When she reached his side, he held out his hand, uncurling his fingers to reveal a black Fey’cha.

“When we recovered the Tairen Soul’s steel from the Eld, Rythiel found this.” In a swift, practiced motion, Farel flipped the blade to show her the Fey markings emblazoned in the pommel.

Sheyl recognized the name symbol instantly. “That’s Gaelen’s mark.”

“I found it with several others, all bloodsworn. They are hers. The Tairen Soul allowed a dahl’reisen—and not just any dahl’reisen but Gaelen vel Serranis—to bloodswear to his truemate. How can that be, Sheyl?”

“Have you asked Gaelen?”

“He will not answer. I told him they were safe, that I had brought them here as he commanded. All he would say was that we must protect her from the Eld even if it costs the life of every man, woman, and child in this village.”

Because of that, she almost didn’t tell him about the Mage Marks on Ellysetta’s chest. Though she had loved him all her life and told him more than she ever revealed to another living being, there were still many things she kept from him. Some things no person should have to know. But another woman had seen the Marks first, and Sheyl knew it would not remain secret for long.

“She bears Mage Marks.”

Farel was rarely caught off guard, but this time his mouth almost fell open. “What?” “Four of them.”

His brows snapped together. “Then why would Gaelen command us to bring her here? Her mere presence endangers us all.”

“I don’t know.”

Did the Tairen Soul know about his mate’s Marks? Was that why he allowed a dahl’reisen to bloodswear himself to the Feyreisa? Did he perhaps think Gaelen, who was at least a fourth-level talent in Azrahn, could use his forbidden skills to help protect the Feyreisa from Eld Mages? Sheyl’s mind whirled with questions and possibilities, but she cut them off quickly. If she allowed her mind to ask the questions, her second talent might provide the answer, and she could not do what she must in the coming days if the outcome would be in vain.

Her second talent was premonition. Unfortunately, she always saw true, and it was rarely something pleasant. The gods had not given her the vision of possibilities, only of unalterable destiny.

“At least she can’t have seen much,” Sheyl said to ease the guilt and recrimination she knew Farel was feeling for having brought such a danger into their village. “You told me she was unconscious most of the way.”

“She was.”

“Then I’m right. She can’t have seen much—which means the Mages can’t have either. I’ve put them in the top room, shuttered the windows, and posted guards. They will both sleep until dawn.”

He began to pace, a sure sign of overwhelming agitation and distress. “They can’t stay here.”

“Nei,” she agreed. “You must take them away tomorrow, at first light.”

“We should kill them both now, while they sleep.”

She shook her head. “Don’t talk foolishness. Any dahl’reisen who killed her would become Mharog.”

He whirled on her. A muscle ticked in his clenched jaw. “Then we get one of the mortals to do it—one of the old men—and we feed him to the lyrant when it’s done so the Dark deed dies with him.”

“Nei.” Sheyl’s voice was calm and even but as unyielding as stone. “You will not harm her. You will take her away in the morning. And you will grant her and the Tairen Soul safe passage out of the Verlaine.”

“Sheyl—“

“Nei. Dahl’reisen you may be, but your soul remembers what it is to be Fey—even when it is inconvenient. She is a shei’dalin, and you are pledged to protect her from harm. And he is the last Tairen Soul. If you kill him, the Eld win, and you know it. Now, it is late, and I am tired. Come, take me to bed.”

“Sheyl, every moment she spends in this village puts all our lives in danger. You think I can just forget that and go to bed?”

“Aiyah, you can. We are safe enough for now. They will leave tomorrow. You and the dahl’reisen will go with them. I want tonight.” She took his hand and tugged him towards their cabin.

“The Tairen Soul is healed. He would never allow dahl’reisen to escort his shei —” He broke off, eyes narrowing slightly. “You’ve seen this? That they would leave, and I would accompany them?”

“Aiyah,” she lied. He’d not been in her vision, and that meant there was a chance to save him. “Now come, Farel vel Torras. Your hearth witch needs your attention.”

He allowed her to pull him towards their cabin. And when the doors closed behind them, her hands helped him to shed his weapons and leathers.

Eld ~ Boura Fell

Steel clattered outside the High Mage’s library door, the sound reverberating in the stone chasm of his chambers. Vadim glanced up.

“Come in,” he commanded. “And refrain from terrifying my soldiers.”

Six tall, dark figures entered on booted feet that made no sound as they walked, and with them they brought an icy chill that prickled even the High Mage’s flesh. Behind them, the Eld soldiers who had accompanied them were trembling so hard their armor rattled.

With a wave of his hand, Vadim dismissed the soldiers and turned his attention to the six creatures standing before him. They had been Fey once, then dahl’reisen. He had captured them centuries ago, and unlike so many of their brethren who had died in his untender care, they had crossed that final bridge, leaving the Shadowed Path and descending into total Darkness.