Page 94 of Darkness Births the Stars #1

CHAPTER

Noctis

R ada wasted no time.

With a curt excuse, she seized my arm and yanked me toward the stable.

The noise and chaos erupting behind us faded as we slipped into the low-ceilinged wooden building.

Nacin neighed in welcome as we passed by his stall, leaning his head over the door.

I patted him absentmindedly, my focus on Rada as she came to a halt in the middle of the aisle between the stalls, her back to me, her body taut with tension.

“You were right,” she said, her eerily emotionless voice holding a brittle edge. “Deira is clever. She knows precisely where to strike to inflict the most pain.”

I nodded, the gravity of the situation settling in my stomach like a stone as I pieced together the facts.

“When the Chaos storm she sent after me failed to achieve the desired effect, she must have decided it was time for a more direct approach. She remains unwilling to confront us here or on the farm, but luring us to a place of her choosing allows her to set a trap, giving her the advantage. If we decide to face her—”

“If we decide to face her?” Rada whirled around. “Varien and Briseis are my family. I will not abandon them.”

I met her furious gaze head-on. “You heard Calder. We won’t just be facing Deira.”

Fear mingled with the ire on Rada’s face as her eyes darted to the stable door, where agitated voices drifted in from outside. “Calder said there were three of them.”

“There have always been alliances among the Chiasma. Some more enduring than others.” I mentally sifted through the list of my remaining followers.

“Her lover Kaius will be with her. The third one is likely Rahni. She has a habit of attaching herself to those with greater power, hoping for scraps. That’s three of the Chiasma.

And from the sound of it, they have a few fists of Rakash with them.

It’s not uncommon for the Chiasma to coerce or force outlaws into their service, but so many—” I took a deep breath as the most logical explanation dawned on me.

“It might mean that the Chiasma have finally allied with Galator.”

If that were true, the storm brewing on Milford Ridge was the least of our worries.

Rada’s wide-eyed gaze met mine. “You didn’t expect them to?”

“They always despised one another, each envious of the attention I bestowed upon the others. A sentiment I encouraged because it made them easier to control.” I began pacing, my thoughts racing.

“Galator looks down on the acolytes, especially on Asiza, the high priestess. He favors leading his armies into open battle over the more cunning methods the Chiasma employ. There’s only one reason I can fathom for him striking a bargain with them. He needs them.”

“Because he is preparing for war.”

The desolation in Rada’s voice made me halt abruptly, my gaze snapping back to her. She was staring down at the lapis lazuli still clutched in her grasp, her expression full of uncertainty .

“You knew that, didn’t you?” I asked, a sudden suspicion awakening within me.

“The last time I spoke with Tanez, she mentioned unrest in the south, yes.” She hesitated for a moment, her voice faltering.

“It seems Aramaz is aware of the threat Galator poses, but he is reluctant to rally the armies or intervene directly. Tanez said he ordered all Anima and Aurea to only use magic when absolutely necessary. With Chaos rising once more, their powers have become too unpredictable.”

“What?” I stared at her in utter shock. Since Aron-Lyr’s creation, there had only been a few periods of Chaos being that strong, and it had always ended in utter devastation—a fact I did not deny, even if I disagreed with my brother’s ideas on how to handle the threat.

“So if you asked for help, you are not sure the Ten would come here,” I added, suddenly realizing that her reluctance to do so might not be as much a sign that she was on my side as I had hoped.

“If I told them you are here, that would certainly change their opinion.” Rada shook her head and drew closer to me, her hands closing around mine. “Not that I will. I stand by what I said earlier. We will face this threat together, no matter what happens.”

“But you didn’t trust me enough to tell me the entire truth.” This reminder of how fragile everything between us was hurt more than it should. Not that I could blame her for her doubts. Actions had always spoken louder than words. I needed to give her proof of my sincerity.

“Belekoroz. I am sorry,” Rada whispered, her fingers clenching around mine. “But I can’t let Briseis and Varien die. I just can’t.”

In the face of her anguish, there was only one thing I could do. Even though every instinct screamed to grab her and flee as far and as fast as possible. Instead, I pulled her into my arms and said, “We will save them. Whatever it takes, I promise you, we will save them.”

My little queen was making a bloody hero out of me. The shitty thing about trying to be a hero was that heroes tended to die. I should know; I had killed my fair share of them.

Rada leaned into my embrace for a moment. “Thank you. I know I’m asking you to face terrible danger,” she said, tilting her head back to look at me. The brightness of her gaze, the belief in me I could see within it… Suddenly, nearly certain death didn’t seem like too high a price to pay.

I laughed softly. “ Saeraery , every moment I spend with you puts us both in terrible danger. Not that it ever stopped us.”

She gave me a tense smile. “I have Starfire with me. At the farm.”

Her words surprised me. Aramaz had allowed her to keep Starfire, even in exile? But as hope reignited within me, I brushed the mystery aside for now. Her legendary weapon—the bladed staff imbued with powerful magic—could tilt the odds in our favor. A little.

My mind raced, formulating a plan. “Fine,” I told Rada, gripping her shoulders.

“Take Nacin and get Starfire from the farm.” I nodded toward the door.

“I’ll see if I can find some volunteers to help me scout out Deira and her allies.

We’ll meet at the Ridge to coordinate our attack and free your friend. ”

“But—”

“It’s the only way,” I interrupted. It would also keep her far away while I assessed the situation.

I was willing to try saving her friend, but I was not suicidal.

If there was no hope of stopping the Chiasma, I would take Rada away from here, even if she protested.

“I assume you have Starfire hidden behind an enchantment?”

She nodded in resignation. “Yes, powered by a lyrin -stone. It can only be broken by my touch. But at least take the lyr -stones and the dagger.”

“The Fire stone, yes, but not the Air stones and the Chaosdagger. Deira might be able to track its whereabouts even if we don’t use it.

Its presence would only betray me to her.

” I pulled the dagger out of the sheath at the small of my back where I had kept it hidden.

“You should take it with you. We never know what other nasty surprises Deira has in store, and you might need it when you return to the farm.”

I wasn’t completely at ease with the thought of letting her go alone, but I knew she was a capable fighter.

Rada’s jaw set with renewed determination as I handed her the dagger. “Adesh and the Sundered will help us. They’re furious that Deira killed two of them, and they owe Briseis and me a lot. Kyree will probably insist on joining you as well.” She took a deep breath. “Could you—”

“I’ll do everything in my power to keep them safe—and I’ll come up with a plausible cover story for us,” I said, a hint of amusement in my voice.

Her fingers came up, gently tracing my jaw. “You won’t do anything reckless, will you?”

She was worried about me. The realization floored me, and my voice softened as I answered, “Not if I can help it.”

“Good.” Despite her words, she still hesitated, her eyes searching mine. Something inside me broke. With one decisive tug, I pulled her into my arms.

My lips descended on hers, claiming her mouth with a ferocious hunger born of desperation. She responded in kind, her fingers clawing at my nape, her teeth grazing my bottom lip.

We both knew the truth: we were mortal now.

There were no certainties anymore, no guarantees that we would survive this storm.

I would gladly destroy anyone who threatened her, yet I had never felt more powerless.

Compared to those I once commanded, I was weak.

Perhaps too weak to protect her from the darkness I had created.

Our kiss slowly gentled until I pulled back, cupping her face in my hands. “Baradaz, whatever happens… I want you to know I— ”

The words caught in my throat as I struggled with the enormity of my emotions. I couldn’t tell her what I felt for her, not when it would only cause her more pain if the Chiasma succeeded in killing me to seize my power.

“I am grateful for every single moment I’ve shared with you since coming here. This has been an unexpected gift. And no one knows better than me that I do not deserve it.”

“We will make it last,” Rada answered, her silver eyes bright with fierce conviction. “Remember? We decide our own fate.”

Never in my long existence had I been more determined to risk everything to make these words true.

I swiftly helped her saddle Nacin, and then she was gone, leaving only her taste on my lips and the faint scent of snowdrops in the air.

Resisting the urge to go after her—trusting in her ability to defend herself even as a Human—pushed me to my limit.

With a frustrated growl, I marched back outside. Right into a heated discussion.