CHAPTER 1 #3
Lightning flashed outside, near enough to bathe the room in lashes of brilliant white.
Umma clutched my forearm, but still I stepped forward, fury dousing my terror. “What. Did. You. Do?”
Thunder clapped overhead as if it felt my fury. The sheer impossibility of the situation was not lost on me. I was so small and fragile, so utterly human against these three elven who could do anything they wanted to me and get away with it. My stomach was a knot of twisted vines.
Scar Face stepped forward, his fingers reaching for the dagger at his side.
“Stop,” their commander ordered, a bored look on his face. “You, daughter of the governor, come forward.”
There was no use in challenging it. No one around us looked remotely as if they would corroborate my plea of false identity if I voiced it.
Only Umma still held on to my arm, her desire to protect me evident in the beseeching look on her face.
But defending me would come at too great a cost for her.
I gently extricated my arm from her grip and stepped forward.
Dread pulsed through my body, but I swiftly banished it.
I would be strong like Umma had taught me to be.
Shards of glass crunched beneath my feet as I picked my way past scattered furniture toward the center of the room.
The closer I got, the more I felt it. The raw power.
Emanating from him. The one with the silver eyes.
I had sensed power from Blondie too, but it now seemed tame in comparison.
Whatever this was mirrored ruthless chaos, like gathering storm clouds before a flood.
I could make out the details of his armor now, the lethal looking blades strapped to his sides, hair the color of midnight, like wings of a raven, against tanned skin. His features were angular. Unyielding. He was beautiful, in the way death might seem to some.
“Your name.” It was not a question, but a command from someone used to dispensing them.
“Lirahna.” I was proud when my voice did not waver.
His eyes scanned my face, my body, probably musing about how easy it would be to snap me in half.
His gaze returned to my face as he spoke, his words loud and clear for all to hear. “We have come to collect one mortal from Serila, as is customary on Augustine, to compete in the Mortal Trials. This year, we choose Lirahna of the House Golund.”
Even though I had anticipated his words, dreaded them, they still hit me with a terrible force. Despair rocked through me – despair and utter hopelessness.
A thumping echoed behind me, and I whirled around. Umma had begun to rush forward, tripping over glass and an upturned table in her haste to reach me.
I turned quickly to see Scar Face flexing his fingers, an amused expression on his face. Bitter bile rose at the back of my throat.
They knew my weakness now. Umma’s too. Foolish and contrary to the tough facade she had worked so hard these many years to maintain, desperation shone on her face as she raced forward.
It is vulnerable to feel – to love – Lirah. In a world like ours, we are not afforded that luxury.
“Stop!” I shouted, both to Scar Face and her. “No one needs to get hurt.” As if we ever stood a chance of wounding them. No, I was doing this for Umma.
I was scared. So terrified my bones threatened to quiver, but they did not need to know that. Umma had shouldered so many burdens for me. Had taken me in when my own mother didn’t want me. She had loved me and cared for me. I would be strong for her now. I would protect her now.
“I will come with you.” I faced Silver Eyes. “I will not run. Just don’t hurt her.”
He surveyed me with the same uninterested expression, as if he kidnapped mortal girls all the time and this was a dreadful bore to him. “Say your goodbyes. You have one minute.”
I broke his stare before he had even finished his sentence, swinging around to hurtle the remaining distance to Umma. She met me halfway, words choking in her throat, unable to pass her lips. She clutched me in an embrace so tight it hurt, pulling away only to stare at me with glistening eyes.
Love shone clearly through her eyes and the kiss she pressed to my temple. I dropped my forehead to hers as cold misery embraced me.
“I know,” I whispered. She did not need to speak to convey her message. “I will come back for you. Once this is all over. I promise.”
Umma drew back, shaking her head ferociously.
Run, she mouthed.
I blinked, hot tears trickling down my cheeks. “I will not. I will keep you safe.”
Umma’s eyes were wide and feral as she pushed something into my palm. I glanced down for just a second, noting the burlap. Umma must have pocketed one of the blades earlier, as a precaution before bed, when I wasn’t looking. I shoved it into my cloak before anyone could notice.
Rough, large hands wrenched at my shoulders, pulling me away. Yanking me from the only family I had ever known. I didn’t even get a chance to tell Umma I loved her before I was shoved out the door.
Something hard slammed against the side of my head. And then I was falling.
Sinking into nothing.