Hopeless Sacrifice by A.K. Koonce

Author:A.K. Koonce [Koonce, A.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Short-Lived Happiness

It’s late when the soldiers arrive. Darrio and Daxdyn step close to me, standing tall and proud before me. My fingers push absently back and forth across Nefarious’ rough scales. It calms the creature as well as myself. He’s sweeter than he seems. Friendly even.

The village is empty aside from a dozen mortals, armed with swords and sitting on their porches with nothing but mortal weapons and determination. Their gazes trail over the enormous crowd of fae warriors.

A tired silence clings to us. The rain has finally stopped, leaving behind a humid breeze that makes it hard to breathe.

“I sent a few dozen soldiers to the coast. Tristan will have a hard time managing the nix while they’re feeding. It’ll be at least a day before they make it across the sea.” Darrio’s eyes shift and I just know his mind is assessing every single detail of our situation. “I’m going to have Streven go down to the shore as well so he can shudder in and warn us if anything happens before tomorrow morning.”

Tomorrow morning.

Our lives will be different then.

I step back from the dragon horse to address the waiting soldiers.

“In the morning we need to line the coast, barricade it with our magic to prevent them from entering at all.” I don’t want one single nix crawling over this land. These remaining mortals think they’re brave. They have no idea what’s coming.

My gaze shifts to the few mortals standing outside their homes. They stare up at me and the two fae men before me. There’s awe within their eyes but also a hint of fear.

I can’t do anything for that fear. They should be afraid. It is a very real terror that’s about to hit this land.

“Take the night.” I turn to our soldiers, my voice carrying over the crowd. The mass of them line the small, muddy streets, taking up every visible inch of this village. “Prepare your weapons; do not depend solely on your magic in the days to come.” I pause, my gaze meeting theirs one by one. “The nix are not a match for us. We won’t allow them to be. Their magic isn’t blessed like ours is. We have nothing to fear.” And we do not. It’s all these mortals who are in real danger at the moment. Tristan’s power is another story.

Nods of agreement follow my words. Darrio steps closer to me, a smile almost touching his serious features.

The small look warms me. It tingles right through me.

The deep voice of their commander booms through the streets.

“Until then, find a bed and make it your own. Try to get some rest.” Darrio holds a careless stance.

Fearless. Never in my life have I found a word that completely describes someone. Until I met him.

Darrio turns to me, his stormy eyes searching my face.

He’s entirely fearless.

***

The moon shines white through the windows, reminding me of the few hours of peace that we have here.

Streven is disgustingly sweet to my aunt. It almost makes me wish I liked him.

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