Page 89 of Visions & Shadows

I have to break total contact with Raighne otherwise, he’ll keep slipping through.

“I won’t allow you to do that, Alchera!”He sounds desperate.“We live together. We die together.”

“No,”I sob, shaking my head.“I won’t let you die with me.”

I have to protect Raighne.

It takes more willpower than I posses to think the words.“I don’t want you anymore. I can’t handle you in my head. I only have enough strength to face them. I can’t do this with you as well.”

“You don’t mean that.”I can hear the hurt in his voice.

“This is hard enough for me, Raighne. Your aunt and cousin are trying to kill me. Stay out of my mind.”

I know he’s going to worry about me, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I do my best to switch off, not to think or feel.

Somehow, I have to survive so I can fulfill my destiny. The survival of humankind depends on it.

“Only the chosen ten matter now.”

“Don’t do it,”Raighne groans.“I beg you.”

Praying to all that’s holy that it will work, I think,“I reject our bond.”

As I think the coldhearted words, a sob forces its way up my throat.

The next moment, Ares appears, and his fist slams into my ribs with brutal force, making my body sway as an agonizing scream is ripped from my soul.

Chapter 17

Alchera

When the air starts tocrackle around me, a sure sign that something bad is coming, I snap out of the trance I’ve managed to fall into after the last beating Ares gave me.

My head whips up as I hear Adeth’s voice purr, “Hello, my dear Alchera. Why do you have to be so difficult?”

She makes her appearance, and the sarcastic comment I wanted to sling her way flies out of my mind when my eyes focus on her.

Adeth is beautiful, but still, every nerve ending in my body prickles, and my muscles tense more than I thought was possible.

She slowly glides across the floor, and lifting her hand to my face, she gently takes hold of my chin.

She’s face-to-face with me, even though I’m hanging from a rope.

I’ve never felt so small in my life.

Her jet-black hair hangs in light curls down to the middle of her back. Her skin is pale white, giving it almost a translucent glow. It’s as if she’s never been out in the sun.

All she needs is blood-red lips, and she could pass forSnow White’s evil twin.

“Alchera…tsk, tsk, tsk. How dare you send Raighne away? I made it clear that I want him to suffer. I don’t look kindly upon people who go against my wishes.”

“I don’t care what you think,” I spit at her.

Her forefinger slides up and down my cheek.

I yank my face away, but she only laughs at me.

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