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  “I know you plan to use her against me.”

  “Do you now? And how do you think I’m going to do that?” Aimery shrugged. “You’ve turned her to your side obviously.”

  “That was obvious, wasn’t it?”

  “What I want to know is why? You could have used our realm, Theron, or any number of things to bend me to your will.”

  Isran leaned close and whispered, “Because what I have in store for you called for something…special.”

  Aimery’s blood turned to ice at Isran’s words. He dared not look at Kyndra. It was enough that she was standing with Isran. And not him. Isran was close enough for an attack, his defenses were down. Aimery didn’t hesitate as he stepped from the wall and thrust his sword at Isran.

  The bastard threw back his head and laughed. “Come, come, Aimery. I anticipated you would do something this foolish.”

  Aimery stared at his sword that had stopped inches from Isran’s stomach. He willed his arm to move, to kill Isran before it was too late. But Isran had outmaneuvered him. The last of his strength had gone into the attack, and it was by sheer will alone that he didn’t crumple on the floor.

  “Now will you bend to me?”

  Aimery glared at him. “Never.”

  “Oh, you will. Never doubt that.”

  The sword was yanked out of his hand by Isran’s magic and smashed against the wall, shattering into dust. The next instant Aimery was slammed against the stone wall, his arms stretched out at his sides.

  “This will be a perfect place for you to watch,” Isran said.

  Aimery jerked at the invisible bonds. He hung several feet off the floor, powerless to do anything other than watch, just as Isran wanted.

  Unable to keep his gaze from her any longer, Aimery looked at Kyndra. She followed Isran with her eyes as if he were the only one in the world who mattered to her. It was like a dagger in his heart. Their nights together had meant more to him than to her. It had been a chance he’d taken and, even now, he didn’t regret a moment of it.

  He loved her. It was something he had thought never to happen to him and, now that it had, he would be denied even that. He was touted as their realm’s finest warrior, but that didn’t grant him the love he had wanted above all else.

  “Have you ever seen a dragon’s egg, Aimery?” Isran asked.

  He didn’t bother to respond. Isran didn’t really want an answer. He just wanted to hear himself talk.

  “Let me show you one.” Isran snapped his fingers and a large, pale blue egg appeared in front of him.

  The egg stood nearly as tall as Isran, luminous in the light of the candles. Aimery was in awe. He had glimpsed the egg when he had looked through the male dragon’s eyes, but it was different than seeing it himself.

  “Magnificent, isn’t it?” Isran murmured. He ran his hand over the egg as if caressing it. “I planned this moment for thousands of years. All my plans revolved around you, Aimery.” Aimery clenched his jaw. “Why was I the special one? I’m the one who befriended you.” Isran chuckled. “Why do you think I sought out your friendship? Everyone knows who Aimery is. Everyone reveres you, whispers about you as if you were a god instead of just a commander.”

  “So you spent the next thousand years learning everything I could teach you.”

  “It was easy. I became what you wanted me to be, and in return I got to see parts of the palace others never did.”

  “Why kill the other Fae?”

  Isran shrugged. “They had the misfortune of discovering me while I was practicing my magic, my…black magic. I couldn’t very well let them run off and tell you or Theron. I wasn’t prepared yet. They had to die.”

  “You did all of this just to get me here. Why? Because you hate me so?”

  “I don’t know that I would call it hate,” Isran said as he walked in front of the egg. “If not for a quirk of fate, your life could have been mine.”

  “Because fate chose me, I get punished for it.”

  “Not at all, brother. I’m going to reward you.”

  Aimery laughed, the sound echoing around the tower. “You call this a reward?”

  “Well, I admit, there will be some pain before the reward. But afterward, it is well and truly a reward. Just ask your lover, though she isn’t yours any longer.” Aimery clenched his jaw when Kyndra raised her gaze to his. There was something different about her. He had sensed it the night before, but now it was more pronounced, almost as if…

  “Kyndra, nay,” he said with a groan. “Tell me you aren’t using black magic.” Isran clapped. “I wondered how long it would take you to realize it. Not even last night when you had your hands and mouth on her body did you realize it.”

  “You watched, you sick son of a bitch?”

  “Aye, I did. Too bad I won’t let you do the same when I claim her tonight.” Aimery yanked with all his might against the unseen chains, but he didn’t budge.

  “Kyndra has a weakness as well,” Isran said.

  “The dragons, I know.”

  “Nay, not the dragons. Imagine my surprise when I learned you were her weakness.” Aimery stilled and looked at Kyndra. A single tear rolled down her cheek. She had turned for him. For him! She could never return to their realm, never know the dragons again.

  Everything she had been was lost. Gone forever.

  It was more than Aimery could take. He threw back his head and bellowed.

  Chapter Twenty‐Three

  Kyndra shivered at the roar that sounded from Aimery. She realized too late that Isran hadn’t wanted her, could have cared less if she had come to his side. He had done everything to put Aimery in this situation. Because he wanted Aimery to turn to the dark side.

  It was so very clear, now that it was too late.

  She had never felt like such a fool. She should have been able to see through Isran to realize what he was about. Aimery had even warned her and, though she knew Isran was using him against her, she had never dreamed he would go to these links.

  “What are you going to do to him?” she asked.

  Isran was smiling madly as he turned to her. “He’s going to be joining us, my sweet. He will do anything to keep you away from me.”

  Kyndra clasped her hands behind her back to hide how they shook. Her soul was already damned, but Aimery’s wasn’t. She had to get to him, to talk to him before Isran converted him.

  She licked her lips as she recalled the confusion then heartache in Aimery’s beautiful eyes as he realized what she had become. He hated her now, she realized that, but that didn’t stop her love for him.

  “Is that a tear?”

  She sniffed and arched a brow. “He’s hurting my ears. Besides, I wonder if he will be the warrior he was after all of this.”

  “He’ll be better than before.”

  She let out the breath she’d been holding when Isran turned his back to her. He had bought the lie, but she would have to be careful. Now that Isran had Aimery he didn’t need her.

  He could kill her with just a thought, and she couldn’t let that happen until she had spoken to Aimery.

  With a lick of her lips she walked to the egg. Aimery’s bellow ripped through her soul, his anger and frustration palpable. When he finally quieted, she glanced at him over her shoulder to find his head hanging between his shoulders as though he had passed out.“He’ll be fine,” Isran assured her.

  “He better be.”

  Isran wrapped his arm around her and brought her against him. “Do you want to touch the egg?”

  She did, but she couldn’t, not knowing that she would be killing it in a few moments.

  “Nay.”

  “Are you ready to begin the ceremony?”

  “What of Aimery?”

  “I can wake him up quick enough.”

  Kyndra walked to Aimery, wondering if Isran would let her get close enough. She was concerned about Aimery. He had held on to his sanity by a thin ribbon that could have unraveled.

  “What if he’s fallen int
o madness?”

  She stopped in front of him. “Aimery?” she whispered.

  He didn’t respond.

  “He’s safe enough,” Isran called. “Nothing can break those chains.”

  “Aimery, please,” she hissed. “Tell me you are still with me.”

  “So you can torment me more?” Aimery asked.

  She let out a sigh. “Thank the gods.”

  “Why?”

  He had lifted his gaze to stare at her. She lost herself in his swirling blue eyes. “He wants you to turn to the dark side. Don’t do it. No matter what he says, please. My soul is damned.

  Don’t condemn yours as well.”

  “Is he awake?” Isran asked.

  “Please,” she mouthed. “Aye, my lord. He’s awake.”

  “And sane?”

  Kyndra fisted her hands to keep from touching Aimery. His face was bruised, though not as she would have expected. It was almost as if he possessed some magic. Then she caught the glint off of sapphire eyes at the back of his head.

  My cuff.

  “Kyndra! Is he sane?” Isran demanded.

  She took a step back. “Hard to say, my lord.”

  Isran was by her side in a moment. “I need him sane.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t have pushed him so.”

  “I had to push him. He’s strong, too strong to give into the madness so easily.” Kyndra turned and started back to the altar. That’s when she spotted the missive Theron had written for them. She had forgotten about it, but why did Isran have it. For all he knew, it was simply a message.

  While Isran was occupied with Aimery, Kyndra grabbed the rolled parchment and hurried around the altar. The dagger waited for her to pierce the egg, to begin Isran’s transformation into the most powerful being in the entire universe. No one, not the Fae or the Draconians, would be able to defeat him.

  Kyndra closed her eyes and listened to the knowledge inside her, searching for an answer she feared wasn’t there.

  * * * * *

  Theron rubbed his tired eyes with his thumb and forefinger. He and Lugus had looked at the map of Thav for hours with no clues as to how to get in undetected. Everything had been shoved off his desk so the map could be spread out. He leaned back in his chair and stared at the parchment. “If there had been a way, that’s how I would have brought Aimery and Kyndra to begin with,” Lugus said.

  “I know. I just can’t help thinking we’re missing something. “

  “Isran will be waiting for us to bring in the army. He knows how much Aimery means to the realm.”

  Theron shook his head. “I want to go in and save Aimery.”

  “But you can’t. If anyone is going, it’s me.”

  “Ahryn would never forgive me.”

  “We either wait for Isran to attack us, or we go after Aimery.”

  “Nay,” Rufina said from the doorway.

  Both turned to face her. Theron rose as his wife walked toward him, one delicate hand on her stomach swollen with their second child. He took her hands and guided her to a chair.

  “You’re supposed to be with our daughter.”

  “And you’re supposed to include me on these schemes of yours.” She turned her gaze to Lugus. “Ahryn would be furious if she knew.”

  Lugus held up his hands. “Easy, Rufina. Nothing has been decided. We’re just talking.”

  “Neither of you can go into Thav,” she said. “I told Theron from the first moment I met Isran I didn’t care for him. He’s too devious.”

  “That he is, my love,” Theron murmured.

  Lugus leaned forward in his chair and propped his elbows on his knees. “I can’t leave Aimery to face whatever kind of hell Isran has planned for him.”

  “I don’t think he wants Aimery for that,” Rufina suggested as Theron helped her into a chair. “I think Isran wants Aimery to stand with him.”

  “By all that’s magical.” Theron swallowed and sank into his seat. “Aimery’s power is great. If Isran can get him to turn to the dark…”

  He couldn’t finish the sentence, because just thinking it made his gut hurt.

  “The army is ready,” Lugus reminded him. “They’re standing guard now, awaiting orders.”

  Rufina placed her hand atop Theron’s. “I want to save Aimery, too, but we can’t. We have to wait.”

  Theron looked from his queen to his brother. “I won’t forgive myself if Aimery loses his life in this.”

  “Aimery is strong. He’ll pull through.” Lugus rose and walked to the window.

  Theron prayed his brother was right.

  * * * * *

  Aimery wanted to stay in the pit of despair that had overtaken him. His madness, his insanity was better than what was happening around him. But Kyndra’s sweet voice had broken into his mind and called to him. He had wanted to ignore her, but there was something in her voice that made him open his eyes. She had turned to black magic, she had chosen to stand beside Isran, but in her beautiful swirling blue gaze he had seen the woman he had fallen in love with.

  He’d been about to answer her when Isran decided to move beside her. Aimery hastily closed his eyes and focused on renewing his strength. The egg hadn’t been broken yet, which meant there was a chance he could get to Isran.

  “Aimery?” Isran called. “I went to too much trouble for you to lose yourself in your mind. “

  Aimery didn’t move.

  Isran stepped closer. “What of Kyndra? Aren’t you going to fight for her? I know you care for her. Perhaps you even…love her.”

  It took everything Aimery had not to open his eyes. He had never wanted to battle someone as fiercely as he did Isran. The lies, the betrayal and now Kyndra.

  “I know you can hear me,” Isran whispered. “Come out and play, Aimery.” Aimery cracked open an eye to see something in Kyndra’s hand. He recognized the scroll in her hand as the missive Theron had given him. Why did she have it?

  Her gaze lifted to his, and he spotted the dagger in her other hand.

  “It’s time,” Isran shouted. “I’m ready to receive my power and rule the universe.” Aimery found it difficult to watch as Kyndra walked around the altar to stand beside the egg. Isran knelt in front of the egg, his head lifted and his arms opened wide.

  “Come, Kyndra,” he called. “Begin the ceremony.”

  Aimery no longer cared if Isran knew he was awake or not. His gaze was riveted on Kyndra. She had set the scroll behind the egg on the altar and raised the dagger over her head.

  Her lips moved as she began to chant in a voice that was more song than speech. The words were difficult to understand, as if she were channeling power from somewhere else.

  He pulled at his invisible chains, urging the magic of the cuff to aid him. Of a sudden, he dropped to the floor, balancing on the balls of his foot and his hands. Isran was too occupied with Kyndra to realize he had gotten free. Aimery had to stop Kyndra. The egg couldn’t be broken, Isran couldn’t bath in the yolk and, above all else, Kyndra couldn’t complete the ceremony.

  Aimery pulled his dagger from its sheath and readied it to throw at Kyndra. The thought of killing her made him ill, but he had no other choice. It wasn’t just the Fae realm in danger, but every realm in the universe. He had an obligation, regardless of his feelings toward Kyndra, to stop them in whatever way necessary.

  The metal from the dagger was cool in his hand. He wanted to aim for her heart, but she was turned to the side. The only spot available to him that would give her a quick death was the neck.

  Her eyes flew open, and she arched her back. Aimery lifted his arm, ready to throw the dagger. He reared back just before she plunged the weapon into the egg. As he moved his arm forward to throw the dagger, he realized her blade had missed the egg and sunk into the seal on the scroll.

  Aimery turned his hand to make sure the dagger missed Kyndra. He jumped to his feet as lightning filled the room, striking him again and again. Only it wasn’t pain he felt, but magic, beautiful, pure magic.
/>   * * * * *

  Kyndra smiled as she saw the magic pour into Aimery. He had freed himself from the chains and, by the dagger sunk into the stones behind her, he had intended to kill her. Yet, it didn’t matter. Aimery stood with his head thrown back and his arms out wide as the magic struck him repeatedly. “You bitch,” Isran shouted and jumped to his feet.

  Kyndra didn’t run. She might not have the power to defeat him, but she would battle him until Aimery was able to take over. She wasn’t expecting his hand to connect with her cheek.

  “That is the first and last time you will betray me,” he snarled.

  “Do your worst.”

  He smirked. “And I know just the thing,” he said as he raised his palms toward her.

  Kyndra screamed as the fire flew from his hands and surrounded her. She glanced at Aimery. The fire ate away at her, sucking her life force until she couldn’t fight the darkness closing in around her.

  “Aimery,” she whispered just before the light went out.

  Chapter Twenty‐Four

  Aimery fell to his knees, his breathing ragged. The tower was quiet, too quiet. He looked up to find Isran enclosing Kyndra in a ball of flame. He rose and started toward her, when Isran’s voice stopped him cold.

  “Move another step toward me and I kill her.”

  Aimery glanced at Kyndra. “What are you doing to her?”

  Isran shrugged and faced him. “I could kill her with just a thought. For now, she’s my prisoner. The fire is made of pure magic. Try to touch it, and it’ll burn you.” Kyndra looked as if she were asleep, but Aimery wanted her out of the fireball before Isran did kill her. Magic rushed through him, demanding he let it loose. But Aimery held fast and waited. Isran was confident, mayhap too confident. Aimery would use it to his advantage when the time came.

  “What? No witty remark?” Isran taunted. “I would have thought you’d be on your knees begging me for her life.”

  “Why, when it’s me you want?”

  Isran chuckled and shook his head. “I always thought you were more intelligent than any Fae I knew, but you’ve proven that I was wrong. You’re thinking with your cock instead of your mind.”