The fog had thickened into a wall as Marin followed Averic through the narrow back alleys of Eldridge Hollow. Every shadow seemed alive, slithering along walls and pooling at the edges of broken streetlights. Her heart pounded like a war drum, and every step echoed against the cobblestones.
"Where are we going?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
"To a place where you can learn," Averic replied without looking back. His silver eyes reflected the dim light, cutting through the fog like blades. "You can't face what's coming unprepared."
Marin's hand brushed against his, and despite the chill, a strange warmth surged through her. She tried to pull away, but he held her lightly, almost protectively. "Be careful," she murmured, more to herself than to him.
A sudden rustle made her spin, and from the shadows, two dark figures lunged, fast as whispers. Marin froze, unable to move.
Averic's voice was calm, almost clinical. "Watch and learn."
In a blur, he moved. Shadows bent and twisted around him, his motions fluid, impossible. With a flash, the attackers crumpled to the ground, motionless. Marin's stomach lurched.
"Why didn't they—hurt you?" she asked, horrified and fascinated.
"Because I don't belong to them," he said simply. "But you… you're tied to them whether you like it or not."