Page 41 of Fallen Nocturne

Thanatos sees me before I reach him. He stares at me as though I have climbed out of a grave.

“Landon?”

The calm disappears. Shock flashes across his face, followed by anger and something that looks almost like relief. His expression turns flat and unreadable. He dismisses the handlers with a sharp gesture and closes the distance between us in a few strides, grabbing my arm and pulling me behind the nearest pen wall.

“You have lost your mind,” he says quietly.

“Good to see you too.”

“Landon.” His grip tightens. “The king’s soldiers are searching every road, gate and mountain pass for you.”

I glance pointedly at his armor. “You are one of the king’s soldiers.”

“That is the only reason you are still standing.” Thanatos lowers his voice. His gaze cuts toward the watchtowers above us. “Half the garrison had your description this morning.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you standing in the middle of Hellsmouth with that hair?” He shakes his head. “You might as well carry a torch.”

“I need to talk to you.” I glance toward the soldiers moving between the mammoth pens. “Somewhere they cannot hear us.”

“No. What you need to do is leave.” He releases my arm and steps back, his jaw set. “I mean it. I’ll give you ten minutes to get clear of the valley before I’m obligated to report this.”

I look at him. He looks at me. We’ve known each other long enough that some conversations don’t need words.

“Something is wrong with Eirik,” I say.

The flat expression cracks.

Thanatos remains silent for several breaths, his gaze fixed somewhere beyond my shoulder.

“Yes,” he says finally, his voice dropping lower. He looks toward the city before answering. “Eirik Bloodhound has changed.”

“Changed how?” I ask.

“He does not sleep. He barely eats. He locks himself inside the throne chamber with that enchantress for days at a time, then emerges with strange plans.” Thanatos glances toward the mammoth army below. “The old king made decisions I didn’t always agree with, but I understood them. What he is now...”

He shakes his head. “Something is wrong. Yes.”

“Then help me figure out what,” I say.

His jaw tightens. “No.”

“Thanatos.”

“Something is wrong with Eirik. I know that.” He rests one hand on the curved hilt at his side. “But he is still my king. I will not betray him.”

“Even if he marches us all to our deaths?” I gesture toward the valley. “You know those beasts were bred to defend the southern strongholds. They were never meant to cross half the continent for a war of conquest.”

Thanatos follows my gaze toward the mammoths. His silence tells me he has made the same argument, probably more than once.

“Do not ask me to choose between my oath and you.” His voice hardens, every trace of friendship disappearing from it. “I serve the Fae King. That hasn’t changed.”

“I need to find a way to stop this war.” I lower my voice. “The elven queen is my mate.”

Thanatos takes a deep breath and closes his eyes for a moment. When he opens them, the anger has drained from his face, leaving only exhaustion. “Take her and run, Landon.”

“She will not abandon her people.” I hold his gaze, willing him to understand.