MIREYA POV
We were finally close to home when I saw Brina standing at the gate leading into Harrowden. She looked tense, her hands twisting the straps of her bag as if she could hold herself together. Her dark hair hung in loose braids over her shoulders, and her green eyes… usually full of mischief… were wide and frightened. At fifteen, she had grown up too fast, but there was still a sadness to her face that made me worry.
"Brina," I called, my voice shaking. She lifted her head and looked at me.
"Oh dear… what took you both so long?" she said, but her voice trembled.
Edda stepped forward, worry written on her face. "Why are you out here? What is it?"
Brina hesitated, biting her lip, and I could sense her fear.
"What is it, Brina?" Edda pressed, her voice sharper now.
"The boys… Lief and Soren… got caught by a Gifted," she finally blurted out.
"What!" Edda and I shouted at the same time, panic clawing at my chest.
"And…" Brina's voice shook. "And Soren… he was beaten badly. He's… he's barely conscious."
"Oh moon… how did this happen?" Edda demanded, her hands clenching into fists, fury flashing in her eyes.
I stepped closer to Brina. "There's more, isn't there? You're not telling us everything."
Brina swallowed hard, shoulders trembling. "The Gifted… the one who caught the boys… he's at the House."
Edda's eyes went cold, deadly. Without a word, she turned and ran, and I had to sprint to keep up. We wove through the streets and alleys, our feet pounding the cobblestones, anger and fear twisting tight in my chest. The House, we had to get there fast.
We got closer to the House and froze. The houses around us were all locked. Nobody had come to help.
I wasn't surprised. They're probably peeping through their windows
When it came to the Gifted, nobody helped anyone… not even your neighbors. They would rather be bystanders than lift a hand.
Orla and Hestia were screaming from the alley, their voices raw with fear. My stomach turned.
We hurried in and found Soren was lying on the ground, bloodied and barely moving. A man was raising his boot, about to step on him.
My heart nearly jumped into my throat.
"That's enough!" Edda screamed, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. "You'll kill him!"
The man turned to her slowly, his gaze cold and sharp. My blood ran cold.
"Death is what the likes of you deserve," he spat, voice dripping with cruelty. "How dare he steal from my lord?"
I froze for a moment, watching Soren struggle to lift his head, pain twisting his face. Rage and fear coiled tight inside me. I wanted to scream, to rush in, to protect him… but Edda's hand on my shoulder held me back.
She was calm, deadly, and I knew she had a plan.
I clenched my fists, stomach burning, every nerve screaming. But I couldn't do anything… I had no power to either.. I was the weakest among us all.
"If it's your money you want," Edda said, stepping closer. "Here." She threw her stash to the ground. "You can have that you arse."
I froze, furious.
That was all we had made today… which was enough to last us three days… and she gave it away.
The man bent down and picked it up. His cold gaze landed on Edda. "Wow… you're all blood thieves, aren't you?"
"Brina," Edda said, her voice sharp, "take Soren away and get him treated." Her eyes never left the man's. "We are not thieves. The real thieves are you. You fucking gifted scums of the earth"
Before I could react, he slapped her across the cheek. My stomach twisted with anger and fear, and I wanted to rush in… but my legs couldn't... Wouldn't move.. before I knew it he hit her again.
Suddenly a voice cut through the air.
"Enough, Drak."
The man froze and stepped back into the light. An older man, his hair white and carefully combed, in his fifties. His eyes were sharp and cold, but there was something commanding about him… something that made even the big scary guy submit.
"Hmmm…" His eyes landed on me, and I felt my stomach twist into knots. Every instinct in me screamed to run, but I slowly slipped behind Edda, letting her shield me.
"Come here, my dear," he said, his hand gesturing toward me.
My heart started hammering. I didn't move. I couldn't. Something about the way he looked at me made my skin crawl, cold fear crawling along my spine. I pressed myself closer to Edda, wishing I could disappear, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.
Come, my dear… I won't bite you," he said softly.
I hesitated, my feet rooted to the ground. I looked at him, really looked… and every part of me screamed in fear. My hands were shaking.
"Who the hell are you?" Edda asked, her voice cold and hard.
"Oh, pardon my manners," he said with a thin smile. "My name is Lord Malric Duskbane." His eyes darkened. "A Veylar."
The word hit me like a blow.
Veylar. Third-level Gifted. Elite fighters. Weapon-bonded magic. Never have I.. Have we met a Third level Gifted
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. My chest felt tight, like I couldn't breathe properly. I could feel Edda tense in front of me, her muscles stiff, her stance changing. She was afraid… Edda, who was never afraid… and that terrified me more than the man standing before us.
I stayed behind her, gripping the back of her coat, knowing one thing for sure.
This wasn't just trouble anymore.
This was death standing right in front of us.
"Now come to me. Don't make me ask twice," he said.
My legs felt heavy, but I stepped forward anyway. Every step made my heart pound harder. I could feel Edda behind me, rigid, ready… but she didn't move. She couldn't.
His fingers lifted my chin. I froze.
"Hmm… the resemblance is uncanny," he murmured. "How old are you, dear?"
"Twenty-one," I said, my voice thin. I swallowed hard.
"What a coincidence," he said softly. "Blessed be the heavens… just perfect."
My heart raced. I didn't understand what he meant, but the way he looked at me made my skin crawl.
"She will do," he said, turning away as if I were nothing more than a thing. "You're mine from today. Seize her, Drak."