Page 138 of A Dance of Water

LUELLA

Luella held her midsection, her breath labored as she ran through the forest. She had gotten better at running and dodging the many trees and rocks in her path.

It had been five days of intense training, hours and hours spent running through the woods with only her hands and feet to guide her way. Hours on horseback journeying to and fro the forest. Held on the way there, usually in the arms of Graves or Bastian; and cradled against the chest of Vale or Tharen, sleepy and aching as they took her back to the castle.

Five days, and only nine left to prove herself. Every time she was discovered by one of her hunters, she couldseethe look of disappointment on Tharen’s face burning through her silken blindfold.

Luella’s feet pounded against the wet earth, and she felt the presence of something towering up ahead. She darted to the side, feeling tree branches snag on the folds of her cloak.

With every footfall, she saw a vision her mind had conjured up: Az in chains and a muzzle on his face to keep him from gifting her words of comfort.

She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to run faster.

A fragile thread, wrapped around her soul, tugged her back. She faltered but resisted the persistence of the call.

Think you can run from me?Bastian’s words were a sultry purr in her mind.

"Yes," she panted.

Quiet laughter echoed in her mind.

Determination gripped her, and the thunder only increased. Electricity crackled in the air, and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end from the charge.

Tharen wanted me to pass along… he hopes you’re prepared for what he has in store for you.

She didn’t give him what he wanted: a reaction. That’s all they wanted from her. They were doing whatever it took to rile her up, and she refused to give in. She wouldn’t let her emotions control her; she would control her power by other means.

From lack of breath, her lungs ached, and her muscles trembled from exertion.

Water lapped against the edges of her consciousness, and she gasped at the images Bastian was sending her. Her heart picked up to a dangerous rhythm—a long thrum that felt like it might pound out of her chest.

The charge in the air increased, and the only warning she received was a tingling of static before everything blew up around her.

Luella was thrown back against the ground, tumbling and rolling.

A loud groan and crack reverberated, causing her teeth to clink together.

Her ears rang, and she reached up with a shaking hand, feeling wetness dribble from them.

She placed a weak hand on her stomach, barely able to move her fingers. Her head fell back against the ground, and she gave in to the electricity flowing through her veins, sinking into darkness.

47

IT HURTS TO HELP

GRAVES

Graves knew nothing but fear.

In the blink of an eye, he shifted back into his human form, feeling clothes against his skin as his boots sank into the ground.

Tharen’s wolves converged behind him—the mage was not far.

A large tree had been split directly in two by the lightning. And Luella lay, motionless, by its side.

The largest of the wolves, Dyara, tipped her head back and howled, calling for her master.

Akira and Lya traipsed toward Luella. Lya peered up at Graves as she laid her head down by Luella’s inert form, giving a soft whine as Akira nudged against her palm.

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