Page 235 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

“Elara!” Hali runs to me.

Her friend stays cowered against the wall, face pale, splattered with blood that isn’t hers.

Movement flickers in the corner of my eye.

The second archer draws back his arrow, aiming for Hali.

“No!” I throw my hand out.

Another bolt of dark power flies free. It soars through the air in the blink of an eye and strikes the archer’s chest. He crumbles, and his skull hits the pavement with a sickening crack.

My stomach twists again, but this is not the time for guilt. We have to get out of here.

“Elara?” Hali crouches in front of me. “Are you all right?”

Assessing eyes trail over my hair, face, and clothes, dimming when she sees the red on my skirt and hands.

“I’m okay,” I croak.

“Well, thank The Mother for that.” She holds out a hand.

I wipe my palms on a clean section of my gown before taking it.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

Rian left to find you. Why aren’t you with him?

“After the sirens went off, all hell broke loose,” she says, pulling me to my feet. “Everyone started running. I tried to meet up with my friends, but I only found Nance.”

She gestures to the woman still huddled against the wall and continues, “I saw the others follow Draven out of the ballroom. We were on our way to meet them at our hideaway in one of the dock warehouses when these bastards found us.”

I follow her glare to the disemboweled pirate and then avert my gaze before I throw up again.

Hali nudges the boot of the second archer with a huff. “Looks like you have enemies.”

I release a shaky breath. “I didn’t realize pirates were so powerful.”

“They aren’t.” Hali hikes a thumb over at the dead men who attacked her. “Those filthy pieces of shit are pirates. And their magic is below average, at best. But those guys behind you? They’re dressed way too nicely to be criminals from the fishing isles.”

My mouth dries.

The males who attacked Darius and Silas on the beach…they weren’t pirates.

Then who were they?

Velmira, forgive me. Who did we send to your gates?

I sway on my feet.

“Woah!” Hali catches me, slinging an arm over my shoulder. “Easy.”

I try to swallow, then croak, “W-we need to get to the beach.”

We need to find the Shadow Fae.

We need to find Rian.

The darkness slithering inside my chest titters in agreement.