Page 3 of Eluvonia (Rift of Ages #1)

The Fae betrayed us, pretended to be our friends, our allies…then schemed in secret to take it all

I pace the stone floor, each step growing sharper, my frustration escalating with every memory of today’s council meeting.

It feels like talking to walls. Why is it so damn hard to get the Fae to agree on anything?

Four hours—four long, agonizing hours—spent spiraling in circles, only to arrive at one miserable truth: we can’t agree on anything.

With a growl low in my throat, I kick the nearest chair. It skids across the floor, clattering loudly before tipping over and lying still, as unsatisfying as the meeting itself. My hands find my hair, tugging at the roots for a moment before dropping back to my sides.

“Your Majesty, we need to take action,” a voice calls from behind.

I spin on my heel, heat rippling just beneath my skin as my eyes meet my advisors. The elder Dragon stands tall in the entrance to my chamber, his weathered features steady, his gaze assessing.

“I don’t want to start a war,” I snap, my voice edged with bitterness. I take a quick step toward him. “It’s the Fae elders who cling to their traditions like crumbling relics.

“Their people deserve better, but they’d rather watch everything burn than risk a single step into the unknown. And for that, I’m the villain? I’m the one who gets painted in blood?”

Leonardo doesn’t so much as blink, his expression as solid as the stone beneath our feet.

He’s weathered this storm of mine before.

Still, the silence presses against my chest, stoking the fire smoldering in my veins.

Every council meeting is the same: reports given, warnings shared—Eldrathir, the demon realm, is preparing for battle, and whispers say Eluvonia might be their next target.

Yet these Fae elders refuse to listen, dismissing the very danger at our doorstep.

My mind races to the Nexxus, the lifeblood of Eluvonia, its power protected by the Fae.

Without their approval, there’s little I can do to shield Eluvonia—or anyone—from what’s coming.

And Eldrathir is coming. I can feel it, even if the Fae elders dismiss it, hiding behind their same tired defense: that Eldrathir’s goddess, Helgrimmr, is bound by a curse that keeps the demons contained. But how long will that last?

Steam curls faintly from my nostrils as I stop abruptly, one hand pressed flat against the cool stone wall of my chambers.

My other hand flexes at my side, the heat in my palm begging for release.

“If they won’t act, they doom us all. Every second they delay…

” My words trail off, the weight of unspoken consequences tightening my throat.

My advisor steps closer, his calm presence a counterbalance to my storm.

Turning my head just enough to glance at him, my jaw still tight. “Did you look into what I asked?”

He nods, his arms folding across his chest. “Yes, Your Majesty. The Arcanis Order has completed the work on the crystals.”

I drop my hand from the wall, spinning fully toward him, my brows knitting. “And they’re sure it’ll work?” I ask.

He hesitates for only a second before nodding again.

“If we place the crystals directly on the Nexxus points, they’ll siphon the ley lines.

It will appear as though the Nexxus has…

died.” His voice lowers on the last word, his tone carrying both certainty and caution.

A slow, grim smile spreads across my face, and I rub my chin, my thoughts racing.

The fire in my chest settles slightly, redirected into something colder, sharper.

“If the Nexxus appears dead,” I murmur, “no realm would dare waste resources on conquering Eluvonia. It’s too great a risk. ”

I step closer to him, my focus narrowing.

“But the Fae—will they agree? Their Sentinels guard the Nexxus. We’d need them to pull back long enough to place the crystals.

” His eyes meet mine steadily. “It could be the compromise we’ve needed.

No harm to the land, no blood spilled, and Eluvonia remains protected. ”

I reach out, gripping his shoulder tightly. “After all these months,” I say, a grin breaking across my face, “we’ve finally found something they can’t refuse.”

Leonardo chuckles, shaking his head with a quiet admiration that softens the edges of his expression. “It amazes me, truly, how deeply you care for these other races. You’ve given them a place to thrive, even when they’ve turned their backs on us. It’s an honor to serve you, my King.”

His words hit me like a warm breeze cutting through the cold. I pat his shoulder, letting my grin linger. “And it’s because of you, my old friend, that I am this way.” I pull back, my steps lighter now as I turn toward the door. “Come on. Let’s share the good news with the council.”

Together, we stride out of the room, the faint flicker of hope beginning to bloom in the shadow of what lies ahead. Perhaps now, Dragon and Fae alike can find a way to truly thrive in Eluvonia together .