Page 31 of In The Dark

It’s faint, but his presence rests against the forefront of my mind, cool and heavy, right between my eyes. It’s as if he’s wrapping me in a comforting embrace, yet there’s an undeniable power in his presence, steady and unwavering. I inhale, catching the earthy scent of oakmoss, something that’s grounding and ancient. I mentally reach out to touch his presence.

He shudders. “Let me in.”

Just then, my head is thrown back in a series of images as they flood my mind, launching me into another world.

Not a world…his memories.

11

RYDIAN

“Elynor!”

I attempt to reach her through the Veil again, but she’s not responding. The usual steady connection has gone cold, which can only mean one thing: she’s injured. My heart pounds as I sprint, my magic already too drained to travel in the Veil.

Aurelia was breached unexpectedly, catching us off guard, when King Andre told me to run. As his second-in-command, I knew I needed to find them, even though I didn’t want to leave his side.

“Find Elynor and Isa!” King Andre had shouted at me as he withdrew his sword, holding the front line with his men. We were ambushed at the border, not too far from the castle, but even as I took off, I was sprinting past our enemy to find Queen Elynor.

The realms were supposed to have peace—a treaty created by the kings in an agreement, the first time in history where we were granted such a luxury.

Elderheim arrived so quickly that the whole realm was caught off guard.

As I run through the trees near the back of the castle, my eyes land on Elynor in the gardens fighting her way down the stone path with Isa on her hip. Two of her personal guards continue to cut through the chaos, heading toward the castle.

“Elynor!” My feet quicken their pace when I notice the gash on her ribs, deep and dripping down her side.

She’s a force of power—cutting, ducking, and dodging, even when she served as an informant for the king. But now, with a crown that rests on her head, she commands a presence that’s hard to ignore.

She’s fair-skinned with dark emerald eyes and black hair, though a blonde mark rests in the center of her head. Varethin marks are often acquired in your hair—the bond between souls, connecting you to someone in your realm like a mate.

Elynor received hers while on a mission in Elderheim, marrying King Andre. The two have been inseparable since her arrival back five years ago.

With heavy, panting breaths, I finally reach them just as she cuts down the last of the soldiers surrounding her. Isa grips Elynor’s tunic—uncontrollable tears streaming—when she glances at me. She just turned five.

“I… I’m scared, Mommy,” Isa says between sniffles.

“I know, baby,” she mutters, then turns to me, breathless and clutching her ribs. “Rydian, what happened?”

“Are you okay?” I ask, inspecting her as she winces in pain. “Why aren’t you healing?”

“I—I don’t know.”

“There’s been a breach from Elderheim. King Andre’s at the border. We need to get you and Isa below the castle.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I’m not leaving Andre,my mate,to fight alone.”

“Please don’t fight me, Elynor. Queen or not, I’ve beenordered to get you to safety. We need to get you and Isa below the castle. Your safety comes first,” I press.

She pivots, looking to the side with a heavy exhale before finally turning to me with a quick, defeated nod. “Okay.”

“We need to be quick. There are more coming,” I say, commanding orders to her personal guards. “Give me Isa,” I demand, but Elynor shakes her head.

“No, I’ll be fine. Focus on fighting.” She grips Isa tighter, as if afraid to let her go. We race toward the castle, a sword already in her hand as I follow close behind.

My sword is withdrawn, but we’re quickly ambushed by those who have already reached the castle’s back entrance seeing her two guards fighting up ahead. Glancing over my shoulder, I see hundreds of soldiers race toward us, and panic crawls up my chest.

I kick out, catching a soldier in the hip before slashing down, slicing him across his midsection. I continue to fight our way up the stairs and into the castle. We’re almost there—if we can just make it inside, we can get to safety.