The light from his eyes blurred with my tears, and then a shadow fell over us, and I was suddenly free of Adrian’s attack as he went flying across the tent. I gasped for breath and was dragged to the other side.

“Isolde.” Daroc’s face hovered over mine, and all I could manage to do was cough and cry. “It’s all right. I’ve got you.”

He drew me into his arms and held me, crouched in the shadow of the tent. Across from us, Adrian’s eyes had gone dark. He seemed to have regained control of himself, but I could tell Dis had ensured he was aware of everything that had transpired. I could not describe the expression on his face. I could only say that he was devastated, and when he rose to his feet, he raged.

Twenty-Six

Isolde

I stared at the light and shadow dancing across the tent roof, unable to sleep. I turned my head to Adrian who sat in a chair, his back to me.

He had not spoken since Dis had taken control of him earlier.

I had not either.

I could not bring myself to say anything—not even to tell him about the burn in my throat from hunger. I did not want him to have to hear my raspy voice, did not wish for him to hate himself any more than he already did.

I was still processing what had happened—how quickly she had taken control of him, how he seemed to have no ability to resist her actions. My throat felt tight and swollen, and it had nothing to do with what Adrian—Dis—had done earlier. It was the fear now that Ravena and Sorin might be right.

If Adrian could not control Dis, if he could not free himself from her, then he really might destroy the world.

I rose from bed, pulled on my robe and boots, grabbed my knife, and stepped out of the tent. I knew Adrian would not follow—at least not too closely.

Camp was still quiet, and though it was daylight, the sky was thick with clouds and the air heavy with the smell of rain. I was glad, at least, the snow had not reached beyond the border of Revekka.

I had left the comfort of my bed because I could not sleep, because I wanted to be outside of that confined space, because I wanted the freedom to cry without Adrian hearing. I could not stand the thought that he would have to listen to me, knowing he was responsible, though it was nothing he could control.

The air was cold and it filled my lungs, easing the burn of my hunger. I wandered around the black tents, nearing the edge of camp, when I noticed small, ghostly orbs floating in the distance. At first, I thought it was only mist, but they were too round, too compact.

They seemed to create a trail.