Page 129 of Dark Rival

Her fear escalated. She didn’t want to die, but maybe death would be preferable to what Moffat would do to her. Allie told herself she must survive. Royce needed her—the world needed her. Royce, where are you? I am in so much trouble!

And suddenly she thought she felt him, somewhere far away, listening to her.

Royce?

Suddenly Moffat stiffened, his head up, as if he scented Royce, too.

Allie wet her lips, praying. She did not want Royce walking blindly into Moffat’s trap. They needed the Ancients’ help. Weren’t the gods stronger in this time? “I am glad the gods wouldn’t let me heal that bastard,” she said with heat, in an attempt to distract Moffat.

“Be silent.” He remained poised like a hunting hound sniffing the night. Then he finally looked at her, emanating a terrible tension. “He comes, Ailios.”

She trembled and cried, “What do you intend?”

“After I am done with Royce, I will bend you to my will—and enjoy doing so. You had better beg the gods to return your powers to you.” He jerked on her and hauled her roughly back to the building where Brigdhe was imprisoned.

Moffat shoved her into the hut. She tripped and almost fell, but he caught her and dragged her across the room. “What are you doing?” she cried in alarm.

He seized a trapdoor she hadn’t noticed, set into the floor, and flung it open. Then he pushed her over the edge.

Allie fell into cold, wet dirt.

Above her, Moffat laughed and slammed the trapdoor closed.

And that was when she felt something hot, dry and scaly slither over her hand.

She became still.

The snake hissed.

Slowly Allie turned her head, adjusting her eyes to the darkness. And when she could see, she met dozens of small, glittering eyes. Dozens of snakes writhed in a mass just feet from where she lay, hissing and seething, angry at the invasion of their den.

Raw terror began.

Royce, help me!

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THE MOMENT HIS POWERS returned to him, he felt her.

Royce sat up. He was in the woods on the same ridge where he’d last been when he’d come to remind himself of Brigdhe’s pain. He froze. Ailios’s terror rolled through him in chilling, gut-wrenching waves.

She was never afraid.

He leapt to his feet and heard her.

Royce.

He couldn’t imagine what was being done to her. The Code no longer mattered. He wasn’t sure exactly when his younger self would appear, and he didn’t care. Before Ruari arrived, while he still had power, he was going to rescue Ailios and destroy Moffat once and for all.

He started down the ridge, focusing on her, savagely determined. Her image formed in his mind. She was pale with fear, as she crouched in a black hole. She had been put in a pit.

He halted, focusing with all of his being, and it took him but a moment to realize she was alone. Moffat wasn’t there.

He was so relieved. He had been terrified that Moffat or Kael was raping and torturing her. But now, he could not understand her terror. Ailios wasn’t afraid of the dark and he was fairly certain being in a pit wouldn’t frighten her, either. He reached out to her. I’m here. What frightens ye?

There was no reply.

He strained to see.