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Chapters (61)
  1. Dedication
  2. Prologue
  3. Ashyn: One
  4. Two
  5. Three
  6. Four
  7. Five
  8. Six
  9. Seven
  10. Eight
  11. Moria: Nine
  12. Ten
  13. Eleven
  14. Twelve
  15. Thirteen
  16. Ashyn: Fourteen
  17. Fifteen
  18. Sixteen
  19. Moria: Seventeen
  20. Eighteen
  21. Nineteen
  22. Twenty
  23. Twenty-one
  24. Twenty-two
  25. Ashyn: Twenty-three
  26. Twenty-four
  27. Twenty-five
  28. Twenty-six
  29. Twenty-seven
  30. Twenty-eight
  31. Twenty-nine
  32. Thirty
  33. Moria: Thirty-one
  34. Thirty-two
  35. Thirty-three
  36. Thirty-four
  37. Thirty-five
  38. Thirty-six
  39. Thirty-seven
  40. Ashyn: Thirty-eight
  41. Thirty-nine
  42. Forty
  43. Forty-one
  44. Forty-two
  45. Forty-three
  46. Forty-four
  47. Forty-five
  48. Forty-six
  49. Forty-seven
  50. Forty-eight
  51. Forty-nine
  52. Moria: Fifty
  53. Fifty-one
  54. Fifty-two
  55. Fifty-three
  56. Fifty-four
  57. Fifty-five
  58. About the Author
  59. Back Ad
  60. Credits
  61. About the Publisher

“Shadow stalkers,” Moria whispered.

Ronan shook his head. “They’re black smoke.”

“Which is one form that shadow—” Moria began.

“It doesn’t matter what they are,” Ashyn cut in. “The Seeking party is gone.”

“Can we stop talking and start walking?” Ronan looked out at the forest. “Running wouldn’t be a bad idea either.”

Moria hesitated, then nodded. “Form a line. Gavril at the end. Daigo and I will— No, you—” She pointed at Ronan. “Get in front, where you can’t stab anyone in the back.”

His face darkened. “I wouldn’t—”

“I’m not taking that chance. Now move.”

Eleven

Eleven

The sun still hadn’t risen. If anything, the forest had grown darker and the air colder. Moria’s breath puffed as she walked.

Shadow stalkers.

Did she truly believe that’s what she’d seen? She wasn’t sure. As much as she loved chilling tales, they were simply delicious paths for the imagination to wander.

And yet . . .

She peered into the forest and gripped her dagger tighter. She was still scouring the woods when one of the lanterns flickered. The light wavered again . . . and went out.

Oswald called for the procession to halt while he relit it. Moria gazed out into the surrounding grayness. The swirling shadows were gone. They had been since they’d begun the return trek. While the forest beyond wasn’t a pleasant sight—gnarled trees, hanging moss—it was empty.

“It won’t ignite,” Oswald said.

“Here,” Jonas said.

As he tried to light Oswald’s lantern, his own went out.

“That happened to us earlier,” Ashyn whispered to Moria.

Moria nodded. “If you can relight them while you walk, then do so. Otherwise, keep moving and—”

Jonas pitched forward, the lantern sailing from his hands and crashing to the ground. Then the guard disappeared, flat on his stomach, arms flailing as something dragged him into the undergrowth.

Moria and Daigo charged after him.

Moria raced through the forest as she clawed vines aside.

I shouldn’t have left Ashyn. I know it’s my duty to protect everyone, and Ashyn can keep the spirits at bay. But I shouldn’t have left her.

Her foot caught on a vine. She didn’t have time to even break her fall before she went down hard, chin hitting the ground, blade flying from her hand. She leaped up, but the vine held her fast. Daigo fell on it, snarling, pulling it so hard she fell again, tears springing to her eyes.

Tears? Truly?

She pushed Daigo away and managed to sit up, swiping at her eyes and cursing.

When she heard a noise, she looked up to see Gavril hacking his way through the vines.

“Here!” she called.

As she struggled to cut herself free, Daigo hovered anxiously and Gavril had to shove him out of the way. The wildcat snarled but backed off.