Ashes Of Betrayal

elf to Evie like a parasite. A gentle crackle of the fire kept them warm as Garret, Lila, and Tomas huddled together

irt with a stick. "It's a trading center, and we can acquire horses and provision

ret grumbled, his arms folded tight across his c

porting a new look, and we'll stay under the radar.

ttery will get you

the capital. And still, the idea of entering a town brimming with bounty hunters made her skin crawl. She looked at her hands, the dark

yanking her from her

hough her stomach 

table, then turned back to the others. "Okay, time

ight'

What did I become? There was rustling behind the bushes. I was on my legs, the dagger in my right hand, my passion prickling around me. The thunderstorm died in the dark forest, and shafts of moonlight cut through the shade, with long trees stretching shadows. Her eyes swept through the clearing, and her heart was about to break, but there was nothing, nearly. "Wind just," "the breeze," that was right. Maybe one of them didn't lower their guard, but maybe one of them did. "Or perhaps not," a voice murmured behind her. I had to rotate, slas

d on her dagger. "I'm

"You think you have a choice? All you are is a conduit, a vessel; an

ut with her dagger, but the blade struck through the darkness without any effect. The darkness cloaked her like a shroud, chil

could muster up, all the anger, and released the dark energy in a flash of bright light

he camp was quiet. She glanced around to see if the others were watching her i

al? Or just an

ornin

from the encounter, she packed her things quietly. Rylan recognized her anxi

The shadows felt darker, the forest quieter, as if the world itself were holding its breath. She g

said, falling in

Evie said, he

n't press. "We'll reach Blackthorn by n

her mind, the chilling cost of her power. She believed the ritual had b

over the long swath of road, Evie couldn't shake the t