Olisnia sits near Alma, both hands over the metal restraint. She hums softly, her pale gaze glowing. Eliana watches intently, awe warming her chest. She could swear that the tattoos lining her body are actually moving, shifting.The metal begins to creak under her hold and it quickly begins to crumble, into dust."Oh," Eliana leans back in surprise, a giddiness building in her stomach. She grins, "That is amazing." Alma smiles softly as well, her shoulders drooping.Both of the men stand off to the side, their arms folded as they watch the Drulian."Does she hold power over us," Evyn questions. "Is that why we all feel an attraction toward her?"Jasper cocks his head to the side as he watches Eliana. He sneers, "The reason we have so much trust for her, is because it is the magic of the Drulians that created us. It is engrained within us not to harm our masters."Evyn cocks his brow, "Wait, so if we wanted to. . .""As far as what mama taught me, we can still kill them. This e
"Alma," Evyn bites out once they return to the old building. The werebird sits, a little dazed, on the rough ground, her legs folded harshly under her."Where's Eliana," Jasper rumbles, stepping into the structure and quickly glancing around."She," Alma pauses, her eyes glistening."What is it," he barks, fear tightening around his heart."Jasper," Evyn snaps, a snarl forming across his features as he helps the girl stand."They took her," Alma sobs falling into Evyn's embrace.Jasper's entire body begins to tremble. He steps up in front of the Boquiv, "Who did?""Climont," she whispers.He pivots around and sprints down the road."Jasper, wait," Evyn shouts after him. "You don't know where they are.""I will not stand around and let them do what they wish to her," he growls, his gaze tinged with the crimson of his rage."He is correct," Olisnia states, walking around the side of the building. "You do not know where to look."Jasper releases a guttural howl as he rushes th
Eliana forces herself to hold eye contact with Prince Drake. His demeanor is intimidating as he towers over her, a shadow casting over his features, hiding any inclination on what he is thinking."He is most likely pondering on how to kill me," she hisses in her mind.There is a low murmur in the crowd of Climont soldiers, metal clanking as they return their swords to their scabbards. Eliana wonders if they have just returned from a battle."Who has harmed her," Drake's question causes a hesitation in Eliana's mind. His brow furrows even farther as he turns to those who kidnapped her. "I asked, who laid their hands on her."One of the men, the one that she head butted, steps forward, his gaze refusing to leave the ground. His face is painted with a dark bruise that expands from his nose out into his cheeks. "We did not mean to. She fought us when we took her and the bruising is a result."There is a twitch in the Prince's lips, his nose crinkling for a moment. He looks back down a
"May I ask you a question," Olisnia inquires to Alma as she slows her horse to match the werebird's pace.She nods softly shifting on her steed. She stares at the back of Evyn's head as the men ride ahead of them, but he does not glance back. The sun has only risen and set once since they left Windwill. She did not understand why they continued to travel, even at night. Her eyes strained to see where she is going. Both Jasper and Evyn hold up torches for their horses to be able to navigate."Has it always been difficult for you to shift forms?"Alma's eyes widen as her gaze snaps back to the Drulian. Out of the corner of her vision, she can see that Evyn glances back as well, but only for a moment. Heat bursts up into her neck at the embarrassment."Uh, yes, I have never been able to completely shift." Alma tightens her grip on her reigns and moves her gaze to the neck of her horse, trying to block out how ridiculous it is that she would not know how to transform.Olisnia's voice
Drake steps to the side, able to somehow sense Eliana's presence. He is not quite quick enough, though, as the rusted nail imbeds itself in the side of his arm. He bares his teeth in pain. As he tries to turn and face the Princess, she rips the weapon out and goes for his neck.With reflexes now kicking in, Drake grabs Eliana's wrist, tightening her hold on the metal. She whimpers as her flesh is pinched. Gritting her teeth, she yanks against his hold, trying to step away.Drake's long hair is now even over her own shoulder, tangling them together. He grabs her other arm, pinning her in place."Let me go." She seethes, her face burning with anger. She will not allow herself to be used and manipulated by a Climont monster."You just tried to kill me, and yet you're still demanding things of me," he chuckles, his chest rumbling. Drake's breath is hot on her face, only causing her rage to build. "I said unhand me.""Only if you promise to sit peacefully and listen to what I have to
"Have I made a mistake?" Eliana whispers as she sits in the large wooden drum, washing off the grime of her travels. The water has become drastically cool, but she welcomes the cold, allowing herself to become clearer minded. "How do I know that Drake will keep his word?"Cupping a handful of the water, Eliana splashes it over her face, rubbing her cheeks."He would not risk the wrath of his father for nothing, right?"Making sure to keep her body almost completely submerged in the water, Eliana dunks her head back, wetting her hair. She glances around at her surroundings carefully. She is on the outside of camp, a large sheet blocking her view of the tents. She wonders if they all do this when they bathe. "What if someone is watching," she wonders to herself."Prince Drake has ordered all men to stay within camp, to not venture out, for the time being." Junet explains as she appears through the small tuft of decaying trees. "He does not want your privacy impeded on.""That is v
Jasper paces back and forth, his shoulders hunched over, his gaze never leaving the spot where Eliana was standing.Alma is still near the tub, watching him. Her heart warms at the emotion Jasper feels for Eliana. The love he has, even for someone who could not possibly be his soul bond. It gives her hope, that even though her lover in Pyrion is not her mate, that they can still be happy and in love. She presses her lips together to hide a smile at the thought of the young man. His short, pale hair and his beady eyes that linger on her. An image of him forms in her mind, smiling at her. "Oh come on," Evyn growls snapping her out of her reverie, "Why are we even still here?" He throws his hands up into the air, exasperated. "She obviously is not in any real danger. She can simply just go home with them."Weighing whether or not she should respond, Alma covertly follows Evyn's movements. He is close to her, his scent twisting around her heart and blocking most of her senses. She inha
"We should be leaving now," Jasper growls out. He runs his hand through his hair, pulling the locks. "It is only for a few hours," Alma explains. "We will be able to make up the time later on.""I do not feel comfortable here," he retorts, snarling. The Climont soldiers mill about, shining their weapons or cooking their dinner. The maids constantly glance over at the Pivurlions, their brows stitched up with unease. Jasper refuses to relax in this atmosphere. There is a tension thick in the air that he does not trust. "Let's retrieve our horses," Alma urges, moving to his side."I am not leaving her here alone.""She is not alone, Olisnia is with her." Jasper breathes in, but he is only able to sense a small whiff of Eliana's honey scent. He cannot put too much distance between them. He must protect her."She is right," Evyn sighs entering the conversation. "We all know Olisnia is very powerful. She will watch over Eliana while we go to get the horses. We will need them if w