[Ayla's POV]I spin around in Barren's computer chair, trying to entertain myself until Barren returns from wherever it was that he went. I wasn't quite sure why he left so urgently after helping Alphonze, but before I could ask any questions, he disappeared."I wonder if anyone I know is sleeping," I murmur, unable to just sit around and do nothing. "Maybe he... No," I hiss, remembering the videos I saw before I became trapped here. "He probably doesn't want to see me anyway."I was sure that Aera believed I was responsible for killing his father, especially given his past prejudices, and even though somewhere in the back of my mind I wished he would believe in me, I couldn't stop the fear that he didn't."Stop doing this to yourself, Ayla," I mutter, leaning forward and placing my hands on the keyboard. "Let's search for someone to keep me entertained."After entering the code that Barren had taught me, I take in the screen and the small dots that indicate who is asleep.Once I have

[Aera’s POV]Silas and I stand to the side while Marah sits in the middle of what I now see is a pentagon with a map in front of her while chanting something in a foreign language. Soft light radiates around her, swirling like it’s on a wheel while growing brighter and brighter.When it begins to grow brighter, a segment of it breaks off and explodes into the air, then shoots down like an arrow, landing on the map, where I can only assume Ayla is located."Here," Marah announces, placing a blood-red nail on the spot that is now burned. "Is where our girl is."I remain in place as she slowly gets to her feet and begins to bow to each candle before blowing them out. Only once she is finished, she steps out and comes to join us."Do you recognize this area?" She asks, holding the map up so we can see the burn mark that her magic created. "It isn’t either of your territories, correct?""That’s right," I confirm, feeling my anger grow even more. "That’s elementalis territory."That bastard

[Aera’s POV]"Could you please drive faster? I know you’re old, but do you seriously have to drive like a grandpa?""I’m going as fast as the car will take us," Silas snaps, shooting me a glare in the rearview mirror. "If you’d like, you can fucking run there if I’m not going at the speed you want.""Man, I feel bad for Ayla," Marah sighs from the front passenger seat. "She is going to have to put up with both of you for the rest of her life."At her words, I shoot a glare but don’t bother responding.I turn my focus out of the window beside me and take in the scenery as it flies by. How long have we been driving now? An hour? Maybe two?‘More like thirty minutes,’ Rayze counters. ‘Your sense of time is horrible.’‘Shut up.’Each minute felt like a fucking eternity when I knew that Barren could be doing anything to Ayla. I needed to get to her and see with my own eyes that she was fine."This is as far as we go," Silas announces, pulling the car to the side of the road and cutting it

[Ayla's POV]"What did you just say?"Fear grips at my heart while I stare into Barren's eyes.No, there was no way that I was stupid enough to fall right into his fucking trap, and I even brought others in with me."Release them," I hiss through gritted teeth. "They're not involved in this.""But they are," Barren counters, turning his gaze toward the screens. "As long as they exist, they'll try to come between us, and I can't let that happen."Shit, he was crazy, but I couldn't let him achieve his goal. I had to do something to stop him before it was too late.Deciding that killing him was the best option I begin to move, extending my claws and baring my teeth."Stop."The word is like a fucking rope wrapping around my entire body, so I'm unable to move. Eyes widening, I look at Barren, who has a smug look on his face, while I struggle to break free of whatever the hell is holding me."I told you," he beams, moving forward and touching my face. "You won't be able to disobey me."No,

[Ayla’s POV]I lean forward, trying to ignore the pain that shoots through me while the world fades in and out. I had told Barren to do his worst, and do his worst he did, leaving me battered and bruised and chained to a damn chair while he ran around who knew where.Grumbling to myself, I begin to pull at the chains around my wrists, but stop as the cold metal cuts into my skin, sending waves of agonizing pain through me.Fuck, this wouldn’t do. I couldn’t just stay here. I didn’t know how the others were or whether or not Barren had done something to them.Lifting my gaze, I take in the area around me, trying to determine if there was something I could use to try to pick the locks of my cuffs. When I spot a small pocket knife, I know it is exactly what I need. I just need to get to it.I begin to buck my body, attempting to bunny hop forward but only crashing to my side, sending more pain through me."Dammit," I growl, looking toward the weapon I need. "This won’t do. I can’t just s