Riley's POV
I watched as Nikola ran into the forest like a lunatic without two brain cells to spare for strategy. I watched her ghost run her hands through her hair and sob into her elbow. Pathetic. I walked over to her and for the first time, I actually spoke to her directly.
"Melissa?" I asked. She looked up at me with her alien eyes. Honestly, what mortal had purple eyes? Her gods were strange in their designs.
"Why did Nix run off like that?" I asked. She raised an eyebrow at my choice of nickname. I rolled my eyes as she teared up again.
"Min…min bror," she whispered, her voice cracking, "they took him."
"They left us tho'. It was fast – we were in a deep sleep and then *poof* they were gone with the ghost," Desaley spoke as if still in shock. What were these things if they could rattle the braided haired warrior? I knew my pride mate – he was not easily rattled.
