Page 28 of What Courses Through Her Blood
“King Onyx, how may I assist you today?” Poe greets me immediately upon my arrival. Despite his youth, Poe is a soldier of notable promise, particularly skilled in elemental magic. I once witnessed him transmute rain into acid, albeit briefly—a potent ability indeed.
“Yes, Poe, could you direct me to Commander Bim?” I inquire.
Poe strokes his clean-shaven jaw thoughtfully before nodding and guiding me toward the heart of the camp. As we walk, I note the expansions and improvements. Bim has clearly been industrious, the camp bustling with activity and preparation.
We arrive at a larger tent at the camp’s core, and Poe pauses at the entrance, giving the tent flap a respectful tap before announcing, “Commander Bim, King Onyx wishes to speak with you.”
A moment later, Bim appears at the entrance, his face lined with the marks of sleepless nights but his eyes sharp and assessing. “Nyx,” he greets with a nod, stepping aside to let me enter. The interior of the tent is a strategic war room. Maps and scrolls litter every surface, and the air is thick with the scent of ink and wax.
“Poe, that will be all. Thank you,” I dismiss the young soldier with a nod, and he retreats, leaving me with Bim.
I approach the nearest table, which has a copy of Kaine’s flyer on it, one Drew gave me. Kaine knowsbetter than to spread such nonsense in Nighthold. I scan the text on the flyer once more.
“Protect our realms from the dark enchantress, Lyra Lewis. Do not be deceived by her guise of nobility. Underneath lies a heart governed by dark magic that seeks to dominate and destroy. She has already unleashed her terrifying power upon the Luminary Council, proving her willingness to slaughter those who stand in her way. We must act now to preserve our heritage and safeguard our future. Stand united against the tyranny of dark magic. Reject Lyra Lewis as queen. Protect our realm. Protect our traditions!”
As I trace my fingers over the detailed sketch of Lyra’s face under the writing, the likeness is uncanny—her features are hauntingly similar to Z’s. I shake the thought away. Soon enough, Lyra will reign as the queen of all Eguina, if I have any say in it. Men like Kaine and Samael are trying to turn her own people against her. I can only imagine how Lyra must feel about this...if she’s even aware. We never had the chance to discuss her actions that day in the bunker, and now I’m not sure I can face her yet.
“The camps really have come a long way,” Bim remarks, drawing me out of my reverie. I tear my gaze from the flyer, acknowledging his efforts.
“You’ve outdone yourself. Are the men growing restless?” I inquire, scanning the map of Eguina spread across the table.
“Nah, are you kidding? They’re relishing the prospect of a fight. Most of them have been alternating between responding to attacks in Nighthold and honing their battle magic here, away from civilian eyes,” Bim reassures me, and I nod in approval. The map is dotted with colored X’s, each marking incidents that have occurred. We even have spies in Cloudrum, though mostly in the Sorcerer and Lycan Realms—Drew wouldhave our heads if we dared infiltrate the Lamia Realm with spies. She’s too sharp for that.
“Have any of the recent attacks in Nighthold been hordes?” I ask, knowing Bim keeps meticulous records while I’m away.
“No, it’s been relatively quiet on that front. We’ve dealt with a couple of Sarrols stirring trouble on a farm, but that’s about it. Otherwise, it’s been isolated incidents. A Sarrol here and there, a few Monstrauths, and then there are those attacks by creatures no one can even identify,” Bim explains, stroking his neatly trimmed beard thoughtfully. “When witnesses describe these creatures, it’s like nothing I’ve ever heard of before.”
I don’t like the sound of that at all. Unidentified creatures could mean new threats or, worse, evolving ones.
“What did they look like? Can you give me a detailed description?” I prompt Bim, eager for information. He moves to a cluttered desk, thumbing through stacks of parchments with determination to provide a precise account.
“Here’s what we have from the eyewitnesses. The entity appeared humanoid but with unsettling differences—its skin was a pallid gray, almost moist to the eye. It had a gaunt build, with a starkly pronounced ribcage and sharply defined muscles.” He pauses, finding another relevant note. “Most disturbingly, these creatures are devoid of normal human features: no hair, no ears, no nose, and no eyes—only a gaping mouth. That’s what really unnerved the witnesses, oh, and they move on all fours like an animal,” he explains, disturbed.
Reflecting on my extensive knowledge and the myriad oddities I’ve encountered over the years, nothing quite matches this description. “I’m not sure what we’re dealing with, but we should bring Flora into this discussion tonight. She’s been deep in research at the elders’ library and perhaps has stumbled upon something related to these creatures,” I suggest,hoping for a breakthrough. Bim nods, his expression mirroring the weight of our growing concerns.
“You still want me to keep Colton out of the loop on all this?” Bim asks, raising an eyebrow.
I scoff. “That bastard stormed into my office asking about these attacks.” Frustration seeps into my voice as I rub my temples.
“I still can’t believe you two are half-brothers—all this time. It explains so much,” Bim muses, looking genuinely surprised.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snap, fixing him with a sharp gaze.
“Uh, it makes sense now. Both of you share that intense vibe, not to mention the unique wing structure. And let’s not forget, both of you are stubborn as hell,” he chuckles, and I can’t help but shake my head at the comparison.
“Keep him out of it. This doesn’t concern him, and I don’t want Lyra to stress either. Let them live in their blissful ignorance for now,” I decide, realizing it’s more for her sake than his. I know Lyra would be furious if she knew I was withholding information, but she’s not naive and must sense the unrest in the realms.
“Alright, if you say so. Are we still on for tonight at your place? Flora joining us?” he confirms.
“Yes, I need to do a few more things, then I’ll head over,” I respond, mentally preparing for the evening’s discussions. With a nod from Bim, I channel away to pay Dorian a visit. We need to talk about our arsenal.
Chapter 15
Lyra
The last fewweeks have flown by in a blur, the days and nights melding together. Time really does pass quickly when you’re enjoying life.
Since Rix and Rune have been away visiting family, Hollie has made it a regular occurrence to hang out with me while Colton’s away during the day. He’s often tied up with what he calls boring business matters, trying to mend peace with his mother, so I’ve steered clear of pressing him for details, opting to wait until he’s ready to share on his own.
