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I came fully back to myself within a half hour, but Tarrak kept me in front of him and in his arms all that long day, riding hard. He didn’t stop until almost dark, when the stags were stumbling on the trail, clearly exhausted. Only then did he make a rough camp and left me with an admonition to gather enough wood to last us through the night while he went to hunt.

He came back an hour or so later, when the sun had set and the moon had sullenly risen and promptly hidden itself behind a cloud. I was adding wood to the fire when I heard him come back into camp. I was sitting on the edge of our bedding with my back to him, and I felt him move up behind me, wrap his arms around my waist, and whisper something in my ear. His hot, wet tongue traced over my neck, and I shivered with pleasure. I don’t know if the words he was whispering were making any sense or not or even if they had to. I turned my head toward him, and he captured my lips in a kiss so hot my lips tingled. He slipped his tongue inside my mouth. A dark and dangerous energy began to sweep over me as he pushed me back on the bed, turned me on my side, and spooned me against him.

“Rest, da’len. I’m going to clean and cook our dinner, but you’ve had a long day. Try to sleep, and I’ll wake you when it’s time to eat.”

He left me then with a kiss to my hair, and I could hear him moving slowly around the fire. I fell almost instantly asleep and if he tried to wake me, I didn’t remember it the next morning. We awoke early, ate some cold rabbit, and drank a large quantity of tea before starting out again. We’d ridden hard the day before, wanting to get out of Dokkalfar territory and needing to get back to the siege at Adan’s castle, and we rode just as hard the next day. By evening, we had arrived at Tarrak’s encampment outside Adan’s gates.

Tarrak was immediately surrounded by his lords, who pulled him away to speak to him. They were amazed at the sight of his new sword, not to mention the battle-axe I was still wearing slung across my shoulders. I was so tired I was drooping a little, so I went over to sit by the nearest fire, but Tarrak turned, looking for me, and held out his hand. I got up and went to him, and he drew me in next to his side. His lords looked at me with their eyebrows raised, but he paid them little mind. As soon as he could, he withdrew to his tent, taking me with him.

“I know what I have to do,” I said, turning to face him.

He folded his arms across his chest and regarded me solemnly. “And what might that be?”

“You won’t like it.”

“I’m sure of that. But tell me anyway.”

“I promised Adan and his mother a sword. I have to take them one, so they’ll release Pavel and Juul.”

He shook his head. “No, Sergey. Trust me and let me handle this. I’ve promised you I’ll save both of them.”

“I have no doubt you can take the castle, but once they realize the siege is over and they’ve lost, the first thing they’ll do is kill their hostages.”

“Not if I can help it. Not if things go according to plan.”

“But those ogre guards are just waiting for a chance to kill them if the walls are breached. I promised them a sword, so let me give them one.” At the expression on his face, I hurried to finish what I was saying. “Not the Sword of Light, but one that looks a great deal like it. I can glamour a plain, regular sword to look like it. Then I’ll appear inside the walls again and hand over the sword only when Pavel and Juul are released. Afterwards, I’ll leave the castle and you can face Adan in battle, only with the real Sword of Light, and you can defeat him once and for all.”

He shook his head. “No, Sergey.”

“But why not?”

“Why not? Because it means you have to cast another Infernal spell, conjure your way into the castle, and dishonor yourself with a trick that they’ll soon see through. They’ll kill you for it, Sergey. It’s a reckless and dangerous plan.”

“And your plan is better? To just hope for the best?” I glared at him in frustration, knowing we were at an impasse, and he’d never agree.

“Drop the subject, Sergey.” I turned my face away from him, and he gripped my arm. “Promise me.”

I blew out a breath and shook my head. “I can’t. I’ll be lying to you if I tell you I will, and I don’t want to do that again.”

“Why can’t you simply trust me to handle this?”

“I do trust you, but...”

“No buts. Either you do or you don’t. Which is it?”

His gaze was steady as he stared into my eyes. There had never been many people in my life that I could trust. My grandmother had watched me like she thought I was about to steal her spoons. My mother spent her days on her knees, praying fervently for deliverance that never came. And even Pavel, the one person I had that I could trust, had left me alone for a time with our father, who was abusive both physically and mentally. Trust was a fragile thing. Easily broken and lost, but almost impossible to get back. But as I looked back at him, I knew that though he would be disappointed if I said I didn’t, he still wouldn’t stop loving me. He wouldn’t stop looking out for me.

Feeling defeated, I sighed and dropped my gaze. He pulled me in his arms and held me close.

“ Da’len , I won’t let anything happen to your brother. I’ve given you my word. You have to trust me a bit longer. I promise you everything will be all right.”

I nodded, then buried my face against his chest so he wouldn’t see the hesitation in my eyes. I was terrified, but I had to learn to trust again. And I thanked God that Tarrak was willing to teach me.

We slept in each other’s arms that night, but the next morning, I was too nervous to eat a bite. Tarrak ate heartily enough for both of us and then stood up and stretched. “It’s a good day to see some old friends again.” He held out a hand to me. “Let’s go, Sergey. It’s time.”

I followed him out to the front of the castle, just out of reach of the ogres’ arrows. Tarrak took off his golden sword and handed it to me. “Hold this for me, da’len .”

I held it carefully in my hands as Tarrak called out to Adan in a loud voice.

“Adan! Come out! Get out from behind your mother’s skirts and fight me—it’ll be just the two of us—no need to cost anyone else their life. This is between us.”

Only silence was the answer, but Tarrak kept taunting Adan over the next hour, shouting at him to come out again and again. “No need for anyone else to die, Adan. We can handle this between us. Come out and fight. I’ll even let you use the fabled Sword of Light.”

After he said that, the gates swung open a few minutes later, and Adan appeared. He looked furious, dressed in the same kind of finery I’d seen him in earlier—silk breeches and a fine doublet. He wore an ermine cape around his shoulders with a matching hat and tall black boots. He came to stand in front of his gates, which had swung closed behind him.

“I heard the sound of a braying ass out here, and I came to see if I could put him out of his misery.”

Tarrak threw back his head and laughed. “Where is my friend Lord Juul and my wizard? Bring them out and let me see them.”

“Why should I? What are you going to do about it if I don’t?”

“I’ll kill both you and Olga slowly and painfully, for one thing. Or you can have this sword my Necromancer found for me. I believe he promised it to you. Then you can leave my kingdom; promise never to return here again, and I might allow you to live.” Tarrak shook his head. “Maybe not though. You’ve caused me a great deal of trouble.”

Adan sneered at him. “I reject your offer. If you do have the sword and are offering it to me, then it must be worthless. I tried to tell Mother. Go away and stop harassing me. You leave the kingdom and let me take my rightful place as king.”

“But it isn’t your ‘rightful’ place, Adan. Our father didn’t trust you, so he left the throne to me. But since you say it’s yours, fight me for it. Right here and now. Send out Lord Juul and Pavel, and I’ll fight you for them. As I said, I’ll even let you have your choice of swords.” He turned and beckoned me.

“Sergey, bring me the Sword of Light.”

I looked at him as if he were crazy, but he called to me again. “Come along, Sergey.”

I stumbled a little as I went forward, not knowing what Tarrak was planning to do. Adan narrowed his gaze and his mouth thinned to a slim line when he saw me.

“Is that the human that you’ve taken up with? I heard you were fucking him, but unfortunately, not in time. He’s dishonest,” he said, pointing his finger at me. “Trust you to have such a person in your bed.”

“You’ve heard about Sergey? Who have you been talking to who knows my business?”

He gave a bark of laughter. “The Fairy you were calling your new consort. You think you’re so special, so intelligent, don’t you? But you had treachery all around you. Didn’t you know, brother? The Fairy was helping me all along. I told him that if he managed to get rid of you, then I’d make him my consort and together we’d go back to his home kingdom and defeat his father and brothers.” He laughed and shook his head. “It must be true what they say about Fairies. Vindictive little bastards.”

His eyes dropped to the sword I carried, and he gasped. It did look impressive shining there in the sunlight. His eyes burned with lust. When I got closer to him, Tarrak took the sword in his hand and held it aloft. Its golden blade flashed.

“I believe this is the one that Sergey here offered to bring to you to defeat me.”

“It’s rightfully mine. We made a bargain. Freely offered and freely accepted.”

“Then I give you the Sword of Light so that he won’t be forsworn.” Tarrak tossed the sacred sword toward Adan, hilt first. Adan took a step backward and it fell to the ground in front of him. There was a collective gasp from behind us, including mine.

“Tarrak!” I cried. “What are you doing?”

I started to rush forward to get it back, but Tarrak caught my arm as I passed him and pulled me back around. “I told you to trust me, Sergey,” he said in a low voice. “Now step away. Let me finish this. Let me bring Juul and Pavel home.”

“No, I can’t,” I said, misery washing over me. “I won’t! He’ll kill you. The sword is invincible, as is the one who wields it.”

“Be quiet now and trust me, Sergey.”

Adan seemed to be afraid of coming closer, but finally he darted forward and swept the sword up in his hand. “Ha!” he shouted. “I have it!”

“Then fight me with it. But first bring out Lord Juul and my wizard, Pavel.”

He turned and made a motion to someone on the wall and after a few long minutes, the gate opened and Juul and my brother were pushed out. Juul had his arm wrapped tightly around Pavel’s waist, supporting him. He looked wonderingly between Adan and Tarrak, but Tarrak beckoned to him to come forward.

“It’s all right, Juul. Go to our camp and wait for me. Take Sergey with you.”

“No!” I cried out. “I won’t leave you!”

Tarrak turned immediately and came to me. He held my face between his hands and said softly, “Calm yourself and trust me. This will all be over in a few minutes.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of! Please, Tarrak! Don’t do this. I beg you.”

Juul came toward us and took my arm in his, dragging me away with him. I cried out but couldn’t fight his superior strength. Pavel walked beside me, trying to calm me down, but Tarrak was in mortal danger. It was true that his lifespan was incredibly long, but he could still be killed. I was terrified.

Tarrak drew his old sword that he’d been wearing at his side and held it at the ready. He tipped it up to his head in a salute. “Fight me then, brother.”

Adan surged forward with a loud cry of triumph, ready to cut Tarrak down. Tarrak parried the blow easily and then sliced his sword downward—only once. His sword flashed in the sun and came down across Adan’s neck. Adan fell bonelessly to the ground, already dead. I stared in shock and then I broke free and ran toward Tarrak, throwing myself in his arms.

He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me long and hard. I closed my eyes and held onto him for dear life.