Page 237 of The Edge of Darkness

Several moments later, he released the tension from his knuckles, and the shadows retracted back into his skin.

The others kept quiet, harboring even more unease and hesitancy in their already worried expressions.

While Niall regained his composure, I stepped in, and, as the Trium liked to call it, “pulled rank.”

“There is no time to explain every detail to you right now, but the witch goddess that dwells in The Neveshir Isles has a sister who nearly brought their world to complete ruin so that she could gain ultimate power—the same as what Lyceius has done here. That goddess has found a way to this world using portals and magic, and the two have joined their corrupt agendas and are pushing an army of creatures and shadows against us.” At the mention of shadows, I noted a few of the fae shifting their sights back to Niall. “His shadows are nothing for you to worry about,” I reassured them. “This has all just been . . . a lot to take in, and it happened so fast that we have not had the time to call a formal meeting, until now.”

I lowered my gaze to the map before us, visually tracing where The Veil separated the realms, and noting just how vast the land of Salterra was. “I may not know much about war . . . Come to think of it, I know nothing of it, aside from the fighting and the killing part. But I do know that Niall, the Trium, and I, have a plan, and we will not let these fallen deities prevail. As your new Lady, I plan on my first major act being one of valor and strength, not because I seek war or confrontation, but because I want to rid this world of the evil that has taken hold. And I have the means to do it. Your faith and support in me and the males at my side are of the utmost importance, and I ask that you uphold that faith now.”

The female fae spoke up once again. “We do not know you, nor do we know what, exactly, you are capable of. All we have seen is what you showed us at your mating ceremony.”

They trusted Niall and the Trium. What they didn’t trust was the unknown, and that was understandable.

“You’re right,” I said. “How are you supposed to trust someone you’ve never even had a conversation with until now?”

My fingers rubbed against the pommel of my sword, finding the smooth surface a comforting anchor.

I let a small kernel of light manifest in my other hand, holding it out for all to see. “My power comes from the fallen god. But it is Karios’s blood, and his power that supersedes it by divine authority, giving me not only a link to the god-king himself, but also an advantage over Lyceius. I am the only one able to defeat him. So, although you do not know me on a personal level, yet, all I ask is for the chance to prove myself to you.”

The council members, along with the males dressed in armor, traded looks. I weathered the silent judgment from every stranger, until finally, the degree of uncertainty began to fall away from their expressions, and affirming nods were offered in my direction.

When I turned to Niall, I found him watching me.

Thank you, he rasped into my mind.

His voice . . . it was rougher than before. Like he had been screaming internally, and somehow, it had taken an actual physical toll on his throat.

He didn’t give me time to reply to him, and his voice carried that same gritty edge as he spoke aloud. “Your Lady calls for your support. As do I.”

“You have it,” the female fae said, seeming to speak for the others at the table as she held my stare. She was strong, wise, and fair-minded. I did not need to know her to be able to tell. Perhaps that was what they had all decided for themselves about me.

Roirdan leaned over the map, wasting no time divulging what he and the Trium had been discussing in their meetings. He pointed to specific areas, giving orders to the armored males who stood and watched with eager intent, ready to do as they were commanded.

It was then that I realized this all still felt too familiar. This place . . . the armored fae . . . the map . . .

I glanced around the room, peering into the shadows that wreathed the space we stood in.

Aremis was adding to what Roirdan was saying, when suddenly, the dark stone beneath our feet shook. A split-second glance at Niall told me that something wasn’t right.

Panic spread like spilled wine, flooding my gut as I suddenly remembered where I recognized this place from. Eathril had shown me this in one of the visions. He had tested me on this very scene. I hadn’t known this was the same meeting because I didn’t recognize the conversation we’d been having.

The mountain shook again, and this time . . .

The ceiling . . .

I remembered the collapse in the vision, and I knew there was no time to warn them. Just as the ceiling came crashing down, I pushed out my power, willing my shield to encompass as many of the others as possible—just as I had seen myself do before. But I had not practiced shielding this large of a group, and my control was not as fool-proof when it came to determining where my shield would land when projected. The majority of it went toward those across the table, leaving myself and those nearest to me only partially protected.

A large chunk of jagged stone pummeled into my shoulder. The hit took me to the ground, separating me from Niall.

For a moment, I lay there in a daze, clutching my shoulder, focusing on the sounds of stone still crashing around me. When nothing but small debris skittered along the floor, I slowly sat up, waving at the dusty air in front of me.

I called out for Niall, only to be answered by faint grunts and moans that echoed in the dusty dark. The large orbs that had been circling had fallen and shattered during the ceiling’s collapse, save for one that still flickered, illuminating small pockets between the rubble.

I stumbled to my feet and attempted to see through the swirling dust.

“Niall!? . . . Remic!? . . . Roirdan!?”

No one answered.