Page 69 of The Edge of Darkness

“That’s impossible . . . right?”

“I do not know. But if it tells us anything, it’s that we can assume Niall is going to start showing signs of increased strength as well.”

I worried my bottom lip between my teeth. “But even if that were to happen, wouldn’t he be at an advantage? He’s done so well at controlling his power.”

“When I met Niall, his power was unmatched. Over the years, there have been instances where he’s used it at a mere fraction of what he’s capable of. And even then, it always seemed like he was itching to release more than that. I like to think he has a firm grip of control on it, but I cannot be certain when it comes to changes like this.” He gestured to the journal.

Amarna’s words rang in my mind. For power like his, and like yours, will always tend to be unpredictable.

“Aremis, when Amarna gave me this journal, she said it might offer some insight into my power, as well as Niall’s.”

Aremis shifted in his chair and tucked his hair behind his ear as he contemplated. “Amarna doesn’t do anything without reason. She’s beyond wise for her age. If there’s something she wants you to learn from it, I would trust that it’s important.”

Important. But for whom?

If she knew something, why wouldn’t she have just told me outright?

Niall had always said that I steadied him, that I brought him peace—calmed him.

I voiced my next question out loud. “What if the insight I’m supposed to gain isn’t just about how to use my power? What if . . . it’s how to use it to help him?”

Aremis met my eyes. He knew what I meant. If Niall’s power somehow got out of control, if what happened to Evander would one day happen to him, and I had to be the one to pull him back from that edge⁠—

Across the room, a door opened and closed as several house-fae went about their business, disappearing down another hallway.

The tension from my implication evaporated, and Aremis blew out a long breath. “That is a conversation for another time. What does the next entry say?”

I flipped another page, only to find a very rough sketch of a cave mouth scribbled in with swirls of black ink. “There’s a drawing of a cave,” I said, turning the journal around to show him.

He squinted at the rendering, just as confused by it as I was.

We both read the passage that followed.

It has been three days, and I cannot seem to settle my mind. Court has been difficult to hold as of late, due to my lack of ability to concentrate when my power feels like it wants to rage forth from my body. So today, Verdi and I traveled to a place deep in the mountains that has long been forgotten to the commoners. Only ancient lore has whispered of the place we dared step foot in, but it was a necessary risk—one that I hope to not have to take again.

What I learned gave me clarity, yet opened up many more questions. Though the information was vital, it is best not spoken of, and I dare not write it here. Thus, it is one more thing I must keep to myself. For I fear that if it ever fell upon the wrong eyes or ears, my court would be ripped apart.

My court would be ripped apart.

Chills raked down my spine.

I looked over at Aremis. “What do you think he meant?”

“Nothing good.” His expression deepened as he glanced at the sketch of the cave again. “As for the other thing he mentioned . . . There are many forgotten places throughout the realm. And I think I may know of the one he visited.” Judging by the tone of his voice, it didn’t seem like a place he’d recommend going to. He frowned as he added, “Ancient legend tells of a cave hidden deep in the eastern mountains, near Vahrenhall’s border. They also warn of the evil that lurks within. Those who entered long ago never came out.”

I stared at the cave on the page. “That’s quite the ominous legend.”

Aremis laughed softly. “Most of them are. They’re retold around campfires on the eve of war for that very reason. They offer a bit of grit to give you something else to think about. You’d be surprised what soldiers spend their time doing the night before battle.”

“Oh.”

“If Evander said it was a risk he hoped not to take again, I’d wager that means some of the legend might very well be true.”

I traced my finger over the deep grooves of the blackened cave mouth that Evander’s pen had gouged into the paper. “And what, exactly, does legend say lies within that cave?”

Aremis lifted his eyes to meet mine. “A wraith.”

Hours went by, and Aremis shared what he knew of the legends surrounding the wraith. She was said to be an ancient creature who never ventured out of the cave she’d claimed as her own. Some accounts of the legend said she was cursed to live there in solitude after crossing a goddess and offending her. Other accounts alleged that she simply chose to remain hidden away because of her nature. Both versions had one thing in common: the wraith had an insatiable hunger for living flesh.