The artwork above is not mine.

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    The island appeared to be deserted. All Seren could see were crumbling ruins. Waves crashed along the shoreline. "Welcome to Cretea," Mor said. She took Seren's hand and led her forward.

    "There's no one here," Seren pointed out. Mor just smiled.

    Seren shuddered, feeling as though she were walking through a thick liquid. She blinked in shock. The ruins had been replaced with a gory battlefield. Mor's expression shifted to one of horror.

    Rhys drew his sword and wings manifested on his back. "Find Miryam," he ordered.

    Mor nodded and pulled Seren onward. Seren stared at the scene, her mind foggy with terror. All around her, Fae, humans, and half fae lay in bloody heaps. She spotted feathered wings on some of the bodies.

    "What happened here?" Seren whispered.

    "Miryam!" Mor shouted. Seren kept her eyes peeled, searching for the cause of the blood soaked bodies.

    A beautiful half Fae woman appeared up ahead. "Mor!" She called.

    Mor increased her speed, going as fast as Seren could manage. Miryam reached them first. "What happened?" Mor panted, looking around.

    "We were attacked." Miryam's gaze flitted to Seren briefly. "By Illyrians."

    "What?" Seren and Mor exclaimed.

    "Drakon, wait!" Rhys hollered overhead. A male with six large feathered wings landed beside Miryam. "Those Illyrians are traitors."

    "What do you mean?" The male, Drakon, asked, his eyes flashing with fury.

    "They're allied with Beron and Koschei. I did not send them to attack you. Why would I do that?"

    "They stole the Cauldron," Miryam said. She dropped to her knees, scrubbing at her face. Drakon rested a hand on her back. "How did they find out where we were?"

    "I don't know."

    "Who is she?" Drakon was watching Seren.

    "Seren Marzena," she replied.

    "Azriel's mate," Miryam realized.

    Rhys spoke before Drakon could. "Is the Dread Trove safe?"

    "I wasn't able to check on it. I was a little preoccupied."

    "We need to make sure it's secure. And..." Rhys hesitated. "Do either of you know anything about an amulet with a red and purple stone set in it?"

    Drakon and Miryam shared a knowing look. "Yes, why?" Drakon asked.

    "I believe it might be the fourth piece of the Dread Trove. The missing piece."

    Seren blinked in surprise. The amulet I painted?

    "I used an amulet to resurrect Miryam after the Queen of the Black Land killed her. It was made by the Cauldron and gave her a Fae's long lifespan," Drakon explained.

    "Do you know where it is?"

    "On the island where we keep the Dread Trove."

    "And you never thought to mention it before?" Rhys snapped.

    "I never would have imagined it was part of the Dread Trove," Drakon retorted.

    Miryam stepped in between the two of them. "Don't fight over this. Go to the island and check on the Trove. Strengthen the wards before you leave and make sure you aren't followed. Let Rhysand see the amulet."

    Drakon and Rhys gave each other tense stares, then nodded. They spread their wings and flew away from the bloodspattered settlement. "How could this happen?" Mor groaned. "I'm so sorry, Miryam."

    Miryam sighed and rested a hand on Mor's shoulder. "I'm sorry too. We failed to protect the Cauldron. I can only hope we manage to keep the Dread Trove safe. Come. We need to get the injured to safety before another attack comes."

    Seren stuck close to the two females as they picked their way through the mutilated bodies. Miryam helped a wounded half Fae female to her feet. They hobbled towards a building that was mostly intact.

    "Who are the winged Fae?" Seren asked when Miryam was out of hearing.

    "Seraphim," Mor replied. "How could this have happened? No one beyond our Inner Circle even knows that Cretea exists."

    A shadow tightened around Seren's arm and pulled her to the left. She followed it and Mor trailed behind her. A low groan caught their attention. A Seraphim was trapped beneath a pile of rubble. He groaned again.

    Mor waved her hands and the debris rolled off him. Seren stooped to inspect his wounds. One of his legs was crushed entirely. There was a bloody gash across his stomach. Seren gagged. She could see his guts.

    Mor moved her aside gently and bent over the male. He groaned and his eyelids fluttered shut. Seren bit her lip. Mor touched the male's shoulder, but he didn't respond. She held two fingers to his neck, then stood with a sigh.

    "Come on." Mor led Seren away from the Seraphim.

    Seren, where's Rhys? Azriel's voice echoed across the Bond, full of panic.

    Checking on the Dread Trove. Cretea was attacked by Illyrians. Miryam said they stole the Cauldron, Seren replied.

    You have to get out of there now. All of you. Koschei knows where you are and he's coming.

    What? How could he know?

    His spell. It didn't just hide your memories. When Rhys and Feyre touched it, it stole memories from them. Koschei knows everything. He knows where the Trove is. He must have sent the Illyrians to attack right after the spell was broken.

    Have you found Jurian and Vassa?

    No, only Osiris. Seren, get out of there, please.

    She gave no response. "Mor, this isn't over. Koschei is coming."

    "What?" Mor whirled and grabbed her hands. "What are you talking about?"

    "Azriel just warned me. Koschei knows where we are. He knows where the Dread Trove is."

    Mor's eyes widened with sheer terror. "Miryam!" She screamed. They winnowed towards the building Miryam had been taking the injured to.

    "What? What is it?" Miryam rushed towards them.

    "Koschei is coming. Summon anyone who can still fight."

    "We have to warn Rhys and Drakon," Seren said.

    "Stay here and tell Rhys through your Daemati powers," Mor ordered. She pushed Seren into the building. Seren didn't have a chance to protest. Mor and Miryam were already running through the streets.

    Seren formed a flaming hand in her mind and searched for Rhys swiftly. Rhys, she called. Can you hear me? Koschei is coming. You have to come back. There was no response. Rhys!

    A terrible wailing howl filled the air. Seren ran to a window. Her legs threatened to give out beneath her as she beheld what had arrived. They were the creatures from the nightmare she'd forgotten. They were even more horrible in person.

    They stood even taller than Tamlin in his beast form. Their bodies were made of thick smoke. Obsidian talons grew from their long bony fingers. Their teeth were sharp and glittering black. Their eyes were nothing more than glowing holes in their heads. Each creature had at least eight eyes.

    Seren's heart raced as Miryam and Mor led the last available warriors out to meet those horrible creatures. The wailing grew louder. "What are those things?" An injured female whimpered, standing beside another window.

    "Vanth," someone replied. "They are death."

    Seren covered her mouth with a hand as the Vanth descended. Their talons raked through bodies, cleaving some in half with one blow. Mor and Miryam fought back to back, defending each other desperately.

    Seren reached for Rhys once more. Rhys! She screamed.

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    "Tell me what you know!" Azriel demanded.

    "Or what? Nothing you say can scare me, Little Brother," Osiris scoffed. "I don't fear death. I don't fear torture." His gold eyes glinted with cruel delight. "You are afraid, though. I know you are."

    "There's no sign of Jurian or Vassa," Cassian said, reentering the room. Lucien was right behind him.

    "Where are they?" Azriel asked again, already knowing what the answer would be. Osiris shrugged in reply. "Lucien, winnow home and warn Amren that Koschei is going after the Dread Trove. Mor, Rhys, and Seren will need help."

    Lucien hesitated, but a glare from Azriel sent him back out the door. "How does Koschei know where the Dread Trove is?" Cassian asked.

    "Your High Lord and Lady told him," Osiris laughed. "I can't wait for you to see what he has in store for Prythian. It's delightful." His laugh broke off as more blood dripped down his neck. "Don't worry about holding funerals, though. There won't be much of a body left to bury."

    With a frustrated growl, Azriel pulled himself off of Osiris. He sheathed Truth-Teller and began pacing. Have you found them yet? He asked the shadows.

    Not yet.

    "I wouldn't worry too much about your mate," Osiris called. "Beron has promised to let Erebus, Seker, and I have some fun with her before she dies. Koschei won't harm her. Well, he won't harm her very much, anyway."

    Azriel whirled, but Osiris was already out of reach. "He's stalling," Cassian snarled. "Let's kill him and find Jurian and Vassa." They started towards the Illyrian, but the ground began to quake beneath their feet. Azriel braced a hand on the back of a chair. Cassian grabbed onto him.

    "Apparently it's time for me to leave," Osiris crooned. "See you soon." His siphons flashed. Azriel roared with anger as a large birdcage appeared. Vassa sat inside, trapped in her firebird form. Osiris grabbed the cage and soared through a window. Glass shattered on the floor.

    Below! The shadows sang. The human lies below!

    "Jurian is somewhere beneath us," Azriel said.

    "In the manor?" Cassian threw his arms over his head as chandeliers fell from the ceiling, splintering the furniture they landed on.

    Water, the shadows said.

    "The shadows are saying water."

    "Is he in the lake?"

    "He couldn't be alive if he is." Azriel gritted his teeth. "Hold your breath." He gulped down a large breath of air and grabbed Cassian. Shadows surrounded them.

    When the shadows faded, they were deep underwater. Azriel could feel the liquid trembling around him as the manor collapsed above. Light flared from their siphons, reflecting off their surroundings. Azriel spotted something further down.

    He swam deeper, using his wings to swim quickly. Cassian was right behind him. There appeared to be a glass box of some sort resting on the bottom of the lake. It was weighed down by several stones. Within the box was Jurian. The box was almost full of water. Jurian tipped his head back, breathing in the last of the air that was trapped at the top of the box. More water was sucked in through the bottom of the box.

    Azriel's lungs were beginning to burn. Jurian spotted them. He banged his fists on the glass, but didn't shout. He drew in one last breath of air before the box filled completely. Azriel swam harder. It felt as though the water were working against them, driving them back up.

    Bubbles leaked from Jurian's nostrils. His face was taking on a purple hue. His eyes closed just as they reached the box. Cassian's siphons glowed brighter. He swam ahead of Azriel and pressed a hand against the glass. Cracks splintered through it and the box broke.

    Cassian grabbed Jurian. Azriel's lungs were screaming for air now. He touched Cassian and shadows covered them once more. They landed on the shoreline beyond the lake. Azriel gasped for air and dropped onto the cold sand. Jurian was already shivering, his eyes still closed.

    "We've...got to get him...home," Cassian stammered between chattering teeth. A few snowflakes fell from the clouds.

    "And get to Cretea," Azriel agreed.

    His eyes threatened to close, heavy with exhaustion. His limbs were leaden as he crawled over to Jurian and Cassian. He managed to transport them once more. Just before they vanished, the manor crumbled into nothingness. The surface of the lake rippled as the small island the manor had sat on sank. The water smoothed once more, and it was as if the manor had never existed.