THE ASHEN COURT

ANIKA VALERION

I collapsed to my knees. The impact jarred through my bones. The pain in my palm was gone.

The horn stopped.

The invisible force holding me vanished as if it had never existed.

I turned my hand over. The deep cut had sealed completely; only a thin line remained where the knife had opened my flesh.

My head snapped up.

Rage burned through the lingering shock.

“What have you done to me?”

The figures moved together, perfectly synchronized. Their luminous faces carried the same slight, crooked smile, as if they were looking at something precious they had finally reclaimed.

“We have only woken what was...