Page 177 of Once the Skies Fade

Calla

My legs itched to move, tingling uncontrollably as if a million spiders crawled through my veins. Pushing myself up from the velvet chaise, I attempted to ease the sensation by shaking them and stomping my feet against the thin rug that covered the stone floor. The Vranics had directed us to a sitting room to await further instruction, promising to have a final decision to us before night fell. While searching the Muratch Mountains in the dark was less than ideal, I didn’t know if I could handle sitting still, knowing my mate was somewhere on this island.

Once again, my torturous mind dared to pull up images of the torment Graham might be inflicting on Matthias. No matter how many times I pushed the horror away, it continued to creep back to the forefront. Pulling my shadows from my palms, I flexed them in the air in front of me, testing my control over them as I sent them dancing, swirling, and slicing through the dim light of the parlor.

“It’s nice to see you finally accepting your gift,” Asher noted from where he lounged in a high-backed armchair set in front of the small fireplace carved into the mountain wall. The flames—along with those of the lanterns placed throughout thelarge room—cast an eerie, melancholy glow, creating their own shifting shadows on my friend’s face.

“Sometimes seems like a bit of a curse still,” I whispered, slipping my power back into my veins and fisting my hands.

“Who knew about your shadows anyway? Isa, obviously,” he said, nodding to the general pacing at the far end of the room.

“Obviously how?” Kai asked, leaning forward in the chair opposite Asher’s. The brothers had agreed to shift into their human forms as long as the nightwalkers kept their distance. It always fascinated me how the shifters’ two forms complemented each other so well. Asher’s scales, a lighter bronze and gold, matched his dark blond hair and sun-kissed complexion. His brothers, however, barely looked related to my friend with their dark hair and eyes that resembled their darker jewel-toned scales.

Isa didn’t slow her pace. “I can sense powers in others. Can’t tell what they are specifically, but I know if someone’s blood contains abilities or not.”

“Did Graham know?” Asher asked, quickly adding, “Not that it matters.”

“I never told him, if that’s what you mean, but I could tell he knew I was hiding something,” I said. Pressing my fingers hard to my temples, I closed my eyes and tried to take a calming breath. Everything was a stars-damned mess, and I was here, stuck in this room, waiting for someone else’s consent before I could do anything.

“Something bothering you, Isa?” Dax asked from where he leaned against the wall behind Asher.

Maintaining her pace, she shook her head, her expression tightening with concern.

“What is it?” I asked.

Still treading the invisible line in the rug, Isa pushed out a heavy breath. “Do we know for sure this is going to work?”

All three brothers chuckled, which seemed like the last reaction my friend had hoped to get. Stopping short, she pivoted and turned to us. She lifted her hands to her hips and frowned when her fingers didn’t find the comfort of her sword.

“There are no guarantees, general,” Asher offered casually.

“Of course not, but?—”

“It worked in the forest,” I reminded her.

Isa’s shoulders slumped. “Yes, but that was in a smaller area and without massive black stone everywhere.”

Kai eyed each of his brothers in turn. “She has quite the confidence in us, doesn’t she?”

Isa swept an apologetic look among the men. “If we were simply searching for gold—even in the mountains—I’d have fewer concerns. But the stakes are rather high here.”

Dax shrugged his broad shoulders. “We’re mercenaries. We’re used to high stakes.”

“And we are expert treasure hunters,” Kai chimed in, flashing his dashing smile.

Rubbing a hand at the back of her neck, Isa drew in a deep breath. I moved to stand in front of her. I’d never seen her this nervous. Her dark eyes met mine, and I counted it a small blessing that there seemed no fear there, only uncertainty. Uncertainty, we could handle. Fear would have been trickier.

“How are you so calm, Calla?” she asked. “We don’t even know if he still has his ring. Graham could have easily taken it and thrown it into the Laraburn.”

“Conserving energy, I guess. No point in getting worked up until I need to be,” I suggested as lightheartedly as I could. “But yes, I know. There’s always the chance that this won’t work, that they”—I swung my glance to the brothers behind me—“won’t be able to track his ring, but the alternative is to wander aimlessly through the mountains.”

Asher rose and strode up beside me. “Plus, even if his ring has been taken or lost or what-have-you, there’s a good chance the humans have gold of their own. We find the humans; we find him.”

The door slid open, drawing all our attention to Niko and Sasha. My pulse quickened.

“We will allow you to hunt for your mate,” Niko said, though he seemed to be hesitating with his next words.

“And?” I said, anxious to get underway.

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