I tug my hand through my hair and turn, pacing away from her. The other Nephilim stand in a ring around us, preventing my escape. I reach inside, searching for my power, but there is an emptiness where it once was. “And what’s so wrong with that? That friendship is why he fights against whoever is controlling him.” I stop moving and spin around. “Unless of course one of you is holding his leash. Then I played right into your hands.”
“We did no such thing.” Anger flashes through her eyes. “I told you we are forces of light. We would never align ourselves with darkness.” She folds her arms over her chest. “You, however, would. That is why we cannot allow you in the world on your own.”
“So, I’m trapped here against my will—” I lower my head in defeat “—but I’m not supposed to think of it as a prison.”
“It is not a prison. It is your home.” She snaps her fingers, and the dark-haired Nephilim steps forward. “Olivia, show her to her room.”
As Olivia leads me to the church, she says, “We’ll let your friends know you are with us. There’s a pen and paper in your room. Feel free to write to your family, and we’ll see to it that your letters get to them.”
“After you read them.” My voice is despondent.
“Of course.” She presses her hand to my arm and guides me on.
“Home sweet home.” I murmur with as much sarcasm as I can muster.
“Do not try to escape.” She sneers at me, and I wonder why I ever thought her eyes were beautiful. There is so much anger and hatred in them now. “The only way in or out through the wards is through our portals. Your magic will not work here. It was stripped from you as soon as you entered our grounds.”
I stop, planting my feet firmly. “So not only am I prisoner, I’m not even myself.”
Her lip curls in disgust as she looks at me. “If all you are is your magic, we got to you too late.”
“You took away a huge part of me. You brought me here against my will, and you think you’re the righteous ones.” A humorless laugh escapes my lips as I step away from her. “Tell me where to go. Then leave.”
She shakes her head. “I do not take orders from humans, especially ones who fraternize with demons.”
The doors to the church open. A blinding light strikes me.
My eyes fluttered. Cody’s arm was thrown over my chest. His breaths were slow and steady. I stared at the ceiling, not moving, not wanting to wake him yet. I wanted to process my dream to figure out which parts might be true, which may come true, and which were warnings.
I thought about Diana telling me that they wouldn’t sully themselves with demons. That statement rang with truth. So, if not the Nephilim, who else would have unleashed him on me?
The trees had been blooming, so their fortress must have been in the southern hemisphere. I didn’t think they would wait until spring to take me captive.
I slid out of Cody’s arms and stood by the window. I stared out at the darkness without really seeing anything. Malcolm, are you awake?
Yes. His voice was vigilant. Are you okay?
I need to talk. I sent him the memory of my dream. Will the dragons give me up to the Nephilim?
He didn’t answer right away, and that was answer enough. Fighting back tears of betrayal, I wondered how long I had before they decided I wasn’t worth protecting.
I don’t know, Dacia. I made a vow to protect you. I will not turn my back on you. He paused before adding. I know what it is like to be held against my will, and I will vow to you now, that if they take you, even with the dragons’ blessings, I will find a way to get you out of there.
The tension in my body released. I pressed my hand to my chest, feeling a lightness there that took me by surprise. Thank you, Malcolm.
I will relay your dream and your concerns to Aurelia. I will tell her nothing of my vow. I felt his loyalty to me. Though, I believe she feels the same.
Thank you. I hoped he could sense my gratitude and that he could tell how deeply his words had touched me.
The connection between us broke, and I was on my way back to the couch when I felt Mavros’ call. My legs wobbled, and my pulse raced. I looked over my shoulder. I hadn’t seen him looking up at me, but had he been there?
I felt a pull on my body, but I kept walking to the couch, intending to ignore him. Just as I was about to sit down, he forced me to teleport.
I shivered as I looked around, trying to figure out where I was and if I was alone. The snow was at least six inches deep here, and my bare feet were freezing.
Mavros landed in front of me. His bat-like wings folded against his back and disappeared. Leave, Dacia. Teleport away. Tell Malcolm to protect you from my call. They are not— His voice cut off, and he roared in pain. His face twisted, and he lunged toward me.
I teleported back to my room but not before his claws tore through my arm. I landed flat on my back with a loud thump.
Cody jumped up from the couch. “Dacia? What happened?”
My four guards were in the room before I could answer him. I wrapped the tail of my shirt around my arm, trying to staunch the flow of blood.
Malcolm lifted his nose and inhaled. His pupils turned to slits. Tye stepped around him, but Malcolm snarled. Tension filled the room, and the other dragons froze.
Clenching his jaw, Malcolm strode toward me. He
