The League of Illusion: Destiny Read Online Free PDF Page A

that bright flash? I saw it too.”
    “Drea,” Sebastian warned.
    “Drea?” Acari’s eyes brightened and he smiled. “Drea Blairwood, is it?”
    * * *
    Sebastian reached for her hand and squeezed it tight. He knew a threat when he saw it. The elves were not here for anything as simple as a holiday. They had nefarious reasons for their travels. He had to get Drea out of here. Except he didn’t want to use his magic. He’d vowed not to, especially against another person. But he was quickly running out of options.
    “If you are indeed on a holiday as you say, then there is no reason to keep us hostage, as that is what this feels like.”
    Acari smiled. “We’re merely having a conversation. I’m sorry if you feel threatened in some way.”
    “Tell your henchmen to lower their bows,” Sebastian said. “Then maybe we can have that talk.”
    “Let’s just shoot him and be done with it,” the one with the bow said.
    Sebastian watched Acari’s face. He’d know the second the elf wanted them dead, it would telegraph in his eyes. The tension was immense as he waited and watched. He could feel it prickling over his skin.
    Then he saw it. The dilating of the pupils. A decision had been made.
    As quick as a wink, he unsheathed his sword and cut through the arrow pointing at them. Turning, his hand still gripping Drea’s, he ran, as his magic impulsively discharged. He hadn’t commanded it. It had commanded him.
    * * *
    “ Accendo! ”
    Flames spontaneously erupted all around them in a circle.
    “Run!” Sebastian yanked on her hand as he tore off in the direction they’d come from.
    But the fire danced before them. Drea tensed, readying for the extreme heat and the possibility of being burned.
    “ Aperio !”
    The dancing flames parted as they jumped through. Drea looked back as they ran to see the fire come back together to form a flickering orange wall.
    “What’s happening? Please Sebastian, you have to tell me.”
    “I will, but when we’re safe.”
    They returned to the road where the horse and cart were still waiting. The horse had just stepped off the path to eat some grass.
    “Untether the horse from the cart.”
    Drea jumped into action and undid the harness. Sebastian helped her take it off, and then grabbing the reins, he mounted the horse, which proved a bit difficult without a saddle. He reached down for her. “Get on.”
    She gripped his hand and let him pull her up and onto the horse. She had to scramble a bit on the horse’s bare back, as there was nothing to hold on to except Sebastian. Once she was seated behind him, clutching him around the waist, he kicked the horse into a gallop. They flew down the road. She held on tight, afraid she might slip off.
    “We have to get off the main road,” Sebastian said over the pounding of horse hooves. “Do you know of any place we could hide?”
    “East. On the other side of the river, there’s a cave in the hills.”
    As they neared the egress out of the woods, the sound of more horses echoed around them. Drea glanced over her shoulder to see three elves following them. They were about ten horse lengths back but gaining. Their horses were only carrying one passenger each and looked stronger than their horse.
    “They’re coming,” she said as she pressed even tighter against his back.
    Sebastian kicked the horse harder and steered him off the road and into a meadow. She could feel herself slipping from the sudden change of direction. Pressing her knees in tighter, she shuffled her rear-end back in behind him and wrapped her hands in the fabric of his shirt. They raced across the lush green, the horse snorting with the effort. The elves galloped right behind them, keeping up, gaining ground. It wouldn’t be long before the archer was in range to shoot an arrow into her back.
    “They’re gaining. We can’t outrun them. Their horses are stronger and faster.”
    He nodded to let her know he understood. “I have an idea but you have to trust