Page 70 of The Fallen Fae King

He doesn’t understand that the Void Devils are beings that existed before our realms were even born.

Fae may be gods who birthed our shadows. But the Void Devils are from a time before gods.

They are from the dark, swirling chaos that began us all…and will end us.

But not tonight.

I rest my hand on the bed, before I struggle to push myself up onto my feet.

My knees buckle.

I grit my teeth, however, forcing myself to remain standing.

I am calmer now that the storm has arrived. My heartbeat is steady.

They’re almost here.

I glance at the moon, which is smeared with blood.

It’s time.

“What are you doing?” Freya demands, startled. The high winds, which are screaming across the plateau from the Void, are whipping her hair across her face. “You’re swaying. Sit down before you fall down.”

She reaches for me, but I pull back.

“Stay here. Do not try to run, or the shadows may reach for you and then snatch you up into the Void,” I command.

“Then where are you going?” Daire demands. “We battle together, aye? It is us against the whole damn world.”

He reaches for his daggers, drawing them.

Freya scrambles around on the bed for her blade, holding it up as well.

I can’t hold back my smile at my fierce nestmates.

If the Void Devils could be held back by weapons, then I would choose to fight them shoulder by shoulder with my King and Queen.

But they can’t.

I knew that this moment would be hard. Yet surrendering…sacrificing myself…dying…isn’t the difficult part.

Leaving behind my fated mates is.

I clench my fists.

Shadows are already reaching out like living hurricanes. I judge the distance, flicking out with my own shadows to reach them.

I am not quite close enough to throw myself into their hungry embrace, and my magic is too weakened for me to shift and fly up.

I snarl in frustration.

“What are you doing?” Daire growls. “I can sense it in your magic and blood. Why are you reaching out to them?”

“I can see your shadows sneaking out of you.” Freya’s eyes are accusing. “Moon save me, you’re not…? They called you the Void Vampire during the ceremony and in White Lotus Village. I didn’t understand, but they treated you like a god.” Tears tremble on her eyelashes. “I don’t see you as a monster. I know that you’ve done terrible things, but I never once felt unsafe with you. Am I a raven starving idiot? Because if you’re the Void Vampire, then are you from the world of these Void Devils? Did you plan to use us from the start to open this rift and rejoin your true family?”

Her words — every single one of them — hit me like arrows through the chest.

How can she believe that of me?