Elm
The moment I arrived back at camp, horror unfolded before my eyes. More than half of our comrades were either lying on the ground drenched in blood or struggling to fight against the spells of an ashrai’s mind magick. It was heartbreaking to witness. There were cries for help coming from every corner, and bodies flew across the campsite as they tried to battle against the overwhelming force of the ashrai.
Even Phyre, on the far side of the camp, was desperately trying to bring her sword down on the enemy, but with every strike, it just seemed to pass right through them. Sweat dripped from her brow, and I could tell by the way she was gripping the hilt that her hands were drenched as well.
I cautiously made my way along the path, inspecting any of the members of the Hunt that had been injured and fallen during battle. Fortunately, there were only a handful who were still breathing - albeit–weakly–so I immediately took to hastily drawing an anti- possession rune on their exposed skin; those too frail or incapacitated would be the first victims to fall prey to any daemons lingering in the air. After that crucial step had been taken care of, I made sure to check on any of the survivors who had fallen into unconsciousness.
Most of the battle was further down, and it was clear that we were losing. Helplessly, I watched our people impale themselves with their own weapons or stand nauseatingly still while the ashrai drained their blood like a vampire. I gave up trying to help those already on the ground and pulled my own sword from my belt to join Phyre in her fight against the enemy.
She saw me sprinting toward her and engulfed herself in a roar of fire. It was like two massive wings that rose up to enshroud her body, protecting her from the blast. The force of the eruption blew back the ashrai and sent him crashing down to the ground. Within moments, she had become an angel of flames—bright and beautiful, yet so powerful that she could cause destruction just by being near her.
Like a phoenix enveloped in flame, Phyre rushed forward, taking the opportunity to finish him off. Her sword slipped into his abdomen with minimal effort. Blood spewed from his mouth, and he coughed it in her face spitefully.
It was sickening to witness our own people turning their blades against one another. An ugly display that had been brewing for a long time. Father had driven the ashrai to the outer edges of Dullahan, close to human territory due to their ceaseless bloodthirst. Most of them lived in squalor and poverty, and Father’s refusal to send them resources or aid only intensified their rage and animosity. He knew that they were hungry for power, but he turned a blind eye.
I couldn’t blame them. After all, I had to endure the same hardships that they did; living a life of secrecy and hiding in the shadows. I understood then that these people knew what happened to him - knew that Baz had claimed power, becoming king. Resentment stirred within me as I wondered what promises he must have made them in exchange for their obedience and loyalty.
Thunder bellowed from above, though there were no signs of a forthcoming storm just moments before. The chill of the wind pierced through my shirt and bit at my skin, but I could not tear my gaze away from the daemon hurtling towards the unsuspecting Phyre. I held my breath as it descended between the trees, its wingspan wide and threatening.
I shouted her name, screaming for her to get out of the way as I charged forward with all my strength. In an instant, the dark figure with wings turned back to the sky, taking flight from nearing danger, almost as if it could sense my intent.
“Roll up your sleeve!” I yelled. Her face contorted, so I flashed the rune that was carved into my skin. We’d been careless not to apply it to her before. Hastily, I scrawled the intricate twisting lines of the crescent shape on her forearm.
“We’re losing,” she muttered breathlessly. “We have to retreat. There’s no way we can beat them like this.”
Lightning struck the ground at my feet. I absorbed the energy and breathed smoke out of my nose. Electricity radiated through my body, consuming me with great power. It had been building for a while, just waiting to be released. I’d just never noticed before as it prickled beneath my skin.
I turned to Phyre, who stood with her mouth wide in shock. Mouthing a warning, she backed farther away from me as I released the energy.
It was a giant shock wave of power. I screamed, unleashing the electric current thrumming through my body, and every person still left standing dropped to their knees. An unnatural, sudden downpour of rain descended upon us.
But the power I’d released had done its work. It sent a shockwave through the area, and any ashrai that hadn’t been completely fried by the current had no choice but to flee. I watched with satisfaction as they scattered in all directions.
“Holy fuck,” Phyre’s voice sounded weak and drained, her body sagging in the pouring rain. It snuffed out the embers that made up her flames. “How did you—”
I shrugged. “I thought it was Rhen,” I started, “Before, she was upset and a random thunderstorm emerged over top of us. I thought it was connected to her emotions somehow, but — I think it was me. Seeing her upset, it broke something in me. Pissed me off so bad that I created a storm.”
Phyre simply nodded her head in response to me, but I could tell by the look on her face that she was still trying to process my newfound power. I knew something had changed within me and I could feel an energy radiating from within that hadn’t been there before.
Magick didn’t usually manifest like that. Whatever powers you were born with were typically all you had, with the exception of ascending to the role of king. And I had only ever been able to perform minor manifestations of magick, glimmering in shadows and utilizing flora magick. It was all low-level stuff. Nothing special about making flowers grow. And almost every fey with any sort of magick at all could glimmer. The only thing separating me from others was the fact that I had spent countless years training my ability to take advantage of the shadows and manipulating the darkness.
Yet, I’d manifested some sort of magick that could control the weather. That was the sort of thing saved for gods, not feyries. Maybe Gaia herself had blessed me during the Rite to help us win the war.
Maybe.
But all it really told me was how foolish I had been. For so long, I refused to confront my deep emotions, and when I finally let go of the powerful magic that had been harboring all those years, my only fear became losing Rhen when it mattered the most. It pained me to think that if only I had faced what I was truly feeling earlier on instead of running away from it, things could be different.
I needed her. Needed her in the way that made my chest ache when she was gone. Had this carnal desire to protect her.
I’d accepted long ago that I was never a prince meant to have a happily ever after. That sort of shit only happened in the books I read. And until I’d met her, I’d been content with that lie I’d told myself.
But she made me want it.
So, after I spent a considerable amount of time helping Phyre tend to our wounded, I finally decided to tell Rhen how I felt.
I had already wasted so much of my life, so I was not about to let any more moments slip away, especially with the looming threat of war.
If I was going to die, I wanted it to be with her at my side.
Luka
“My gods, have you actually gone insane?” I asked Rhen as she plopped down on her bed.
“No,” she countered, bringing a finger to her lips. “Maybe. Probably, but it doesn’t matter because I can do this.”
Oh, she absolutely was insane.
“No way, I can’t let you go. You’re literally walking into a trap.” I grasped her hand in mine, feeling the heat radiating from her skin.
“I have to, Lu. Getting through to Baz—It’s the only way. Look,” She carefully removed two glass bottles from her pocket. The liquid inside glowed brightly with a beautiful pink hue, glittering in the light. “Aya gave me these glimmer potions after what happened on the island. If things get too bad, I can come back. I’ll be safe, I promise.”
But I knew that expression on her face. It was one I had seen so many times before from others, a resolve mixed with a readiness to risk it all. She wasn’t going to be deterred, no matter what I said.
“Please,” I tilted my head back, desperately trying to hold in the tears that threatened to escape. I blinked furiously, hoping that if I kept my eyes closed long enough, my emotions would settle. “I don’t want to lose my best friend.”
Not again.
She planted a tender kiss on my cheek, her soft lips feeling like a warm embrace. Then, she reached up and ran her fingers through my hair, messily tousling the locks.
“You won’t. That’s a promise, and I don’t break my promises.”
Her dark eyes shimmered with determination, and I was painfully aware there was nothing I could do to sway her. She was adamant that she had to go. Hell, she’d already snuck around behind my back, asking Ayesha to send him another message. So, I simply kissed her forehead in answer.
“Okay,” I told her. “Be careful.”
She smiled; her expression filled with love. One that I hoped I would see again. “Thank you, Luka. I will.”
I watched her take a step back, her expression solemn as the pink bottle fell from her grasp and shattered on the ground at her feet. The shards reflected in the light of the setting sun, painting an almost ethereal image before a puff of smoke billowed into existence around her. It swirled around like a rapidly spinning vortex, before eventually dissipating into nothing, taking my friend with it. She had gone in what felt like an instant, without so much as a goodbye.
The hollow sensation didn’t bother creeping up on me this time. It overwhelmed me all at once, and I knew the only thing that could fill the void was food. Even if it only helped to placate it momentarily.
No matter how bright the feylight in the kitchen was, my mind was dark.
Alone again. I was always alone when the hunger started. Rooted deep in my gut, it gnawed at my insides like a parasite. And nothing satisfied it. No amount of ice cream, cake, or chicken could stop it.
It only dissipated when I was around others. Still there, of course. Always there, but at least I had some semblance of control.
I pulled out the plastic container filled with the cheddar soup and sighed, inhaling its savory scent. Setting it on the counter, I didn’t even bother heating it up before devouring the entire bowl. It was rich and creamy, melting in my mouth like butter. I scraped the sides with the spoon, making sure not to waste any of it.
Though my body was full, I was not. The emptiness growled at me from within, and I looked through the fridge again for something else that might curb it before it destroyed me.
Three hours later, I had cleared out the entire contents of the fridge and still nothing could fill the void in my chest. Desperately seeking solace, I collapsed into a chair and laid my head down on my arms, allowing myself to succumb to its depths. Nothing seemed able to lessen the tide of abandonment and despair that engulfed me in those moments. I felt like no matter what I did or how hard I tried, nothing would be enough to make it go away.
Nausea from overeating was something I was used to, but this—I hadn’t felt this bad since Elm left. I barely registered the sound of the front door closing and the footsteps that followed.
“Hey,” a soft voice said, then more urgently, “What’s wrong?”
I hesitantly looked up, fully aware of how tear-streaked and blotchy my face must have been. Kol was gazing at me with piercing eyes as the tears just wouldn’t stop coming. Before I knew it, tears were rolling down my cheeks, accompanied by a torrent of snot that was making its way to the floor. Embarrassed at my emotional display, I hung my head low and tried to blink away the wetness, attempting to cover up any hint of vulnerability.
Arms found me, gentle and reassuring, wrapping around me almost immediately and securely. His warmth was a welcome comfort, spreading through my body like a wave of solace. I let him envelop me, not bothering to resist.
He spoke gently, offering reassurance. “Shh. It’s okay. You’re okay.”
Which only fueled my already heightened emotions. I clung to his shirt as if it was my only lifeline, balling the fine material in my fists. Kol didn’t seem to mind that I was soaking his shirt with my tears. His light pat on my head sent a pleasant surge of warmth through me. His fingers glided through my hair with such tenderness that reeled me back to reality from some distant dreamscape.
“I’m here.”
Suddenly aware of his powerful arms around me, I peeled myself away from him and peered up into his intense gaze that spilled down on me with a sorrowful smile. His wings shone brightly, illuminated by the dancing feylight that sparkled through each one. He seemed almost ethereal in the brilliant light, standing proud and majestic among its illuminating rays.
A true angel of light.
And for the first time in my entire life, the tide of loneliness receded completely.
Kol’s fingers rested underneath my chin as he forced me to look at him as if he knew I’d turn away with embarrassment. His gaze seemed to penetrate through me, searching for something deep inside.
“Your eyes are so beautiful.”
I blinked, stunned by his compliment. His thumb brushed over my lips ever so softly. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I tried desperately to turn away, but his grip held firm.
“Would you hate me if I kissed you right now?”
What?
My tongue felt like sandpaper in my mouth.
“Because I’ve been in love before, but it never felt this—scary.”
What was he talking about? His words bounced off the walls of the room, but all I could do was wipe away the snot dripping from my nose and cock my head to the side in confusion.
He exhaled, dropping his hand from my chin. All of the sudden, he couldn’t look me in the eye.
“I like you, Luka,” Kol muttered, staring at the hand he’d tucked under my chin. “I’m sorry.”
“Wh—” I started to ask why he was apologizing, but he interrupted.
“I know we barely know each other, but I had to tell you because I don’t think this feeling is going anywhere, anytime soon.”