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Baron has grown used to my powers, but the gargoyle still seems put off by the art of necromancy. I smile, turning to walk along the tunnel where I sense Eilish’s presence. Her scent is sweet to me, but not cloyingly so.

I remember the feel of her sweet channel as I pushed within her and I yearn to feel her again. Ever since that night, I’ve thought of her constantly. So have the male spirits in the Veil. And they encourage me to take her again so they can experience the feel of her, just as I do. But I hold back. There is doubt and confusion within me over the fact that I have broken an oath I swore so long ago.

Yes, I had believed the Veil wanted me to break my oath, but now I wonder if I influenced my own beliefs. I have wanted Eilish from the moment I saw her—was that need and desire the driving force in my decision to break my oath? Or did the Veil really speak to me, such that I first imagined?

Dragan and Baron clutch their chests as we reach a large hole in the tunnel, one that leads down to a dark aperture that collects mountain water and other less sanitary things.

“You might want to hold your breath on the way down,” I mutter before diving into the chasm of darkness.

Dragan hits the water first, not surprising as he’s heavier than Baron and me. I catch myself on the edge of the tunnel leading out of the aperture, while Baron casts a spell to keep himself from hitting the water, hovering on a thin barrier of shadow.

Dragan pops out of the water with a snarl, spitting the foul water from his mouth. “You dicks could have fucking warned me!”

“It’s not our fault your fat ass can’t float,” Baron snorts humorously. “You should have used magic like a smart gargoyle. I bet Myerdoth would have at least glided through the fall.”

“Yeah? Well, youandMyerdoth can suck my—”

“Quiet!” I hiss. Dragan and Baron sneer at me, but they obey anyway. I hear something, voices. I recognize the tone of Eilish’s voice just before I hear her scream.

We sprint through the tunnels and burst through the end of one, just in time to see Silvanus appear before Eilish as a flash of magic shoots from the ends of his hands. Baron hisses, flashing his fangs as he charges the solitary god. I toss Baron aside with my power and place myself between the vampire and Silvanus.

“You protect him?” Baron accuses.

“He protects Eilish!” I yell at him.

“Against what?” Baron demands.

I glance forward and see nothing. I don’t understand.

“Eilish screamed,” Dragan says as he glares at me. “And the only one here is Silvanus.”

Baron stands there, steaming in anger. He throws his chest plate and tunic to the side, baring his chest and abdomen. Hepushes a hand through his dark locks and then leaps forward, attempting to attack Silvanus again, but I stop him.

“I don’t want to fight you, Pyre,” Baron says. “But Iwillto get to him.”

“We need him. You aren’t thinking straight,” I answer.

“We don’t need anyone who abandoned us to Morrigan’s treachery.”

Even though I don’t want to, Baron has left me no other choice. I throw a punch of energy at him, knocking him against the wall as I cast an orb around Dragan to keep the gargoyle still, as well. “Go!” I roar to Silvanus.

The god meets my gaze and something passes through us. A barrier in my mind breaks and I see a vision of... the future, of something I’m destined to do but hadn’t realized until that very second.

Black eyes blink up at me as tears of ecstasy spill from beneath her long lashes. This isn’t the face that I once loved, but her soul remains the same. My love, my hope, my dreams... she is my everything. I didn’t see it before, or maybe I just pushed the truth out of my mind. Whatever the reason, I’m ashamed.

I kiss her soundly, tasting the soft flesh of her mouth as I love her with this form that’s unworthy to behold her glory.

This beautiful creature clutches my hips and rocks with me on the altar.

Eyes watch us from the shadows, eyes we both have grown to hate. Morrigan and Variant, tangled in a mass of limbs as they fuck against the wall of the temple, spurred on by the passion I feel for my mate. She will never know it was her life for which I gave up everything, sold my soul to the Veil… just so I could watch her love another—another who couldn’t love her back. And though I watched her die once, I’ve saved her many times since.

Aima.

I don’t know how it’s possible but it is. As long as what Silvanus shows me is the truth—and on that account I’m convinced. I trust in Silvanus, even if the others don’t. As he is a god, it’s not his place to explain his actions to any of us.

My love wears the face of the Unseelie warrior, Aima, but I know her heart once belonged to me. She’s reborn into this body so I may love her again.

The vision ends and I know Silvanus is gone.