Page 244 of The Edge of Darkness

Lyceius stood in the center, surrounded by a few creatures of his making. Skadi was to his left, wearing a frown, her gray eyes cutting across the distance between us like knives.

Remic’s wing brushed against my shoulder—a gentle touch, but a firm reminder. “No negotiations,” he murmured.

He didn’t need to worry about that. I would not be negotiating anything. We would face this head-on, together. And we would prevail. The prophecy would be fulfilled; I would make sure of it. If I had to give everything in my well, then so be it. But I would not give myself or anyone else to Lyceius.

We came to a stop a few feet from the magical barrier.

Remic and Silas flanked me on either side, with Nivelle beside her brother, and Vanir bringing up the end, next to her.

Niall stepped beyond the line we had formed, leaving Roirdan, Aremis, Maeson, Fallon, and Laurent to his back left. He slid his hands into his pockets and widened his stance, keeping his shadows tucked away—for now.

Lyceius remained where he was, watching us, picking us apart one by one, like if he stared long enough, he could see what we were made of, what power each of us held.

I wanted to blast a beam of my light at his smug face.

Skadi’s voice cut across the space between us. “Quite the entourage.”

“If you have terms, we’ll hear them now,” Niall said.

Lyceius pinned his stare on my mate. “Not one to waste time, I see. Well then, I assume you all know who stands here with me. I have no doubt your little spy spilled all my greatest secrets.” He gestured toward the goddess. “When she arrived on my doorstep, I knew the odds of all of my endeavors had shifted. Her creations are masterful. They make mine look timid in nature.” Behind him, the goddess smirked. “There is an entire army of them, waiting to flood your cities and help me claim what I seek. But we need not resort to that if you simply surrender yourself and the amulet you carry.”

“And then what?” Niall asked. “You expect us all to bend the knee?”

“That would suffice, for now.”

Niall chuckled, dark and menacing. “No.”

Lyceius tilted his head with amusement. “I admire your resolve, but it will be your undoing.” He turned his attention to me next. “If you submit to me, I can give you what you seek.”

I scoffed. “And what’s that?”

“An eternal life with your mate.”

My breath caught in my chest.

Impossible. How did he⁠—

“Isn’t that what you want most? To never see the day when you will have to say goodbye to your dearly beloved?”

I choked on my words. There was no way he could have known what I feared.

Lyceius lifted his chin. “I saw what troubles that mind of yours the last time I summoned you. I didn’t even need to break through your wall to sense it. Your essence was drenched in fear. Fear of losing the ones you love. Fear of failing and letting so many others down. Think of this as an answer to all of that. You need not lose the ones you love. All you have to do is surrender your power to me.”

“He’s lying,” Remic growled from beside me. “He has no ability to extend life.”

Remic was right. This was all a game. Lyceius was trying to tear me down, just as he tried to do when he summoned me in that dream.

“Liar,” I hissed at the fallen god.

He laughed. “Oh the lies go much further back than you can even fathom, my dear. You have been led astray since the day you were born.”

Beside me, Remic shifted on his feet, making me slightly nervous.

“What are you talking about?” Niall asked, his voice deepening to a threatening tone.

Lyceius shook his hair back, a smirk spreading across his face. “I suppose there’s no better time to reveal the true corruption that brought all of this about, is there?” A dark laugh rumbled in his throat. “Shall we start with the king? As we speak, he’s suffering a very intense punishment for going against his word.”

I started. “If you hurt the king⁠—”