White-hot tears streamed down Nola’s cheeks, only to freeze. Stop crying. You’re a grown woman, dang it. Well, in her haste to exit the cavern, this grown woman had left the other backpack and all of her survival gear behind. Without goggles, a mask, a hat or gloves, the blood in her veins would soon thicken like a slushie.

Must act now!

Gathering what little energy she had, Nola beat her fists against her captor’s face and chest. He evinced zero reaction, her punches not even a blip.

Hysteria seethed in the tangle of her thoughts. Where was he taking her? What did he plan to do to her—with her? “Please, let me go. Let me save my sister.” If anything happened to Vale... I would rather die.

You just might.

Tone dry, he said, “Why would I let the mother of my twins go?”

Oh, crap. He’d heard her silly comment. “Will you kill the mother of your twins?”

“That depends, I suppose.”

Terror seized her, paralyzing her muscles. She lost the ability to move, which only worsened her terror. Her stomach began to churn, as if she’d swallowed razor blades. “I think I might vomit.”

He picked up speed, saying, “Aim away from me.” He had a deep voice and a heavy accent she couldn’t place. “If we stop, a combatant will attack us.”

Combatant?

Focus. Last year, Nola and Vale had taken a self-defense class. Now, a warning clanged inside her mind. If someone attempts to take you to a secondary location, fight. Whatever pain you endure before transfer will pale in comparison to what you’ll endure if you end up trapped and alone.

“I’m coming for you, Nola,” Vale called from the darkness. “Right behind...won’t let anything—umph.”

What just happened? Nothing good, that much Nola knew.

Blistering fury unlocked her limbs from paralysis. Instead of flailing wildly, she put her lessons to good use, poking her captor in the eye. As he grunted in pain, she slammed the heel of her palm into his nose. Cartilage snapped, and blood dribbled down his chin. He stutter-stepped, but dang it, he maintained his hold.

“I am Zion of Tavery.” He raced around an ice-glazed tree. “Do not worry, little dreki. I will protect you.”

Dreki? Another of her instructor’s warnings clanged. Never trust a stranger. Assume they speak Lies, the universal language of murderers and rapists. “Wh-why would you want to protect me?” she asked, teeth chattering with more force.

“Before you arrived,” he said, “I...saw you. In my dreams.”

The way she’d dreamed of her golden god?