Page 125 of Her Ivory Flame

-Valkyrie features, wings mutated off prior to death.

-Captured on the border of the Obsidian Mountains.

-Subject seems to be a first stage Trencher, skin still rotting and facial features still more Valkyrie-like compared to later mutations but still unrecognizable at a glance. Magic would not affect the creature along with any iron or other substance. Tattoos still evident on skin, records indicating the creature was once Astrid Adair.

Her hands trembled and she choked on the breath she was trying to take before tears started to fall down her cheek.

Kaden moved quickly, as if ready to act on whatever her emotions would have been and pulled her into him. Sobs erupted from her and she muffled a scream with her hands as everything around her crashed down.

That body in the room was hermother.

Chapter 48

Hours later she was still laying on the bed in silence, Kaden next to her reading through the notebook they had brought back from the room earlier today.

She refused to train, her mind such a muddled mess that she could hardly speak to Kaden when he checked on her periodically.

Mavros had killed her people and then turned them into nightmare creatures in a war to kill his brother.

The image of the creature on the table, her mother, haunted her vision and she already threw up a few times because of it. It was not a fate she would have wished on anyone, and to see her carved apart made her instantly sick.

“There are records of these creatures going back a few years.”Kaden whispered next to her, his body pressed up against her back as he sat against the headboard.

“You think Ermis was trying to hide it until he got too overrun by them?”

“Most likely.” he shifted next to her. “Would explain a lot over the last couple of years.”

She turned to him, curiosity getting the best of her and he glanced down as soon he could see her face.

“Emris all of a sudden got more aggressive with patrols with no evidence to us why it was needed. He also pulled troops away from Obsidian Mountain's borders” Kaden’s hand gently stroked the side of her face, anxiety crumbling away inside her.

“So basically, Emris found out about what his brother was doing and instead of warning his people, he caught them to research them.” she sighed. “I hate Fae kings.”

Kaden set the notebook down on the nightstand and laid down next to her. She adjusted herself so her head was on his chest, his rhythmic heartbeat soothing her even more.

“At least from what I read, the creatures are re-aminated but nothing seems to carry over from their host. The magic used seems to summon a soul from another dimension entirely.” Kaden mumbled.

“Another dimension? How would they be able to know that?”

“There are certain Fae that have unique abilities to trace magic and it seems Emris found one to help with the research.”

“So Mavros is taking dead corpses along with the Book of Trenches and summoning souls from another dimension to createan army to destroy his brother, who killed his mate and stole his kingdom.”

It sounded utterly absurd to her, but considering all the facts it was exactly as it sounded.

“Pretty much sums it up.” Kaden signed.

“Maybe we should just go hide in Mydalsa and let them fight this war on their own. Sounds like they are both at fault.”

“As much as I would love to go home and keep the trouble away, innocent people are going to die and if Mavros wins, Mydalsa could be at risk.” Kaden squeezed her against him tighter and she let out a long breath.

“I know.” she groaned.

“With what the notes said, you can at least find peace that your mom’s soul is in Valhalla and wasn’t still tied to her flesh.”

“I will make Mavros pay for everything he has done, along with whatever rat is in Emris’s court.”

It wasn’t just words but a promise, one she would make sure she would follow through with even if it killed her.