With a single beat of my wings, I launch myself into the night sky. I stretch my wings as they catch the air and buoy me higher. I don’t know how I kept the ability to wear this form after Verity broke the curse, but it seems only fitting that now I can use it against Maaz.
I soar through the night sky towards the ruins of the border tower. The castle falls away from my sight. I fly over a few scattered villages. Bonfires roar in the town squares as the Fae dance around the flames. When I was young, Thal and I would sneak out on Summer’s Eve and visit the nearest villages to celebrate with the common folk. Now, it hardly seems familiar.
Soon enough, the forest stretches out beneath me, thick and dense. There are no villages this deep into the forest and few roads cut through it. It’s the perfect place for the Bloodbane to launch an attack against me without catching my attention. I swoop lower as I approach the location of the border tower.
Instead of a tall, stone tower that stands above the trees, the space is empty. I circle the ruins, taking in the huge stone boulders that now rest on the ground. The tower has been scattered, the trees around it crushed by the giant stones that fell from it. The Bloodbane used some sort of powerful magic or catapults to fell the tower. I drop onto the stones and sniff. I smell no animals, no Fae, and no Bloodbane. All I smell is the strong scent of foul magic.
With a growl, I pick through the rubble, looking for any signs that the Bloodbane or my soldiers may have left behind. But the rubble is only filled with stone, dirt, broken furniture, and scattered weapons.
The soldiers stationed here were caught by surprise and slaughtered. What the Bloodbane have done with their bodies, I can’t imagine. But the Bloodbane don’t take Fae prisoners, they detest us too much for that. I take a final look around the devastated tower before flying back to the castle.
When I touch down onto the tallest tower, the sun is already peeking over the horizon. Birds herald the dawn with their singing. Below me, the festivities are coming to an end, but it will be another hour or so before my guests stagger out of the castle and back to their homes.
With a sigh, I lay down on the cold stones of the tower, staring to the east to watch the sun rise. A gentle wind rustles my feathers. Deja-vu settles in me with a feeling of melancholy. I miss the days during the curse that I had nothing to rule over and no duties to fulfill besides trying to make Verity fall in love with me. Now, even my nights are spent working, while Verity suffers alone.
I roll onto my back, careful not to crush my wings. I wonder if I will ever be satisfied. I have thousands of years to live and I want to be content. I want the woman beside me to be happy. I want Alnembra to be safe and prosperous. But that can never be as long as the Bloodbane continue to target Alnembra for their mysterious purpose. The balancing act is taking its toll.
I picture Verity in her room, sleeping soundly. She has no idea what I do to keep this country safe, no idea of the fears that plague me. I growl softly to myself, anger flaring within me. She complains of my absence, but if she had any idea what we truly faced, perhaps she would think differently. My gaze softens and I feel a wave of guilt at my anger towards her. I don’t want Verity to know of the horrors that the Bloodbane will inflict upon us if we can’t stop them.
I crawl to my feet and slip over the edge of the tower. I stretch my wings, catching air to buoy me up. Lazily, I soar towards Verity’s room. The windows and balcony are dark, the only light inside the fading fire. I perch on the balcony railing and peer inside. Verity is curled on her bed, still dressed in the tulle gown. I smile internally, taking in her peaceful face.
Suddenly, my stomach drops as I see a shadow looming over her. The stone railing cracks and crumbles as my claws tighten around it. I lean forward, a snarl rumbling in my chest. The shadow stretches out, like a hand, and caresses her cheek. The sun peeks over the mountains, shining into Verity’s room. As the room brightens, the shadow disappears as quickly as it came. My eyes narrow as I try to pierce the details and corners of her room, searching for any sign of it. But there’s nothing. But I know what I saw.
Chapter 10
Verity
The scent of old paper perfumes the air and I breathe it in deeply. I love that smell. It reminds me of when I was a girl and I devoured every book I could get my hands on. I became a librarian because of my childhood spent reading and living in my fantasy worlds. Now, I have the library of my dreams at my disposal, but I don’t feel any satisfaction.
Sighing, I pick through the shelves, searching for anything that might relate to the Bloodbane witches. I need to learn more about myself and my history. Ever since I broke the curse, I’ve had this feeling – this nagging sensation that there is more to me than I want to admit. I want to find out what.
The wizened librarian rounds the corner. Her Fae ears are pointed, and her stride is strong, but wrinkles line her eyes and mouth. She’s older than Reina Yointus even. She lifts her eyes from the cart of books she
