Page 229 of The Edge of Darkness

Nivelle’s eyes went wide. When she shifted uneasily on her feet, I leaned into her, using my body as a steadying presence, even though my mind had been sent reeling by the goddess’s revelation.

Love. Nivelle . . . loves me?

Torin dragged her gaze back to me. “Oh. She hasn’t told you?”

I could practically feel the embarrassment radiating from Nivelle, but instead of exposing her insecurities even further, I brought the focus back to the task at hand. “Regardless of what she has or has not told me, as the commander of Niall’s armies, I am formally endorsing Nivelle for this task, on behalf of all the fae, as I did in front of every Dionach and witch in attendance yesterday.” The goddess straightened, but I didn’t give her time to interject. “With Auren’s power, and both the Aether and Niall’s power unleashed, we have a sure victory over Lyceius with the least number of casualties. And then you can claim your land in the mountains, and this debt between the two of you can be settled.” I was picking up the crumbs that I was given from this entire conversation, hoping that I was right in understanding the extent of this fucked-up dynamic.

This time, something flickered in Torin’s eyes. “All three powers?”

“Yes,” I answered. “Better to use everything in our arsenal than leave anything to chance.”

She remained quiet, taking her time to consider.

Next to me, Nivelle was tense, holding her breath and waiting for an answer.

I crossed my arms and leveled a final look at the goddess as I said, “The way I see it, the curse exists because of you. If you are not willing to remedy it, then the least you could do is let her attempt to unmake it. You owe her that much.”

Torin wrung her hands together. There was so much more she wasn’t saying, her expression practically screamed it. “You do realize what is at stake here?” she inquired of Nivelle. “It will not be just your friend who makes this sacrifice.”

Concern built in Nivelle’s expression, but despite it, she said, “If it helps Aremis, and if it helps this world, I am willing to do it. And you need not worry, seeing as how this won’t be the first time I’ve had to tap into the dark.”

I was so caught up in her eagerness to help Aremis, that it took a moment for the rest of her statement to hit me . . .

This won’t be the first time I’ve had to tap into the dark.

I didn’t know much about dark magic, or what it entailed, but something in my gut immediately warned me against it.

Torin looked about as uneasy as I felt, but after a long pause, she reached up and took her diadem in her hands. Staring down at it, she said, “There is a lake on Skotos. It is known for its magical qualities and perilous waters. Everything that goes in comes out changed. It can harden the softest metal into unbreakable ore. It can fuse the bones of broken beasts, if it so wishes. It can do many things, but the one thing it is not capable of is compassion. I tell you this because these very stones were pulled from that lake, and like many things on Skotos, they are well-versed in darkness. I do not use them in that way, but the capability is there nonetheless.” She met Nivelle’s eyes. “The price to pay when using one of these stones is far greater than any dark magic you have done in the past. It will not just leave a physical mark. Do you understand?”

Nivelle nodded.

Reluctantly, Torin twisted her fingers above the centermost stone, and the prongs that held it in place bent outward at her command. It floated freely from its resting place, and she plucked it from the air with two fingers. It was no bigger than a small coin, and looked as delicate as Nivelle. The goddess laid it in the witch’s open palm.

“This stone is bound to me. I will come for it as soon as you have attempted your task. You will not get a second chance to unbind the Aether, so I suggest you invoke everything I taught you.”

Nivelle closed her fingers around the magenta-colored stone, tilting her head as her brows pinched together. “Did you give the original witch this stone when she tried to unbind the Aether?”

Torin’s frown deepened. “I did. And still, she could not break the curse. She was not strong enough.”

“You could have helped her, but you didn’t.”

Torin lowered her eyes, recognizing where she had been at fault. Yet still, she tried to excuse it. “You know where I stand, concerning dark magic.”

“You fear it,” Nivelle said. “All because of what it did to you, long ago.”

“I do not expect you to understand.” She glanced up at the witch, then looked to me. “Not yet, anyway.”

“Well, I do not care to understand it. I do not fear dark magic. Perhaps that, in itself, makes all the difference.”

The goddess studied Nivelle with something akin to respect, and even a hint of envy. “This male whom you speak of, I hope he is as strong as you claim him to be. Because if he isn’t, you, my dear, will suffer for your efforts in helping him, and that is not something I can control. That is the nature of the darkness itself.”

As if those words had physical weight, Nivelle’s shoulders lowered, but she quickly pushed them back and lifted her head—a hard line set into her jaw. “I have no need for your concern.”

Torin regarded Nivelle for another long moment, her lips tugging upward in a sad smile, as if she knew she could not reason with her any further. Then, she turned to me, and took a step in my direction.

“You . . . What are your High Lord’s terms for my aid in this war? Best we discuss it now so that I do not change my mind about this Aether business.”

I cleared my throat and uncrossed my arms, running through the preliminary plans Niall had discussed with Aremis and me. “The Dionachs are to fly to Calledan when summoned. We hope to give them ample time to prepare for their departure, but with the way things are going, the timeframe is uncertain. The wards will be lowered to allow them to pass through.”