Page 6 of The Edge of Darkness

A few days ago, when I was at a standstill in my attempts, Aremis had spent half the day spying. When his Aura returned, all it could confirm was that the catacombs had been sealed off with more wards—more so than when it was just Morah’s brother, Fallon, being kept there. Ramil knew the power he held within those walls now, and he knew that I would be coming for Niall sooner or later.

What he didn’t know was when, or how. Or who I would bring with me.

“Let’s make this quick,” Remic said.

Roirdan smirked. “Ah, the famous last words of all the females you’ve taken to bed.”

I whipped my head to Roirdan and caught Remic rolling his eyes.

Morah cackled loudly.

“Males.” Maeson shook her head.

The humor was appreciated, though. It reminded us of what we were as a unit. We were more than just acquaintances now. These were my friends who had quickly become my family. Situations like this only sped up that process. They forced us to learn things about each other that would have otherwise taken years, and helped to solidify a trust that ran thick as blood.

I was also quickly learning that Roirdan enjoyed making anything and everything into either a challenge, or a sexual joke.

“On my mark,” Remic instructed. He wasn’t doing himself any favors by that choice of words either. I couldn’t help but let a smile spread across my lips, knowing Roirdan would find a way to create some sort of sexual innuendo out of that too.

Roirdan coughed and snickered to himself again, and I jabbed an elbow into his ribs before he could say whatever sly remark was dancing on the tip of his tongue. He batted my arm away with a grin and adjusted the sword at his hip.

Remic’s face remained serious, focused ahead on a fixed point that I couldn’t see. He counted us down. “Three . . .”

Everyone straightened. Roirdan’s humor sobered.

I took in a breath.

“Two . . .”

This had to be quick.

Land, picture the wards, command them to fall.

“One . . .”

All five of us ported.

And the clock began ticking.

I had precious seconds to work.

The moment I materialized, and the red stone of Benmoor’s gateway pavilion glared up at me from under my feet, I fell into the same rhythm I had practiced.

Eyes closed, mind blank.

Dive . . .

The gaping chasm within me yawned open with no end in sight. I dipped into it, feeling my power flood my veins.

Picture the wards—command them.

I reached out with my essence, searching for the wards. When I sensed them—their presence like an oily sheen against my mind—I didn’t hesitate.

Fall.

Then, a hand was gripping mine, and I was thrust into nothing again as we moved.

When I materialized once more, the five of us stood in front of a splintered and worn wooden door attached to a rundown sandstone building. Thankfully, the street we were on was quiet, but Morah didn’t hesitate to knock rather anxiously.