Page 2 of Daughter of the Darkened City

Enid let out a laugh that rippled in the air like wind chimes. Looking up, she expected to see the demon laughing at her.

But something else happened. Enid patted her on the back and gave a twinkling smile that made Avenay feel as if she were on the inside of the joke—not the outside.

That rope between them pulled tighter and Avenay’s face split into a smile, followed by breathy, coughing laughs.

“I did the same thing my first time, too,” Enid said conspiratorially.

Suddenly, she didn’t feel alone.

The way Enid leaned close and held her gaze, speaking in soft tones, she felt laid bare in the best way possible. As if Enid knew all her oddities and quirks and still laughed as if they were the same.

“What in the darkest pit are you doing?” a male voice growled.

Enid’s face hardened as her skin paled. She turned, frowning as Lord Dryston strode through the door. He grabbed the pipe from Avenay, giving her an apologetic look.

“What is this?” he asked, waving it in front of Enid.

She crossed her arms. “Nothing.”

“How did you even get this? You haven’t joined the moon rites yet.”

Avenay’s eyes volleyed back and forth between them. Enid held a cold gaze, eyebrows pinched in, face scowling, but her shoulders bunched up around her ears.

“It’s not that serious, Drys,” she hissed.

He grabbed her by the arm. “We’re done. I’m taking you back to your room. I can’t afford to have you causing problems here, too.”

He dragged Enid out, and she obliged, head down, steps heavy. She shot a glance over her shoulder at Avenay, then disappeared through the doorway.

Chapter 1: Enid

8 years later

Darkness engulfed the world.

Enid closed her eyes and honed her other senses.

Tap.

A foot touched the ground with a trained softness she almost didn’t hear. A hand shifted as it gripped the hilt of a wooden sword.

Kaemon was to her left.

She turned just in time to bring her sword up, blocking his blow. The shadows shuddered under the attack, drifting away like smoke inthe air. She swiftly came into Kaemon’s guard and elbowed him in the center of his chest. His breath whooshed out, and he stumbled back a step. His black curls stuck to his forehead, matted by the sweat that dripped down his face. He frowned, lunging forward again, but his step was unsure and his usually tan skin had paled. She stepped to the side, bringing her arm up to hold him before he collapsed, bracing his shoulders to help him stand. He shook his head, dazed.

“It takes so much out of me to do just a little of the magic that you can with a flick of your wrist,” he said through gritted teeth.

Enid had noticed. And she’d been mulling over why it was. She’d reunited with Kaemon months ago, and they’d begun training shortly after. Even though he’d missed the most crucial years of magic training when he was taken all those years ago, she still expected his magic to burst out of him with ease. Instead, it seemed like a river caught in a dam. He’d shown some progress, but it was slow and difficult.

“You’re doing well,” she said, patting him on the shoulder.

She focused around her, letting all her senses reach out into the world, probing, searching.

Nothing.

The continent of Nemus, where Kaemon had been living for the last eleven years, was magicless. She had always heard the rumors, butbeing here again was different. The air felt off. When her feet hit the ground, something was distinctly wrong.

Her gaze slid back to her brother. He took the ladle from the water bucket and gulped down a drink. She blinked, disbelief washing over her anew.

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