Night fell over the castle.
Inside the chambers, the silence was absolute.
Lyra still sat on the floor, staring into nothing. Draven hadn't moved away from the wall. Zareth sat in an armchair with his head buried in his hands.
The three of them looked like broken statues.
Barely breathing.
Darian, Varkas, and Kára remained standing.
None of them spoke.
Darian searched for Varkas's gaze. The giant nodded.
Kára tightened her grip around her hammer and raised her chin slightly.
Darian returned the gesture.
The determination between them was shared.
He stepped away and closed his eyes.
The inner clearing was dim.
Lumine stood motionless, her light reduced to a faint glow. Nox paced in circles, his mist-like tail striking the ground.
—They're breaking —Lumine said softly. —Fear is defeating them.
—I know —Darian replied.
Nox stopped pacing and turned his head toward him, baring his fangs.
—They're broken. You can see it in their eyes. —His tail lashed the ground. —They won't be useful like this.
—I'm not abandoning them.
—I didn't say abandon them. —Nox let out a low laugh. —I said they need a shock. Something that reminds them they still have teeth.
—Something that shows them not everything is lost —Lumine added. —That the thread is still taut.
—That they can still bite —Nox finished.
Darian let out a short laugh.
—I think we're starting to understand each other better.
He opened his eyes and turned toward the others.
—Zareth.
The prince raised his head. His eyes were red.
—I came here to save Aria. Only her. Not kingdoms. Not politics. Her.
—Aelthas knows everything —Zareth said. —He was waiting for us. Seryn and Vex are dead. —His voice cracked. —They died because of me. Because they followed me. And I couldn't do anything.
—I know.
—No, you don't. —Zareth stood abruptly. His hands trembled. —They were my subordinates. My friends. They died on the floor like animals while I stood there watching. Smiling. Pretending I didn't know them. How am I supposed to lead anyone after that? How do I ask people to follow me?
Darian didn't answer immediately.
He looked at him.
Saw the pain.
The guilt.
The rage.
—Seryn and Vex died protecting something —he said at last. —Your father is in danger. Your kingdom is in danger. If we don't act, Aelthas wins. And their deaths will mean nothing.
Zareth stared at him.
—We're too few.
—I don't care.
—Aelthas has something. A power. I don't know what it is, but he saw us coming.
—I don't care.
—Then what do you want me to do? Pretend I'm not afraid?
—No. —Darian stepped forward. —I want you to use it. That fear. That rage. Use them to fight.
He drew Nox.
The short sword glowed with dark light. Mist crawled across the floor around his feet.
—This sword feeds on that. Rage. Hunger. Instinct. —He closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, his irises had begun turning white. Fangs emerged beneath his lips. He hunched forward, hands nearly touching the floor, legs bent like a beast ready to pounce. Dark energy burst from his body. —So do I.
Zareth took a step back.
Lyra lifted her head.
Draven tensed.
—I don't need you to trust me —Darian said, his voice no longer entirely his own. —I need you to fight. For Aria. For your people. For the ones who are already gone.
The darkness faded.
His eyes returned to normal.
The fangs disappeared.
Darian straightened and sheathed Nox.
—I'll do this with you. Or I'll do it alone. But I will do it.
Zareth stared at him.
His breathing had become uneven. His eyes still reflected what he had just witnessed.
—I've never seen anything like that before —he admitted.
—You didn't answer me.
Zareth dragged a hand down his face.
Lyra slowly stood from the floor.
Draven pushed himself away from the wall.
—Fine —Zareth said at last. —We do this together.
—Good. —Darian nodded. —Tomorrow we make a plan. Together. We can end this once and for all.
Zareth nodded in return.
---
Darian stayed beside the window after the others fell asleep.
Vael curled up in his lap.
The branches of the Great Tree stretched above the castle—golden, eternal.
Aria was there.
Somewhere beneath that light.
Tomorrow, the hunt would begin.
It worked, Lumine said softly.
Of course it worked, Nox replied. Did you see his face when you let me peek out? He completely lost the urge to argue.
It wasn't time for you to come out completely.
That's why I only peeked.
And that was enough.
It's always enough.
Darian said nothing.
He simply kept staring at the branches spreading over the rooftops.
Aria was there.
Somewhere beneath that golden light.
Tomorrow, the hunt would begin.