Journey into the Realm: The Stolen Child (Journey into the Realm Series) by Markelle Grabo

placed my palm against his back, rubbing in circles in an attempt to soothe him.
    “Orrin, are you okay?” I asked slowly, keeping my voice gentle and even. I didn’t want to set him off.
    The Prince moaned and threw back his head. A spasm rippled through his body, and the motion was enough to throw me off balance. I braced myself against the door of the building, my head spinning. Our eyes connected. The fire in his was unmistakable.
    He had just answered my question. We were no longer safe with him.
    Elvina and I had to get away from him fast. I collected myself and motioned for her to follow. My plan was to hide with her in one of the nearby buildings and wait for Kelby and the others – and if that didn’t work, form a better plan – but the Prince had ideas of his own. In a matter of seconds he pulled Elvina close and wrapped an arm around her neck, immobilizing her.
    “Do not come any closer if you value her life,” he spat.
    “Prince Orrin, don’t do this,” I pleaded. “You promised Eder you would help us.”
    He blinked hard and hung his head. “I wish I could. But her call is too strong. I must obey my queen.”
    “Ramsey, get out of here!” Elvina cried.
    “Quiet!” Orrin yelled, his arm tightening around her throat. She coughed and writhed against him, but he was too strong for her. “You will accompany me back to the palace, or I will kill her.”
    I looked from Elvina to Prince Orrin. We couldn’t go back to King Almog and Queen Naida. They would either kill us or lock us away forever. And I had a journey to continue. But if I didn’t listen – if I left – Elvina would die. Despite our differences, she had always treated me with kindness. I couldn’t just leave her. But I also couldn’t stay….
    “Make your decision, Half-blood. She is not used to breathing underwater, and my arm against her throat only impairs her further. It will not be long before she takes her last breath.” Prince Orrin’s sharp teeth shone as he smiled menacingly at me.
    “Ramsey, listen,” Elvina said, struggling against the Prince. “You have to leave now. There isn’t much time. The mermaids will overtake us. You have to keep going.”
    I shook my head. “I can’t just leave you.”
    “I promised Eder I would keep you safe. This is me upholding that vow,” she declared.
    “Silence!” Prince Orrin yelled, jerking her sideways. Elvina cried out and I rushed forward to help her, but stopped just as Prince Orrin fastened his teeth on her neck.
    Stunned and confused, I sifted through my memory of spells, but none seemed to fit getting rid of a crazy vampire-merman. Fire spells wouldn’t work underwater. Water spells wouldn’t work on a watery being. If I used the spell I threw at Elvina earlier, I could risk hurting her as well.
    My only option left was immobilization.
    After accidently immobilizing Nathan mid-step on the way to ability school this past December, I had long since perfected the spell. I didn’t even need to speak; the hand gesture was enough. I threw my hands outward and watched as Prince Orrin froze in place. Unfortunately, the spell had also affected Elvina. And Atlantis’s mermaids were steadily approaching. They would find us soon enough. We didn’t have much time.
    Elvina was sobbing heavily. When I reached her, Prince Orrin’s teeth were still embedded in her skin. Her dark fae blood mingled with the water. “What do I do?” I asked frantically.
    “I don’t know!” she cried. “I can’t move. It hurts.”
    “I know, Elvina. I know it hurts. Just…hold on,” I said, trying to think of a way to remove Orrin’s teeth without injuring her further. But my thoughts were getting me nowhere. I had no idea what to do.
    “Just pry him off me, Ramsey. I can take it,” she said.
    With my eyes trained on Orrin’s sharp teeth, the blood spilling from her neck – I wasn’t so sure. “Elvina, if I pull him away it could kill you.”
    Elvina winced, attempting to hold back a