Page 138 of Haunted

“Well, then. Let me educate you. Though it’s minute, I possess enough of the light to make it useful. It’s weak, but it serves its purpose. Ahnalyn, you believe that I’m evil. The dark power that flows within is not all evil. It’s matter that can be harnessed. I’m but a humble wielder of its might. Believe me when I say I want my family. You can rule Terrin, and Einion can rule Talfryn. We’ll rule the three realms together!”

“With the darkness, you mean.” Ahnalyn looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind.

That’s only half-true.

“No, with power. Our reign will be glorious and eternal,” I say.

“You’re insane.”

“Once I kill Sieffre’s son in battle, his only heir will be Einion. He’ll be legitimate.” That is true.

“You don’t care about lineage. Don’t act as if it matters.”

“You would be with Seren,” I say. “If she lays an egg, then I would have my dragon and you yours. We’ll hatch an egg for Einion. You see, Ahnalyn, this is what you want. You can govern Terrin as you see fit. Hyledd would welcome you as its queen.”

“Don’t listen to him, Ahnalyn.” Aneirin strokes her hair.

I’d like to stroke him with a hot iron.

“He’s spouting falsehoods,” Aneirin says. “He’d rule you, and you’d be under his power.”

“My dearest Ahnalyn, look at you,” I coo. “I see the power that flows in your veins. It builds. The power wants to temper you—make you stronger. Feel it.”

Aneirin tries to calm Ahnalyn’s quaking body, but his efforts are futile.

“Look!” I exclaim. “You tremble. The dark power is what you desire. You’ve felt it growing these past months. It will make you great. It will fill you. You can do anything with this power. The light—it’s weak. I’ve used it. Nothing compares to the dark energy. If you give in to it, I will show you.”

Ahnalyn studies her shaking hands. She feels the same ache I do, the throbbing that builds as the darkness does. Yes, let it fill you.

Livid, Aneirin grabs her hands and stares into her shimmering eyes. “Leave, Caedryn. Leave us. Get away from Ahnalyn.”

“Yes, this drawling on is tiresome.” I fake a yawn. “In three days’ time, your dragons should grow hungry enough to eat you. You’d better make haste, Seren. Ahnalyn, you have a choice to make.” I stride away, pleased with my theatrics and Ahnalyn’s distress.

Tick, tick, tick. Time moves on. Ahnalyn’s already on pins with Aneirin, but let’s see how she does when she learns he spurred Niawen’s exile from Gorlassar.

96

I head for the encampment on the plains, not planning to wait around the three days for Seren to make up her mind. She’ll fold. What’s one dragon egg to her when the life of her friends and dragon rider are on the line?

I’m only a day in on the trail to the encampment when a guard rides up.

I don’t even have to hear his words. The haste of his approach and the fear on his face tells me all I need to know. With my inner sight, I open my mind to the lights—the energy Aneirin and Ahnalyn carry. Their trail, and the light trail of their dragons’, leads away from the cave.

They escaped?

I’m momentarily blinded by fury. “What happened?” I don’t expect an answer. Aneirin’s light gives me my answer. His inner light glows brilliantly. Ahnalyn’s inner light has increased as well.

He’s in love with her. His light, which was once ruby in color, shines with a slight pinkish hue.

I drop from my horse. “Worthless emrys!” My fingertips throb. The pressure inside me intensifies as my temples pound. I whip around, looking for somewhere to release the dark energy. My men back away. They have never seen me like this.

Niawen. By the Creator in Heaven. Dear Niawen. I’m drawn into a smothering mist as I think of her. She was the only one to ever calm me. She was the only one to ever see my darkness emerge unrestrained.

I stumble against a boulder and press my palms to the surface. When the torment rips a yell from me, energy surges outward. I squeeze my eyes shut as the destructive power cracks the boulder into two jagged pieces.

He loves her! I try to quantify the love in Aneirin. His love broke the barrier, my impenetrable barrier made from darkness. I did not see this coming. For years I’ve held prisoners at bay with my darkness.

But never an emrys. I should have known better. I am a fool to underestimate him.

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