Page 30 of The Dark Will Fall (Twilight Lake #5)

Elsbeth Shadowhock

Elsbeth had not a clue what Rian Swiftgait planned to do to the reeds protecting the Kelpie city, but their study of the writhing black darkness had gathered a crowd.

Her guards remained, as they always did, surrounding her without standing in front, dressed in armor, and ominous to a fault.

Elsbeth crossed her arms over her chest as she watched the scarred male at the end of the platform.

The Reeds were ancient. Magic gifted by Belisama themself. But they were not infallible.

Many of the more intricate Kelpie magicks had been lost to time. As the creeds of the lake separated and remained in their own little worlds, the Kelpies lost many of the abilities that had made them formidable Wild Fae.

Rian shoved his hands directly into the reeds, and they sucked him in without hesitation.

Elsbeth’s stomach flipped, and she realized what a bad idea the entire affair was.

Rian Swiftgait was a stranger, and the city’s namesake reeds were the most crucial protection her creed had.

Elsbeth stepped forward, her hand outstretched and a protest on her tongue.

Rian stepped out of the Reeds, shaking his head. He looked rather pale.

“What—” The word was barely out of her mouth before the Reeds turned to mist, the thick tendrils steaming and releasing shadowy fog into the water.

She knew it! He’d done something to the Reeds. Her teeth sharpened in her mouth, and she felt her nose wrinkle as her rage turned to metal in her mouth. “What have you done?” She snarled.

Rian ignored her, swimming forward as his body shifted into its four-legged form. “RUN!” He shouted, his voice ended on an equine shriek, full of terror. “THE CITY IS UNDER ATTACK—” His words ended on a strangled yelp as his body finished changing forms.

Elsbeth felt his fear as an endless blackhole, all-consuming. Whatever lay on the outside of the Reeds, whatever was seeping into the city, was something an ancient fae was too scared to face.

She threw up her hands, summoning the shadows that gave her bloodline its name.

Tormalugh used to call his abilities ‘small magics’. He could hide in a corner and listen to conversations. He could shadow-step small distances. Her brother’s skills lay with the blade.

Elsbeth did not have the finesse for small magics.

The shadows burst from her fingers, excited to escape. They formed a wall so thick that it rivaled the reeds themselves. Her knees buckled, but the shadows held. It stopped whatever strange mist had penetrated the city walls.

Tormalugh was outside the city. Her brother was already on his way to the Nymph Village. She had no idea if he was alive or dead.

Rian Swiftgait struggled to regain his two-legged form. The crowd began to scatter, and screams echoed through the city.

A guard approached her shoulder. “We have to evacuate the city, your majesty. We need your order.”

“You have it.” Her words were breathless, her chest leaden. Her hands shook, as if she were holding up the world itself. “Go.”

“Your majesty—”

“I will not let the city fall until the last of our creed has left.” Her eyes burned with exhaustion. “ Go .”

Elsbeth did not turn back to see if her orders were fulfilled. There were hundreds of kelpies, but nothing had breached the Reeds since the protections had been born.

The mists on the other side of her wall reached out, grabby fingers searching her magic for a single crack they might sliver through. Rot, decay, endless hunger.

“Fomorians.” A deep voice came from behind her.

“Swiftgait.” Elsbeth snarled. She thought he had run; she didn’t know how long she had been standing there, facing the mists alone.

“Fomorians.” He repeated. “They cannot hold form in this world. They seek bodies.”

“They can’t have my city.” Elsbeth bit back. Her knees buckled.

“They won’t last long outside of the water. Not without hosts.” Swiftgait explained.

Elsbeth dropped to her knees; the sand on the platform rose up, muddying the waters. “I can’t hold it much longer.”

“Feed from me.” Rian knelt down and placed his hand on her shoulder.

“I can’t.” She closed her eyes.

The mists' attacks grew so fervent, like hailstones on her skin.

She felt his magic push inside of her. Jagged, unruly, and so powerful.

The shadow wall grew thicker and less transparent as they waited out the attack together, the empty city behind them.