Taste of Darkness

Kerrick expected dozens to chase after the women. What he      didn’t expect was Jael exiting the aqueducts holding a bloody sword.

Shocked, he observed her. Jael wore a penitent robe. Surely she      hadn’t been incarcerated, too. What was her game? Her beautiful face was creased      into a scowl as she scanned the woods. The trail left by the women was clear. At      least she was alone. For now.

Kerrick had to intercept her. But he wasn’t sure how to do it.      Her air magic was much stronger than his forest magic. Perhaps he could ensnare      her in vines and knock her unconscious. Then what? She’d be impossible to      incarcerate or rendered harmless.

“Kerrick, I know you’re here. Show yourself,” Jael called.

He pulled power and turned normal, hoping to distract her from      the vines creeping toward her legs.

“Wow, you look terrible,” she said.

“Right back at you, Jael. Brown isn’t your color.”

“I agree. Red is much more suited to me.” She held up her      bloody sword. “Isn’t it pretty?”

He recognized the smug gleam in her eyes. Fear for Avry pumped      through him.

Jael jabbed the weapon forward in a mock attack. “And shoving      this into Avry’s heart was a thing of beauty.”

His world spun, but fury trumped pain. Kerrick stepped closer      to her.

“I’m going to savor that look of astonishment on her face for a      long time,” Jael said. “She thought I’d use my magic, but the vibration as the      blade scraped bone tingled all the way up my arm.” Jael held her hand up,      stopping Kerrick’s advance with a wall of air. “Not that I’m averse to using my      magic.”

The vines wrapped around her legs. She tsked. “You know better      than that.”

The wall of air changed direction. Instead of pressing on him,      it pulled away, taking his breath with it. He doubled his efforts, urging the      vines to move faster. If he could just get to her before he passed out...      Kerrick struggled to draw a breath. Dizzy and lightheaded, Kerrick sank to his      knees. Desperate for air, he dug his fingers into the dirt and wrenched every      last bit of his magic to him, hoping to block Jael’s attack.

But an odd thing happened. Roots erupted from the ground and      burrowed into his legs, hands, and arms, twisting around Kerrick.

Jael laughed. “How perfect. The forest agrees with me.”

Sharp pain pierced him as the roots bit into his skin. What the hell? His vision turned to snow. Soon he’d      get another taste of the darkness, and he feared he wouldn’t find the light      again.

On the edge of blacking out, Kerrick fought to stay conscious      and won. Huh? Energy infused him, but no air filled      his lungs. Not wasting time to figure it out, he focused on Jael.

The vines had continued to circle her, but she remained calm,      watching him with keen interest. Only when the vines encircled her neck did she      fight. Too late. Soon trapped, she stared at him in horror.

“How?” she squeaked.

Without air, Kerrick couldn’t talk. Rooted to the ground, he      couldn’t move. But his connection to the living green strengthened and, with a      thought, he commanded the vines to tighten around her throat.

Jael’s magic finally released Kerrick as she thrashed. Air      rushed into his lungs and he pulled in a few deep breaths. The roots retreated      underground. Pain flared anew. Blood ran down his hands.

Kerrick stood and moved closer to Jael. “Enjoying the taste of      your own medicine? It’s rather awful being denied the simple act of breathing,      isn’t it?”

No response. Terror, panic, and fear flashed on her reddening      face. He hesitated a moment—was there another way? He spotted the sword lying      next to her. It was coated with Avry’s blood. She didn’t deserve mercy.

“Goodbye, Jael. I’m afraid there’s no chance of us ever getting      back together.”

CHAPTER 14

I struggled to sip air. The effort ringed my chest with sharp daggers of pain. The light in the distance faded as the tunnel spun. Lightheaded, dizzy, and nauseous, I drifted into and out of consciousness. The water soaked into my robe. Or was it sweat?

Heat burned my skin followed by uncontrollable shivers. The motion was pure torture. Why couldn’t I just pass out? Or die? I really didn’t care which one at this moment. Although Kerrick would be upset and Loren and Quain and Flea and...

Odd? My name. He called my name. Torch light flickered. Or were they spots in my vision? I didn’t have breath to talk. Instead, I slapped the water with my hand. Or was it blood?

Then he was there, shining a much-too-bright light. I squeezed my eyes shut. His hands slid under me, but I squealed with pain when he tried to lift me and he stopped. Part of my brain noted that my right lung must be healing in order for me to have enough air to make that pathetic sound.