Page 17 of Moonlit Guardians

“Have faith,hassa,” he whispers, placing a kiss on my brow.

I look up at him, not recognizing the word. “What does it mean?”

The doors bang open and Dragan stomps into the room. “It meansbelovedin the ancient tongue no longer used by the fae,” the gargoyle hisses. Dragan stands at his full height as he takes his seat at the table. “He has no right to speak to you at all, much less to call you by that word.”

Theren steps in front of me and slams his hands on the table, getting into Dragan’s face. “I thought we were past this. You don’t get to condemn me for my mistakes. If you would like to settle our disagreement, then I would be happy to meet outside these walls…”

“Enough! Both of you!” My voice echoes within the room. Kolvar and Aima enter the meeting room with Baron and Pyre following close behind them. Flumph and Noni come in riding Cambion’s shoulders. Cambion’s gaze locks onto mine and light begins to simmer beneath my skin. I miss him. Dealing with Theren’s trial and the other politics between the clans means I haven’t had much time with Cambion. And I need that timebecause I need his light. It helps to keep me balanced, helps to keep the demon side of me from completely taking over.

Cambion sits in his seat, breaking our stare as he faces the others. I clear my throat and speak to Dragan directly. “You have no right to judge Theren. None of you do. Not anymore.”

“He is a traitor!” Dragan growls.

“Theren is now one of us and I will hear no more about it,” I spit back at him. He frowns but holds his tongue.

Dragan and Theren return to their seats. I stand as the others look at me. Now is the time for strength. “What we have to focus on now is stopping Morrigan. Aima, Cambion, and Theren, you all studied beneath the Midnight Queen. Is there any information you can give us?”

Cambion remains quiet, simply choosing to observe rather than take initiative. Theren, however, stands and uses the map to display the Cogost Mountains. “This temple was where Morrigan once dwelled. It has a gateway that leads to the academy where we were taught. She is strongest here, in the Cogost Mountains and in the academy, even without her power.”

“What are her weaknesses?” Pyre asks.

Theren looks at him. “Abedon. Her greatest weakness has always been Abedon.” He takes a breath. “Despite everything, she still loves him. Her actions, though inexcusable, were driven by love and fear of Abedon.”

“Theren is right,” Aima says.

Baron rolls his eyes. “Of course you would agree with him!”

Aima stands up, causing the legs of her chair to scrape against the floor. “If you have one cell left in your brain, then use it to tell your mouth to shut the hell up.” She stands over Baron until Kolvar eases her back into her chair. I can’t help my smile.

Cambion speaks up finally. “Morrigan trapped Abedon because she was afraid of him. She plotted for years to hide thatfear, turning it into malicious intent until she convinced herself that she truly wanted to kill him and take his power for herself.”

Theren turns me around so we’re standing face to face. “Hating him was easier than acknowledging her true feelings,” he whispers. I know he’s thinking about what we discussed earlier. Morrigan doesn’t deserve my sympathy, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t understand her. Had we not all made similar mistakes out of fear and love?

Pyre’s voice forces me to look away from Theren. “Morrigan was injured by Theren when they fought in the glade. She won’t be in Oronrel, but perhaps Earlann or the temple in the mountains. Silvanus has left his sanctuary, as well, so we must assume that Variant and Morrigan have Silvanus at the forefront of their plans.”

“Plans?” I repeat.

Pyre looks at me. “Plans that would allow Morrigan to restore her power.”

“Are we safe for now?” I ask.

“For now.”

A knock on the door signals Myerdoth’s arrival. He hands me a scroll from King Galmer. I unroll the delicate parchment and paraphrase the royal decree. “King Galmer has written a law against blood magic and catoptromancy within the walls of the stronghold. Any spellcaster or mage suspected of dabbling in forbidden or taboo arts will be exiled indefinitely. The only exceptions to this law are: practice with the king’s direct consent or in the case of an emergency.”

CHAPTER SIX

EILISH

Mercenary Stronghold

We are all assembled around a table in the war room. Myerdoth stands behind Dragan, dark eyes boring into Theren, but I know he won’t attack Theren out of respect for me. The other gargoyle’s loyalty to Dragan is growing stronger each day. It seems as though each of my companions has companions of their own. Dragan and Myerdoth, Aima and Kolvar, Baron and Pyre, Flumph and Noni, and now Cambion and Theren. I know each of them have worries of their own, so I open the floor for them to discuss their progress. “Aima, how are you dealing with your side of the prophecy?”

She shoves her chair back and stands up. “I’ve found nothing in regards to my portion of the prophecies. I think the key to saving me is saving Pyre,” she answers. “I know I’m supposed to be his reincarnated love, but... I have known Pyre for many years and never felt those… feelings surface inside me.” Aima gives Pyre a sympathetic look.

The necromancer’s eyes glow green with the light of the soul he uses to see. “If you recall, my long lost love did not belong to me. And, therefore, I expect nothing from you, Aima. You are free to live your life as you choose.”

A small bit of tension escapes the group and we take a deep breath as Aima nods and sits back down. Even though the exchange is quick, it speaks volumes. Pyre has set Aima free. Not that he could have forced her into any sort of relationship, but his words are well-received, all the same. I turn to Dragan. “What about you? How close are you to finding the Stone Grimoire?”

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