Page 45 of Darkness Births the Stars #1

CHAPTER

THE GOLDEN DAYS OF LYRHEIM

Rada

T he dagger was beautiful—a gleaming white-gold with darker gold inlays emphasizing the elegant curve of the blade.

It hummed in my grasp as I picked it up from a table overflowing with finely crafted weapons.

The haft was a swirl of interwoven metal strands embracing a flawless, clear gemstone as intimately as a lover.

My magic stirred, making me wonder what kind of jewel M’tar had used in its creation.

Dressed in supple fighting leathers, my long hair tamed into a thick braid over one shoulder, I strolled through the spacious armory where the Aurea of Earth kept his weapons.

My new armor, a radiant silver adorned with intricate golden stitching of the sun and moon on the chest, fitted like a second skin.

It was a gift from the council of Elvish chieftains, a symbol of their trust and respect.

I sighed, fingering the dagger’s sharp blade.

If only we were worthy of the reverence our children bestowed upon us.

With the attacks on their villages more frequent than ever, I felt we were failing them.

It was still too early for training. The time before battle practice with my fellow Aurea was precious, one of the rare moments I could be alone.

Lately, my queenly duties demanded all my attention.

We had never considered fighting skills important, as war and violence were unheard of in Aron-Lyr.

The Kritak, as we now called the spidery creatures of Chaos tormenting us, had changed that, teaching us fear and loss as they poured from the Other in an endless flood.

And they were evolving. Initially no more than mindless beasts, they had become increasingly intelligent, coordinating their attacks.

They also used Chaos magic, which disrupted our powers and rendered our spells unpredictable.

When a horde descended on us, it could become dangerous even for us Aurea and our Anima.

Less than a moon prior, Zamani and several of her Anima had been trapped, with the Aurea of Fire accidentally annihilating one of her own warriors in a fiery explosion as she lost control of her magic.

We had to learn what death was, a lesson none of us had expected. Would Maris’s soul be reborn in a different body with no recollection of her previous life, like the mortal races? Even we did not know. Our kind had no children, so there were no new Aurea or Anima.

“The Lady of Light. What a sight for sore eyes.”

The drawling voice startled me, causing me to nick my finger on the sharp blade in my hand.

So much for peace. Scowling at the tall figure emerging from the shadows of the doorway to the forge, I put my bleeding finger in my mouth and wove a healing spell with Water magic.

The metallic taste of my blood provided at least a slight distraction from the way my heartbeat thrummed in my ears as I laid eyes on the most vexing of my brethren for the first time in over a moon.

Thirty-seven days, to be exact. Not that I was counting.

His presence was like a storm, dark and unpredictable, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of irritation and something else—something I refused to name .

As Belekoroz approached, I kept my face composed, attempting to decipher his amused smile.

Was he pleased to see me? Or indifferent?

And why did it matter to me? His tall, lithe figure moved with a predatory grace, each step deliberate and measured.

The dim light of the armory cast shadows across his sharp features, highlighting the intensity in his fathomless eyes.

He took the dagger from my hand and wiped off the thin layer of blood with his thumb. My powers reacted to his proximity with an unsettling excitement, recklessly longing to tangle with the Darkness once more. I tensed up, unsure whether to flee or draw closer.

“You’ve been avoiding me.” His gaze roamed over my leather-clad body, igniting a familiar spark within me. Without warning, he leaned in, his next words an intimate whisper between us. “Ashamed of what you let me do to you? Of how much you enjoyed it?”

How could I have ever thought his eyes were cold and unfeeling?

They burned. With a dark, violent flame that seemed to consume everything in its path.

I had finally accomplished what I had yearned to do—exposing his true essence, buried beneath layers of deceit.

I had torn open the cracks I had glimpsed until I could perceive all of him. But at what price?

“No,” I answered, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.

I felt no shame. Many of the Aurea and Anima took lovers before binding themselves to another for eternity.

Even then, some were generous with their affection.

Tanez and M’tar sometimes invited others—Anima and mortals alike—into their bed.

At our core, we were beings of spirit, physical pleasure a fleeting diversion with little significance.

Who had the right to judge me for giving in to my desire, for succumbing to a pull I could no longer deny?

Aramaz and I were not bound yet. I was free to seek pleasure where I wanted.

Lies. Lies. Lies. I knew what I had done—what I had allowed to happen—went far beyond idle curiosity. It was not what Aramaz had intended when he had asked me to keep his brother company. It had shifted things between Belekoroz and me, catapulting us into an unmapped no-man’s-land.

Because of what had happened in the Other. When he nearly killed me. When he looked at me like I was both the one he hated most and the one he craved most in all the Allfather’s creation. When I had succumbed to my desire to find out how he tasted and pressed my lips to his.

I needn’t have worried about his reaction. The hunger that had flared within him had rivaled mine, a tempest consuming us both as we coupled again and again on the muddy ground of the Other, caught in some kind of insanity.

Oh, how Tanez would laugh at my naivety if I admitted I had been wrong, so terribly wrong when I insisted I did not desire Belekoroz.

There was desire—glorious and addictive.

Now that I knew it could be like this between us, I couldn’t contemplate stopping.

But I was wise enough not to speak about it with anyone, not even my closest friend.

“I was busy.” With a deliberate twist of my body, I moved away from Belekoroz, unwilling to give in too readily. I wandered slowly through the room, aware of his gaze on me. “There have been dozens of new attacks.”

I paused, giving him a long, measured look over my shoulder, one eyebrow raised.

“A fact you would know if you came to a single Council meeting. We could have used your help.” My lip curled into an insolent smile, the urge to needle him more powerful than ever before. “Or were you perhaps avoiding me ?”

Belekoroz sneered, reluctant to follow me, still toying with the dagger I had relinquished. “Those Council meetings bore me. Watching you and my brother play the gracious king and queen is utterly tiring. Forgive me if I have better things to do.”

Did I detect a hint of unease beneath the condescending tone? How interesting. He was as affected as I was, if not more so. And not hiding it well.

“Jealous?” I asked, relishing the opportunity to provoke him.

A flash of his powers brought him in front of me, displeasure on his face. My heartbeat quickened as the shadows deepened. He didn’t like that I had caught on to his susceptibility to me. Of course not. He despised weakness.

“Don’t play with fire, little queen,” he warned, his handsome features as cold and foreboding as the desolate wastes far up in the north of Aron-Lyr. “You might get burned.”

When had I ever resisted a challenge like that? I stepped into the icy air between us, toying with the fastenings of his black tunic. The material was soft, fine silver thread decorating the seams, emphasizing his tall frame. Had he always dressed this well, or did I only notice now?

“Perhaps I want to get burned,” I said, meeting his eyes, my fingers diving beneath his tunic, seeking warm skin. Blessed Light, I craved to feel it against mine again.

A firm grasp closed around my brazen hand, halting my explorations.

A condescending smile replaced Belekoroz’s emotionless expression.

“You are quite the wanton little thing, aren’t you?

” he mocked, a cruel light in his eyes. “What would people say if they knew their perfect little queen likes to be taken by the dark? What would my brother say if I told him—”

“Don’t.” My free hand found his full lips, silencing his words with a touch .

Were the glimpses of vulnerability I had noticed merely a ruse to draw me in? They had compelled me to confess my desire for him, only to be mocked. Curse it. If he could manipulate me with such ease, he might understand me better than I understood myself.

Much to my surprise, he heeded my warning, obediently silent as I pressed my thumb against his lower lip, savoring the unexpected softness. Caution? Another move in this exhilarating game between us? Or was the hunter ensnared with the hare? Too bad I was no harmless prey.

“Aramaz would be shocked,” I said, my composed tone not betraying my racing thoughts.

A smile tugged at my lips. Time to see how far I could push him.

I had been in his mind, had seen every conflicted emotion he harbored about me.

He was not indifferent. I was certain of it.

“Though not as shocked as if he found out his brother wanted to kill me.”

“Are you threatening me?”

The violent eruption of dark power around me should have worried me. Instead, my heartbeat raced as his shadows enveloped us, stealing all the light, a mirror to their master’s incensed look.