The Enemy Knows Her Name
They approached me, leaving me with little choice but to accept my punishment. If I left through the shadow world, it was game over. I would never reach my father. My only chance was to play dumb and hope I could reach him somehow.
I was shoved roughly into the wall, my arms pulled behind my back. Someone I couldn’t see took my hands and locked them in place. A second later, a jolt ran through me, not an electric shock, but close. I gasped and swore I heard Makari do the same. For an instant, we were one person, and I wanted to shake my head in denial. This couldn’t be happening. Not with my enemy. Then my mother’s words rang clearly in my mind.
“Your true mate awaits you on Nadiria.”
“No,” I cried out. This had to be some cruel, sick joke. How could I be fated to be with someone meant to deliver me to the man who wanted me dead? His own son, in fact.
“Don’t fight,” he said softly in my ear. “I’m going to cuff you, and then we’ll go somewhere for a chat. Just the two of us.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?” the other guide asked. “She’s the one who withheld her name, and now we’ve found her here. Maybe she’s a spy.”
“She’s no spy. Don’t worry. I can handle this one.” Makari gripped my arm and led me to one of the cleansing rooms.
As soon as the door closed, Makari spun around and slapped me hard, knocking me to the ground. He was furious, though I had no clue why. He had no way of knowing who I was. The connection between us was intense, more overpowering than I’d experienced before. I usually sensed Kado’s emotions, but not to this extent. It was as if Makari had become part of me, embedded in my mind—his feelings became my own.
He reached down and pulled me to my knees by my hair. I fought the urge to fall into his arms and hold him. When I’d felt something similar with Etan, the connection had been mutual. Why was Makari different? And if he did feel something, why was he being so cruel?
I couldn’t even summon the strength to fight back. With my arms cuffed behind my back, I couldn’t even if I wanted to.
Makari caressed the cheek he had slapped. “You’ve caused me a lot of trouble, Auren.” I gasped. No, he didn’t recognise me; he only knew my name because I had admitted it. He couldn’t possibly know I was Zain’s daughter. His earlier words echoed in my mind: “If it isn’t my little lizard.” It was impossible. If he did know, I would be in grave danger.
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