Page 67 of Frozen Hearts and Death Magic

River almost clenched his fists, but stopped himself in time. It was never good to let people know they had reached their target. He chuckled. “Girls like it. Perhaps you should chop off your horns and take life more lightly.”

“River.” Kanestar’s voice was strained, serious. “We used to be friends. Your father might have given up on you, but I haven’t. I know you seem lazy and irresponsible, but I think it’s an act. I’m not sure why, but there’s more to you than partying. And you do have powerful magic.” Kanestar was… pleading? That was incredibly awkward.

“So what? I’m not using it. Not for a stupid war.” River lay down again and closed his eyes.

His cousin was silent for a while, then said, “That’s it, then? You can make a difference and you’re choosing not to?”

River sighed and sat up. “What do you want?”

“The humans are poisoning our circles. Our settlements are being attacked. We need to push them back. Join us. Join me.” Kanestar was definitely taking it way more seriously than he should.

“I’m sure you’ll do fine without me.” River smirked. “Got your mighty horns, you know?”

Kanestar sighed and walked away. He had been River’s close friend once, before he decided to dedicate his life to their kingdom and some nonsensical yada yada.

Now they were taking humans seriously? It was just an excuse to worry. There were fae living all over Aluria, and they used circles to move to the Ancient City and from settlement to settlement. Now there were more and more humans all over the land, as their numbers had been growing quite fast. Still, most of them were quite useless against Ancients: they were weaker, slower, had no magic, and knew nothing about verbal tricks and bargains. The ones with magic usually hid behind thick walls. He was sure that this war was nothing, and that his family was overreacting.

This wasthe last time River saw his cousin, his once best friend.

A month later, his body was brought back to the Ancient City.

Guilt. Shame. They were just words. What River felt was something else, something deep, something eating him inside.

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