Page 91 of To Vanquish Darkness

Amalie shivered and began to read.

Lovely.

Deadly.

Cloaked in shadow,

Bound by light.

Two sides of

The same eternal night.

The Great Eclipse.

In the time of eternal twilight, Solène and Le Sombre existed in perfect harmony as one being, a union of light and dark, maintaining the delicate balance of the world created for humanity. Together, they ruled over all, a peaceful force that mirrored the beauty of the dawn and dusk where their realms of light and shadow met. The gods, pleased with this balance, watched over the world with pride. However, as the ages passed, even the gods grew weary of endless harmony.

They began to tease and prod at the unity of Solène and Le Sombre. The gods planted seeds of discontent until finally, the tension between light and dark became too great. The harmonious being that was Solène and Le Sombre fractured, torn into two opposing forces, each desiring dominion over the world. Solène embodied the purity and brilliance of light, while Le Sombre claimed the depths of shadow.

But both were incomplete without the other. Le Sombre, filled with longing and ache, created dark companions to share in his misery. These beings were birthed from the shadows and cursed with an insatiable thirst, never able to truly possess the life force they craved.

Solène pleaded with Le Sombre, begging for an end to suffering. But without her light, Le Sombre could not see past his own darkness.

Amalie paused, reading a note in the margin in her mother’s hand.

You were not made merely to fight the darkness, but to bring forth the light within it. Help them see beyond the shadow.

She read it again, her vision blurring as tears filled her eyes, then flipped the page. She read the last paragraph of the introduction.

What follows is a record containing the fullness of the guardian bond and the light we wield. Until the Day of Light, guardians will wait. They will serve. They will protect. And when she who is sent to bind appears, they will follow.

Amalie had barely begun to absorb the words when she startled at the sound of a boot scuffing on stone.

Her head snapped up, making tears drop onto her cheeks. Amalie stood and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Theo’s voice was low.

Amalie worked to swallow the lump in her throat. “I don’t think there’s much you could do to startle me at this point.”

Theo’s eyes shuttered. “Fair enough.” He took a step closer to the front of the desk. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

“About the sword? No.” She shook her head. “I?—”

“I wasn’t talking about the sword.” He was in front of her now, only Uncle Oren’s desk between them. Amalie breathed him in, giving in for just a few moments to the desire that constantly hummed beneath her skin when he was close.

Or even when he wasn’t. She was like a compass, always pointing toward him. Whether she was in the castle or alone in her hotel room in Servon.

“Is there something I did?” Amalie dropped her eyes, her throat working. “I mean in the past. Did I hurt you? Is that why you attacked in my room. Why you were cold?—”

“No.” Theo’s body tensed.

“Then why?” She finally looked up, not trying to hide the new tears pooling in her eyes.

Theo’s hands trembled at his sides. “You wouldn’t have believed me.”

“You could’ve tried.”

“No. I couldn’t.” He turned, dragging a hand over his face. “I had to take you to the island. I needed you to be safe.”

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