Page 70 of King Elijah (The Zemiran Chronicles 2)

Aiden looked to Tegan for only a pause before his eyes returned to Kieran’s. “My father’s sword,” he said. “An Elven sword.”

“A sword?” Kieran repeated with a slight chuckle. “I don’t need a sword when I have magic.”

A smile pulled at the side of Aiden’s lips. “An Elven sword,” he repeated as if he should have known what that meant. Elven swords were not just any kind of weapon. The Fae gifted his people the weapons during the First Treaty. If the elves agreed to protect the Fae from the other lands, they would enchant their swords with power.

“Unless your sword is more powerful than Newick magic—”

“It is,” he answered honestly.

If Kieran finds no value in my weapon, then I’m fucked, Aiden thought.

He truly believed anyone who desired the magic it wielded would be tempted to take it. It was known throughout their world what an Elven sword could do.

“It will destroy a Kraken with just the tip of its blade,” Aiden started, hoping he would understand, “or even a monster from an unknown world.” Kieran’s expression looked more bored than intrigued.

The sorcerer’s brow lifted. “Just like a Shadow Creature?” he asked.

Aiden nodded. “It’s yours if you release my sister.”

Kieran appeared to be pondering his offer, then threw back his head and let out a hearty laugh.

“You honestly thought I would trade your sister’s life for some Elven sword?” He stepped forward, his grin sending a shiver down Aiden’s spine.

“Oh, I have a better idea, Aiden. One where I can have both your little magical sword and your loyalty.” Kieran stepped closer to him and placed his hand on his shoulder.

The magical walls around the elf crumbled, sending him to his knees as blackness blanketed the back of his eyes. His pounding heart felt as if it were being ripped from his chest. The darkness. The darkness was inside him, leeching out of Kieran’s eyes and into his own.

No, he screamed into the silence of his mind, his light succumbing to Kieran’s power. No!

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