It was a circulartemple.
My mouth dropped open, and the feeling of dread inside me returned. There was a temple, just past my uncle’s lawn, likely in the Wood that was still on his property, and I’d just been reading a book that spoke of calling upon the God of Night.
And then I remembered something my father had said at the council meeting. He’d said the Imperial Council had discovered that the fae who’d been turned into the creatures, had all left each month around the same time. Where they’d ventured to, nobody knew, but...
Is it possible they were all God of Night followers, his faithful servants to this day who convened to meet in secret every month? Perhaps to worship?
The sinking feeling in me increased, and I took a step back.
Royden. I need to find Royden.
Heart racing, I hurried away from the window, past the disturbing book, and into the hallway, but it was empty. Nobody was about.
Picking up a full run, I sped toward the front door, searching and looking for my Imperial Warrior, whom I realized Inevershould have left in the first place, but before I could reach the entryway, my uncle appeared, walking from around a corner.
Panting, I came to a careening halt a second before I barreled into him.
“Stars, Primelle! You took me by surprise. I thought you were in the library.” My uncle grinned broadly, just as another male appeared from behind him, coming from the same hallway. He was tall with startling green eyes and light-brown skin.
Still panting, I studied him. Something about the second male’s features looked familiar, but I couldn’t place why.
“Are you already done?” my uncle asked. “That was quick.” He looked me up and down, and I was vaguely aware that my eyes likely looked wild, and my hair was probably in disarray from my sprint.
“Um, no.” I tried to catch my breath, but I couldn’t stop my anxious glances toward the front door. “I just came to find Royden. Is he inside?” My heart pounded, and I looked every which way, but I didn’t see Royden anywhere.
“Oh yes, he’s inside.” My uncle gestured to the second male. “And forgive my manners, this is a friend of mine, Tylen.”
Tylen. Something about that name rang a bell, and it hit me just as fast where I’d heard it.
“You’re Varkin’s brother?” I stated. That was why he looked familiar. Varkin, my uncle by marriage to my aunt Daileeum, shared similar features with this male.
“Exactly!” my uncle proclaimed. “You must remember Varkin mentioning him.”
Tylen’s lips pinched together. He gave my uncle a veiled look, but my uncle just laughed. “Goodness, where are your manners, Primelle? It’s customary for fae to shake arms when they meet.”
The feeling of dread in me increased, and I took a step back. Something wasn’t right.
“Where’s Royden?” I demanded.
“I told you. He’s already inside. Tylen?” my uncle said, his voice dipping, an edge of coldness seeping into it.
My thoughts whirled back to the book. The God of Night. His devoted followers. Potions that were crafted. Stone temples erected in his name.
This is a trap.
I had no idea where Royden was, but I called upon my magic anyway. I needed to get out of here, mistphase myself away to safety, even if it meant leaving the warrior behind.Thiswas why Kole had gone to such lengths to ensure I could learn the magical Solis feat.Thiswas a time when I needed to use that magic to save myself.
Magic cascaded through me, and I began to disassemble, but my uncle snarled at Tylen, and the Lochen fairy lunged forward.
Devastation rippled across Tylen’s face a second before he laid his hand on my disappearing shoulder. “I’m sorry. He has my son. I have to do this. It’s the only way to get him back.”
My mistphase abruptly stopped, and then . . . I felt it.
Something slithered into me. Strong, potent magic that was so foreign I had no idea how to describe it coated my entire essence.
My focus shot to Tylen’s.
Tylen let go of me, and I staggered backward, my body whole again. I felt my chest, my arms, my middle. I was fully intact. My mistphase had been obliterated.
