Page 319 of Blade of the Nightking

It had been Rìan all along.

Every truth he laid bare shifted something inside me, reshaping moments I thought I understood, filling in pieces I hadn’t even known were missing. The picture forming between us was so much bigger than I had ever imagined. So beautiful. So heartbreakingly sad. And it hurt to finally see it clearly.

“Would it help you to know that somewhere along the way, I knew when you changed?” He tore at his hair with his free hand. “Knew when your hatred gave way to longing... to something neither of us had any right to want? That instead of making it easier, it became more unbearable than your hatred had ever been? That every step toward this damned well—every mile, every day—brought us closer to an end neither of us wanted anymore?”

His breath hitched.

“Is that the truth you wanted, Elowen? A truth that changes nothing? Because we both know there’s only one truth that matters in the end.”

“And what truth is that?”

His voice faltered. “That we will never be together.”

His words died between us.

My throat closed, tears spilling freely down my cheeks.

“Why not?” I whispered, barely trusting my voice. “Why can’t we?”

He blinked, as though he couldn’t quite believe what I’d asked. But I’d never meant a question more.

“You’re my enemy’s mate, Eidra.”

His eyes shone, and the agony that moved through our bond nearly brought me to my knees.

“I know you, Elowen. I know your heart. And I know you'll never forgive yourself for what happened to Aedric unless you save him.” His lips flattened. “And me—I owe it to Dannis... and to Levinica... to find him.”

My heart tore cleanly in two.

Dannis.

The name echoed through me like a tolling bell.

He exhaled slowly as he felt the guilt rise inside me.

“I’ve experienced pain in every sense of the word, Eidra. But nothing compares to this.” His eyes met mine. “The pain of letting you go.”

“No, Rìan…” My voice cracked. “I⁠—”

I had to tell him. Gods, I had to tell him. About Dannis. About everything. If he knew the truth, maybe this didn’t have to happen. Maybe there was another way.

“I don’t want to do this anymore.”

Rìan flinched as though the words had struck somewhere tender. Slowly, he shook his head. “We have to.”

The words climbed up my throat, impossible to hold back any longer. “No, Rìan, I…” My heart hammered against my ribs. “I know what happened to Dannis.”

He stilled, a crease forming between his brows. Whatever he'd expected me to say, it wasn't that.

I opened my mouth, the truth finally ready to spill free⁠—

The shadows exploded upward, engulfing us before another sound could leave my mouth.

Darkness slammed into my chest and plunged deep inside me. I gasped as invisible claws raked beneath flesh and bone, reaching deeper and deeper, searching the most guarded corners of my heart. Reaching for something I’d locked away for so long. Something I’d only just found the courage to surrender.

No.

Panic ripped through me.