Page 32 of Fate Unchained

She shook her head. “I don’t believe what I do is magic, but based on my research, I think it acts the same way the vae magic does.”

That got his attention. His gaze pinned hers. “How so?”

“The vae channel magic from the sun’s light. They actually have to counteract being overheated if they use too much of their magic all at once. I think I’m the opposite. I use the moon’s light, and it’s cold.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I could have asked a magicwielder their opinion, they probably know more about it, but I didn’t want them to know about what I can do.”

He stared at her a long moment. “The vae protect their secrets viciously, not many know how their magic works. Few others have learned what you figured out.”

She paced through the cave, careful to stay away from the perimeter. She’d suspected the information in her books was hidden in human books for a reason, and most likely, it had to do with moving information around and keeping it out of sight of magicwielders. None of them would ever imagine that magic of any kind, or information they might desire, would be in anything but one of the magical tomes kept under lock and key in Herskala Academy.

“My theory is the zorzye—now more commonly called lightwielders—and vae were once linked by blood a long time ago, but I haven’t found anything to confirm that, yet. Maybe I’m wrong because the zorzye have mostly died out, while the vae are immortals.”

Kyril glanced away and rubbed his mouth. “The lightwielders died out because of choices made during the Deciding War. Choices that saved Ulterra.”

“Really?” She stopped pacing and turned to him. “I didn’t read anything about that. What happened?”

He paused for a long moment. “The vulk chose to protect Ulterra and never take mates. Those intended to be our partners lost their immortality, and declined.”

Those intended to be our partners. “You mean the zorzye? Zorzye and vulk were supposed to be mates?” Like what their rune said. “And the vulk said no?”

His dark eyes were fathomless. “That’s right. Our choice has saved Ulterra more times than you can imagine. It was a good decision.”

She stiffened, and her lips tightened. “Then why has a rune shown up and shoved us together?”

He ran his hand over his head and turned away. “Look at all the trouble it’s caused.”

“At least this time, both lightwielder and vulk have the choice to say no to uniting.” Since he was using the term lightwielder, she switched to it, too, even though she preferred the ancient name of zorzye. The zorzye bloodline had a secret, mystical history, one she wanted to discover more about, and she liked the older term. “I prefer having control over my own destiny, not letting some rune, and certainly not a surly vulk, decide for me.”

They stood stiffly near the fire, and she stared into it, crossing her arms. Kyril had gotten it blazing nicely, but as she watched it, it almost went out, as if a giant breeze had suddenly snuffed it.

In a flash, the flames returned—thick, black flames—leaping upward toward the ceiling.

Lilah let out a small cry and stumbled backward, almost falling. Kyril whirled toward the cave entrance, his claws shooting out. When she’d barged into the cave, and he’d leaped for her, his claws hadn’t come out like that.

She scanned the cave. Shadows blurred the mouth at the far end, but in their midst, something dark moved. They were no longer alone in their cave.

A figure stepped into the light.

Lilah gasped. Easily two feet taller than Kyril, It looked like smoke had tried to form itself into a person, with burning coals for eyes and a slash for a mouth.

Kyril shifted to stand between her and the monster. “Stay behind me.”

“Can it cross into our cage?” If they couldn’t get out, could something get in? “What is it?”

“It’s a shade.”

A shade. She gulped, but her throat had turned to ash, and she had trouble swallowing. It couldn’t be real. Shades were one of the most dangerous beings in the underworld of Peklo. And one was here, in their cave.

The shade made an odd hiss, like water on a fire, and raised a hand. With a flick, it tossed a ball of black fire directly at them. Kyril leaped and grabbed her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he threw them both to the ground. He rolled, and the fire whizzed over their heads. In another motion, he was back on his feet, pushing her behind him again.

Lilah panted and peered around at the shade. “You’d think the snow would have put his fire out.”

Another ball of flame shot at them, this one more whiplike. Kyril grabbed her again and turned, the flash of flame missing them by inches. The shade stepped forward, and the perimeter of the cage glowed. Tilting its head, the shade studied it briefly, then stepped right through. The cage remained in place, the dome of their barrier continuing to glow.

“Shit,” she said.

Kyril grunted and pulled her with him toward the back wall.

“Vulk,” hissed the shade. Its voice was like eggs frying on a stove. “I was told I’d find you here.”

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