Page 5 of Song of Night

Magic is the only constant in my life, ever present and faithful. My magic brought me to Asher, bonded us in a way I’ve never experienced with anyone. Only days before I’d desired nothing more than to dive one of my daggers deep into his heart, but Night had linked us together, woven our fates as one.

If nothing else, I need to explain everything to him. Tell him how Kieran lied to me, built and fanned the fires of my hatred. He told me for years that Asher killed my sister. I’d only come to learn the truth the night before… not even the whole truth—that Jaylen is actually alive. Had Kieran known that, too? My life has been such a tangled web of lies.

But Asher’s hatred of his brother runs so deep, I’m not sure he’ll ever forgive me.

Another long stretch of time passes. Is it day still, or has night fallen? Has Asher set forth through the Waste to meet with the king on the other side? I wonder what lies beyond… what the land is like, the people, the magic. Do they even have magic?

I’m so lost in thought that I don’t hear the footsteps until they’re nearly upon me, just a moment before a ball of flame flares, illuminating a pair of golden eyes.

We stare at each other for several long moments.

“It pains me to see you like this, Zara,” Kieran says finally.

“We both know that’s not true,” I say, my voice a low growl.

“But it is true.” He steps closer to the bars of my cell. The flames from the magic he holds in his hand flicker erratically, as if there’s a draft down here beneath the earth. His jaw is tight, his eyes glittering with cold malice.

It’s like he’s a completely different person from the man I’d looked up to for the last decade of my life. The man I once thought I loved. Is this his true self, or had my decision to choose Asher twisted him into this cruel creature? A shiver runs over me.

“We could have ruled the Animus together, Zara,” Kieran continues. “I wanted you by my side. And now that I’ve partnered with Ellielle, our houses won’t be at war constantly as we were under my brother’s rule.”

“If you truly felt that way about me, you wouldn’t have lied to me from the moment we met.” There’s so much rage carried on my words that they nearly burn my tongue. “You chose poorly. Back then, and now. Because Ellielle has brought an even greater enemy down on our heads.”

“I lied for your own good.” Kieran’s lips are set in a thin, angry line. “You lied because…well, I’m curious. Do you really have feelings for my brother, or did you just think to make yourself his queen? Gain more power?”

I’m so angry I can’t speak for a moment. “We’ve known each other a long time, Kieran. Since when have I been power hungry?”

“Maybe neither of us know the other as well as we thought we did,” he says softly, and it’s the first genuine thing he’s said to me since I confronted him the night before.

I’m silent for several moments. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. You know how much I wanted revenge…but we share a connection, Asher and I. Through our magic.”

“You share nothing now,” Kieran says, his face twisting again, the moment between us broken. “Your magic is gone, and even if it wasn’t, he’ll never forgive you. Trust me, I know that feeling well.”

“Isn’t it you who started the feud first? You who attempted to kill your own flesh and blood?” I snap.

“I’m sure that’s the picture he painted,” Kieran snarls. “But once out of Asher’s good graces, you are forever banished. My brother hates me more than anything, and now he will hate you with the same fervor.”

He spins abruptly and stalks away from me, taking his anger and his light with him. As darkness closes in around me again, I swallow down the wave of panic that threatens to consume me. Not because I’m going to be down here again, sightless and alone. But because I’m terrified that his words are true.

Just as he reaches the end of the long passage, his magic just a small glow in the distance, he pauses and turns. His voice carries back to me, echoing against the earthen walls.

“I hope it was worth it, Zara. A few days of pleasure for a lifetime alone.”

And then he is gone.

Chapter Four

ASHER

My heart is in my throat as I ride out with Ellielle to call a halt to the battle. I pray we’re not too late. That my warriors haven’t been wiped out as she claimed earlier.

I’d worried that Falling Star and the Factionless would rise against us, but that seems a distant memory now. How long will Ellielle’s union with the other houses hold? I know my brother won’t be loyal to this truce for very long, though it’s possible the Syreni will keep up their end of the bargain. They’ve always had the closest alliance with the Angelus since their territories are adjacent.

No, Kieran will keep up the game to dig the knife he’d buried in my back even deeper. But as soon as he sees an opportunity, he’ll turn on Ellielle. Especially given this ridiculous marriage to align Angelus and Daemonium. Had she told him that little part of her plan? Our people… her words feel like molten lead in my stomach.

When the river comes into sight, I rein in my gelding as my eyes rove over the scene before me. Ellielle has brought an entourage of warriors, and she gestures to the two closest to her, each of whom carries a silver horn. They raise the instruments to their lips and let out a series of blasts, amplified with magic. The sound reverberates across the battle, cutting across the clang of weapons, the screams of horse and rider, the blasts of magic hitting stone and metal.

Like a slow wave moving across a lake, a ripple spreads across the carnage. Heads turn, warriors pause mid-blow. All eyes turn to me and Ellielle, mounted on our horses in front of an ancient cathedral. Behind us, Ellielle’s warriors raise white flags.

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