Chapter 2

2

The hunt had never interested him. It involved more patience than he had—or wanted to cultivate. But things had changed. Jai relished every aspect of this particular hunt. Vengeance tended to do that.

They had taken many things from him over the years. He was a cog in a giant wheel that either flattened you or notched you in with others. He glanced toward his closest friend as the shadows fell away to reveal her. Priya was the only family he had left. They had each other’s backs.

If he had been on his own, he would have chosen death by the wheel rather than the alternative.

But that day had passed.

He knew the excitement blazing in Priya’s yellow eyes. It mirrored his. They had been searching for their quarry for days. And now, they had her in their sights.

Priya hunkered beside him, out of sight. “ She’s on her way.”

When the sketch of Arya , a Dark male, a male Sun Elf , and a human had fallen into his hands the week before, he hadn’t believed his luck. Many were trying to get all four in one go, but Jai had focused on Arya . And it had paid off. She had gotten away with her misdeeds for too long. It was time someone brought her to justice. At least, the kind of justice that mattered when someone sought revenge.

The moment The Crossing’s door swung open, Jai locked his gaze on her. The surge of anger and resentment that enveloped him at the sight of her was so intense that he had to dig his hand into a rock to keep from giving in too soon. To his shock—and fury—his heart leapt at the chance to see her in the flesh once more.

Arya stood on the stoop, her gaze moving methodically around the tunnel. There were plenty of places to hide. There were no lights. The Dark didn’t need them. He knew the moment she registered the potentially dangerous places. Jai grinned. She was looking out when she should be looking down and to the side.

Priya rubbed her hands together eagerly. “ I’ve waited for this day for three years.”

Jai fisted his hands and watched Arya lift her chin and start down the tunnel, seemingly without a care in the world. He had wondered what it would feel like when he finally got to confront her. Seemed he would soon get his answer.

He raked his gaze over her in distaste. She might have a stunningly beautiful shell, but it housed a dark heart. Thick , white hair was plaited in a loose braid that fell down her back, bound by bands of silver. Intricately designed silver caps adorned the tips of her ears that poked through her hair, while silver earrings dangled to brush the tops of her shoulders.

The sight of her heart-shaped face had once rendered him speechless. Her beauty had only heightened in the four years since he had last seen her. High cheekbones. Large eyes. Stubborn chin. And a perfect mouth. He had kissed those plump lips once, stroked his fingers across her cheek. Even dared to skim his hand along the edge of her ear. When he believed she looked up at him with passion.

Desire swelled and tangled with bitterness. Longing jostled with ire. He hated that she still had power over him and could wring anything but indifference from him. He had once believed she was out of his league, but that was before he’d uncovered her duplicitous nature. Lies slid easily off her silken tongue, her deceit so thick and copious there was no room for truth or honesty.

Today , she wore a sleeveless, high-necked black tunic with a silver motif embroidered from neck to hem. It skimmed her curves and fell to her ankles. He spotted slim, black pants between the four thigh-high slits that brought attention to her silver sandals.

Need thrummed through him. He shoved it aside. His body would learn quickly enough not to react to such a traitor.

Priya said something, but he wasn’t paying attention. He was too lost in Arya , in the past. How could he have missed her self-assured walk? The way she squared her shoulders, daring anyone to get in her way.

He looked down the tunnel. It wasn’t a high-traffic area, making it the perfect location for the abduction. He hadn’t believed Arya would dare walk it alone. He was delighted to find he was wrong.

He could wait no longer. He rose and soundlessly fell into step behind Arya , spotting Priya following him out of the corner of his eye. They wouldn’t have a better chance. They could be out in a matter of seconds with no one the wiser.

Priya yanked on his sleeve, at the same time his neck prickled. Jai glanced over his shoulder and spotted a petite, dark-haired human part her lips to warn Arya . Jai didn’t hesitate to gather his shadows and jump to the female. He enveloped her in the darkness and knocked her unconscious. But not before she got a squeak off.

He stilled, his gaze jerking to Arya . She didn’t slow or look back. Jai saw Priya moving to take her. He bared his teeth and tossed the human over his shoulder. Once more, he used the shadows to catch up with Priya . Arya was his. He had stated that fact. He stepped in front of Priya and tossed her the human. Jai yanked out the only bag they had brought and lifted it high. He must have made a sound because she started to turn toward him. The bag slid over her head, her startled yelp cut off as the magic within the hood took effect.

“ Hurry ,” Priya bit out.

Jai spun Arya and flipped her over his shoulder just as they heard The Crossing’s back door open. Both he and Priya vanished with their shadows. Dark Elves were the only class that traveled in such a fashion, but the addition of anyone else drained the magic they used for such trips. Jai wasn’t able to get far before he had to rest. He kept his shadows around him and then jumped again. Jai had to do it four more times before he made it to the ship. He sagged against the railing, weaker than he liked. But he had his prize.

Priya came up from below, her expression sour. Jai adjusted Arya’s limp body on his shoulder and walked past his oldest friend. His legs wobbled with the effort as he descended the stairs to the prison he had made just for Arya . He halted when he saw that the second chamber’s door was shut.

“ Didn’t have a choice,” Priya said as she walked up behind him. “ I couldn’t get the magic to work on the human.”

He frowned as her words sank in. “ That’s not possible.”

“ Give it a go yourself. Be my guest. I’ll take this one.”

Before he realized it, Priya had hauled Arya out of his arms and slammed her onto the floor. Priya’s smile was wide as she dragged Arya into her new home. Jai watched Priya pull out the gold necklace and click it into place around Arya’s neck.

“ That feels bloody good,” Priya said as she straightened and dusted off her hands.

Jai smiled in agreement. Then he looked at the second door. Humans didn’t have magic. Nor could they prevent magic from being used on them. And no one in all of Shecrish didn’t wish otherwise.

Was Priya playing a prank? She was known for such things. Jai wanted to retire to his quarters and rest to regain his strength, but he walked to the second door and peered into the barred, circular hole. The human female stood in the middle of the chamber, glaring daggers at him. If looks could kill, he’d be flayed alive.

He hadn’t intended for the extra passenger, but there was no turning back now. She had seen them, and he couldn’t let her go even if he wanted to. This trip was too important.

“ It’s time to celebrate. We have a full hold, one requested prisoner, and an additional captive,” Priya said as she shut and locked the door to Arya’s cell. Priya came to stand beside him and jerked her chin toward the human. “ What do you think?”

Jai unbarred the door and walked into the room. The female barely reached his chest, but damn if she didn’t widen her stance and lower her head as if ready to fight. “ That would be a mistake,” he told her.

“ Your mistake was kidnapping us,” the female stated.

Priya leaned a shoulder against the doorway and folded her arms across her chest. “ Make things easier on yourself, human. Don’t fight. Your fate is already sealed.”

“ Why don’t you bring yourse—?” the human began.

Magic rose in Jai’s hand and shot toward the human in a thick, white flash. She stumbled backward into the wall, but to his shock, she didn’t go down. Instead , she turned her brown eyes on him, the orbs ablaze with fury. Jai sent two more rounds of magic at her, but the female remained on her feet, seemingly unfazed.

“ I’ll be damned,” he murmured.

As far as he knew, no human had ever been immune to elven magic. What made this one so different?

“ Keep trying. It’ll be the same,” the human announced angrily.

He narrowed his eyes. She tried to feign nonchalance, but he saw through it. There was strain around her mouth, and she attempted to hide a fisted hand behind her. How was she able to stay on her feet?

“ Try this,” Priya said, appearing next to the human and yanking the hood over her head.

Jai watched the woman struggle against it, even as Priya fought to keep the cover in place. After several minutes, his friend gave up. The human wrenched the bag from her head and tossed it aside to glower at them, her chest heaving and hair in disarray.

“ What are you?” Priya demanded.

Jai took a step toward the female. Her gaze slid to him, and he held it for several quiet moments. “ You weren’t meant to be part of this cargo. I’ll leave you alive as long as you stay quiet. The moment you cause trouble, I’ll slit your throat. Understood ?”

Instead of answering, the female smoothed her hair. Jai took that as an answer and motioned Priya out ahead of him. He locked the door and went abovedeck. Priya followed and quickly readied the ship with the rest of the crew. They had run this route so many times, they had mastered it. Not that it was without dangers.

The treacherous waves claimed many who attempted to navigate the Lotus River . It might be a beautiful stretch of water deep underground, but it was something few risked. Not even the Sea Elves . There were narrow crossings, shallow waters, rapids, waterfalls, and other dangers. Jai was one of only a handful who had managed to learn the passage and stay alive.

He stood at the ship’s helm and watched his crew. Priya shouted orders. He had known her for nearly his entire life. If one of them got into trouble, the other was right behind. He had never fancied himself a ship’s captain, but there was a lot about his life he had never expected. When he took over as captain, Priya had stepped in as his first mate. He wouldn’t have achieved the success he had without her, and they both knew it. She was a natural on the water and at leading the crew.

“ Ready , Captain ?” she asked with a twinkle in her yellow eyes.

He nodded. The ship moved away from the harbor and lurched into the water. There was only one other ship docked, having just come from the same run Jai was about to make. He and the captain exchanged a nod as he passed. Then he forgot the port and everyone else as Priya steered them into the middle of the fast-moving river. She wore a smile, the wind whipping through her short, white hair.

Jai walked to the side and looked over the edge at the river below. The ship glided effortlessly atop the dark water. Algae grew at the bottom of the river and glowed bright blue, giving the water luminescence. Radiant fish in pink, yellow, and green swam close to the surface. It all gave the illusion of safety. The moment anyone went into the water, the creatures of darkness—the ones that didn’t glow—snatched them.

“ Just a few more days,” Priya said. “ I can’t believe that’s all we have.”

He straightened and turned to lean against the railing. “ A lot could happen between now and then.”

She shrugged, her hands lying gently on the helm. “ We’ve done this so many times, we could do it in our sleep.”

“ Never with a human.”

Priya gave him a hard look. “ Or an elf who’s awake. That’s a mistake.”

They’d had this argument already, and he wouldn’t have it again. “ I have my reasons.”

“ I’m not saying they aren’t valid. I’m just saying it’s a mistake.”

He laughed softly. “ If you had your way, you would’ve killed Arya already.”

“ In a heartbeat. She deserves it. But …” Priya said with a long pause. “ She’s valuable to us. Which means she has to arrive alive.”

Jai turned to look at the bow of the ship. For the first time in a long while, he could breathe easier. He would finally get his long-awaited revenge. It wouldn’t erase the last years, but maybe he could finally look to the future.

“ What do you plan to do?” Priya’s voice intruded on his thoughts. “ After . You’ve not talked about it.”

Jai moved with the motion of the ship. Once long, long ago, during a drunken night out, they had talked about their wishes for the future. A few days later, his life had been turned upside down. He knew better than to put his hopes into words. “ And I won’t. Not until we’ve reached our destination and handed Arya over.”

“ I don’t know how you can do that. I can’t think of anything else. I have so many plans. I might even let you tag along.”

His lips curved into a smile. “ Thought you would’ve tired of me by now.”

“ We’ve been through too much.”

“ That we have.”

“ Jai ,” Priya called softly. “ Don’t .”

He pretended he didn’t know what she meant. “ Don’t what?”

“ Go below. I know you have things you want to say to her, maybe even attempt to get answers, but everything she says will be a lie. You have to know that.”

“ I do.”

“ But you’re still going.”

He faced his longtime friend. “ I am. I want to be there when she opens her eyes. I want to see the look on her face when she realizes her life is over. I want to be there when it hits her that I’m responsible for all of it.”

“ Just …guard your heart.”

“ What heart?” he asked with a bark of laughter. As he walked away, he said over his shoulder, “ It’s long gone, Pri .”

Her laughter followed him as he made his way around the top deck, checking on the ship and crew. He didn’t look up at Priya when he circled back and headed below. He knew he’d see disappointment on her face, but nothing would stop him from doing what came next.