Page 145 of Riftborne
What the fuck?
A commotion came from behind the door, and seconds later it was swinging open.
“Don’t try any of those mind games on me, Princess. It’s not going to work.”
A gasp flew from my lips as the large figure stepped through the doorway; his presence rang throughout the entire room. Suddenly, I felt incredibly small.
Raven-colored hair brushed his shoulders. Onyx designstraveled across portions of his pale skin. They looked foreign and strange. He was dressed head to toe in black leathered armor with detailing like I'd never seen before.
His face was square and sharp, boasting features that could cut diamonds. Pointed ears peered out of his dark locks, lined with silver metal piercings. There was another bar at his eyebrow. His expression was dark and impossible to read. His irises glowed like golden embers.
But around them…
Oh Esprithe.
Memories of the ball surged back into my mind. Of the woman I had seen… The one who’d shared my perpetual shadows.
Just like the man who stood before me.
A silent scream erupted within me, but no sound came. Words that wanted to tumble out died on the tip of my tongue.
My jaw opened. Then closed.
The man let out a chuckle and shook his head. But there was an edge to his laughter. A bite I couldn’t quite place.
Anger surged through me, and finally, words came. Just not the ones I wanted.
“Why did you take me?” I asked, trying to keep my voice strong, but it came out more like a petulant child.
I winced.
“Why did wesaveyou?”he corrected. I recognized his deep baritone from the journey here. He was the captor sitting behind me on the flying beasts. Aether.
Save me? You’ve got to be fucking kidding.
“You’d be dead if we hadn’t brought you to Umbrathia.” He crossed his arms. His voice was unemotional, cold.
“You kidnapped me. You didn’t save me. I was taken against my will–”
“You’re the one who revealed yourself. We did you a favor,” he snapped, cutting me off.
“Revealed myself? Do you know how crazy you sound?”
“Spin it how you want. We don’t leave our own behind. There aren’t enough Umbra left as it is.”
“Umbra?What are you talking about?” I was getting frustrated. My head began to pound once again.
“You’re a shadow wielder. They would have killed you in a second after you exposed yourself.”
Silent confusion enveloped me.
Our eyes stayed locked in a stalemate. His stare was so intense; it reminded me of someone else.
Laryk… My heart felt like it would weigh me down. We had wasted so much time. If I had known it would be so short… Mist threatened to blur my vision, but I fought it back with a newfound ferocity.
“Liar,” I finally seethed.
His eyes narrowed, but a glimmer of something shot across his endless golden irises. It happened in an instant, gone just as soon as it arrived.
