Page 79 of The Fallen Fae King

“You’re lying again.” My eyes smart with tears.

This time, I can sense the truth in his words.

My soul howls with grief.

“He loved you until the end.” Void Devil’s voice becomes low and careful, feeling out for a weakness — a spot to plunge in his fangs. “He didn’t forget you. His last thought was of you. I heard it whisper through my mind, a prayer by the devoted to the Void. Just sink in your claws and then maybe, you’ll be truly united with your twin in the afterlife.”

Lie, I hear it slithering beneath his words.

I bend my head over my wrist. “Laz will be with the Shadow Devils.”

The Void Devil eagerly leans over me. “What if this is an opportunity for us both? We either stay trapped here together or escape together. I allow your spirit to cross to the Shadow Devils, and I⁠—”

“Why would you?”

“Because I am now an outcast myself,” the Void Devil snarls. “I have failed. I will suffer torments worse than you can imagine in your petty realm. So, when your soul flies from your body, I shall cling to it. We are bonded, whether you believe it or not. We are both running now. This is the only time you will have this offer. Your only chance to see your brother again. Do it.” He attempts to soften his expression. “Don’t you want to be with the one person who didn’t fear you? Cage you? Who loved you unconditionally?”

My claws sink into my arm.

Suddenly, a soft hand is pressed against mine, before it wrenches my claws away from my wrist.

Then I am surrounded by the scent of roses.

“He is not the only one. Don’t you dare think about leaving me after everything we promised in our vows,” Freya growls. “After I followed you into this Void.”

“Dearheart, you found me.” I wrap my arms around Freya, shielding her from Void Devil.

A warmth floods me, which is different to the one that I felt when I thought I had finally found my twin again, but still drives away the cold.

It’s enough to help me to battle through the pain of broken ribs and bruises and sweep to my feet, spinning to push Freya behind me.

“You still think that you can protect her from me?” Void Devil’s face is split by his unnatural smile, and sudden terror shoots through me. “You are in my realm now, Little Blood. I will tear off your wings like you are no more than a fly.”

“Flies are my friends,” I reply. “I hate bullies who hurt animals. You have crooned falsehoods into my mind, promising a better future. Except, it was fake. You are the same as the most barbarous people in my own realm. Your new world is based on your view that we can be wiped out to make way for the true owners of the land…you.”

Void Devil cocks his head. “Before the shadows were born, it was our land. We simply wish to return and take it back. All you have done is delay the inevitable. Now, you shall both die for it. Then your spirits will be trapped here with us forever. And we have such games that we play with every Void Vampire.”

Freya grabs onto my shoulder. She is trembling.

“Be brave, my Queen,” I murmur. “We are together.”

I never believed that I would have someone to say that to. I thought that I would die alone.

But now, I have the Omega who grabs my hand and fiercely moves to stand by my shoulder.

The pinion feather that is tucked behind her ear begins to glow.

“I love you.” Freya tilts up her chin.

“I love you, my dear.” I adore the feel of her skin against my bare hand.

It is such a simple thing, but it means everything.

Void Devil opens his mouth, and his jaw unhinges. Then black tentacles burst out, reaching for Freya and me.

Unexpectedly, a portal forms in front of me. It is made of shadows, as black as night before the moon or the stars were born.

Daire tumbles through the portal in a ball of feathers with his ravens’ cawing around him.