Page 70 of Bound By Darkness

Another hooded figure burst through the trees. “He’son his way here,” said a soft voice. The same crest rested upon her fighting leathers as her eyes darted between us. “If she finds out what we are doing to?—”

“Shut up,” the man hissed, focusing on me as he held steady pressure. “Hold your position. If we bring her back, she’ll forgive us.”

“But sir… the remaining five are currently engaged with him. There is no one to hold the position.”

The man blinked, a glimmer of fear welling within. “What do you mean remaining five?”

“Everyone,” she said, her eyes roaming the forest, “everyone else is dead.”

The man looked to his comrade, and whatever he saw made him shift uncomfortably. “We must hurry.”

The comrade nodded, an arrow knocked against the bow as she pointed it toward the tree line. “Haul her out.”

He nodded faintly before turning to me. “Guess we can’t play anymore, Thalia.”

My arms pressed into my sides as he hauled me over his shoulder. The pressure tightened, but not enough to cause pain. “Put me down!”

My eyes scanned the forest for any sign of Ivan. Panic set in as the invisible cord tightened around me with each movement of my body. He told me he wouldn’t let anything happen. Was it a lie? Had it been an empty promise?

“There!” the woman yelled as an arrow flew from her bow. “He’s?—”

The woman didn’t finish the statement before she collapsed in two, blood spraying from her severed body.

“Put her down,” Ivan growled, his eyes shining with pure blood-lust. Crimson splattered his leather clothing and face, both swords gleaming in the wet liquid.

The man raised his hand, familiar white light spreading over the forest with accurate calm.

Ivan roared as he collapsed to one knee, his head straining to lift. His eyes widened as they fell upon me… and undiluted fear shone back.

The pressure slammed further into Ivan as he collided against the foliage. “Bastard!” he yelled, his eyes struggling to meet mine. Crunching filled my ears as he ground out, “Fight.”

The man laughed. “This is what you deserve,Ivan,for failing.”

My eyes locked with his—at the fear and pain swirling within. He was going to break him. The man was going to break Ivan and make me watch it.

“Fight,” Ivan spat. Blood spurted fromhis lips. “Thalia,fight.”

Not a demand. Not a call.

A plea upon his lips, but the pressure latched onto me deeply, its talons pressing into my arms and sides.

Ivan lifted his head, a feat of strength, as he mouthed the words I’d forgotten years ago.

Yeva, he mouthed.Do it for her.

My heart cleaved in half, a well opening inside me as claws of ebony curled around the iron door.

Not for him. Not for me, but forher. For the promise I had made my sister. The promise I had forgotten eleven years ago. Claws shredded the iron door as tears spilled down my cheeks.

“Dammit!” I cried, fighting to release the hold surrounding my casting abilities. It was a hold I’d placed on myself, because I was terrified of the repercussions. Scared of what might occur if I unleashed hell, but right now, I needed it. I needed the darkness as I called out to it—screaming at it to release.

Claws shredded at the door.

The weight crushed my back as the man hauled me into the thick canopy of trees away from him.

A scream tore through me as I pushed against the singular door. It creaked and groaned until a tendril punctured through. More followed after, waves of darkness pouring from the crack until the hinges broke.

Night rippled through me, a flood of darkness seeping from my fingertips.

---