Page 87

The landscape blurs around me, and my focus is solely on reaching the village as soon as possible.

“Hold on, Alchera. I’m coming for you.”

I pray to Awo that she can hear me as my legs eat up the miles.

Alchera

Waking up in a small room, the air around me has a thick, musty smell to it that would have me sneezing like crazy if I was still on Earth.

But I’m not on Earth.

Lifting my head, I let out a groan. I glance around me and notice I’m locked in some sort of a shack made of old, rotted wood.

Shit.

I start to get up but move slowly, my stomach and ribs aching something fierce.

I wrap my arm around my middle and glance everywhere to see if there’s anything I can use as a weapon.

When I see a pair of leather pants ripped to shreds on the floor, I slowly glance down as horror bleeds through me. Realizing I’m onlywearing my underwear and bra, my body shudders, and I let out a panicked whimper.

This is really bad.

A wave of fear shudders through me, but then it’s chased by a warm sensation, and not even a second later, I feel Raighne’s strength.

“Alchera, please answer me.”Raighne sounds torn up, his tone hoarse with worry.

Our connection isn’t clear, but at least I can feel him.

“Raighne.”Just thinking his name pushes tears to my eyes. I suck in a breath of air, and closing my eyes, I focus as hard as I can.“I’m here.”

“Are you okay?”His voice cracks in my mind.“Can you see where you are?”

I can’t hold back my tears anymore, not when he sounds so broken.

I glance around me again.“I’m in some kind of shack.”Moving as quickly as I can to the door, I try to push it open, but it won’t budge.“I can’t get out.”

“I’ll find you,”he vows, his voice growing stronger in my mind.“You hear me? I’ll find you.”

I shake my head, and I can’t keep the fear from trembling in my tone as I say,“This is what I saw in my vision. We can’t stop it. They’re going to kill me.”

“So glad to hear the visions have started,” Adeth’s voice suddenly echoes around me, followed by a slow clapping of hands.

I move to the nearest wall and press my back to it, assuming the fighting stance Roark has taught me.

“Alchera, what’s happening?”

“She’s here.”

I can’t see her anywhere. There’s only the echo of her voice and applause sounding through the room.

“I don’t know if I should be upset because of this little conversation going on between the two of you or if I should welcome it,” she mutters, her tone bored.

Silence follows her words, in which I can only hear my own rapid breaths. I glance wildly around, waiting for her to attack, my hearthammering in my chest.

“I think I’ll welcome it for a while so your guardian can feel your pain.”

No. I forgot he can feel what I feel. I have to block him to spare him from what’s coming.