Page 99 of Queen of Thorns
Why the spell book was so against facing the Light Ancient. Why he is so fearful now.
He was one of the ancients that betrayed him.
“As I said, a lot has changed in the last ten thousand years. Several hundred years ago, the Night Bringer and his mate began their crusade to take control of the world. They began by assassinating any remaining ancients that they believed would stand against them. Some, they deemed not a threat and they were left alone.
“But rumor has it, they were too afraid to attack you, even in your slumber.”
“They didn’t attack me and my sister,” the book quietly explains the part he left out before,“because they thought we’d remain on their side.”
“But they did not account for changes of heart,” I continue. “Two of the fae that betrayed you, worked against the Night Bringer and Night Terror thousands of years later. Along with my ancestor, Darren Shadowspell, they fought to trap the Night Bringer and his mate forever. To achieve this, both willingly imprisoned their own souls. One became this spell book, the other, the walls that could imprison them inside the Schorchedlands. The spirit inside this spell book was once your enemy but has since redeemed himself by working to defeat the Night Bringer. He sacrificed his own soul to do it.”
The ground trembles, and my breath hitches.
“We have a common enemy. Help me defeat them, and then take whatever you want.”
“I do not give my aid freely, child. Common enemy or not, you must be tested.”
I release a long breath. Water continues washing out toward the source of the light, tugging at the sole of my boots. I hold my ground. “Then, test me, and let’s get this over with.”
I’ve been through the Trials and the Schorchedlands. I can manage one more test.
“You believe yourself strong,” the king says, his voice shifting around me. My breathing quickens as my mind flashes to the last time I was this close to one of these creatures.
An ancient. A being with so much power no fae could even pretend to stand against them. I remember what it felt like to be utterly helpless.
To tremble and beg to be let go, for the pain to end.
To dwell in my own desperate fear and have it used against me.
I swallow, and though my heart still quakes, I remind myself that I am not that girl any longer. And this time, I am here by my own free will. I was not trapped or lured. This is my destiny, and if I must withstand literal torture, this time I will do it willingly. Because my eyes are wide open.
I know how and why I am here. I know what lies on the other side of the pain.
“Thank you for defending me,” the spell book whispers in my ear.
“I don’t know why you were so terrified. What could he do to you?”
“I did not fear my death, Caelynn. I feared yours. That you, and the rest of the fae realm, would pay because of my past guilt. I feared facing what I’d done. He was once a friend, whom I betrayed.”
I swallow. “I know that feeling.”
“You are strong, Caelynn. You are brave and intelligent and caring. If the Light King does not see it, then he is an utter fool.”
The ground trembles as the Light King laughs.
