Page 4

DRAGAN

The Echoing Spire

Constant vibrations of energy flow through the ground beneath my cheek. I miss the warmth of the crackling embers of the fires in the hearth, the scent of old books in the library, and the sound of Eilish humming a wordless tune as she strolls through the cottage.

Pyre has lost his home, and we’re the ones to blame. Now, I rest on the cold, harsh stone and feel the thrum of magic all around me. The temple is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, with its walls of glistening jade and the swirling well-pool of magic at its center. Though I find the sound of the rushing waterfall soothing, I can’t sleep.

Nearby shuffling draws my attention and I crack open an eyelid to see who else is awake. Eilish. She moves through the cavernous chamber carefully, brazenly walking past the Sentinels who guard the Echoing Spire.

I stand up, in order to follow her, clearing my throat to make my presence known. Eilish casts her brilliant gaze on me and a smile blooms on her stunning face. She lifts her hand and I grasp it gently, walking beside her through the chamber. “Why are you awake?” I ask quietly, even though I keep my eyes on the Sentinels. The strange, insect-like creatures make me nervous. I catch the small shrug of her shoulders from the corner of my eye.

“I can’t stop thinking about Cambion.” Her soft voice barely echoes through the space between us.

“You should do us all a favor and stop,” I grumble. “What a disappointment he turned out to be.”

She shakes her head. “It’s not that simple, Dragan.” I look down at her and she continues, but not before taking my hand and squeezing it. “The four of us have been through so much together, we owe him the chance to explain what happened. Especially after I saw Theren in my vision.”

I shake my head. Cambion can fucking rot in hell for all I care. He turned on us and joined forces with his fucking brother, Theren. And then Theren did what we all knew he would—he turned on his own brother, just like he did all those years ago.

“Your visions aren’t… reliable,” I say to her.

She pauses and then looks up at me. “This vision was different… it’s an omen. I’m sure of it.”

“Eilish... your visions…” I’m not sure how to say this because I don’t want to offend her. “Your visions led us to Morrigan and look what became of that? We can’t risk any more losses,” I finish on a sigh. “Making it out of the Veil Forest was hard enough. Now, Morrigan’s out there somewhere, plotting against us.”

“I know this vision was different,” she insists and looks at me with a yearning expression. “You have no reason to believe in my visions, I understand that. But try to believe in me , Dragan,” she implores. “Please.”

“I want to believe Cambion wouldn’t endanger us without reason, but I’m not so sure. And Theren... he’s not the man you think he is.”

“Dragan…”

I shake my head. “You don’t know him, Eilish. The rest of us do. Theren was carefully bred to become the perfect leader to the Unseelie, the dark fae. Everything about him is corrupt.”

Eilish squeezes my hand again and I can see the truth in her eyes—she doesn’t believe me. “Then what about you and Baron? You were chosen to be kings for a reason, and I see those reasons in each of you.”

“No,” I mutter as I shake my head. “I don’t believe any of that fate and destiny bullshit anymore. I’ve even begun to doubt myself.”

“You can’t,” she starts but I interrupt.

“You weren’t there in the beginning, Eilish. We were young and arrogant, but our skills spoke for themselves—Morrigan chose us because she knew she could mold us into what she wanted. She chose us because we were strong but impressionable. It had nothing to do with destiny.”

“That can’t be why,” Eilish says.

“Cambion, Variant, and Theren already knew Morrigan from their training with her, so she knew what they were capable of. I was different. I came from a race, the gargoyles, who simply came to be.”

“What do you mean?”

I shrug. “We were created and then used as soldiers for whatever king or nation called on us at the time. Morrigan needed to have the backing of the gargoyles because we are a powerful race. She chose me to lead my kind because, of all the gargoyles, I was the most ruthless.”

Eilish falls quiet as she listens. I stop beside the glittering pool of energy at the heart of the chamber and look up at the enormous statue of an elven woman weeping into the vat of magic that shifts in color like opals in the sun.

“We were all chosen by Morrigan because she saw us as weak,” I continue. “She chose us because she knew we’d be easy to manipulate and then cast aside when she was done with us. And we’ve done nothing but prove her right.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“It’s true nonetheless, as much as I wish it weren’t,” I reply with another shrug. “The power was within the oath, not within us or even Morrigan.”

“The oath?”

I nod. “It was Silvanus’ oath that ended the Singularity. Morrigan played us for fools and gave us thrones we were never meant to occupy. We weren’t ready to be leaders, much less kings. And she knew that. With Abedon locked away, the only thing that stood between Morrigan and ultimate power was Silvanus and… us.” I take a breath and try to force my anger back down again. Thinking about Morrigan upsets me. “She defeated us once before and she knows she can do it again. This fight is doomed to end in her favor.”

“How can you think that?” Eilish demands, shaking her head as she releases my hand and then throws her arms into the air, to further drive home the point that this conversation is frustrating her. “Look at you! Look at all of us.” She stares into my eyes and I wish I still possessed her naiveté, her belief that good can still triumph.

But, I know better.

“We might be facing difficult times, Dragan, but you can’t just give up!” she continues. “We’re still alive! We’re still fighting, and that means Morrigan never defeated us. So long as there’s breath in our lungs, we’ll continue to fight.”

“The world hasn’t been kind to you, Eilish,” I say in a low voice as I bring my fingers up to trace the line of her cheek and jaw. She’s the most beautiful fucking creature I’ve ever seen. And she’s also the most deluded. “How can you still have so much hope?”

“Because hope is all we have left.”

I dip my head low and press my lips against hers. Those warm, soft hands which have given my body so much pleasure trail up my shoulders and lace behind my head. Breathless gasps float between our mouths. The kiss is slow and gentle, but no less passionate than the embraces we’ve shared in the throes of ecstasy. She slides her tongue against mine and whimpers in the dark. I feel her dark and seductive power with each brush of her lips, and I taste the seduction on her tongue.

We break away and I reach up to push a lock of white hair behind her ear. Just behind the white hair is a tendril of pure black—a reminder that Eilish still needs to feed the lightness within her, or else she risks the darkness taking over.

Pressing her hand to the center of my chest, she licks her lips suggestively. I stare into her endless cerulean gaze until there’s nothing left but us.

“I will have hope, Eilish. And I will pray to whatever gods are still out there that the destruction of the worlds doesn’t come by our hands.”

“There’s so much goodness left in the realms,” she answers, her voice small. “I see that now, Dragan, and I don’t believe it will be by our hands that more suffering is unleashed.”

I kiss her once more as the others begin to stir.

Leaving Eilish beside the water, I walk back to the place where our group slept through the night. Baron grumbles something under his breath and kicks the snoring mass of satyr flesh beside him. Kolvar jumps up with a startled bellow, causing my sensitive ears to ring. As the group awakens one by one, the planning can finally begin.

***

EILISH

The Echoing Spire

I feel the presence of a Sentinel beside me. It hovers like a shadow in the darkness, silently watching as I stare into the wellspring of energy. The presence of the enigmatic being is somewhat comforting. I turn to face the hooded figure, still intrigued by its ghoulish, insect-like features. A gnarled hand reaches toward me from the sleeve of its robe. Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I allow it to touch me. A hissing voice enters my mind, and I wonder if this is the way most creatures in the Veil communicate.

Eilish…You must follow your instinct. It is you who will shape the realms, the voice whispers.

I cringe at the sensation. The physical feeling is a nagging tingle between my ears that crawls across the inside of my skull.

Find your purpose.

What if I don’t know what my purpose is? I think in response.

Sometimes, the path ahead can only delineate itself when it’s set against the dark memories of the past.

The Sentinel materializes a thick leather book from the air and hands it to me. The book feels heavy in my hands. I flip through the yellowed pages and look up at the creature in question when I find the pages empty.

Why have you given me this? It’s an empty book?

Write, instructs the voice. Chronicle your journey so others may learn from your trials and accomplishments. You are no longer a lost girl, Eilish. Become the woman you were always meant to be. Take back the honor they took from you.

The Sentinel breaks our connection and joins the others of his order and the book dissolves into my hands, gone just as quickly as it appeared. Pyre passes the creature and they share a nod of acknowledgment before Pyre comes to stand before me. His sightless eyes reflect the swirling magic of this place.

“Did you,” I start as I watch the Sentinel walk back to the others of his kind.

Pyre nods. “I heard everything that passed between you both. And before you say anything on the matter, no, I don’t believe Cambion is guilty of betraying us. I’m upset I lost my home and things I hold dear. But I don’t blame Cambion for my losses.”

I smile up at him because I appreciate his trust in Cambion. And I’m relieved to know he agrees with me. “We’re the only ones who feel that way.”

“Baron understands, but his anger is yet too fresh,” Pyre says with another brief nod. Then he looks at something in the distance before glancing back at me. His expression softens. “The Sentinels respect you now, Eilish. They watch and know everything and they believe you’re proving yourself to be worthy of this quest. Establishing peace must be our priority.” He takes a breath. “That is a great honor.”

“Honor or not, we need allies, Pyre,” I say on a breath. “With Cambion and Aima gone, there isn’t much we can do about any quests.” I pause as I inhale deeply. “Kolvar offered us the aid of his clan and I think we should consider it.”

“As do I.”

I nod. “And I don’t know what the others think about liberating the Threst , but I can’t leave those poor fae in the hands of Morrigan and Variant...”

Of one thing I’m sure, Variant isn’t himself. He’s under the thrall of Morrigan and I don’t believe he can be held accountable for the atrocities that have occurred in his name. Atrocities that, most recently, include the murder of fae women and children. I know Dragan and Baron don’t agree with me, but they don’t understand the truth—they didn’t see the vision I did. Variant is trapped within his own body, just as Theren is. The two of them fell victim to Morrigan’s magic and she’s been controlling them both.

“I agree we need allies,” Pyre says, his white and sightless eyes glowing. “And I’m certain the fae will be grateful to learn they haven’t been forsaken to the oppression of Variant. But, liberating the Threst will be no easy feat, Eilish.” He takes a deep breath. “There will be orcs and demons guarding that horrible place. Going at this alone would be foolish.”

“Baron and Dragan,” I start but Pyre interrupts.

“If the others refuse to follow you, I’ll force them,” he says with a smile that speaks to his jest, but I know he could force the others to do whatever he wanted them to. He’s that powerful.

Pyre takes my hand and leads me back to the group. I sit beside him and find my attention moves to Baron, because I can feel his gaze on me. When I look at him, the vampire stares at me unabashedly but I can’t read his expression.

His eyes bore into mine, and I feel them slide over the curves of my body. Something about the expression in his eyes feels so primal that the succubus inside me can’t help but take notice. I feel my heartbeat begin to speed up as Baron leans back against the jade wall of the chamber, bare-chested with all his scars on display. As well as his sleek and defined muscles. The paleness of his skin contrasts greatly with the darkness of his hair and the bright blue of his eyes. He’s more powerful than he was even a week ago, and I sense this newly awakened power within him.

I want it for myself.

And he knows this. The flicker of understanding in his eyes is as unmistakable as is his lust.

Pyre squeezes my hand, pulling me away from my thoughts as he breaks the trance Baron weaves over me.

“Now’s the time to unite everyone,” Pyre whispers to me. When I look at him, he simply nods and I realize what needs to be done.

I clear my throat to get everyone’s attention. Then in a loud voice, I say, “We are The Vindication,” I pause as I look at the others and sigh heavily, even as I draw courage from Pyre’s touch. “Our title implies that we search for justice and truth,” I continue. “Our faction is comprised of fugitives of war, rebel lords, fallen kings, and creatures deemed too dark to have a say in the way of the world. We’ve faced lifetimes of agony, but we’re still standing. But we can’t stand alone, not against Variant and Morrigan.”

“What do you suggest?” Pyre whispers and his breath fans across my face, causing me to close my eyes as I breathe him in. There’s a connection between the two of us. Yes, we’re friends, but our connection runs deeper than that. We would be lovers, if Pyre hadn’t promised himself to a life of celibacy.

“Kolvar will take Dragan and me to the mortal realm to meet with the Mercenary King,” I answer as Dragan immediately begins shaking his head. I quickly continue because I don’t want to lose my momentum to an argument. I need to get my ideas and thoughts out first. “We will petition for Galmer’s help while Pyre and Baron finish securing the Veil from this side.” I pause as the others sit up straighter. I can practically see the protests in their eyes. “Flumph and Noni will travel by portal to watch over Cambion and Aima.”

“What about Morrigan?” Baron asks, pulling his tunic over his head. “Last I checked, Morrigan was our number one enemy. And yet, no one knows where she is! We should be scouring the Veil for Morrigan, not venturing off in different directions.” He glances around at everyone and his jaw is tight, his eyes narrowed. “Separating is a bad idea, trust me on this, Eilish,” he finishes as he focuses on me again. “What if there’s another attack?”

Pyre responds. “There won’t be. The Veil is fractured, yes, but it’s not broken. Morrigan isn’t strong enough to fight us, or even to provoke the powers that rest here,” he takes a breath as he looks around himself. “She will go after Variant and the talisman, which means the answer to our problems at the moment remains the same: we can’t allow Morrigan to get ahold of the talisman,” he continues. “We must liberate the Threst and save the fae who are currently being sacrificed in order to power the talisman.”

Morrigan’s plan is to use the talisman to help her locate Silvanus so she can kill him and get her power back. Power that Silvanus has been keeping from her, in an attempt to help reverse the damage she’s already done.

I take my cues from Pyre and finding my courage, I clear my throat and hold my chin up high. I know the best way forward and I will stand up for what I believe in. “I’m going with Kolvar to gather allies,” I announce as I focus on Dragan. “And I hope you’ll come with me.”

“Eilish,” Dragan starts but I shake my head.

“My mind is set,” I interrupt. My voice echoes through the chamber. “One week. That’s all the time we have before we put this plan in motion. I suggest you all prepare for what’s to come.”

“There’s no changing your mind then?” Dragan asks me as he pulls me aside so we can speak in private.

“No.”

He pauses for a moment. “Of course I will come with you,” he says but his jaw’s tight.

“Thank you,” I start but he shakes his head.

“I just hope you realize the danger we’ll be facing.”