Page 107 of The Alien's Vicious Starflash Manor

I think of Lara in the maze, unaware of how many forces are converging on her. So very few days until I lose her forever—one way or another.

“Is that everything?” I ask.

Vazor shakes his head. “Not quite.”

The ice beneath my feet spreads in an unstoppable wave, and for once, I don’t try to control it.

CHAPTER 28

LARA

As I make my way to Ivrael’s study, my mind races with the possibilities of what I’ve discovered in the maze. The way the darkness shattered when I screamed, how the light broke through—it has to mean something.

Something about my supposed heritage, maybe, or about whatever power Ivrael thinks I have.

Now, as I approach Ivrael’s study, voices drift through the partially open door. I freeze, my heart stuttering in my chest as I recognize Lord Vazor’s distinctive rumble.

“—several hunters arrived on Trasq two days ago,” he says. “They’re searching for descendants of your King Caix here, too.”

I press myself against the wall beside the door, hardly daring to breathe. It’s ice-cold against my back, even through the layers of my court dress.

“And you think they know about the Evans sisters?” Ivrael’s voice carries that edge I’ve learned means he’s barely containing his rage.

“They suspect someone with royal blood was tracked leaving Earth.” A pause, then he adds, “They’re fairly certain she has powers beginning to manifest.”

“They won’t find them.” Ivrael’s tone drops another ten degrees. “I won’t allow it.”

“You can’t stop them from searching. They answer directly to?—”

“I said they won’t find them.” The temperature in the hallway plummets, and frost crackles across the floor beneath my feet. “The sisters are under my protection.”

Protection. Right.

Like being kept as a servant for a year was protection. Like being bound with magical ribbons is protection.

And yet...

The memory of Ivrael’s hands gentle on my face rises unbidden. I shove it down, but not before my cheeks flush with heat.

“The hunters won’t care about your claim of protection,” Vazor says. “They’ll take the girls by force if necessary.”

“They can try.”

Heavy footsteps approach the door, and I dart into the room where I hid the night of the ball—the night I overheard them plotting the firelord attack.

My stomach churns at the memory of flames, of screaming, of Oriana burning...

I peek out into the hall as Lord Vazor strides past, his golden scales catching the light from the Caixlights overhead. I hold my breath until he disappears around the corner, then slump against the doorjamb.

Hunters. Coming for me and Izzy.

Because of our bloodline—the same bloodline Ivrael keeps hinting at but never fully explaining.

I should go find my sister. Should warn her.

And then we should run as far and fast as we can.

My heart still pounds from overhearing Ivrael and Vazor as I slip out into the hallway. Izzy will be in our suite by now—safer there than out in the open where hunters might find her.

---