Page 84 of The Storm of the Empire

’Nyx,

My brother. My light. My best friend.

There are no words to tell you what it’s been like growing up in your head. I could not feel closer to another soul. There are so many things I could tell you to express what you mean to me but you know all of them.

I will not be coming back from this mission, I know it in my heart.

It is the deepest regret of my life that I couldn’t be there to see you become the dragon I know you will be with Zaria by your side. I wanted to watch you make a big family and teach your younglings all the things we used to get up to. Know that if the Goddess permits me, I will always be near you. Death can’t keep me from watching over you.

So onto the important stuff…

Octavian can’t be trusted. I overheard him talking to a high priest and they are up to something. They were talking about Dragon’s Bane like they were hoarding it, not having it destroyed. I heard them mention Damona Island and a chain of remote outposts to the north, I don’t know what they are involved in, but you need to keep an eye on him.

He caught me watching them and now he’s ordered my flight to the Sixth Kingdom, it’s no coincidence. I fear if I resist, he could use other methods to do me harm. I will go down fighting, but I am choosing to take this fight away from you.

Please don’t let this ruin you. I’m ready for it. You’re a better male than I ever have been, and you need to be the one to survive this. I’ve always been the spare.

The kingdoms need you.

Zaria needs you, and she was never meant to share you with me.

Remember all that you have to live for and let me go.

I will forever miss living in your mind.

Kol

TWENTY-SEVEN

LUKA

Another day passed, and neither Kol nor Nyx seemed to be getting any better. We moved in and out of the healer’s wing to help take care of Nyx so Zaria could get some sleep because he wouldn’t leave Kol’s bedside.

The door banged open, and an out of breath sentry stood in the opening.

“General, we’ve had word from the raid.”

Nyx picked up his head, schooling his features. “Tell me.”

“The flight found the place you spoke of, but it was completely abandoned.”

My ears rang and I didn’t feel steady. It was like I entered a surreal alternate plain. “How?” I spluttered.

“How could it be empty?” Faolan snapped, startling the sentry.

“It’s like there hasn't been anyone there in years. Totally empty. Dust over everything.” The sentry hedged his words. He didn’t want to say what he was thinking, but I already knew.

“Did they go to the wrong place?” I asked, almost accusing him, though I didn’t know of what.

“The communication said it’s as you described. The West side of Damona Island. The docks barely visible, the temple carved from stone, the tunnels.”

“I’m not making it up!” I couldn’t keep my voice down.

“We never said you did. But something happened.” Nyx rubbed a hand over his face, clearly exhausted.

I couldn’t imagine what he was going through, having to lead the army while at his brother’s bedside, but this made me feel like I was losing my mind.

“We saw it. Right, Hazel?”

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