Page 38 of Whispers of the Elderoak

Except now she had nothing in this world either. No Henry. No Eleanor.

“Please let me go,” she pleaded, pain still coursing through her.

Deidamia smirked as Andras whispered in Ava’s ear. “We still need you…” and he shoved her forward into the archway and the blackness beyond.

12

Casimir jolted awake inside his tent, his fingers instinctively wrapping around the hilt of his sword. Something ominous; something terrible had happened. It was like the whole world had awoken and cracked open, breathing a great sigh of surprise as it trembled. He pushed the flaps of his tent aside and emerged, looking for his fellow warriors.

“Did you feel that?” he asked Quinn, already outside.

“Yes,” she whispered, upturned brown eyes wide with trepidation. “Something’s coming.” Her long black hair swished along her back, tied back in intricate braids and her olive skin glistened in the morning sun, sweat already forming along her brow.

A massive black bear ambled up to him and huffed. His shoulders reached the height of Casimir’s chest and he towered over everyone when standing on his hind legs.

Something’s not right,the bear’s low voice said telepathically.

“I know,”he answered back.

Their animal companions were on edge. Quinn’s black panther was pacing along the tree line as if searching for the source of their unease.

Another warrior emerged from his own tent as his large silver wolf growled from the edge of camp, both prepared for a fight. His blonde hair was bright in the sunlight. Tying back his long locks, revealing pointed ears, he asked, “What the fuck was that?”

“I don’t know, Raine,” he said. “Where’s Jorrar?”

“Probably out for his usual morning stroll.” Raine shrugged. “He must stretch his old legs lest he get stiff in the mornings,” he added, winking at Quinn.

Quinn rolled her eyes and looked around for their fourth companion. They were camped in a small clearing among towering trees of white bark and moss green leaves. Small yellow flowers grew among the grass like little drops of sun, sparkling over an emerald sea.

Their tents had carefully been placed in the clearing, ensuring little damage was done to the plants thriving among the forest; respect for the native flora vital to their way of life. The sun filtered through the trees, casting a subtle light around their makeshift homes. The cry of an animal sounded in the distance as Casimir searched for Jorrar.

A low voice called from the dense trees. “Casimir!”

The three fae warriors turned in his direction as their fourth companion with ebony skin and short hair peppered with gray emerged from the forest, out of breath. He rubbed the back of his neck, silver eyes wide with concern as he stopped in front of them.

“Well, out with it,” said Quinn, impatiently.

“They’re back,” he said in between breaths. “I can feel them.”

Casimir’s golden eyes widened as he took in what his friend was saying, knowing exactly who Jorrar was referring to.

“Who?” asked Raine.

“Deidamia and Andras,” he answered.

Quinn shook her head in disbelief. “No.”

“Fuck,” said Raine as he started to pace.

After nearly one hundred years, they were back. Though Casimir had fought plenty of daemon soldiers throughout the years, their leaders were different. Almost undefeatable. Rogue groups of soldiers were nothing compared to what they would face now their queen had returned. Jorrar was the only one of them old enough to remember the old wars—Casimir had been just a child—and now their worst fears had come to fruition.

He must inform his king.

“How is that possible?” Quinn asked.

Jorrar shook his head. “I can’t say for certain. But this is how it felt before.”

“Looks like our scouting mission got a lot more complicated,” Quinn grumbled, starting to take her tent down.

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