Page 35 of Dark Fae's Destiny

Love cascades from me, as I touch that most tender place deep within. I feel it tune through the air as the Music ascends to form a towering sigil above us now, and all through us.

Love, it says, as that simple, purest song rings throughout our blazing army. We don’t need complex phrases today to help the Music do our bidding and get Lucca back. We only need to stand in our hearts and show the Summer Fae our purest intention.

And our love—to liberate them all, at last.

It works. As our Music suddenly tunes into a towering sound, clear as a bell and the most impossibly beautiful thing I’ve ever heard, Quinn masters it. I feel it as he takes all of that incredible sound into himself, focusing his intent like the brightest fiery lance—then explodes it through all our people and allies, joined right now via our hearts and song.

It blasts through us, that incredible wave of love and power staggering our forces as it hammers to the gates. Despite all the immense Fae sigil-work on them for protection and keeping invaders out, it blasts those gates inward.

As the Brightwatch guards on them drop to their knees in surrender.

Their hands are on their hearts as they succumb to our love. Their eyes fill with tears; they’re sobbing with beauty and joy as we march in through the gates now, and they don’t stop us.

I feel it as something inside them is seared away by the brightest power of our love, and the song of the Music that roars from our hearts and lips. A black void burns away from them as our Music blazes it; I know that terrible power as it flinches back from us, as if singed by our most heartfelt love.

It’s the taint of the Gold Eyes, Staphylogenes, wielded through this entire force as it clears from the Brightwatch guards. I know his leviathan darkness upon this army must be the result of some deal King Archivolio Bellari made with the creature.

Just like Junius’ spear, which still keeps Lucca’s bright love from reaching us.

But we are here to rescue him now, our white knight. As those black tentacles of power are singed back from the Brightwatch at the gates, they throw down their weapons, letting us pass.

Those stationed to defend the promenade do the same as we reach them, pulling back and letting us through as their eyes shine with tears and their lips exclaim our song. Because the song of the Ascendant Music that comes with us is not just all around us, but deep inside our hearts.

Making us all shine today—as one.

Our power is magnificent as we arrive before the palace’s front steps. A formidable force there blocks us, however; many hundreds strong. I see the towering form of Commander Junius Alterri standing firm in his silver-gold Fae-armor as his most stalwart forces resist us.

A combination of the King’s most elite Brightwatch and his yet-loyal Darkwatch, they guard the palace in a many-layered chevron, not about to let us pass. They bar us from entering the Palace of Light as our people halt now before that massive force upon the steps.

Facing resistance, at last.

Commander Junius levels a terrible spear at Quinn now, made of silver-white wood and seething with black, caustic Fae-runes. I know now where this force’s resistance is coming from; I’m certain that’s the weapon that wrested Lucca from us, something made by the Gold Eyes, as Junius menaces Quinn with it and blocks us from continuing into the palace.

But though our song falters now, many of our people unsure what to do, Quinn doesn’t halt. Without breaking his stride, he lets go of my hand as we arrive before the guards. His gaze pinned to the Brightwatch Commander, Quinn kisses me on the lips.

I feel him firm our song in his heart then; as our Dark Master takes command, a powerful wind of magic sweeps us, to keep singing. That magic has fire and darkness in it, and a beautiful, blistering light as Quinn approaches Junius. He doesn’t even glance at Junius’ forces as he walks right up to the Brightwatch Commander.

And places the point of Junius’ terrible spear right to his heart.

“Kill me, Junius. Only spare Lucca, please. He is the best of us,” I hear Quinn say now. As Junius stares Quinn down, his furious violet-green wings surge from his spine; Fae wings flare all down the line, spreading from the backs of his elite Brightwatch and Darkwatch as they withstand our Music.

But they shudder now, as they shake from the strain of resisting our power. Tentacles of the blackest void lick inside them from the Gold Eyes, contending with our heartfelt love as Quinn and Junius stare each other down.

Junius’ spear tip right to Quinn’s heart.

“I will kill you, Valerio. For my King,” I hear Junius say as they hold their standoff.

“He betrays you, Junius.” Quinn holds Junius’ gaze with no fear, only compassion, as they speak. “King Bellari betrays you with the devil he has let into your midst. You know it as well as I do.”

Quinn’s gaze flicks to the terrible spear tip upon his breast. Junius’ gaze follows. I see a moment of wretchedness in Junius, then; he knows his King has done some horrible deal to wield the power that is in his hands. I see Junius’ distaste for it in that flash. It’s only a moment, but it’s enough, as Quinn seizes the spear.

Pressing that most diabolical weapon into his heart.

Junius blanches as he sees what Quinn’s doing. Junius jerks the weapon back, away from Quinn before Quinn can become cut with it, and I feel the Music surge.

As an ancient fealty and deep love floods Commander Junius for this man who was once his prince, I understand Junius can’t kill Quinn. Because once, Quinn was the brightest light of the Summer Fae, their beloved Prince Valerio Incendari.

Whom Junius himself loved so much.

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