A slim ray of sunlight peeked over the horizon, and a warm breeze swirled around us, guiding us forward.
We approached the concealed stone grate on the outer wall of the city, and the energy in the air shifted. The warmth disappeared, replaced by a dark, foreboding chill, despite it being the middle of summer.
The grass surrounding the outer wall appeared dead, straw-like and void of its lush green color. The usual morning sounds of birds chirping was nonexistent. Instead, we were met with silence, and goose bumps ran up my forearms.
Lana turned to me as we crouched by the steel grate that would let us into the city. “It’s like there’s no more life left in Ellevail,” she whispered. “You can feel it, right?”
I nodded, quietly yanking away the metal bars. “I can. Andras has ruined our city.” I slid through the tunnel, checking outside before beckoning her forward. The street was deserted. Noiseless. “We will restore Ellevail and Brookmere to the way it should be.”
Grabbing my hand, she squeezed it. “Atheria.”
I nodded. “Right. That will take getting used to.”
We continued making our way through the outer limits of Ellevail, keeping to the shadows as we had done so many times before.
Sweat broke out over my skin. We were home. Yet the memories of my last time here threatened to overcome me. I faltered, leaning against a wall. My breathing hitched, unable to get a deep enough breath.
“Ian?” Lana asked, bringing a hand to my chest. “What’s wrong.”
I shook my head. “Just need a second.”
Her face softened and she leaned in to me, resting her head on my shoulder. “You’re not there anymore,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around me. “You’re here, with me. Real as roses.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Real as roses,” I repeated. There had been too many times we’d brought each other out of the dark. If we could do this, succeed in this war, I prayed we never had to endure this pain again.
“You will heal,” she said softly. “And I’ll be beside you every step of the way, just as you have always been beside me.”
I rested my head on hers for a moment and took a steadying breath, as if that could rid me of the memories. There would be time for working through the nightmares of the dungeon, but for now, we had to press on.
We rounded a corner, halting abruptly as a lone dark one limped into a side alley, headed away from us. An agitated energy thrummed in my veins, waiting to be set free. Seeing the twitching creature on our streets infuriated me. This darkness didn’t belong here, or anywhere for that matter, but seeing it permeating the city we called home made it worse somehow.
Lana put a hand on my arm. “He’s alone. Let me use Apollo first to see if he can be saved.”
I frowned, hating that idea immediately since it added more risk to our plans. “It could draw too much attention.”
She settled a stern look at me. “I have to try,” she hissed.
Drawing my blade, I stalked our prey, prepared to engage the second after Lana cut him if need be. We used the shadows of dawn to our advantage and crept alongside our target. Lana jumped, grabbing his arm and raked her blade down its length.
The man sharply sucked air through his teeth as the inky-black darkness seeped from him in waves. He blinked a few times before his nostrils flared, rage contorting his face. He shoved forward against Lana.
Not wasting a moment, I thrust my sword into his back, tearing clear through his stomach. He hit the ground before he could even mutter a sound.
Lana stared at the man so long I almost intervened. But then she sighed, looking up and meeting my gaze. “Not everyone can be saved,” she said. “One down.”
“A hundred or so more to go.” I wiped my blade on the seam of my pants.
As we continued to move through the city, the view turned my stomach. Lana remained silent as her eyes darted around, taking in our surroundings. Even in the early hours of the morning, it was strange that not a single soul milled about, preparing for the day. Windows remained tightly closed, homes were dark, and the flowers sitting in window boxes, usually bright and vibrant, appeared withered and dead.
We’d prepared to enter the city as it woke, sneaking through the lower levels filled with Fae getting ready for their days. We hadn’t expected to find eerie silence.
A child peeked through a window and met my gaze. Her eyes widened with terror as she watched Lana’s cloaked figure next to me. She quickly shut the curtain and disappeared out of sight.
Our people were living in fear.
Everything King Alister and Queen Roxana did for the Fae to build a community, to protect them, encourage them, had crumbled. Lana’s breathing stuttered, and I took her hand in mine, knowing she was fighting to hold back tears. Her home, which was once so full of life, had been destroyed, fading away under Andras’s reign.
I had worked with these Fae every day. They were my people too. Fae whom I’d sworn to protect when I took my vows as captain. The resolve to finish this with Andras burned in the deepest recesses of my body. I would not let them down—our people deserved better than this.
