CHAPTER 42

  My anger rose higher and the moment I jumped towards him, Conner grabbed me an held me up. Kicking my feet in the air, desperately wanting to have my hands around Shaffer’s neck, to squeeze the life out of him. 

  “You can’t escape your destiny, Joanne,” he laughed, edging closer. 

  A familiar scent tickled my nose, the smell of ashes surrounded me and the voice that came with it followed. 

  “That’s enough,” Mr. Smoke growled, the walls trembling in response and Conner quickly put me down and shielded me with his own body. 

  “She has been away for too long, you know what toll that took on our people,” Shaffer spat. What did he mean by that? Was I to blame for what happened here?

  “We won’t force her, Shaffer.” He stepped closer, the same red hue as Shaffer had in his eyes showed itself. There was only something else, a fiery red glow moved under his skin, wanting to burst free and the scent of ashes sharpened.