Page 40 of Midnight Kingdom

“Your sister—”

“No, I don’t want to talk about my sister,” Aima interrupts.

I grit my teeth. “These are her spells. If she’s alive, she can help.”

“She isn’t alive. Why do you think I teamed up with Kolvar and Pyre?”

“I didn’t know,” I start. “I’m sorry.”

She nods and I can see the pain in her eyes. “My sister was killed by someone even more powerful than Variant.”

“Who?”

“I don’t fucking know. But, they used her blood and her body like some sort of sacrifice and sucked the magic right out of her fucking soul.”

“Soul sacrifices are forbidden by the gods.”

“Look around, gargoyle,” Aima sneers as she gestures with her hand and glares at me through the enchanted bars. “Do you think the gods are still listening? Because if there’s anyone out there that still gives a shit about the realms, they’d be down here kicking ass right next to us.”

“You’ve been free a lot longer than I have,” I spit back at her, irritated with her fucking attitude. “If it escaped your notice, I was banished to the Shadow Realm for years. Whatever happened after the war was lost... Cambion, Revenant, and I are completely unaware. So why don’t you fill me in?”

Aima hesitates. She glances back over her shoulder at Kolvar and releases a long exhale. “The Lexicon is useless. Everything we thought we knew was bullshit.”

“How do you know?”

She shrugs. “I’ve heard Theren talking through his mirrors to someone. That someone says there was a great darkness that broke into the Hall Of The Gods and killed them all. It’s what caused the Singularity.”

“I thought there was no way of knowing how the Singularity started?”

“Lies. Everything the Lexicon told us is a lie.”

“Then what about Morrigan and the others?” I insist. “They aren’t gods, no, but they’re primordial beings with immense powers. Why aren’t they dead?”

Aima shakes her head. “Theren thinks there’s one god left, one who slammed the door and locked that dark force inside. That deity is named Silvanus and he was once an ally to Morrigan. Apparently, they banded together to set the balance right. Silvanus was the one who created the oath that Morrigan used to bind the four of you.”

“Why aren’t they still allies?”

“I don’t know what caused them to part ways, but Theren says Silvanus knows where the dark force isandhe knows where Morrigan’s powers are locked away.” Aima winces and lowers her eyes. “Theren wants to sit on the throne of the gods.”

“The Midnight Queen said Theren and Variant took her powers with an enchanted object and imprisoned her in the tower.” My head is spinning. Aima doesn’t have time to reply, because Revenant arrives with a random arm dangling over his shoulder. I guess he found one of the guards.

The vampire shoves the limb through the mirror and uses it to snag the keys. He lets out a whoop of excitement and hurries over to unlock the gate to the cell. I follow him inside and get a closer look at Kolvar. Half the satyr’s face is bashed in and his broken jaw hangs loosely. Bruises, gashes, and obvious signs of torture litter the large male’s body. Nothing we can do to him can be worse than what he’s already been through, so I don’t waste any time lifting him to his feet.

“Noni can’t hide all of you!” the brownie squeals.

Aima runs into a room beside the dungeon and emerges with a sword. “Don’t worry. This isn’t the first time I’ve snuck out of this palace. There’s a series of tunnels, and one leads right to the outside gate. There will be guards blocking the south gate, but nothing we can’t handle.”

Noni nods and climbs back into Revenant’s cloak. We start hustling after Aima, who weaves through the halls of Oronrel with practiced ease. She pushes open the door to the tunnels and ushers us inside. Kolvar wakes from all the jostling. He can’t speak, but I see the gratitude in his eyes. It makes me uncomfortable.

Last time someone looked at me like that, I betrayed them by allowing a succubus to seduce me during the war. Cambion. I take a deep breath and remember the words Thoradin said to me in the graveyard. I wish I had cherished my old friend's loyalty when it mattered most.

“How far?” I shout.

“Not long now. We're almost there…” Aima ducks as a broadsword swings for her head. A swarm of Unseelie guards attack. I lean Kolvar against the tunnel wall and reach for my own sword. Revenant's daggers carve through our enemy with that unnatural speed. Aima is right by his side, taking out her brethren to ensure we make it out alive.

When an opening presents itself, I lift Kolvar again and race toward the exit. Revenant and Aima cover our retreat, and she uses a burst of magic to collapse the tunnel behind them. Three soldiers manage to make it through at the last minute. I watch as the vampire and Aima battle to even the odds of our survival.

“Those who commit treason shall be punished by our King!” The last soldier lunges at Aima, swinging a battle axe right at her. She dodges the attack and batters her fist into the Unseelie soldier’s side, knocking him off balance before plunging her sword into his belly. She kicks him off her blade and sheathes her weapon with a surprisingly empty look in her eyes.

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