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“And you’re telling me this because? You see yourself as some sort of savior?” I throw my head back and laugh. “Silvanus trapped Abedon.Youare the one who forced Variant to break his oath.Youare the one who started this chaos in hopes of taking Abedon’s power for yourself. And, unlike the others, I have no doubt thathewill rise. And when Abedon rises... I hope to hell that I’m one who gets to tell him you played the starring role in his capture.”

Morrigan looks surprised. “Youwanthim to rise?”

I frown at her. “I’m Unseelie, Morrigan. I thrive in darkness.”

I attack once more, lunging for her as I strike hard with my staff blade. A thin line of blood appears on her cheek. Morrigan shrieks with fury and bolts of magic batter my body, knocking me off my feet. I spin the staff and secure it to my back, then slide on my knees across the snow until I ram my shoulder into her middle. Morrigan isn’t expecting a physical attack, so she falls and she falls hard. I flip back onto my feet and grab her blade from the ground. It causes my fingers to grow numb as I examine the spells at work.

I use it to stab myself in the abdomen as Morrigan looks on in horror and confusion. Blood pools from my middle, steaming in the snow. Morrigan summons her blade back to her hands. And from the blood, dark figures rise, morphing until they look identical to my own image. She hisses and turns to flee,but there’s nowhere to go. Spotting a tree, she climbs it with unmatched speed, what little magic she still possesses aiding her all the way. Morrigan looks up at the sky and whistles. The sound is faint, so quiet my twitching ears barely pick up the sharp notes.

A swarm of black birds swoop down from the sky. I turn around and run for the hovel in order to take shelter from them. The birds are so close, I can feel the flapping of their wings on the back of my neck. I dive through the door and slam it shut. Morrigan is trapped in the tree as my minions hunt her from the ground and I’m trapped within the hovel so long as her swarm lingers. The throbbing in my head amplifies with the horrid shriek of distorted caws that sound far too similar to the cries of children.

The Obuqui birds are from the Cogost Mountains, their nesting grounds not far from Redoleir Village. Last I saw, the place was in ruins, just as much as the succubae home. But if the Obuqui aren’t extinct, their black riders still draw breath. It would seem Eilish and the others have a lot more to worry about than demons, orcs, and Unseelie armies. The forces that dwell in the Cogost Mountains are legendary for a reason.

When the cawing and squawking halts, I move away from the door. The birds burst inside as I race for the rear entrance, slamming that door shut as well. I see several barrels off to the right and use my power to barricade the door with the barrels as I climb onto the roof through the only window in the room. Morrigan approaches. Her robes billow in the wind like an enemy’s banner on a battlefield. She stops when my minions appear behind her, turning slowly to defend herself. I jump from the roof and charge.

While Morrigan uses her magic to destroy my shadow clones/”:/8*9\

pushes her into the side of a tree. Immediately, the Obuqui birds disappear. Morrigan grips her side as she falls down to the ground, desperately attempting to catch her breath. I walk over to her and she looks up, her eyes going wide. She scrambles back on her hands and knees, her fingers digging into the snow until she claws out a branch. I watch her lips move quickly as she whispers a spell. The branch forms into a wand within her hand, twisting and bending to the will of her magic.

I circle her. “That won’t help you.”

“Perhaps not, but I won’t bow to you.” Morrigan twirls the wand and a burst of dark magic strikes me in the shoulder. I release my staff and return her blow with one of my own. Each spell causes her hands to tremble. She can’t keep this up for much longer. But her determination and resilience have gotten her far before.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

SILVANUS

The Raven Forest,

Shadow Realm

I should deny her these visits: when she races off to the forest to find me, for the two of us to be alone. As a god in my own right, I should have more control. But, alas, I do not. I enjoy her spunk, her naughty inclinations and her zest for living. I have lost that zest long ago—I find it amusing to witness in another.

I wrap my arms around her and manifest the two of us into my small pocket realm tucked away between worlds.

The Raven Forest is ours only.

Though it had not been my intention to awaken this side of her, it was a fond discovery for both of us. I had merely intended to watch her—to keep an eye on her comings and goings but I found myself drawn toward her. Perhaps it is simply because she is beautiful. And as I am a male, of course I desired her. And as I am a god, she was simply mine for the taking.

And take her I will. Repeatedly. The time has now come…

Eilish leans against the side of a tree, long, elegant lines and tantalizing curves on display. She is seduction even though she does not know why. I watch her, chest heaving. Her scent is thick on the wind. She is ready.

Eilish’s eyes observe me in turn, tracking my actions closely like a feline in the night. “Why won’t you let me stay here with you?” she asks beguilingly.

“You know the answer to your question.”

“This isn’t the place for mortals, only gods,” she says and rolls her eyes at me. She takes liberties with me she should not.But I have never reprimanded her so she does not understand her error in judgement. Perhaps one day she will.

“There are bad men after me, Silvanus—men who would do me harm if they found me.” Eilish lowers her head bashfully, a pretty pink tinging her cheeks, but I know it is merely manipulation. I have taught her well, after all.

“I am your protector. You know that,” I respond.

“But, you can’t protect me every minute.”

“I am a god, or have you forgotten?”

“I haven’t forgotten,” she says and gives me that suggestive smile. “And I know I’m not the only one hiding,” she goes on. “Tell me, Silvanus. What are you so afraid of that you hide here in the forest?”