The Land Of Shadows Read Online Free Page B

you for seeing me, Lorcan.”
    A cry sounds through the house. I glance at the ceiling for a split-second before I run for the stairs. By the time Lorcan realizes I’ve moved I’ve managed to make my way up to the second floor. Only Lucius can prove to be a problem for me, if he is even here.
    I keep going from room to room until I stand before the one at the end of the hall. As I reach for the doorknob I notice the slight tremor in my hand. Pushing the door open, the first thing I see is Luna’s mom, Sage. She turns from the window as I enter and the blatant signs of fatigue tell me she hasn’t left Luna’s room for a while.
    “If Lucius finds you here there will only be trouble! It is best you go, Storm.” Sage sounds as tired as she looks, but I’m not about to make this easy for any of them. Concern for Luna is urging me forward.
    “As her trainer she is my responsibility,” I remind her before I finally allow myself to look at the bed. My heart clenches at the sight of Luna. I’m used to seeing a cold hearted woman with steel in her silver eyes, not this quivering, curled up ball that is clenching her pillow as if it will save her from whatever demon she has been facing the past seven years. It seems the demon has finally caught up with her and it’s beating her down.
    I rush to her side and the closer I get the more worried I become. Her hair is soaked and matted against her face. No matter this constant fighting between us, what I said is true, she is my responsibility. I pull a chair closer and rinse the cloth out next to her bed so I can wipe her face down.
    “You cannot stay, Storm! You have to leave.” There is a clear note of panic in Sage’s voice, and again I choose to ignore her warning. I’ll deal with Lucius when he gets here.
    “Like I told Lorcan, she is my trainee and the law states I have rule over her until she graduates.” I keep my eyes on Luna as I fear Sage might see how I’m struggling to control myself. This constant interference as if I will hurt Luna when I have never done anything wrong to her, eats at my heart.
    Sage bites back, “Let me at least dress her.”
    I frown at this, but get up and turn my back to them. Seconds later, Sage’s hand rests on my shoulder. “Storm, you know she will only hate you more for this.”
    I watch Sage leave, knowing she is right, but that too is something I will simply have to deal with later. Turning back to Luna I can only shake my head. Sage has dressed her in one of those awful long sleeves again. Luna is already burning hot! For the life of me I will never understand why they insist on this ridiculous wardrobe for her.
    I reach for the cloth again and move it gently over Luna’s face. Her lips are moving but no words are coming out. She seems to be suffering from a nightmare. We’ve all been having them, but I have never seen someone struggle with one this badly before.
    My fingers brush her skin as I keep wiping her down, and I feel sparks shoot up my arm. I’m shocked at the strength I feel coming from her. The last time I got to touch her was years ago, I don’t remember her talent being this strong. She’s been hiding it from me, and that’s upsetting. I remember how fast she moved after leaving my place the other night. She’s definitely been holding back at training.
    “Luna?” I can kick myself for not asking Sage or Lorcan what happened to Luna. I can only hope it’s not something to do with her talent being so strong, and that it will work out of her system soon.
    “Love.” If anything, that one word will get her attention. She will come back from whatever darkness she is in simply to kill me for calling her that.
    Clinging to her pillow, she pinches her eyes tighter. She’s either in a bad place or dreaming about taking me down. I’d rather have her dreaming about killing me than have her suffer.
    Time is not your friend when you don’t have any answers for the questions mulling over in your head. It feels like