"Captain, we need to know what those things are! The Princess, the Archmage, the Alphas, and the Beta are all out there. What if they're in danger?" the guard pressed. But Lance's grip only tightened, his fingers digging in hard enough to make the man wince as though his shoulder might be crushed.
"Captain..." the guard groaned, and only then did Lance snap out of it, realizing how hard he'd been holding on.
"We can't leave the barrier; it was an order from the Archmage," Lance finally said, his voice hoarse and unsteady, so much so that even he could hardly believe the words. No one wanted to cross that barrier more than he did, to run out there and find Addison.
Suddenly, a desperate cry shattered the tense silence. "Help! Help me!!!" Addison's voice rang out from beyond the forest.
Then the shadowy figures vanished instantly, as if they had been lying in wait for that exact call for help. Without thinking, Lance sprang to his feet and bolted toward the fog.
