Page 27 of Immortal Alliance

I take a big breath. “Morrigan, the Midnight Queen, and Variant, the King of Light, are holding fae creatures captive in a place known as theThrest. These fae are tortured and drained of their life forces so Variant can twist their energies to serve Morrigan’s purpose. We seek to liberate them.”

“These people deserve to be free,” Dragan adds.

“And bringing this atrocity to light may turn the tides in our fight against Morrigan and those who follow her,” I continue.

King Galmer nods solemnly. “And what do you wish from me?”

“Men,” I reply. “Reinforcements. Soldiers.”

“Ah,” he answers with a nod and doesn’t appear to be surprised. “How many?”

“As many as you can spare,” Dragan responds.

“And perhaps a place where our resistance may flourish. Perhaps we could join forces—” I start.

“As I said, I like your spirit. But I can’t give you what you seek. At least, not yet.”

“Why?” I ask, shaking my head as disappointment courses through me.

“Even though I hold the title of King, I make no decisions without consulting the clan leaders.”

CHAPTER TEN

THEREN

Oronrel

Snow drifts softly to the ground, dampening the rotting wood that’s still somewhat blackened by the fire that burned here only hours earlier. I smell the scent of the mountains and the forest all around me as the cold seeps through my robes. Wind gusts through the open door, causing the blanket of white beside me to dance and swirl about, carrying a tinge of blood on the breeze. I push to my feet and walk towards the door, the metallic aroma leading me to the gory scene of Eilish's mother and sister—what’s left of them, anyway.

If I were to close my eyes, I’d still hear Eilish’s deafening scream shake the mountains. That day was monumental for all the realms, not just the tiny glade on the outskirts of Oronrel.

My youthful love for the angel-succubus set everything in motion. If not for my constant visits to the forest, Prince Yanhir would never have known of the existence of Eilish’s sister. Out of guilt and concern for Eilish’s family, I stood watch over their grove for many months. It wasn’t until Prince Yanhir tried to force himself on young Solya that things began to change for the worse.

I wasn’t there the day Eilish slaughtered the Unseelie prince, but I heard the stories as they tore through the palace. By the time I arrived to the glade, it was already too late.

Years and years passed, and Eilish was no longer the young girl I’d loved in my youth. Instead, she became a fierce young woman who struck fear into the hearts of the Unseelie Court, for they knew not what she was capable of.

My heart races as the memories play endlessly through my mind. Though this place is filled with pain, I still return here time and time again. I witness the aftermath of Cambion’s failure to protect Eilish’s family and my failure to warn her about the one who hunted her—Prince Yanhir’s father.

Cambion and I are both to blame for her ill-fated journey, and we’re the reason she ended up in Morrigan’s clutches. I fear the Midnight Queen would never have known of Eilish’s existence if we’d done as we promised and kept Eilish from harm.

I walk away from the steaming pools of blood in the snow and make my way along the winding path that leads to a dark cave. It’s different here now. I no longer writhe in pain among the shadows that always linger here. No, I stay on my feet and feel my way through the darkness, prodding along the walls of my mind. Each day I feel more and more like myself, but the other me—the false me—he’s here, as well.

I can sense his presence easily, though the shadows are dense and slick like oil over water. The sound of my own heartbeat is loud in my ears as I search for the opening…

It’s not a door nor a window, but a fracture in Morrigan’s spell. My fingers graze the edges and I slip my hand through the fracture, using the small crevasse to find a wider opening. I push forward and tumble toward consciousness…

The sensation of returning to the forefront of my mind causes me to shiver. I stand up from the chair in front of the mirror and take a few minutes to catch my breath and to quiet my sporadic heartbeat. Once I have control of myself, I start for Cambion’s bedchamber.

There’s no use knocking, so I force the door open, not surprised when I see him hovering near the veranda. His eyes snap to mine and I raise my hands in surrender. “It’s me, Cambion.”

“Theren?”

“Yes,” I answer.

“Is it safe for you to be here?” he asks, moving around the room in a panicked flurry as if to check for any hidden enemies.

“No. It’s not safe,” I answer. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m here now… I need you to know… something.”

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