Page 209 of The Edge of Darkness

“Yes. I was afraid the king would not have accepted a message from a fae lord so openly. And despite your ability to see things before they occur, I have it on good authority that there is something that has yet to happen, and it directly involves you.”

She tilted her head. “Something you have foreseen?”

“No. Someone I know and trust has seen it.”

“Go on,” she urged.

I began by telling her how I found Auren after she crossed The Veil. How we were mates—fated and bonded before the gods—and that Silas had found his way to us and filled us in on all the missing pieces we didn’t already know, including the queen’s true nature. Then I told her everything I knew about my own lineage and power. I explained that somehow, it came from Erebus, and that Skadi was in The Wastelands with Lyceius, and that war was coming.

When it came to Fallon’s vision, I relayed it exactly the way it was told to me. “He saw you standing above two bodies—one male, one female, both covered in blood. But he couldn’t make out their faces. You handed something to someone, and the bodies beneath you began to heal. He didn’t see what it was that you were holding, but he did see a pair of pale, feminine hands accept it.”

She glanced down at her hands the same time I did. “Not too different from my own, from the sound of it,” she said, warily.

“Corinne, I’m going to ask you something, and I need you to answer me with full honesty . . . Are you in possession of Erebus’s amulet?”

She shook her head as confusion spread across her face. “No. Why would I have it?”

“I had to ask. I did not expect you to have it, but someone does, and Skadi is here looking for it. Which is why I needed to meet with you, face to face . . .”

Slowly, I reached into my pocket in space and retrieved the decoy from where it was stored right next to Lyceius’s talisman. “This is the reason I came. This is what I believe you handed to whoever else was in the vision. And if it wasn’t the real amulet, then it had to have been this one.”

The queen stared at the black stone that dangled from the silver chain, and to my surprise, she stepped forward, across The Veil. Her eyes flicked up to mine, her lips tilting up in a faint grin. “Witch blood has its advantages.”

Indeed, The Veil gave her no grief as she passed through to my side and reached an open palm for the amulet. “What is this?”

“A replica of the amulet Skadi is searching for. I commissioned it in the hope that it would serve as a bargaining chip for the war. But then Fallon had his vision. And something tells me you will need this more than any of us will.” I hesitated, then placed it into her hand, piling the chain atop it.

“If this is a replica . . . who has the real one?”

“We presume it’s still with Torin.”

“It has to be. She would not part with something like that so easily.” She examined the stone. “It feels . . . strange. It has your essence.”

“I’ve trapped a sliver of my power inside it, to make it believable. No one knows it exists, except for my second-in-command, and the High Lord of the Arctic Court, and I’d like to see that it remains that way, in case it needs to be used to bargain with. I want you to keep it close and keep it safe. Do not tell anyone else about it. Not even the king.”

She nodded, closing her hand around the necklace. “You have my word.”

“There will be another war soon. Now is the time to ready your army. I do not think Lyceius will strike this far east, but I also cannot guarantee that he won’t. And now that Skadi is here, we’re not sure how this is all going to unfold. When the time comes, we will handle the fighting and keep Lyceius’s army contained to the border between our lands and Salterra. You should make sure those in the north get as far south as possible, just in case.”

The queen inhaled a deep breath through her nose. “I will see to it that the necessary preparations are made.”

“We can station a battalion of soldiers here to help guard the boundary to the north, if necessary.”

“And send everyone in Belthria up in alarm? They would think the fae had arrived to attack. Thank you for the offer, but I believe it is best if we stick to our respective realms . . . for now.”

I nodded. “Then I will send an emissary that I trust to relay information to you while we prepare. If you are willing, I think it would be wise if you attended our war meetings when the time comes. It’s better to be in the know, especially since you now have that.” I nodded toward the decoy amulet.

“I would appreciate that. And yes, I am willing. But how, may I ask, will your emissary get in touch? He or she would need access to the castle if they are to gain an audience with me.”

“He is already quite familiar with your realm. He can reach you directly.”

She lifted a dark brow. “A spy?”

I didn’t deny it.

“I’ve had my suspicions over the years,” she said, suppressing a grin. “I do have a keen sense for those with power.”

“Then you should have no problem identifying him again when he arrives.”