Page 32 of In The Dark

My sword slashes down when Elynor’s screams tear through the air, leaving me to discover her bringing her own sword down in a wide arc.

In a race to protect Isa, she’s suddenly ambushed by four soldiers from Elderheim. She’s struggling to keep Isa in her hold when she’s suddenly struck across the back of her head.

They lunge to grab her, one of them grabbing Isa. But Isa’s screaming and kicking to be released, thrashing her wild black hair as she claws at the soldier’s face.

“Rydian!” Her small screams reach me before they’re muffled by a soldier’s hand, her eyes wide with panic.

“No!” I slice and kick the nearest soldier, struggling to fight my way to her when something hard hits my skull.

The sun beats down on my face, the harsh light revealing the destruction of the battle we just faced as my eyes peel open.

A battle we clearly lost.

The burn from the gash on my lip forces me to wince and groan in pain. My hand flies to my ribs, pulling back to eye the blood coating my fingers—a stab wound, my armor stiff with dried blood.

The battle must have just ended, and I recall Elynor and Isa being taken by the soldiers from Elderheim.

Panic races through me as I force myself upright, crying out in pain as I brace myself on my arm, clutching my ribs. I hope to find Elynor but know deep down that they’re already gone. My hope is fleeting as I search the castle, calling out as I check the hidden sanctuary below to find it empty. No one was able to make it inside, and defeat sits on my chest.

In my search for survivors, I find Ivy—a dark-skinned female soldier—also bloody and bruised. She lifts injured soldiers, doctoring their wounds when she turns in my direction.

“Ivy, what’s the update?” I get out with a wince, clutching my ribs.

“Rydian, I’m so sorry,” she chokes out, tears suddenly welling, streaking through the dust on her face. A cold dread settles in my stomach.

“Tell me!” I demand, gripping her face.

The destruction is undeniable. They obliterated everything we had—women and children are scattered amongst the bodies as fires continue to burn the homes of the people who lived in Vyria.

“They took them. They took them back with them, Elynor and Isa. We couldn’t stop it. After they took them, everyone stopped fighting, retreating to where they came, and the king… They sent his second-in-command,” she says quietly.

“What do you mean? Where is Andre?”

“They had the blade.” She shakes her head, grief palpable beneath my fingertips. My hands leave her as I step away.

They found the blade. How did they find it? The Blade of the Veil. One that has been missing for hundreds of years. The only blade capable of killing a king or queen of Aurelia.

“I have a few soldiers down there with him until we can move his body,” she whispers.

My feet pull me into a run, and I ignore the sharp pain in my side—I need to see him. I search for Andre near the large vale where the water meets the shore, coming to an abrupt halt as I spot him lying on his back.

Lifeless.

The air feels heavy, pressing down as I move forward. Ten others kneel near his body with their heads bowed. Soldiers immediately stand as I approach, parting wordlessly as their gazes avoid mine.

I take a step, then another, until my feet refuse to move, my knees weakening. I shake my head with disbelief.

My vision blurs as I stumble forward, landing on my knees just as an angry growl escapes me. I suddenly can’t breathe. My heart slams against my ribs as he slowly comes into focus.

His blonde hair is dark from the thick coat of blood except for the black mate mark at the crown of his head. His face is pale, but his hands lie resting on his chest with his eyes closed, as if the soldiers knew I was coming. They leave us in silence, one by one.

I reach for him and cradle his head in my lap, moving hair away from his face as I hold the one male who was with me for the duration of my life.

Our memories together come flooding back. We didn’t always get along, but he was my king.

The loyalty and the bond we built over the years is something I’ll never forget. I loved him—admired him as if he were abrother. He was the kind of king that encouraged you to be better.

But Elynor made him better somehow. Their bond was something to be sought after, and I yearned for that. I was envious of what they shared, seeing how amazing they were, and with Isa, the girl I saw only moments ago. And it was gone in a matter of minutes.