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“Finn,” I choke out. “I saw him. He’s... he’s slaughtering the Mountainside fae. Taking their eyes. Turning more Shadowkind into demons.”
Eldrion’s jaw clenches, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage. “We knew he intended to turn the Shadowkind but...” He inhales sharply. Does he feel sorry for the Mountainside fae?
Is that what I see in his eyes?
“We have to stop him,” I say, my voice stronger now, fuelled by desperation. “Eldrion, we have to do something. We have wasted time.” I leap out of the bed and pull his robe around me.
Instead of making plans, we allowed ourselves to sleep and fuck and pretend we had all the time in the world.
“With what army, Alana, are we supposed to fight him? Most of the Shadowkind who remained loyal have fled. The Sunborne don’t trust me anymore. And I’m—” he cuts himself off, frustration evident in every line of his body.
“Then what?” I snap, anger flaring hot and bright inside me. “We just sit here and let him slaughter innocent people? Then let him come for us?”
“Of course not,” Eldrion growls. He slams his fist against the wall, leaving a dent in the stone.
“What if we play him at his own game. Trick him here and take back your powers?”
“He has an army of fae who can control the shadows now, Alana. I’m not sure my power would make any difference.”
“So, you’re just giving up? You’re done?” I march over to him and shake him. My powers are crackling beneath my skin. “Maybe I should go alone. Face Finn myself.”
Eldrion rises up in front of me, his eyes blazing. “You are not a stupid girl, Alana, so do not act like one.”
“At least I’d be doing something!” I shout, purple light flaring around my hands.
“And get yourself killed in the process?” Eldrion’s voice rises to match mine. “What good would that do?”
“Well, it seems like we’re all going to die pretty soon. Might as well get it over with. Seeing as you’re out of ideas.”
We glare at each other, the air between us charged with tension and unspoken fears. Finally, I deflate, the fight draining out of me. “What are we going to do?” I whisper.
Eldrion sighs. For a moment, I think he might be about to reach out and hold me. But, of course, he doesn’t.
Instead, he pulls on his clothes and starts to pace the room. He pours himself a whisky and leaves the bedroom.
I follow him, and find him standing by the fireplace. Just like he did when he first brought me to his chambers and spent hour upon hour questioning me about my past, the Leafborne, and my powers.
“The Sunborne are our only chance,” he says. “We need to persuade them to fight with us.”
“Why should we need to persuade them? Will they not want to protect their city?”
“Sunborne fae are powerful,” Eldrion replies solemnly. “But it has been many years since they had to fight for themselves or for anything else. They may feel it’s safer to flee.”
“Then we have to make them stay.”
Eldrion nods, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. “They want a banquet. They want to feel as if everything is normal. We invite them here tomorrow night. All of them. And then we’ll make our plea.”
“You think that will work?”
“If I tell them my magic is gone, maybe.” He draws in a deep breath.
“You want them to know that?”
He shakes his head. “No. I do not, but I don’t see another way. They are the most powerful weapon we have. If they decide to fight, we could stop Finn before he gets anywhere near the city.”
Eldrion offers me the whisky glass and I take a sip. It makes my throat burn.
“He said he was doing it for me.” I look down into the glass, my voice barely audible. “That he was offering me something. That I would be his.”
