Layla rolled her eyes. “I know the test only evaluates a magical’s abilities, not their heritage.”
“That doesn’t mean it can’t prove you are who we think you are,” Kaden said. He pressed the device against the barrier. “Here,” he pled, “take it and see for yourself.”
When she didn’t step forward, he placed it on the ground just outside the barrier and stepped away.
The sound of motorbikes increased in volume. Layla stared down the drive, trying to determine how far away her friends were.
“By the time they get here, it’ll be too late,” he said, nodding in the direction of the sound. He held up his hand to show her a small device with a blinking red dot in the middle of it. “I’ve already activated this,” he said. “A fire team is on their way. If you think I can’t break this flimsy protective barrier, then you should know that they can.”
Doubt curdled all her ideas of escape as she looked out across the lawn. She knew it was a risk. He could be bluffing. She had to consider if she was willing to take that risk or not.
Dropping to her knees, she snatched the device from the ground. Without pausing, she plunged the needle into her arm. Her blood mixed with the green liquid contained in the device. They swirled together. Nothing happened. Her heart pounding, she looked up at the man, her lips parting to give a snarky retort to his shocked expression.
But then, as if the kindling had been struck with flint, her blood began to spark. It turned a fiery crimson, flames bursting into life within the vial. Layla dropped it and stepped back.
“You see,” the man said. “You see how your blood reacts? That reaction was the signature sign of the Shadowcrest line. You are the lost princess.”
Layla shook her head.
“Look, I know this is confusing. It would be a lot for anyone. But if you don’t leave with me, I can promise you this. My soldiers will arrive in a matter of minutes. Your little friends will all be killed. And we will still break the protective barrier. I’ve lived with King Renard all my life and I know he will not be pleased that you chose to cause this much trouble. As I said, we have no intention of harming you.”
He held out his hand towards her, his fingers grazing the barrier. It crackled with electricity, but he did not pull away. She glanced towards the still distant sound of the motorbikes. “You swear they won’t be harmed for helping me?” she asked.
“Layla, no!” Penny whispered. “You can’t give into him.”
“It’s the only way to protect them,” Layla soundlessly replied.
“I give you my word. They will not be harmed. I’ll call my soldiers off as soon as you cross the barrier.”
She dropped her gaze to the device. Her blood still swirled within the vial. A spiral of flame swelled within it, growing hotter with each second.
She met Kaden’s gaze. She didn’t want anyone else to get hurt because of her. Besides, she was certain they would run more tests and discover she was nothing more than a highly magical fae. Nothing more. She took a deep breath and stepped through the barrier.
Chapter Six
Fingers gripped her wrist so tightly she could feel bruises blossoming on her skin. He looped a tandem harness around the two of them and texted a code into the holographic keypad on his watch. A second later, Layla felt like her navel was being yanked upwards. She whimpered in pain as she was sucked into a black hole.
It was over in an instant.
Layla rolled onto her side, her breathing ragged. She couldn’t believe that they’d just fallen through a portal. The devices were rare. And expensive. She’d only seen them used when diplomats arrived at special events that were broadcast across the whole of Mitier. She leaned over, dry heaving as her body recovered from the rapid transport. Bile rose the back of her throat, but she swallowed when she heard Kaden panting next to her. She refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her suffer.
Sweat dripped from her brow as she sat back on her butt and stared at him.
“Where are we?” she asked.
He didn’t respond to her. He just swept his hands through his hair and continued taking deep breaths.
“I told you this was a bad idea,” Penny whimpered. “We shouldn’t be here, Layla. You must figure out a way to get out. Now.”
Layla ignored her PEA. “Either tell me where we are, or I’ll scream.”
He stared at her, his face covered in sweat and his eyes hyper-focused on her eyes. “You think screaming is going to do you any good?” He laughed. “Look around you, princess. There’s no one here to save you.”
For the first time, Layla looked around the room. They were in sparsely furnished one room apartment. There was a one wall kitchen at the back with chipped wooden cabinets. A couch, which clearly folded out into a bed, stood in the middle of the room. Although no lights were on, ambient light from the city filtered in through the sheer curtains.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“This,” Kaden said, sweeping his arm across the space, “is our new home for the foreseeable future.”
“Our?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you were taking me to the king.”
“I am, but I have to be certain you are who I think you are.”
“So, you’re not certain then? After all that talk about how the test never lies and how only the Shadowcrest family could ever produce such a powerful reaction, there’s still a bit of doubt in you.”
“I would be a fool if there wasn’t,” he replied. He shrugged as he stood and pulled her to her feet. “We’ll be staying here together until I’m certain.”
“This is, by far, the worst predicament you have ever gotten us into,” Penny screeched. “This man is clearly unhinged!”
Layla couldn’t help but chuckle at the ire in her AI’s voice.
“What are you laughing at?” Kaden growled.
She blinked up at him, biting her lower lip. “You just wanted to get me alone, didn’t you?” she asked as she slid her hand up his arm. His back straightened and his eyes lingered on her lips as she pulled him closer to her. “Was this your whole plan? To spend time with me away from prying eyes?” she purred.
He closed his eyes as she leaned up kissed him on the cheek. Without hesitating, she kneed him as hard as she could right between the legs and shoved him to the ground. She bolted for the door.
He groaned, clutching at his crotch. She twisted the doorknob and tugged on the door. It rattled in the frame but didn’t open. Frantic to get out of this place she summoned flames into her hand. The knob heated, glowing slightly as it began to melt.
“He’s coming!” Penny shrieked just before she felt his hands wrap around her waist.
She squirmed in his grasp, kicking and punching everything she could make contact with.
“Let me go!” she screamed just before she felt the hot sting of a syringe pricking her neck. Warmth flooded her body and she felt weightless for a moment before everything went dark.
Layla jolted awake to the sound of horns honking and people yelling from the streets outside. She tried to sit up, but her hands were handcuffed to a bar that had been bolted into the wall. Welts burned as she yanked against the restraints. She didn’t know why they weren’t healing. Desperate to escape she tried to summon her fire. Nothing happened.