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I rose and headed towards the tent, avoiding the fae as they clashed. The Dark Fae gained the advantage, and once the first Lumivitae died, the Care’etavos raised him as a remnant to turn on his former compatriots. After that, it was a slaughter, equal parts terrifying and fascinating.

The captain of the Care’etavos stopped before me and bowed his head.

‘My lady, Consort Arean sends his regards.’ He glanced around until his gaze landed on Tova. ‘I was under the impression you…’

‘Yes, yes. We’ll talk later. Excuse me.’ I looked past him to the tent. Fuck, will Irsha remember to bleed him first? ‘Give me your dagger.’

The captain’s eyes widened, but he drew his blade, offering it hilt first. Bless the Dark Fae and their worship of women. It made my life so much easier.

I pushed past him, ran to the tent, and ducked inside.

Niersen hung limply from Irsha’s grip. The assassin’s fingers flexed on Niersen’s neck as I entered, but the augurec collar prevented serious damage.

‘Wake him up, Sana,’ he snapped, thrusting the unconscious body at me. ‘Wake this fucker so I can make him scream.’

‘Irsha,’ I breathed, placing my hand on my friend’s arm. ‘The heart should never guide the knife.’

‘Fuck the creed and fuck you. You promised not to stop the kill.’ The betrayal in his eyes sent cold sweat prickling across my forehead. I needed to tread with caution.

‘I’m not stopping you,’ I said, my hand trembling on his overheated skin. ‘Just remember what we need. There’s something else. I want Siras to take us to the Gate.’

Irsha sobered. ‘What? Why?’

‘Because he can, and he told me Hierophant is there. I’m still a Dark Sister, Blade. We only know the area the Gate is in, so searching by ourselves could take days. And if I meet with the Hierophant, maybe we could end this war before it’s even started,’ I said, and he cursed.

‘They’ll burn you…’

I thought about Cinared and smiled. ‘I’d love to see them try.’

Irsha looked at Niersen, and his shoulders sagged. ‘What do you want me to do?’

I picked up the jug from the ground and emptied it. ‘Collect some blood and two bones while he’s still alive and give them to Tova. Then…’ I shrugged. ‘I’ll talk to the Dark Fae about tracking down Siras. Ensure Tova has all he needs. I need the key finished before we reach the Gate.’

Irsha nodded. I took the augurec collar off Niersen and gave it to Irsha, then wiped my hands against my clothes to rid them of the oily, numbing sensation the collar left behind.

‘Snap it on his neck the moment he stirs.’

I accessed my power, letting it pool in my hand. I ignored the dark hue of the emerald Aether and thrust it into Niersen’s chest. I searched for the traces of my poison. He was dying. The srebrec corruption was identical to what I’d seen in all those dwarven miners I’d failed to save, and in their king, Młot. His essence was warped, and I didn’t know if Niersen realised how little time he had left.

The Herald’s eyes flew open, and his body arched as the poison left his bloodstream. His psychic magic lashed out but vanished when Irsha snapped the collar back around the mage’s neck.

The assassin’s muscles bulged when his fingers gripped the lock with enough force to twist the soft metal until it fused together. Nothing except a chisel and an anvil would be able to pry it open now.

‘Please remember, blood and bones,’ I mumbled, turning to Niersen when he snarled.

I placed my hand against his cheek. Memories flashed before me—the faces of Ignac Tivala’s victims, my desperation when his schemes forced me to kill Lily, Irsha’s vacant stare when he made him his puppet.

A tear rolled down my cheek. Men like him made monsters.

Jagon, Tivala, now him. They made a monster of me. Now the price would be paid.

I pulled out a small vial, the last of my pilfered supplies. The powerful stimulant, altered by my magic, would keep a person awake and aware even through the most gruelling ordeal.

Irsha’s eyes widened when I pressed the vial to Niersen’s lips, pinching his nose to force his mouth open.

The ebony liquid slid down his throat like molasses. The darkness inside me sang as I leant in and kissed Niersen’s forehead, then turned to Irsha.

‘Make it hurt.’