Glamour was easy after I had used it to decorate my room, and I willed a sword into existence, fashioned after the sword Rafe had given me. It flashed in my hand, and I pushed my silver fire into it as I had done when I fought with Tristan against the Drakaar and their demons.
My sword lit up, silver fire coursing through my veins and creating a blade of pure power. I grinned at the werewraith, my insecurities disappearing with the appearance of my magic.
My senses honed in on the creature as it pounced. But this time I was ready. I leapt out of the way at the moment it expected to clamp its teeth down on my flesh. I ducked and rolled, jumping up in a flash. I didn’t think, and this time I didn’t hesitate. Whirling around, faster than I ever thought I could, I brought my flaming sword down on its neck. The power of my magic sliced through flesh and bone, severing the dark creature’s head from its body.
“That was very good,” said the voice as the flame in my sword flickered. “But you’d better get out of there. Werewraiths usually hunt in packs.”
“How?” I whirled around. There was no way out of the cave except the way I had come. A low growl sounded in the distance as more werewraiths entered the tunnel leading to the cave where I was.
“Create a portal,” said the voice.
I didn’t want to waste any more time. I could hear the creatures—in a few seconds they would be in the cave. My heartbeat sped up again. There was no way I could fight more of them on my own.
I had to go.
I threw my magic out in front of me, picturing my room in the castle. My power swirled and grew, forming a portal as the first werewraith entered the cave.
It growled, spotting me.
I ran, pushing myself faster with all the energy I could muster, and flung myself through the portal.
I landed on my knees. Spinning around immediately, I raised my hand. I saw a flash of red eyes and heard a muffled growl as the portal closed. The eyes disappeared and the darkness of the cave dissipated.
I fell onto my back, my chest heaving from the exertion. I was safe.
I ran down the stairs to see the dowager. I had to tell someone what was down there in the library. It was late, but I knocked on the door anyway, hoping she was still awake.
I was relieved to hear her voice. “Come in.”
The dowager was seated near the fireplace, reading and sipping on a cup of her favorite rose tea. She raised her eyebrows when she saw me. “What happened to you?” She set her book down on the side table. “You look like you’ve been sweeping chimneys.”
I told her what had happened with the werewraith, but I didn’t tell her about the voice or the door I had found.
“The mountains surrounding this valley are ancient, and the library was built thousands of years ago.” The dowager got up from her chair. “No one knows how far down it goes, and in some places the catacombs run deeper into the mountain where the older texts are kept. There are places down there that have remained untouched for centuries, and there are areas in the walls where the wards could have become weak. It is possible some creatures can slip through from time to time.” She went to the door and spoke to someone outside.
When she came back, she sat down beside me and held my hands. “Don’t worry, I have sent for Erik. The Elite will investigate the catacombs. If there actually is a pack of werewraiths in the tunnels, they will take care of them. For now, try to get some sleep. Don’t go into the library until we have cleared it of any threats.”
I nodded. I wasn’t going to go back there any time soon. Thinking about those red eyes and the flash of teeth sent shivers down my spine.
I got up to leave.
“Although I would like to know what you were doing so far down in the catacombs,” said the dowager.
I froze.
“But we can talk about that tomorrow.”
I thanked her and hurried to my room. She had called a pair of palace guards to escort and guard me until Tristan returned. Not that they were of any help. I could probably knock out both of them with my magic if I wanted to. They were not going to deter a werewraith, that was for sure.
That night I barely got any sleep. I tossed and turned in my bed, picturing red eyes glinting through the darkness. I ran down unfamiliar corridors into a dark cavern within the mountain. I came to an ancient stone door. On it was the symbol of the Star of the Morning, a symbol of the house of Eos-Eirendil. I knew there was something behind it, something I needed. I pushed at the door with all my might, but it wouldn’t budge. Behind me I heard low growls—the werewraiths. I pushed at the door again, looking over my shoulder at the snarling teeth that moved through the shadows. I had to get through that door. I pushed and pushed, the creature growled and leapt . . .
I woke up, sweat coating my brow. I had never been so scared in my life. At least with the Drakaar and Morgana I knew what I was facing. But this monstrous creature that hunted me through the library was more terrifying because I had no idea where it came from. It shouldn’t be here, under the castle. What else was down there under the mountain? There were so many questions whirling around in my head, I couldn’t get back to sleep.
The dowager said the Dawnstar didn’t exist. But I realized there was so much she wasn’t telling me. Maybe I was on
