Page 19 of Eluvonia (Rift of Ages #1)

KAIDA

I wake to a gentle shake, the world still half-draped in the haze of sleep. Declan’s voice is low, almost urgent.

“Kai, something’s up.”

I grunt, the words barely breaking through the fog in my mind. I push myself up, rubbing at my eyes as if that could clear the lingering sense of fatigue. I don’t need more trouble tonight, but it’s always there, lurking, waiting.

I glance at the corner of my tent. The Fae—damn her—still curled up in a ball.

She’s a small thing, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the fact that she’s taken residence in my bed, but I can’t fucking trust her anywhere else.

I let out a sharp exhale, my fingers twitching, almost instinctively, reaching out to command the shadows that already slither across the floor like restless serpents.

I get up, moving slowly, careful not to wake her. She might not be the biggest threat right now, but that doesn’t make her any less irritating. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I follow Declan out of the tent, the cool night air hitting me, biting at my exposed skin.

“Report,” I command.

“There’s been movement in the southeast,” Declan says, his tone grim. “We believe a faction of Fae are gearing up for an attack.”

I drag a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the grogginess, but the irritation only sharpens.

Fae. Again. We can’t even take a damn hunting trip without them slithering out of their cursed forests, looking for another fight.

It’s always like this—always some new ambush, always some fresh bloodshed.

They never stop. They don’t know peace. They don’t want it.

The Fae are parasites, feeding off destruction, thriving on chaos. It’s in their nature, woven into their very bones. We push them back, they come crawling out again.

We burn their villages, they regroup in the trees, sharpening their blades, waiting for the next moment to strike.

They don’t fight with honor. They don’t stand and face us.

No, they hide, they skulk, they poison and deceive.

They’re cowards playing at war, pretending they’re something more than the pests they are.

And still, they dare. They dare to test us, to claw at the edges of our territory, to spill Dragon blood like it’s their right. Centuries of war, and they still don’t understand— they’ll never win. But they don’t need to.

They only need to keep coming, keep gnawing at us, piece by piece, like vermin chewing through stone.

I exhale sharply, forcing my hands to unclench. “Of course, they are,” I mutter. “Because the Fae don’t know when to quit.” My voice is low, cold, as the weight of yet another battle settles over me. “Fine. If they want a fight, we’ll give them one.”

Because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that the only good Fae is a dead one.

“What’s your order?” Declan asks, his voice tight with restraint.

I take in the lay of the camp, the guards, the firelight casting long shadows across the grass.

We’re at a disadvantage if they attack now.

I can feel my shadows twitching, hungry for violence, and I know it’ll be harder to keep them at bay if a fight breaks out.

The meat we’ve gathered is precious, and the guards can’t shift without wreaking havoc.

I exhale through my nose, frustration leaking through the cracks of my control. Dammit. “Send a guard to the woods,” I order through gritted teeth. “See if we can meet with their leader. We’ll try to come to a truce.”

Declan’s eyebrows raise at that. “You’re willing to negotiate with the Fae?”

I can feel my shadows twitch at the mention, restless.

I look down at the wrappings on my arm, my fingers brushing lightly over the markings.

It’s always a delicate balance. Sometimes, I wonder if I’ve spent so long keeping them in check that I’ve forgotten what it’s like to let go.

To just let them do their thing. But that’s not an option anymore.

“I don’t always want bloodshed,” I say, my voice low, almost a growl. The shadow’s coil tighter around my legs, seeking release. “But I have to do what I can to save my soul.”

Declan’s gaze flickers to my hands, then nods once, without further question. He strides off, finds a guard, says something to him, and the soldier is off running into the woods. I watch for a moment before turning my gaze back to the flickering flames of the campfires.

About an hour later, I stand in the clearing just before the treeline. The air is colder now, and the shadows stretch long in the dark. I’m alone, except for Declan beside me. The sound of approaching footsteps makes me tense.

From the edge of the woods, a Fae male emerges. His silver hair catches the faint light of the stars above, the others with him are all wearing that same arrogance. They stop just in front of me.

“You wanted to surrender?” the silver-haired Fae asks, his voice dripping with a smirk.

I scoff. “No.”

His arms cross, and his eyes narrow, inspecting me like I’m some kind of curiosity.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of speaking to the shadow commander?”

“I wanted to see if there’s a way we can stay here peacefully,” I say, trying to keep the edge out of my voice. “We’re not here to attack. Only to hunt.”

The Fae studies me for a long moment, then glances back at his companions. A silent exchange passes between them before he turns back to me, his expression unreadable. “Very well. A temporary truce, then. You hunt, we stay out of your way.”

Declan exhales, tension easing from his shoulders. “That’s all we ask.”

The Fae male inclines his head slightly. “But don’t overstep, Dragon. You may roam for now, but know that trust is not given freely.”

I don’t trust them. Not for a second. But I nod, knowing this is as much of an agreement as we’ll get. “Then we have an understanding.”

With that, I turn on my heel, the shadows rising behind me, coiling like tendrils of smoke. Declan catches up to me, his pace quick, his voice low. “You believe them?”

I grunt in response, eyes scanning the darkness beyond. “No. The guards need to be on alert. I don’t trust them not to stab us in the back the second we let our guard down.”

Declan nods grimly. “I’ll spread the word.” He jogs off, shouting orders to the men.

***

Hours pass. The night deepens, and the cold settles into my bones. I remain in the clearing, standing just before the treeline, my instincts prickling with unease.

Then I hear it. The shift in the air. The near-silent rustle of movement where there should be none.

From the darkness of the woods, shadows break apart as Fae warriors emerge, weapons gleaming under the moonlight. My stomach twists, but I’m not surprised.

Another betrayal.

A low growl rumbles in my throat as I take a step forward, shadows curling at my feet. Declan tenses beside me.

“You really thought we’d let you roam freely?” the silver-haired Fae sneers, his smirk returning, sharper this time. “You Dragons never learn.”

I exhale slowly, letting the fury simmer, controlled but ready.

“I warned you,” I murmur, voice like a whisper of death.

Then I unleash the shadows I tear through the Fae, sending them flying like discarded leaves, but more keep coming.

They move like specters, slipping through gaps in our defense with practiced ease.

The chaos around me is deafening—screams, metal clashing, the roar of flames.

The Fae hit the eastern flank first, a wave of blades and fire crashing down on the guards.

Swords flash in the dark as they slaughter the guards, their screams swallowed by the night.

Fires spring up all around, and I hear the roar of flames consuming the tents, the crackling as they burn to the ground.

My shadows move before I do, responding to the chaos with ruthless efficiency.

They lash out, a blur of darkness and form, grabbing the Fae by their limbs and flinging them into the air with reckless abandon.

One after another, the Fae are tossed aside like rag dolls, their bodies crashing to the ground with sickening thuds.

I keep some suspended in the air, my shadows holding them in place, choking the life out of them slowly.

I take a step forward, my sword drawn. The cold steel gleams in the firelight.

I raise it, and in a blur of motion, I slash through the Fae that approaches me.

The blade cuts through their flesh with ease, blood spraying out in a crimson arc.

Each strike is precise, the tension of the battle fueling my movements.

I’m in a rhythm now, and I feel every swing, every slash like a pulse through my very being.

I feel like I’m forgetting something.

I look over my shoulder and I spot my tent, the familiar shape standing amidst the flames and chaos.

A tugging at my chest pulls me toward it, and that’s when it hits me.

She’s still inside. Dammit I forgot about her.

A surge of panic rises in my chest. I curse under my breath, the sound lost to the din of battle.

My eyes narrow, and I force myself to focus.

I push forward, my shadows parting for me like an obedient army.

And that’s when I see her. The Fae girl. She steps out from the tent, looking confused, and lost .

A guard shouts at her to go back inside, smart male. He runs off, and I see the glint in her eyes. She’s going to try to escape.

I should let her go. She’ll be someone else’s problem. But I know better. My father will never forgive me if I let her slip away, and I don’t feel like dealing with his punishments.

I start toward her, but I stop dead in my tracks when I see her reach for a Fae but instead of helping her he is attacking her. I quicken my steps and deflect his blade.

What did that damned Fae do?