Page 31 of Eluvonia
“Report,” I command.
“There’s been movement in the southeast,” Declan says, his tone grim. “We believe a faction of Fae are gearing up for an attack.”
I drag a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the grogginess, but the irritation only sharpens. Fae. Again. We can’t even take a damn hunting trip without them slithering out of their cursed forests, looking for another fight. It’s always like this—always some new ambush, always some fresh bloodshed. They never stop. They don’t know peace. They don’t want it.
The Fae are parasites, feeding off destruction, thriving on chaos. It’s in their nature, woven into their very bones. We push them back, they come crawling out again.
We burn their villages, they regroup in the trees, sharpening their blades, waiting for the next moment to strike. They don’t fight with honor. They don’t stand and face us. No, they hide, they skulk, they poison and deceive. They’re cowards playing at war, pretending they’re something more than the pests they are.
And still, they dare. They dare to test us, to claw at the edges of our territory, to spill Dragon blood like it’s their right. Centuries of war, and they still don’t understand— they’ll never win. But they don’t need to.
They only need to keep coming, keep gnawing at us, piece by piece, like vermin chewing through stone.
I exhale sharply, forcing my hands to unclench. “Of course, they are,” I mutter. “Because the Fae don’t know when to quit.” My voice is low, cold, as the weight of yet anotherbattle settles over me. “Fine. If they want a fight, we’ll give them one.”
Because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that the only good Fae is a dead one.
“What’s your order?” Declan asks, his voice tight with restraint.
I take in the lay of the camp, the guards, the firelight casting long shadows across the grass. We’re at a disadvantage if they attack now. I can feel my shadows twitching, hungry for violence, and I know it’ll be harder to keep them at bay if a fight breaks out. The meat we’ve gathered is precious, and the guards can’t shift without wreaking havoc.
I exhale through my nose, frustration leaking through the cracks of my control.Dammit.“Send a guard to the woods,” I order through gritted teeth. “See if we can meet with their leader. We’ll try to come to a truce.”
Declan’s eyebrows raise at that. “You’re willing to negotiate with the Fae?”
I can feel my shadows twitch at the mention, restless. I look down at the wrappings on my arm, my fingers brushing lightly over the markings. It’s always a delicate balance. Sometimes, I wonder if I’ve spent so long keeping them in check that I’ve forgotten what it’s like to let go. To just let them do their thing. But that’s not an option anymore.
“I don’t always want bloodshed,” I say, my voice low, almost a growl. The shadow’s coil tighter around my legs, seeking release. “But I have to do what I can to save my soul.”
Declan’s gaze flickers to my hands, then nods once, without further question. He strides off, finds a guard, says something to him, and the soldier is off running into the woods. I watch for a moment before turning my gaze back to the flickeringflames of the campfires.
About an hour later, I stand in the clearing just before the treeline. The air is colder now, and the shadows stretch long in the dark. I’m alone, except for Declan beside me. The sound of approaching footsteps makes me tense.
From the edge of the woods, a Fae male emerges. His silver hair catches the faint light of the stars above, the others with him are all wearing that same arrogance. They stop just in front of me.
“You wanted to surrender?” the silver-haired Fae asks, his voice dripping with a smirk.
I scoff. “No.”
His arms cross, and his eyes narrow, inspecting me like I’m some kind of curiosity.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of speaking to the shadow commander?”
“I wanted to see if there’s a way we can stay here peacefully,” I say, trying to keep the edge out of my voice. “We’re not here to attack. Only to hunt.”
The Fae studies me for a long moment, then glances back at his companions. A silent exchange passes between them before he turns back to me, his expression unreadable. “Very well. A temporary truce, then. You hunt, we stay out of your way.”
Declan exhales, tension easing from his shoulders. “That’s all we ask.”
The Fae male inclines his head slightly. “But don’t overstep, Dragon. You may roam for now, but know that trust is not given freely.”
I don’t trust them. Not for a second. But I nod, knowing this is as much of an agreement as we’ll get. “Then we havean understanding.”
With that, I turn on my heel, the shadows rising behind me, coiling like tendrils of smoke. Declan catches up to me, his pace quick, his voice low. “You believe them?”
I grunt in response, eyes scanning the darkness beyond. “No. The guards need to be on alert. I don’t trust them not to stab us in the back the second we let our guard down.”
Declan nods grimly. “I’ll spread the word.” He jogs off, shouting orders to the men.
