He held his breath, and a wall of shadows cocooned his friends—his family—in a web of black, blocking the Furies from their view. Warmth grew between Daimon and Evelina’s connected hands. As Daimon yanked on his magic, the warmth where his skin touched hers blazed. He felt the familiar tingle of her shield press against him. A surge of energy burst through his body, an energy that was purity incarnate. It was Evelina—her Essence, intertwining with his. He felt her magic flowing through him, and he felt his magic flowing through her. In this moment, they were one. Their magic, their minds—they were light and they were darkness. The sun and the moon. And together, they would take the Furies down.
When he exhaled, the wall of shadows blasted back, a pulsing, shimmering light mingling with it. As their combined magic was unleashed, it sent the rebels, trees, rocks—everything close to them—flying in all directions.
Even the darkness over the cave had paused, momentarily receding.
The boulders above them shook from the force of their magic, threatening to crumble and fall.
“Into the cave!” Daimon shouted.
They ran into the cavern as the rocks loosened and rained down onto the ground below. Daimon held Evelina’s hand as tight as he could, pulling her along with him. The mouth of the cave collapsed, sealing them off from the outside.
Daimon’s chest heaved, straining his eyes to see through the thick dust flying around the dark cave. Slithers of light beamed in from the outside, illuminating the area around them. His body was buzzing, like he had been struck by lightning, after calling on more magic than he ever had. He braced himself, his muscles tensing in preparation for another fight within the cave.
But the only sound was his heaving breath and Brielle coughing. Water dripped from above. His chest constricted; it was suffocatingly humid.
The cave was completely empty. Quiet.
“Where is everyone?” Elias whispered.
Something was wrong.
“Evelina,” Daimon said slowly. “Can you still sense Moros?”
Evelina squinted, the warmth of her shield now gone. “I can still sense him, but he feels like he’s…everywhere.”
Ranick grunted in frustration. “Then what are we supposed?—”
“Nice of you to join us,” a voice interrupted. A deep laugh bounced off the walls, echoes scattering everywhere.
They spun around, searching for the voice.
“Come out, Moros,” Daimon snapped.
Another laugh. “If you insist.”
A whoosh of icy air blasted from a small tunnel in the back of the cave. Daimon felt as if the air was being sucked out of his lungs. The fleet collapsed in coughs, struggling for air.
“I can’t shield,” Evelina choked. “I’m trying, but it isn’t working.”
“Of course it won’t work, Evelina, darling.” Moros was close now, his voice no longer an empty echo. “Lovely to see you again.”
He materialized from the depths of the middle tunnel, shadows enveloping him. The cold air slowed, giving them their breath back. Daimon stepped in front of Evelina, shielding her with his body.
“Traitor,” Brielle hissed.
Moros laughed. “Brielle, lovely as always.”
Brielle bared her teeth. Moros took a step closer, and Daimon’s shadows roared to life, wrapping around his wrists and arms. Moros’s gaze shot to Daimon. He smiled. Daimon growled, warning him.
“Stop this madness,” Evelina demanded. “You could end this war—all this death—right now. You’re sacrificing your own souls for nothing.”
“Nothing?” Moros sneered. “Do you think we’ve enjoyed being the ‘weaker’ race? Fae have been slaughteringhumans for years. Humans are nothing to them—an irritating bug on the land that they smash. Our use of Furies and cursed weapons are oursalvationfrom the way the crown has ruled for generations.”
This time, it was Evelina who growled. The noise was so intense that it took Daimon by surprise. “My mother has done her best after being betrayed byyou.”
Moros smiled. “And yet, she didn’t do enough, it seems. We finally grew tired of being a plaything for bored immortals who place themselves on the same level as the gods. Things changed when the gods answeredourprayers.”
Moros took a step back, now positioned closer to the opening of the cavern. “And Evelina?” He chuckled. “I’m so very sorry for the loss of your mother. Maybe the next queen will be willing to see what she couldn’t.”
