Chapter 12

Seris’s POV

Fear surged through me as I stood frozen, Nessa pressed tightly against my chest, my neck bowed. The power radiating from him—growing with every heartbeat—forced me into submission.

“Come here!” he said, his voice unnervingly calm.

Malrik Corebane’s silent summons had always preceded the worst punishments. I shook my head and stepped back. His brow furrowed in displeasure.

“I said come here,” he growled, fists clenched, eyes blazing. “Do not disobey me, Seris!”

I closed my eyes and reached for Eirwen. ‘Eirwen, please—I need you.’ My body trembled; I could feel my heart hammering. If I angered him further, he’d punish me—hurt me, or worse, hurt Nessa.

‘Seris, can you hear me?’ Eirwen’s voice whispered inside my mind. Relief washed over me.

“Yes, Eirwen,” I answered silently. “He’s going to hurt us—Nessa and me. We have to run.”

‘I don’t think he will,’ she replied gently. ‘Trust him a little. He said he won’t hurt us.