rushed into my mind.
That was unexpected. But pleasant, Devin thought, then looked at me and his eyes widened. “Tell me you didn’t hear that?” he said.
I laughed, nodding, and felt tears of joy build in the corners of my eyes. I could hear and feel again.
I rubbed at the tears in my eyes, and I looked up at Liam. My heart broke. His eyes were distant. His face was stony and unreadable. His thoughts hidden from me.
How could I explain that I only hurt him so he would stop shielding me? So that I could protect everyone else? I didn’t think I could. If I did, his magic would smother mine, and it would doom us. It would be better to hide my feelings and keep him at a permanent distance.
Liam, head held high, walked away, leaving me clinging to Devin.
This time when I cried, it was tears of sorrow. Devin patted me on the back, trying to comfort me.
“I’m sure you will clue me in on what just happened,” he whispered. “Because as nice as that kiss was, I know you don’t care for me like that.”
“I’m sorry, you’re right.” I sighed. “I needed to distance myself from Liam so his magic won’t cancel out mine. It’s the only way for me to help all of you.”
Devin sighed. “He’s my best friend. This will be torture for him. You get that, right? By doing this, you are purposely hurting him.”
“It’s the only way to protect him.”
“And yet, he was just trying to protect you.”
“He can’t. He’s untrained, and he doesn’t know the extent of his power. He could do more damage than good.” I turned to look deep into the fog, and I felt magic surrounding us. A hint of a dark aura made my skin prickle in warning. “There’s something out there hunting us . . . and this is the only way I can find it.”
Chapter Eighteen
Hungry. Sss-ooo h-hungry.
My eyes flew open, and I stared up at the dark sky. Blinking to clear my sleepy thoughts, I looked over to my right and saw the sleeping forms of a few men all bundled up in their wool blankets. Nothing was out of place. Therin sat at his guard post against a tree, a crossbow in his lap, his eyes alert as he kept watch.
I laid back down on my side and turned to face the fog when I heard it again.
Hungry. Need to eat again.
I didn’t imagine it.
I reached for the leather pouch, pulled out the tube, and held it out in front of me. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do since I couldn’t see anything, and I wasn’t getting any flashing of auras. As quietly as I could, I crept toward Liam, kneeled down, and shook him awake.
No sooner had I touched him when his eyes came open, a glint of steel flashed at my throat and a hand covered my mouth. When he focused and realized it was me, he released his grip on both.
“Something’s out there,” I whispered, and nodded toward the woods.
“How do you know?” he asked.
“I can hear it.”
He turned his head and listened, straining to hear what I heard.
“No.” I motioned to my head. “Here.”
“Your powers are back?”
I nodded. “I can hear the creature. It’s loud and hungry.”
Liam nodded and stood up. Reaching for his sword, he came to my side as I faced the fog and tried to open my senses. He motioned to Therin, who stood and held his crossbow at the ready. I didn’t want to say anything, but I was secretly relieved that I could hear the monster because it meant that all wasn’t lost.
“Where is it?” Liam asked.
“I don’t know.” It frustrated me that I couldn’t give him more information. I squinted into the darkness. “I can’t hear it anymore. Maybe it left?” I said.
“What do you think?” Liam asked.
“I think it’s still out there. Watching us,” I said truthfully.
“I think you’re right.”
I heard it too late as a scream echoed into the night air.
We both spun and saw one man, who had been sleeping near the edge of the camp, get dragged into the forest. We charged across the camp as the rest of the troops were roused by the ruckus and armed themselves.
“Did you see what it was?” Liam paused to investigate drag marks and the footprints of the creature.
“No, there was nothing there,” I panted, but I didn’t pause. I raced after the man into the darkness.
“Aura, no!” Liam cried.
I