Page 236 of Captive of Secrets and Storms

Hali’s grip tightens. “It’s okay. Our rendezvous point is well hidden. We will be safe while we wait for the others there.”

Instinct screams that she’s wrong, insisting we go back to the beach.

But I’m too weak—too tired to argue.

My legs tremble as I struggle to keep them underneath me. Hali half walks, half carries me to her friend.

Nance shakes more than I do.

She’s in shock.

I wish I could help her, but I don’t even have enough magic to help myself.

We move at a sluggish pace into a dim alley between two buildings. My pulse pounds behind my eyes. My head aches from the growing pressure.

But we don’t stop.

I don’t know how Hali expects to escape Virendrell without finding the Shadow Fae, but I pray to Olyra, the Goddess of Fate, that she sees fit to keep us safe until we do.

Hali’s knowledge of her city reveals itself as we duck through alley after alley without catching anyone’s attention.

My vision starts to blur.

Just as I think I’m going to faint, we reach a warehouse with a lone lantern hanging next to a forest-green door that blurs in and out of focus.

“We’re here,” Hali whispers.

Nance whimpers with relief.

I can only blink.

The hinges of the door swing open without a sound. Hali takes on most of my weight and leads me inside the pitch-black space.

Cool, musty air greets me, clearing the cloying scent of smoke and death from my nostrils.

The grip around my heart loosens just as an “oomph” billows into my ear, and Hali’s grip falls away.

I teeter to the side. “Hali?”

A glint of metal sparks out of the corner of my eye.

I barely start to turn before⁠—

“I’m sorry,” Nance mutters.

The butt of a jagged dagger strikes my temple.

Pain explodes through my skull, and the world goes black.

43

I’m ten years old, rocking back and forth, holding my arms around my legs, crying into my knees.

The sight of the Onyx Wraith’s soulless hands wrapped around my twin’s throat sears into my mind, making it impossible to think. To breathe.

“Elara,” Ferria says softly, trying to coax me out of my misery.

I press my face harder against my legs, unable to look at her. Not without seeing my failure.