Chapter one
Death is strange whenI really think about it—much as I try not to, I can't seem to evade it. I wonder about the moment when all I ever knew of a person ceases to exist. The memories that flash to the forefront of my mind and the ones I know I’ll miss out on now that they’re gone. I wipe my hand down my face as the thoughts eat at me. What was I doing the moment my family’s lives were taken? Did my soul notice theirs leaving this dimension? Did they feel any pain? Are they watching over me with the gods at their side? That’s not going to happen this time. This time, I have a chance.
Dax has been an asshole to everyone since I’ve been in Ravendene, but he’s Trent’s brother and Kait’s best friend, and no matter what I tell myself…I’m drawn to him. My stride doesn’t slow as I pass people waking up and getting to work around the territory. I woke up with a feeling of urgency to go see him, so that’s what I’m going to do. I don’t care what the rules are. The more I think about it, the more I know that what he was doing to break the rules was justified. I would have done anything to save my own family had I been given the chance. He was taking the only chance he thought he had.
“Stop. You can’t go in there.” A round guard who barely fits into his leather armor says as he hobbles over to where I have my hand on the handle of the infirmary room door. My gaze meets his just before Trent steps into the hall, barring his advance on me.
“Morning, Sweetheart, causing trouble already?” He teases, patting the burly guard on the chest. “We’re going in to see my brother. Fuck off for a little bit, yeah?” The guard looks around, unsure of what to do now. He puffs out a heavy breath, cursing before turning around and taking his seat at the end of the hall again. Trent beams as he crosses his arms over his broad chest. “You had the same idea as me this morning?”
“I need to see him.” I wish I knew why he didn’t tell us he was going out on his own, but honestly, he didn’t do anything I wouldn’t have done. He tried to go about it differently, but when it came down to it, he had to do what was right for him. For his family. What he did for the love of his family earned all my respect.
The space is dimly lit, with only a dwindling fire lighting the room. The sun isn’t in the sky yet, so the lone window only lets in a faint glow of light. Trent walks in behind me, and with a flick of his wrist, the fire roars back to life. Dax is unmoving as he lays in the bed. His chest is bare, littered with tattoos and scars. My chest tightens as I look down at him. Taking his hand in mine, I feel thetingle as soon as our skin touches. I think my magic is beginning to manifest, and something about it is telling me I need to help him.
Trent, Kait, and I have a plan, and today, in just an hour, we are leaving Ravendene on an unsanctioned mission. Looking down at the hand that is resting in mine, my brows furrow as I think about what he must have been going through. I never thought that the hollowness in my chest would have been filled again, but slowly the Fae around me have been doing just that. I don’t know what would have happened to me if I’d not found solace here.
I searched for nearly a year for answers about what happened to my family, but to no avail. Each potential lead turned out to be a dead end; over and over, the failure of my search did nothing but weigh me down emotionally. I know the pain that Dax felt when he left because I’ve lived through it every day.
I’ve come to understand that Dax was saying goodbye to me all those weeks ago. Though he kept that fact to himself, I see it for what it is now. He knew the risks. He knew that something could have happened to him by leaving alone. He knew he may not have returned to us, but that didn’t stop him. I don’t blame him. It wouldn’t have stopped me, either. I would have taken every risk. That’s why this is so important to me. I must do everything I can to find the cure, and then we will finish the mission he set out to do.
“Dax, you sorry bastard. Don’t fucking die. We’ve got you, brother.” Trent rests his hand over mine, where it holds Dax’s, squeezes it, and looks down at me. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
“Good. Kaits waiting in the woods.”
I move into a crouch below the broken window of a ramshackle cottage. The night is quiet—only the sound of glass crunching under my boots and my heart pounding in my ears interrupt it. No one has arrived yet.
A sigh escapes me as I tilt my head back, resting it on the crumbling wall. This is what our lives have come to. An endless cycle of waiting, watching, and searching. The darkness that surrounds me brings my mood down with it. If we don’t get what we need soon, I’m afraid that all of this will be for nothing, and Dax will be lost to this world. Tears well in my eyes as my thoughts drift. I’ve tried not to think about it too much; the what if—what if we are too late? What if we can't find what we're looking for? I've tried relentlessly to keep my mind and body busy so I don’t have to, but on nights like this… in the still moments of life… it's when the reality of what I’ve lost and what is at stake racks me—it’s when the pain is at its worst.
The feeling of being perpetually alone, having no one, and the never-ending disappointment. I don’t want that for Trent. I keep reminding myself of that as we wait. Trying to not allow my mindto wander in the direction of failure. Tears burn my eyes as I scan the area for any sign of movement.
This is one of the many leads we’ve followed in the recent weeks since leaving Ravendene. At the base of the Soule Mountains, we wait for a convoy coming through that is said to have one of the items we are looking for. A blade of silver, the hilt inlaid with moonstone and intricate carvings on each side. I fear that we are growing short on time, and Dax’s death is imminent if we don’t find what we need soon. This has to be the right lead.
We are here earlier than we anticipated, and it brings about a strange feeling. I’ve been to this place once before in my search for answers about my family's untimely demise, but this time something feels off. There is a shift in the air. Bringing my fist up to my chest, I rub the burn that has started there. A feeling is trying to manifest that I can’t quite read. My pulse increases with anticipation for what is to come.
I rise to my tiptoes so I can get a better look into the dusty, cobweb-covered window, allowing myself a better view into the cabin. Trent is around the other side of the cottage, near the front entrance, and Kait remains in the treeline, high up in one of the pines.
A cold sweat envelops me, sending a chill down my spine as I sense their arrival. I look out in the distance just as the first of the horses breaks through the trees.
The convoy sentries split up surrounding the area, staying mostly confined to the line of pines. I hope that Kait keeps herself hidden; they didn’t conduct a thorough sweep of the area before posting at their locations, so Trent and I are still hidden.
WhenI was here before, all I witnessed was a meeting take place. There was discussion of property exchange and the ongoing efforts to find a priority asset, but they never gave away anything that could be used for—well, anything.
A cloaked male enters the room first, judging by the large size of the silhouette. He enters from the side of the small cottage. While Trent likely didn't get a view of him, I have the perfect position. He saunters to a small liquor cart in the corner of the room, pours a measure, and takes a long pull from the glass of amber liquid without removing his gloves. Another much smaller, cloaked figure arrives next in a cloud of black and green smoke, but I can't tell if this figure is male or female by stature alone. The smoke seeps through the broken window, leaving a foul taste in the back of my throat. Dark magic.
They move to the hearth as a fire ignites and talk in hushed voices. The sense of darkness in the air is stifling. It's not just that thought, something is off. Maybe it's just me… My ascension should have come already. Most ascend by the time they are twenty-one; it hasn’t happened for me yet, even two years later. Now would not be an ideal time for my ascension, but I have to remain hopeful that I will eventually gain my full magic.
Pushing the thought from my head, I focus on what is unfolding in front of me. Although, if this is like the last time I was here, I’ll be left with no more answers than before. However, this time, we are searching for more than just answers. We need that dagger.
The smaller, cloaked figure speaks so quietly that they may as well be saying nothing at all, but the male’s voice is deep and commanding in comparison as he curses.
“I’m doing all I fucking can,” he says, and my eyes widen.
The cloaked figure lifts a hand with painted red nails to the male’s face and drags the sharp tips from his temple and to his jawline in a quick swipe. Blood blooms where she’s raked them across his face, though most of his face is shrouded in darkness. Blood trickles down his exposed jaw, dripping towards his neck. My eyes grow even wider as I witness the scene unfold, but that voice… a heaviness presses on my chest as the realization sets in. I recognize his voice. My heart begins to race as I wonder what has caused the cloaked female to lose composure and thoughts spin at why he would be here. He cringes away from her touch, knocks back his drink, and says firmly. “I will find the heir.”
I suck in a sharp breath, the shock of that statement causing me to take a step back in disbelief. They are looking for an heir to the fallen kingdom? If there was an heir, I have to wonder why would anyone follow them after everything? The people have been struggling since the collapse of the kingdom, with each passing day getting worse. Demetrey, being the largest and most demanding of the territories, has claimed to be the ruler of the kingdom, but territories like Ravendene and Loema have stood their ground and refused to bend to their will. The people of Demetrey and the territories they are ruling are far worse off than any other.
It says something about the character of an heir who hides away for this long, allowing their people to suffer. The bigger question, though, is why are these Fae looking for this mystery heir? If they are from Demetrey, I worry that only evil would come from them finding the heir, if there even is one.
