The storm had finally arrived. Born inland by gale-force winds, the dark,churning clouds unleashed their fury in a deluge of heavy rain that turned streets into rivers. Every window was shuttered and every curtain drawn as the citizens of Elysia hunkered down to wait out the tempest.

In her room towering over the city, Nadia sat with forehead pressed against the cool glass tracing the rivulets that ran down the pane.Her eyes stared unseeing at the darkness beyond, her mind churning with thoughts equally as bleak.

"Are you finished with your dinner, m'lady?" Trista asked from across the room.

"Yes, thank you," she answered without turning.

"Your appetite seems to have picked up lately. I'm pleased to see you eating better."

"It's what Eva would want," Nadia replied softly. "When she comes back,I want her to see how well I've done. I want her to be proud of me." Her voice cracked at the last and she had to bite her lip to keep her composure.

Trista's features softened as she stepped around the table to lay a hand on the princess's head, but before she could form a response, a horn bellowed outside, loud and deep. The vibrations of its eerie call rattled within Nadia's chest and settled there, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to prickle and stand at attention.

"What was—?"

A low rumbling that shook the windows in their frames stifled her question. Soon, the rumbling could not only be heard but also felt as the very walls and floor began to tremble around her. Then, the doors to her bedroom flew open with a crash as her personal guard surged into the room to surround her.

"Princess, we need to move. Now!" Allister ordered while striding to the windows and peering down at the city below.

"What's going on?" Nadia cried with eyes wide. "Allister?"

A second horn blast peeled through the air before cutting short with what sounded like an explosion. A moment later, the walls shook yet again.

"The city is under attack," he replied in a clipped voice. "We need to get you to a safe area." Before any more questions could be raised, Allister swooped her up in his arms and carried her to the door. They stepped out into a corridor flooded with panic. "Bryce, take the lead. Make us a path."

"Understood." Stepping to the forefront, the mountain of a man squared his shoulders and barreled into the swarm of people. The premise was simple: move or be moved.

Nadia clung to Allister's tabard with a white-knuckled grip while her eyes, large as whole silver pieces, took in the scene around her.Despite her earlier determination to be brave, a whimper rose to her lips.

Tightening his hold on her slim body, Allister urged the group to quicken the pace. "I'm sorry, little one," he said for her ears only. "For one so young, you have already endured too much..." He shook his head, and it seemed to Nadia that moisture temporarily fogged his aged eyes. "You will be kept safe. They will not even come close to harming you. Of that, I swear on my life."

With his tabard still clutched in her fists, Nadia pressed her face to the silk cloth and tried to find comfort in his words, but amidst the screaming and shouting that surrounded them, safety seemed to her a long forgotten dream of a naïve little girl.

~~*~~

Sucking in a gasp, Eva's eyes flew open with a start. Rainbows of light danced in her vision before gradually fading to a subdued radiance.Bewildered and out of sorts, she cast her gaze about and discovered a circle of faces hovering over her, some with expressions pulled tight in fear while others hung slack in awe. A familiar smirk drew her attention from all the rest, though, and she smiled in response.

"Emmerich."

"Welcome back, Eva. Once again, I thought you had left us for good." He shook his head as his grin widened. "You really should find a new hobby."

"I'll take your suggestion into consideration," she replied with a feeble chuckle. A moment of silence passed as they both regarded each other searchingly. "You look different," she finally admitted. And he did. It seemed to her that a glow encompassed his entire frame. It pulsated in time with his heartbeat, which she suddenly realized she could sense as clearly as her own, and in his eyes she could see a spark of power that she had never noticed before.

"We could say the same about you," someone replied from her left.

Swinging her gaze toward the source, she recognized Jael, standing a head taller than all the rest with eyes bulging from their sockets. The sight of him caused Eva's forehead to wrinkle in confusion and a frown to tug at her mouth. He too possessed a strange glow, but it seemed different than Emmerich's. It was darker and less... fluid,for lack of a better word.

With growing concern, Eva's eyes skipped between those present only to find that everyone was oddly luminescent, but as her gaze met with each of theirs, she noticed that only some of them held that spark of power she had first seen in Emmerich's eyes.

Is this real? she wondered to herself. Am I dreaming or..., she hated to think it, dead?

"No, you're not dead," a voice answered her, sounding tired and distant. "This is very much real."

Eva licked her lips and tried to squelch the fear rising within her. "What's going on?" Hearing voices was not a good sign. "Why are you all looking at me so?"

"See for yourself." Jael lifted a sword and held it aloft in front of her face to use as a mirror.

Tilting her head this way and that, Eva peered at her reflection a moment.Most of her features remained the same, but some had taken on fae-like qualities. Her eyes were less oval and more almond shaped now and the pupils within were much larger than before. Hesitantly,she brought a hand to her ear and traced its edge to the pronounced tip at its peak. A flutter of movement then drew her attention and she caught her breath in stunned silence. Framing either side of her face was a set of thin, nearly transparent wings. They shimmered with a fine white powder akin to that of a butterfly's.

"Wh-what's happened?" Her eyes flew to Emmerich, seeking an explanation.

Emmerich ducked his head momentarily before braving her questioning gaze once more.

"Um,what is the last thing you remember, Evie?"

She shifted her eyes to stare blankly at a spot somewhere over his right shoulder and swallowed as she thought. "I was battling Netta and...There was pain, so much pain. I was stabbed, I think. Did Netta...?"

"No,"he supplied to her unfinished question. "She did not wield the blade that pierced you. She ran off when she saw you fall."

"Oh."Her mind clambered for the next piece of the puzzle. "I saw Cade. He—Caden! Is he here? Where is he?" She struggled to push her selfup off the floor, but the severe loss of blood she had suffered caused her head swim at the sudden movement and her arms buckled beneath her. Then, several hands were on her, pressing her back down to the cold earth.

"He'snot here, Evie."

"ButI did see him, didn't I?"

A muscle twitched in his jaw, but Emmerich didn't answer.

"He was here, dear," Amelyn reassured from above her, "but he could not bear to watch the life fade from you. He left with dark thoughts plaguing him. I doubt any of us could have restrained him from leaving."

Eva sagged in disappointment. "Then what happened?"

"We're not exactly sure," Emmerich spoke up again. "Adiel had said there was nothing she could do to heal you, but then there was a flash of light and..." He shrugged.

"She merged with you," Amelyn finished for him.

As one, all eyes snapped to the old woman. Eva's mouth worked open and closed as a million arguments jumped to the forefront of her mind as to why such a thing would be impossible, but then she remembered the voice.

Adiel? she ventured.

"I am here, child."

"Dear Creator," Eva breathed in a whisper. "She's right."

Amelyn smiled.

"I wasn't sure it would work," the faerie admitted, "but I could sense your magic was whole, not just in part like most of the Atarans. So, I took a chance. It was the only way to save you."

Eva pressed her lids closed as tears slipped down her cheeks. Thank you.

"It is my honor."

Sucking in a steadying breath, Eva opened her eyes with a new resolve. "We need to get moving. Elysia is in peril, and we've wasted too much time as it is." She began pushing herself up to her elbows again.

"Don't be foolish, Evie. You're still weak and in no condition to rush off to battle," Emmerich argued even as he grasped her shoulder and helped her sit up.

"We only need to reach the surface," Adiel supplied. "Then our strength can be restored."

"Adiel says we just need to get above ground. Then, we'll be fine," she relayed while clinging to him feebly.

"You can hear her?"

"Yes, she is with me. Now, please, help me stand."

A long sigh escaped his lips. "You're too stubborn for your own good, you know?" Then signaling the others to make space, Emmerich moved closer to Eva's side and wrapped one arm around her shoulders and looped the other beneath her knees.

"What are you—"

In one fluid motion, he scooped her up against his chest and stood."You're too frail to even sit up by yourself. Do you actually think I'm going to let you try to walk out of here?"

"I never realized you were such a gentleman, Emmerich," she teased with a small grin.

His undignified snort resounded throughout the cavern. "Hardly."

A slight pressure on her arm beckoned Eva's attention, and she turned her head to meet the wide-eyed gaze of a young woman. The brand on her arm marked her as one of the Base. "Surely you don't really mean to chase after Severin, do you? That's absurd! He'd kill you as soon as he laid eyes on you, assuming you even made it that far. You should stay here with us, where it's safe."

"And how long do you think you will be safe here if Severin and his men are not defeated at Elysia?" Eva replied gently. "For certain, you have achieved a victory here, but if Severin is not stopped, he will return and you will once again be brought under his heel." Shivers raced down Eva's spine and goose flesh raised on her arms as her voice dropped to a tight whisper. "Nowhere is safe until he and his venomous words have been removed from the world."

In a token of comfort, Emmerich tightened his grip around Eva's smaller frame before turning to face the others crowded around them in the yawning cavern. "She is right. Severin and is still as much of a threat now as he has always been. If we flee, he will hunt us. If we hide, he will find us. Our only option is to make sure his reign of terror is brought to an end." He paused to scan the sea of faces and meet their gazes. Uncertainty and fear reflected back from a few before they broke eye contact and looked away, but most held his stare, firm and unwavering. "And the only way to ensure that is to be the ones holding the blade that runs him through."

A roar of cheers filled the room, shaking dust loose from the earthen ceiling. Some pumped fists in the air while others raised their weapons high. The decision had been made. Their war was not yet over.

~~*~~

Through the curtain of pouring rain, orange light danced on the horizon. Caden blinked against the stinging deluge and drove his heels into Onyx's sides to spur him on faster. Steam billowed from the stallion's snout and froth bubbled along his lips, but at his master's urging, the ebony steed quickened his pace still more. Above the angry wind, a roar could soon be heard—faint at first but growing stronger with every second Caden drew nearer. He nearly mistook it for the rolling echo of thunder, but when it didn't fade after several minutes, he recognized the sound for what it was—the cries of battle.

The sharp ring of steel pierced the air as his sword slithered from its scabbard. Gripping the soaked leather, Caden held the weapon aloft at his side, tip aimed toward the looming shadows ahead. This was no ornamental blade meant for show. Forged from the finest materials and crafted to the perfect balance, its long, tapering form had been treated with the utmost care and sharpened to a razor-fine edge.Experience had tested its strength and its wielder's skill, and both would be tested again.

"Soon," Caden growled into the night. "Soon."

~~*~~

Water sloshed against their boots as Emmerich and the rest of the company neared the tunnel's exit, the result of the downpour raging just outside. Lightning streaked through the sky, searing their vision with a flash of white and briefly illuminating the path before them.The air then vibrated with a thunderous boom that could be felt even in their bones.

"Now what?" Emmerich asked as he braced himself against the wall. His chest heaved with heavy breaths and arms trembled slightly after bearing Eva's slender form up from the heart of the mountain.

"Miss Eva," a soft voice called from the shadows behind them before one of the Ataran captives stepped forward into sight.

"Yes?"

"Since some of us aren't exactly fit to do battle," she gestured at herself and her swollen abdomen as an example, "I would like to suggest that a few of us ride out to the nearest Boundary Patrol camp and alert them of the situation. You'll need all the help you can get, and I was... am," she corrected, "a member of the Patrol so they will listen to me."

A moment passed before Eva realized the other woman was asking permission. "Oh, umm, that seems wise," she floundered. "Take whomever you need."

"Yes, ma'am." The woman gave a salute with a fist to her heart and then turned to gather a team.

"And what about you?" Emmerich stared down at the woman in his arms. "I thought you said you'd regain your strength once we reached the surface?"

Eva's eyes searched the darkness ahead as Adiel laid out further instructions in response to his question. "We have to get in the moonlight," Eva relayed, sounding out of breath.

"Sounds simple enough," Emmerich began with a shrug, but then his voice crept higher as an impish grin spread across his features and sarcasm drenched his words, "except for the fact that there is no moon tonight due to the raging cloudburst pelting the countryside."

A throaty chuckle drew his attention as a broad-chested Darin drew up beside him and clasped him on the shoulder. "I think you still have a lesson or two to learn about wielding, my young friend. No puny storm is a match for a true master of the gift." Striding to the entrance, Darin rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck in an exaggerated show of preparation. "So watch, and learn."

Emmerich rolled his eyes. After a few moments, though, his eyes were drawn back to the entrance when a bright flash lit up the cave. There, he found Darin had merged with a bird of some sort and was now stretching his new wings proudly. "Oh yes, a true master you are,"he mocked. "Even I can merge with animals."

"Be patient," Darin chided. "The real show hasn't yet begun." In four quick steps, he returned to where Emmerich stood and swooped Eva from his arms. "I hope you don't mind getting a little wet,m'lady."

Eva's head swam from the jostling exchange and she had to grip a fistful of his shirt to hold herself steady, but she still managed to force some steel to her words. "I'm no more a lady than you are, sir."

Darin's guffaws filled the narrow space and echoed all around them. "I'll take that as a compliment." He started to turn away, but Emmerich caught him by the arm and held him in place.

"Be careful with her, okay? Don't take any unnecessary risks."

Meeting the other man's eyes, Darin dropped all pretense of jest. "You have my word."

With a satisfied nod, Emmerich let his hand drop back to his side and stepped away.

The matter settled, Darin squared his shoulders and made his way to the cave opening. "Are you ready, Eva?"

She pressed her pale lips into a thin line and gave a curt nod. "Yes. Hurry."

Bending his knees and tensing in anticipation, he wrapped his sinewy arms a little tighter around her slight frame. "Hold on!" Then with no further warning, all the energy bound up in his taut muscles released at once. The two figures launched into the open sky and into the storm.