14. Nyx
Chapter 1 4
Nyx
I find solace only in drowning myself in work, letting the steady flow of whiskey numb the sharper edges of my thoughts. Ripping open another piece of mail, the complaints pile up—attacks across the kingdom have surged, relentless and chaotic. Despite Lyra’s efforts in channeling her magic into the heart of Eguina, the demonic presence persists, unyielding. Soren mentioned the demons didn’t emerge from the bridge during their last onslaught and had been already lurking within Eguina. How many more hide in the shadows?
As I down another shot, Bim’s updates clutter my desk. He’s been deploying troops across Nighthold, bracing for the storm to come.
The door opens, and without looking I know it’s Colton—the familiar stench is unmistakable. “What are you doing here?” I ask, my voice flat, not bothering to hide my annoyance as he strides into my office with Twig. “I see you had the decency to knock and be escorted like a civilized person this time.”
I finally look up as Twig closes the door, leaving us alone. “We need to talk, brother,” Colton says, his tone dripping with disdain. His use of “brother” grates on me, and I’m not in the mood for his games.
I lean back in my chair, feigning indifference as I swirl the whiskey in my glass. “Oh, we have nothing to talk about… Unless you’re here to give back my mate.”
Colton’s jaw tightens. “We need to talk about the attacks, Nyx. This isn’t about Lyra or our personal issues. It’s about Nighthold’s safety.”
I smirk, setting my glass down with a deliberate thud. “Suddenly concerned about Nighthold? What changed, brother? Or is it that now you have something to lose, you’re taking it seriously?”
His eyes narrow, and I know I’ve hit a nerve. “This is about protecting our people, Nyx. It’s bigger than our quarrels.”
Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my desk, meeting his gaze with a cool challenge. “Is it? Or are you here because you’re afraid I might actually find a way to prove I’m the one she should be with?”
His response is curt, a growl almost. “Lyra made her choice, Nyx.”
I chuckle, “A choice made without all the facts is a guess, Colton. But go on, keep pretending it’s all settled. We both know the truth isn’t that simple. If I were you, I’d go enjoy the time with Lyra while you have it.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean? You realize she chose me and is completing the bonding ceremony with me,” he says, drawing the words out slowly. I clench my glass but try to keep my cool, not wanting him to see the effect he has on me. The thought of them together churns my stomach.
“Lyra doesn’t know what she wants, but I plan on finding proof that I am the one she is fated to be with. Proof that will rid you from our lives once and for all. So run along now. We have nothing more to discuss,” I wave him off, but he doesn’t move, instead taking a step closer to my desk.
“She’s not going to replace Zaelinn. You do realize that, right?” he says, and I get to my feet, fury threatening to boil over.
“I’m not trying to replace Z. Now get the fuck out of my office before I make you.” I feel my magic pulsing, but instead of giving into his taunt, I let my lips quirk up on one side instead.
Colton retreats into himself. “I knew this would be a waste of time,” he mutters, raking his fingers through his hair with a look of resignation.
“Indeed,” I retort, reclining in my chair. I fully expect him to storm out or channel away in a huff, but instead he leans forward, placing his hands firmly on my desk, narrowing the distance between us.
His voice lowers, edged with a cold firmness. “I only came because she asked me to. I knew you were a lost cause, but after everything she still believes there’s something decent in you. Consider this the only warning you’ll get, Nyx,” he says, his eyes igniting with a threatening glow as his magic simmers. “If you do anything to ruin our wedding, if you cause her any more pain, I’ll fucking end you.”
In a whirl of smoke, he’s gone before I can utter another word.
The room falls silent, but I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. The seriousness of his threat, the intensity in his eyes—I hadn’t expected him to unravel so completely. He’s truly ensnared by her, more than I thought. And he thinks his little display of bravado might actually intimidate me? Pathetic.
He’s wrong on so many levels, especially about her being his mate. The prophecy, the one my father uttered so long ago, doesn’t speak of Colton. It speaks of me. I’m the one destined to save Lyra, to be her true light. Now, I need to prove it. And when I do, this farce of a romance with Colton will crumble, and she’ll see where her fate truly lies. With me.
I take one more long draw from my whiskey before setting the glass down with a decisive clink. It’s time to check on my plans, the ones that not even Colton suspects. With a thought, I channel myself to the remote coast of Vision Valley. In the dimming light, the relentless waves crash against the jagged cliffs, a natural defense for the maneuvers I’ve been orchestrating.
While Colton has been preoccupied, reveling in his newfound happiness with Lyra, I’ve been making moves that will secure our futures. Drew, always a valuable ally despite her cryptic ways, has agreed to my request to keep ships anchored discreetly past the Center Isles. I’ve calculated the distances meticulously, from Vision Valley to these ships and then straight to the Sorcerer Realm, a strategic path designed for rapid movement of forces if needed. Channeling straight from Nighthold to Cloudrum has always been too far a distance.
Bim has been busy too, arranging army encampments atop these cliffs. Vision Valley is desolate, far from prying eyes, an ideal staging ground for what may come. I’ve sensed the darkness swelling across the lands, felt the increasing frequency of attacks—each a forewarning of the storm brewing within and beyond our realms.
And then there’s the matter of Kaine’s insidious flyers stirring unrest in Cloudrum, timed disgustingly close to Lyra’s upcoming birthday. She could claim her right to rule as queen on that day, a move that would undoubtedly spark conflict given the current tensions.
As I stand here, overlooking the preparations, I’m more convinced than ever that we’re edging toward a war that has been simmering beneath the surface for too long. And with the rumors of Samael’s return—rumors that chill even the salted air around me—I know that my unresolved past with him must finally find resolution. Samael and I have a score to settle, and when we next meet, only one of us will walk away from that encounter.
“King Onyx, how may I assist you today?” Poe greets me immediately upon my arrival. Despite his youth, Poe is a soldier of notable promise, particularly skilled in elemental magic. I once witnessed him transmute rain into acid, albeit briefly—a potent ability indeed.
“Yes, Poe, could you direct me to Commander Bim?” I inquire.
Poe strokes his clean-shaven jaw thoughtfully before nodding and guiding me toward the heart of the camp. As we walk, I note the expansions and improvements. Bim has clearly been industrious, the camp bustling with activity and preparation.
We arrive at a larger tent at the camp’s core, and Poe pauses at the entrance, giving the tent flap a respectful tap before announcing, “Commander Bim, King Onyx wishes to speak with you.”
A moment later, Bim appears at the entrance, his face lined with the marks of sleepless nights but his eyes sharp and assessing. “Nyx,” he greets with a nod, stepping aside to let me enter. The interior of the tent is a strategic war room. Maps and scrolls litter every surface, and the air is thick with the scent of ink and wax.
“Poe, that will be all. Thank you,” I dismiss the young soldier with a nod, and he retreats, leaving me with Bim.
I approach the nearest table, which has a copy of Kaine’s flyer on it, one Drew gave me. Kaine knows better than to spread such nonsense in Nighthold. I scan the text on the flyer once more.
“Protect our realms from the dark enchantress, Lyra Lewis. Do not be deceived by her guise of nobility. Underneath lies a heart governed by dark magic that seeks to dominate and destroy. She has already unleashed her terrifying power upon the Luminary Council, proving her willingness to slaughter those who stand in her way. We must act now to preserve our heritage and safeguard our future. Stand united against the tyranny of dark magic. Reject Lyra Lewis as queen. Protect our realm. Protect our traditions!”
As I trace my fingers over the detailed sketch of Lyra’s face under the writing, the likeness is uncanny—her features are hauntingly similar to Z’s. I shake the thought away. Soon enough, Lyra will reign as the queen of all Eguina, if I have any say in it. Men like Kaine and Samael are trying to turn her own people against her. I can only imagine how Lyra must feel about this...if she’s even aware. We never had the chance to discuss her actions that day in the bunker, and now I’m not sure I can face her yet.
“The camps really have come a long way,” Bim remarks, drawing me out of my reverie. I tear my gaze from the flyer, acknowledging his efforts.
“You’ve outdone yourself. Are the men growing restless?” I inquire, scanning the map of Eguina spread across the table.
“Nah, are you kidding? They’re relishing the prospect of a fight. Most of them have been alternating between responding to attacks in Nighthold and honing their battle magic here, away from civilian eyes,” Bim reassures me, and I nod in approval. The map is dotted with colored X’s, each marking incidents that have occurred. We even have spies in Cloudrum, though mostly in the Sorcerer and Lycan Realms—Drew would have our heads if we dared infiltrate the Lamia Realm with spies. She’s too sharp for that.
“Have any of the recent attacks in Nighthold been hordes?” I ask, knowing Bim keeps meticulous records while I’m away.
“No, it’s been relatively quiet on that front. We’ve dealt with a couple of Sarrols stirring trouble on a farm, but that’s about it. Otherwise, it’s been isolated incidents. A Sarrol here and there, a few Monstrauths, and then there are those attacks by creatures no one can even identify,” Bim explains, stroking his neatly trimmed beard thoughtfully. “When witnesses describe these creatures, it’s like nothing I’ve ever heard of before.”
I don’t like the sound of that at all. Unidentified creatures could mean new threats or, worse, evolving ones.
“What did they look like? Can you give me a detailed description?” I prompt Bim, eager for information. He moves to a cluttered desk, thumbing through stacks of parchments with determination to provide a precise account.
“Here’s what we have from the eyewitnesses. The entity appeared humanoid but with unsettling differences—its skin was a pallid gray, almost moist to the eye. It had a gaunt build, with a starkly pronounced ribcage and sharply defined muscles.” He pauses, finding another relevant note. “Most disturbingly, these creatures are devoid of normal human features: no hair, no ears, no nose, and no eyes—only a gaping mouth. That’s what really unnerved the witnesses, oh, and they move on all fours like an animal,” he explains, disturbed.
Reflecting on my extensive knowledge and the myriad oddities I’ve encountered over the years, nothing quite matches this description. “I’m not sure what we’re dealing with, but we should bring Flora into this discussion tonight. She’s been deep in research at the elders’ library and perhaps has stumbled upon something related to these creatures,” I suggest, hoping for a breakthrough. Bim nods, his expression mirroring the weight of our growing concerns.
“You still want me to keep Colton out of the loop on all this?” Bim asks, raising an eyebrow.
I scoff. “That bastard stormed into my office asking about these attacks.” Frustration seeps into my voice as I rub my temples.
“I still can’t believe you two are half-brothers—all this time. It explains so much,” Bim muses, looking genuinely surprised.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snap, fixing him with a sharp gaze.
“Uh, it makes sense now. Both of you share that intense vibe, not to mention the unique wing structure. And let’s not forget, both of you are stubborn as hell,” he chuckles, and I can’t help but shake my head at the comparison.
“Keep him out of it. This doesn’t concern him, and I don’t want Lyra to stress either. Let them live in their blissful ignorance for now,” I decide, realizing it’s more for her sake than his. I know Lyra would be furious if she knew I was withholding information, but she’s not naive and must sense the unrest in the realms.
“Alright, if you say so. Are we still on for tonight at your place? Flora joining us?” he confirms.
“Yes, I need to do a few more things, then I’ll head over,” I respond, mentally preparing for the evening’s discussions. With a nod from Bim, I channel away to pay Dorian a visit. We need to talk about our arsenal.