Under an Onyx Sky (Elemental Enchanters Series Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

into Havok’s Aureole. Ava was now a Cimmerian.

CHAPTER FOUR
COMFORTABLE LIAR
    Xavier strolled into the room with his usual narcissistic gait. His cropped blond hair made him look like a young boy, but his tall lanky figure made him look like a man. He was Ava’s age, and ever since she’d known him, he’d tortured her and made her life a living hell. But she had fought back every time. If they were to test their strengths against him, she knew she would win the test.
    She had to pretend she didn’t recognize him, which was easier than she thought it would be.
    Xavier sauntered toward her, and she prepared for whatever. But then she thought about all of her training. Was she supposed to remember that? Or was she supposed think she’d trained her whole life?
    “Take them to the fighting hole,” Havok demanded Xavier.
    Xavier’s thin lips stretched into a cocky grin. “Of course.” He pushed past Ava, and then they turned and followed him through the door and down the long corridor. As they made their way down several flights of stairs, Ava noticed the walls were made of stone with lights interspersed throughout the squares.
    The castle was quiet, but as they moved farther down the hallway, Ava heard voices shouting and cheering as though they were watching a football game.
    Xavier approached a door, pushed it open, and held it for them to walk through. As Ava crossed into the light, she saw a group of Cimmerians panting, sweating, and bloody as if they had come from a battle.
    The room was plain with no windows and only bright round fluorescent lights above them like a warehouse. They created shadows across everyone’s faces, making them appear more daunting than they were.
    The shouts and cheers ceased once they saw Xavier. The crowd cleared a path for him and the Elementals. As the floor sloped downward, they reached a railing that surrounded the pit a few feet below. All around the railing were Cimmerians in an arena-like standing room only area.
    Ava gripped the railing and peered below. On the ground in the center of the pit was an unconscious man. Ava hoped he was just knocked out, but she didn’t see his chest rise and fall. Another man stood nearby, his thick arms covered in tattoos crossed in front of his broad chest. His black hair came to his shoulders, and he had a bushy beard covering his angled jaw. He was Ava’s size and not at all intimidating. He held himself like he was a privileged man.
    Xavier made his way to the center and shook his head while staring at the body. “Did you do this?” he asked.
    The man shrugged. “He was too weak.”
    A muscle in Xavier’s jaw twitched. “How do you expect us to have an army when you keep killing them?”
    A chill raced up Ava’s spine.
    “Whatever. You don’t need us now with them here. I mean, they’re the greatest fighters ever, aren’t they?” He threw Ava and her coven a disgusted look. “We’re useless now aren’t we?”
    His spiteful voice sounded familiar.
    “You keep talking to me like that or killing more of our army and you will be useless,” Xavier warned. “They’re here to train.”
    “Train?” a brunette girl asked. “Don’t they already know how to fight?” She jumped down from the railing and placed her hands on her hips. She wore a black sports bra and black leggings. Her dark hair had been pulled back away from her round face. She had a familiar hooked nose, almost like Gustav’s.
    “Yes.” He pressed his lips in a thin line, challenging her with a look.
    The man laughed. “I thought they willingly joined.”
    “Are you talking about us?” Gillian asked, twirling a black curl around her finger.
    Xavier sighed and glared at the man. “They were kidnapped from us at a young age,” he spat.
    They spoke as if Ava and the others weren’t in the room. But it seemed like they were trying to make Xavier come clean about them. “What are you talking about?”
    “Nothing.”
    The girl cocked an eyebrow. “Of