Page 94 of Visions & Shadows

“Alchera, hold on for me. Please don’t give up. We’re coming for you. I willfind you!”

I know I should keep him away, but hearing his voice feels like heaven calling to me in the middle of hell.

“I can’t.”The words slip through because I’m too weak.

Adeth immediately reappears and grabs me by the neck. “You tell that guardian of yours that if he comes near you, Ares will rip your soul from your body. Tell him!” She spits the words at me as her eyes change to a bitter, angry orange color. “Now!”

“I heard her. Just hold on for me.”

“He heard you,” I gasp, my voice hoarse from all the screaming.

I don’t understand how it’s possible I’m still conscious, let alone alive.

Adeth steps back and takes a good, long look at me, then a glass of water appears in her hand.

I’m thirsty and will do almost anything for water, but when she holds the glass to my mouth, I let my head roll to the side.

Exhausted, I mutter, “I’d rather die of thirst.”

“You need to drink,” Adeth murmurs, almost sounding motherly. “You’ll be of no use to me dead.”

When she presses the glass to my mouth, a few drops spill onto my feverish lips. Sadly, it’s all the encouragement I need. I get two greedy gulps down before she snatches it away.

“Ah-ah-ah, not too fast. You can have more in a minute.” The glass disappears, and I feel a sudden pang of loss. “You don’t look too good. Maybe you’ll speak now. We don’t want any more misunderstandings, do we?”

Shit.

“Who are the chosen ones?”

Consumed by pain, I whisper, “I don’t know.”

She lets out a bark of laughter. “Foolish girl. You will tell me.”

Little black and red spots begin to spark in front of my eyes.

“Go to hell!” I spit at her.

I try to smile just before the darkness I’ve been praying for comes.

Chapter 18

Raighne

I’m losing my mind.

The longer I’m away from Alchera, the more I feel our bond weakening. After she tried to sever it, it took everything I had to break through the barrier she put up between us.

I’ve worked my ass off to sense where she’s being held, and now we’re wasting time arguing about who’s going to free her.

“I’ll go,” my father says, and it has everyone looking at him.

“You’re the King's guardian,” Janak argues.

“She’s my charge,” the words rumble from me.

“I’m the only one who has faced Adeth and survived,” Dad mutters. “This time, Ares will be there as well.”

He’s right.

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