Page 61 of Cursed Shadows 5

General Caspan did not offer Dare a place in his unit, because the general seeks out warriors who have lost their evates to death. He seeks out those who have no other priority beyond war.

Rune will go alone in that unit.

Samick chose to serve under General Raske, one of only two female generals of Dorcha. Back in the barracks, Raske was a formidable instructor and an ice fae, like Samick. Then, when she was seen by her evate, she cut his head off with a sword.

It doesn’t surprise Daxeel that Samick chose to follow her into battle.

But Daxeel chose loyalty to his house. General Agnar’s unit is the only option for him.

Dare took his time deciding between Raske and Agnar. If Caspan’s unit was open to him, Daxeel doesn’t doubt he would have gone with Rune.

Now, Daxeel won’t serve without a soul brother—and that is a weight lifted from him. Breathing comes a touch easier now. But the other two will be out there in enemy territory—and he won’t know if death has come for either of them, not until the units are returned to Dorcha, and that is a half-year from their departure.

Half of a year away from the fae realm. Longer, in the human realm. Time will move differently there; it will echo across a chasm that never seems to end. That time will be filled with, first, the Great Walk. All units will march into the human realm on the same phase… and walk.

The Great Walk will end at the farthest reach of the human lands. The farthest isle on the farthest ocean.

Then it starts.

The units turn around—and follow their designated path, already mapped by the cartographers: The Great Return.

Each unit has their own route, sometimes crossed over, sometimes entwined, sometimes entirely alone. But each route will be covered in the Great Return, and that ensures that every single settlement, town and city and village and farm, will be destroyed.

It isafterthe Great Walk that the destruction begins.

Eternal flames will burn everything to the ground—and any human still alive will die at the hands of the dokkalves.

Along the way, kuris are to be rounded up and carted back to Dorcha, then forced into the slave trade. The stronger the kuri, the more valuable they are.

Samick’s Great Return journeys the same landmass that Daxeel’s does: North America. But Rune’s Great Return takes him across the landmass of Europe.

There is relief in Daxeel, in his sagged shoulders, that Dare will be with him on the Great Return.

If only he could have convinced Rune to follow Agnar or Raske instead of Caspan. But even then, others are left behind.

Kithe will remain for that half-year.

Eamon will remain here. Nari, too.

And with all four of them gone, who is to keep Eamon and Nari safe?

The uncertainty of it all, it eats at him.Tireshim.

A part of Daxeel wonders—if the slights never became of him and Nari, if they were never poisoned and she asked that he put down his sword and stay in the Midlands, stay out of war, if he would do it.

Now, he wishes that did come to be. That they loved purely, sweetly, and she asked him to set up a little tavern with her in the heart of Kithe…

He would choose that.

He would choose her.

“You should return to bed,” Dare says, a quiet murmur. His dual gaze sweeps over him, gilded and pale blue. The scar runs from his eyebrow, down to his jawline, and it twists as he slants his mouth.

“I am fine.”

“No, you are not.” Dare’s look is firm. “The separation of that darkness from your soul… It has taken from you.”

Daxeel rolls his jaw. “I will rest later.”

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