“Aye, but where have you been? What did they save you from?”
“There were some cultists to the west,” Levi said. “They must have taken her one day while she was playing near the woods.”
Auntie Delli gripped Mae’s shoulders. “How often did we tell you not to go near that forest?”
“Mae!” Two people ran toward their small gathering. The woman had to lift her skirt from the ground to be able to run as fast as she did.
“Mummy!” Mae tore herself away from Auntie Delli’s grip and ran to her mother. Her parents embraced her, her mother planted a hundred kisses on the child’s head. “We were so afraid! Where were you?”
Auntie Delli repeated what Levi had told them.
“Mae says you saved her,” her father said. He was a tall, lanky man with greying brown hair. “Is that true?”
Doran nodded. “We had unfinished business with the cultists, and found Mae.”
Mae’s mother put a hand on her husband’s arm. “Darling, do you remember the smoke Daryn saw? He said it came from the direction of that wretched place, didn’t he?”
“He did. I take it that was your doing?”
“They won’t abduct another child,” Levi said. “You have our word.” He had taken charge while Doran wasn’t looking. Doran liked this new confident side to him.
Mae’s mother took her inside away from the crowd, but her father stayed.
“Then we have to repay you. Is there anything we can offer? We don’t have much, and we’re not rich, but our crops are the best around and my wife bakes excellent cakes.”
Doran and Levi exchanged glances. “We need three horses, but we insist on paying for them,” Doran said.
“Are you sure we can’t gift them to you?”
Under any other circumstances Doran wouldn’t have asked. They needed the horses to get to Ash in time. He would have taken them without another thought, but he didn’t feel right stealing from them after they’d just returned their daughter home. He’d stolen plenty of times in his life and he doubted he was done. There’d be other chances. He’d make an exception this once.
“We insist,” Levi said.
“Follow me, lads. I’ll give you a discount, if nothing else.”
That they didn’t argue. Money was tight and the horses were good breeds. Doran paid, they saddled their sparse belongings on the spare horse, and then they were on their way to Alt Võina.
Doran hoped Ash could hold on a little longer.
Ithrean stared into the soul of Dunhă. She paled at its pain. Ceallach’s presence was there with her, hiding, biding his time, but she would find him.
The red grass swayed in the windless breeze, and that same breeze welcomed her home, but she could taste the sickness in the air. In the distance loomed her city bright and shining as ever, but also blackened with the first signs of the corruption marring the perfect white.
She had slept as it slithered invisibly to the city at the heart of her haven and turned her dead against her.
The tainted skies. The corrupted spirits. The darkened light. Her home was dying because of him, and she vowed to take back what was hers.
CONNECT
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ALSO BY SARINA LANGER
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Wardens of Archos (#2)
Blood of the Dragon (#3, coming 2019)
Acknowledgments
There’s a whole team behind even the shortest book. I’m lucky to have always had a fantastic, supportive, talented group of people behind me. Without them, Darkened Light or any of my other books wouldn’t be what they are.
THANK YOU to my amazing editor Briana Mae Morgan, who not only whipped my drafts into shape but who also offered endless love and encouragement along the way. I’m fortunate to have found someone who gets me, my worlds, and my characters, and helps me get the most out of them.
THANK YOU to my cover designers Andrew and Rebecca at Design for Writers. While we’re told not to judge a book by its cover, we all do it, and thanks to them my books make a good first impression.
THANK YOU to Glynn at MonkeyBlood Design, who has once again taken a terrible sketch and transformed it into a stunning map. I can’t draw to save my life, so Glynn works real magic as far as I’m concerned.
THANK YOU to my critique partners Beverley Lee, Faith Rivens, and Rhianne Williams. You, my dears, have seen an early version of this book no one else will ever have to endure. Thank you for braving an early draft and not running away in terror.
THANK YOU to my beta readers Dana Fraedrich, Ruth Miranda, Villimey Sigurbjörnsdóttir, Taylor Tampa, and Mooni. You helped me iron out the last creases—I hope it wasn’t too painful.
THANK YOU to my Sparrows, who wrote the first reviews and helped me spread the word. Because of your love for this book, Darkened Light had a wonderful start. I’m lucky to have you <3
THANK YOU to everyone on social media, especially Instagram, who gushes over my books. There are far too many of you to name, but know that every picture and every kind word makes this so bloody worthwhile!
And, finally, THANK YOU to my SO Barrie Almond who helped me format this thing. It’s the part of self-publishing that murders the most nerves, and thanks to him most of mine are still alive and well.
Oh, and THANK YOU to my parents and especially my grandma. You made sure I grew up with bedtime stories, new books when I wanted them, and art wherever I went. This broken mind of mine is your fault and your blessing.