Page 83 of Visions & Shadows

“Void. He’s everything that’s dark and will drive you to insanity while sucking your soul dry until there’s nothing left of you but an empty shell.” Raighne takes a deep breath before he continues, “Besides Adeth and Ares,Janak is the only other person who’s seen Void, and he never talks about it.”

I turn onto my side, my eyes locked on Raighne’s face.

He glances at me, then says, “He’s one of the few things that can kill us.”

My eyebrows lift. “What else can kill us?”

“Being beheaded, and Adeth has a blade forged from the ashes of the volcano in the shadowlands. I’ve heard rumors Ares can rip a soul from a body, but no one knows if it’s true.”

Horrified, I whisper, “Jesus.”

“Some of us have talents that can kill.” His eyes lock on mine, “But something like a bullet won’t be able to kill you.”

My lips part, and intense relief pours through me.

“It will hurt, though,” he adds. “We’ll have to be careful on Earth. The longer we’re away from Vaalbara, the more vulnerable we become.”

He pauses for a moment, then admits, “That’s where my mother died. She loved Earth. It was her destiny to bring the animals here before she was beheaded by terrorists.”

Oh my God.

Not thinking, I scoot closer to him and take hold of his hand. “I’m so sorry, Raighne.”

He pulls his hand free, and wrapping his arm around me, he tucks me against his side. When I rest my head on his chest, I whisper, “You can use my pillow.”

I feel his chest shake with silent laughter while he tucks my pillow beneath his head.

“Rest well, Alchera.”

“You too.”

I hesitate before I wrap my arm around his waist, and closing my eyes, I suck in a deep breath of his scent.

Besides the vision, today was actually a really pleasant day. I loved the time I got to spend with Raighne.

Maybe a month in the desert won’t be so bad after all.

Chapter 16

Alchera

It has to be anightmare because there’s no way in hell someone is trying to wake me up ten minutes after I’ve fallen asleep.

“Go away,” I grumble sleepily.

“Alchera, you have to get up. We only have ten minutes to get ready.” It’s Luna’s sweet voice, whispering words of bitter reality.

“Noooo,” I groan as I pry my eyes open.

There’s no sign of Raighne as I sit up and rub the sleep out of my eyes.

“Come, Alchera,” Roark calls from where he’s standing with Blair, Storm, and Lucius.

I get up and suppress a yawn as I walk with Luna toward the others.

“You’ll head into the desert as a group,” Roark orders, “and you’ll spend the day out there, learning to work together.”

Silence meets him.

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