Page 38 of To Catch a Prince

Nimue was impressed again. Having a great memory and a thirst for knowledgehelped.

“The one and only. He brought forth a golden age of prosperity, until, again, darkness prevailed. That time, the cost was too dear. That time, we decided toact.”

Nimue left it at that for a little too long. “Act?” Talia repeated, an invitation to carry ontalking.

“Yes. First, we brought those who were worthy to Avalon, where they still dwell. Then, we closed off the continent from vermin. Legions of orcs and undead try to break through every day. They’ll never pass our defenses. The wall you see in Norda is just a puny little thing, compared to what our kind cando.”

That explained how Nimue could destroy it soeasily.

“Right. But that was a long time ago - what does it have to do with anything happeningnow?” she asked, because, fascinating as that history lesson was, Talia needed to stay on track, navigating back to the whole ‘we’re all going to die’thing.

“Everything,” replied she. “We separated the two worlds in a hurry, as a temporary solution. When things were settled, the fate of your world was brought to a vote. It’s one of the only fertile lands left in the entire universe, relatively untainted by evil. There’s just your so-called civilized humanoids on this continent. Some believed we ought to purge this and claim it back - there are men, dragons, and elves in Avalon, all of which have been raised to believe in something bigger than themselves. The era they could bring forth would be one of purity and goodness. Others believed that your kind deserves anotherchance.”

“Why should you get to decide who lives or dies?” she frowned, replyinghotly.

“When you own a pet, and they bite at a child, do you get to decide whether you wish to put it down?” Nimue countered. “You’re young, and unprepared to understand it, but my kind created yours. We’re the gods you’ve heard of in legends. Our ancestors grew bored, and shaped men and elves. We tamed flying fire-breathing beasts and sealed them in worthy men. We then found the process amusing and replicated it on bears, wolves, and any other animal in the world, creating the various races of shifters. We can end you because we created you in ourimage.”

Talia’s blood grew cold as every protest died on her lips. “Well, that’s not quite accurate. Some amongst you are something else altogether.” Nimue smiled unexpectedly. “Making you so much like us, genetically, means that our race is able to reproduce, and, well, our kind has never been known to resist the pleasures of the flesh. The mages of our blood are our descendants, the main reason that has stilled our hand when we talked of starting overhere.”

“So, you’d kill thousands of sentient strangers, but it wouldn’t do to do the same with your children,” Taliaspat.

Nimue didn’t think to take it as the insult it was. “Exactly.” She paused before finishing her explanation. “It was decided to delay the final decision until a test was conducted. Around the time when this debate divided Avalon, the Queen of our world had given birth to twins, who already used magics. One favored her light, the other, her Shadow. They were raised to hone their natural inclination. Then, when they were of age, the girls were cast out of their realm and brought here. They were told to come back when they couldn’t take any more mortal nonsense. If the one who favors Shadow comes back first, they’ll have to conclude that there is hope for this world. If the child of light was to give up before her,though…”

Talia immediately understood what thatmeant.

“You’re the Shadowchild.”

Her heart hurt for that poor creature. She’d stayed here for thousands of years, away from her people, from herfamily?

“Why don’t you just give up? Go home?” It made no sense. If she did that, all of them would besaved.

Nimue smiled sadly. “It’s not quite as simple as that. In our society, those who contribute, and do their purpose well, are revered, honored. If I were to go home, I would lose everything. My sister will rise to be the Heir of Avalon and I’ll forever remain the one who felthomesick.”

Oh, for the sake of every god listening in. “You’re kidding. You’ll doom us all for yourpride.”

Nimue tilted her head. “Iwill.”

She wasn’t even a little bit apologetic. What thefuck.

“Although, Iamgiving you a fair chance. When my sister gives up, soon, I’ll be recalled home. I’ll leave a breach in the wall for a short time - a breach through which thousands of monsters will pass, so it certainly shall be dangerous. But you’ll feel it. You’ll see it. And, if you’re smart, you’ll do as I tell you, and passthrough.”

Nimue got to her feet, swiping dirt off her ass, before walkingaway.

“It was nice seeing you again, littlehick.”

“I wish I could say the same,” she retorted, before asking, “What ofVincent?”

Nimue clicked her fingers and the man opened his eyes immediately. Jumping to his feet, he pushed her behind him, away from Nimue, who just smiled kindly. “I would have already killed her if I’d wished to,” she said, before vanishing as suddenly as she’dappeared.

“Was ither?”

Talia nodded. “Yes, yes itwas.”

“Where are we?” he asked, and she justlaughed.

“No clue. Not too far, Ihope.”

Vincent smirked. “That shouldn’t be a problem, regardless. Now tell me what happened here; then, we cango.”

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