowling at Alora.

“Get the hell back to camp.” Garrik didn’t so much as turn to them—to her.

Alora, fearful of repercussions, grabbed the reins of her dark horse from Jade and began pulling herself up by the mane. Her limbs, with little strength, shaken and empty, struggled to mount. The sounds of footsteps wracked her heart in a fury, hammering against its cage when freezing hands reached her, and she flinched.

“I can do it.” Voice cracking in a whisper as she inched back from him. Alora attempted to mount again; she nearly succeeded this time, but ultimately failed when her foot slipped and her body slumped breathlessly.

“Allow me.” Garrik remained agitated. Interlacing his fingers and cupping his hands together, he lowered to a knee, gesturing for her to place a foothold.

Refusing him again would most likely end in a death sentence. Alora swallowed, emotion still infesting her body. She was angry, fearful, humiliated, worried. Wishing her body could focus on just one, she placed her boot on his hands, and he lifted her onto the horse.

Before she could do so, Garrik stole the reins and prepared to mount behind her.

He could have easily done so … if it were not for the movement of the mare.

Garrik’s palm flattened against its croup in time for it to step sideways, causing him to stumble forward and brace against its flank.

The horse side-eyed him, as if the beast knew what she’d done, and Alora dared to grin. Only a little, until she glimpsed Garrik’s irritation.

His mouth twisted, tightening the reins as cold eyes bore into the mare’s, and he mounted without interference, pressing his icy body flush against Alora’s.

“You two are perfect for each other,” he muttered, squeezing his thighs to balance without a saddle and stiffening his spine. Feeling the contact and tension between his hands and the bit, Garrik lightly nudged his heels back, and they left behind the battlefield…

Along with Alora’s last shred of hope … and freedom.

The forest had fallen completely dark. As they rode, the only things they encountered were shadows and outlines of the foliage that lay in their path. The moon crept through the tree canopy, shedding minimal light to guide the path. Ahead, torch lights peaked in between the silhouettes of trees, dancing the amber glow from the distance between swaying branches in the breeze.

She would be a prisoner once more. Surely worse than before after tonight’s events.

And the punishment to come…

Alora shuddered at the thought. At all the horrible things her mind pictured.

There was no mistaking the looming pressure of Jade’s eyes stabbing her back. She imagined a blade plunging deep into her own spine and shivered.

None of them had spoken since they left the clearing. Which was no surprise. She’d rather it be that way anyway. There was nothing to say.

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