Time. One thing a fae believed they would never run out of, living as a near-immortal. In all her life, Alina had never felt more frightened than she did in that moment. She hurried, tightening her arms around Ellowyn, hidden in the folds of a small, blue cloak. 

Frantic villagers ran through the streets around them, fleeing the destruction; Alina could almost taste their terror, in the corner of an alley, red bricks pressed against their backs as they searched desperately for a safe passage. Alina peered down to see Ellowyn’s fearful green eyes staring back. Tears cascaded down her daughter’s cheeks as she tried to remain quiet, her young mind not understanding why the village smelled of smoke and blood. 

Alina’s husband, Evander, stood at her left. With one hand gripping her to guide them through the chaos as she carried their child, he unsheathed his sword with the other. 

“Alina, listen to me,” he said, his deep voice filled with urgency. “I need you to promise that you’ll keep going. No matter the cost. Promise me, you will keep Ellowyn safe.” 

Her chest shook with painful inhales, shifting Ellowyn in her arms. “I promise.” her voice was all but a whisper as her eyes flickered to him. 

“We need to continue.” 

Alina could only nod as she tucked Ellowyn closer to her chest. Evander kept a hand on her lower back as they rushed through the cobbled path, wading through the panicked crowd. 

Deeper in the village, loud, anguished screaming rang out as the air grew heavier and harder to breathe. Soldiers dressed in black infested the streets. Surrounded by devastation, they continued to set fire to buildings and homes, laughing as they slayed fleeing villagers. 

The dark soldiers had arrived with the power-hungry Queen Adriane and King Ciaran, guests to Mystmere. In return, they destroyed everything in their path. Some of the kingdom’s soldiers lay face down in the dirt, their yellow-embroidered capes stained with the red of death. 

It had happened so quickly. Alina had stood warily beside her parents, King Everett and Queen Amelia, with Ellowyn sitting at her feet. Adriane and Ciaran stood only a step below. Mystmere’s soldiers and dark soldiers were positioned at attention throughout the room. 

They had come because of a prophecy. Two fae to rule all. Under the guise of peace and union, her parents were tricked. Alina should have known when they had come too willingly. Adriane and Ciaran’s motive had been clear when they stood before Madora’s royals. But it was too late. 

Alina froze as Adirnae drew a hidden dagger from her gown and struck. Her mother was slain before her eyes. Her father’s scream echoed off the walls as the blade found him next, Rikewood glistening with the Queen’s and King’s blood. 

Without another glance at the carnage, Alina grabbed her daughter. She and Ellowyn would be next if they did not move. Evander followed as they darted through the curtain behind the throne into a hidden passage. 

They moved quickly, her muscles tense. A dark soldier followed, sword ready. Evander pushed Alina aside and struck the soldier down as dizziness washed over her. 

The clash of blades pierced her mind. Images of her mother on the throne room floor and her father’s screams haunted her. 

Neither dared speak as they rushed to escape. Panting, they emerged into a village alleyway. Alina tossed her crown, and they both pulled up their hoods, hoping to blend with the villagers. 

But the village was in havoc. Adriane and Ciaran’s dark soldiers terrorized the streets. Alina shifted five-year-old Ellowny in her arms; she couldn’t keep up on foot. Alina attempted to glamour them, but her magic buzzed uselessly through her veins. 

“Evander, I can’t glamour us,” Alina whispered, terror lacing her words. 

“The wine at dinner.” Evander said grimly, “They brought it. It must’ve been laced. It explains why your parents couldn’t–” his jaw worked, unable to finish his thought. 

He was right. The fae magic that flowed through Alina’s veins grew muted, a dull ache spreading through her bones until her limbs felt as if they were falling asleep. Evander was human; it wouldn’t affect him as it did her. 

“Evander,” she pointed over his shoulder, eyes wide as she watched a black mist spread down the path ahead. Stories told of Adriane conjuring demons through the mist. 

The Sleroka. 

Villagers screamed as they tried to move from the darkness, their cries fading to nothing, vanishing from this world. 

“We can’t move through that.” 

Evander stopped at another wall. Ellowyn’s small fists clutched her mother’s cloak, face buried against Alina’s chest. Fear filled all three of them, and the only way to get Ellowyn to safety was to separate. 

He ran his fingers through Ellowyn’s brown hair, then cupped Alina’s face, thumb brushing her cheek. Evander pulled her in, inhaling her scent as their foreheads touched. 

“Switch cloaks with me,” he said, glancing toward the mist. “Alina, hurry. Your scent will draw it to follow me. It will give you time to get away. Take Ellowyn–” his voice cracked, a tear falling as he cleared his throat. “Take her and travel as fast and as far as you can go.” 

Alina grabbed Evander’s hand as he tried to pull away. “No,” she stammered. “I can’t leave you–I won’t. We will find another way.” Her chest tightened as she stared at him. Her mate. He would not survive an attack against the Sleroka if he went through the mist. 

“I can’t do this without you, Evander. Please!” She would have dropped to her knees and begged if Ellowyn weren’t in her arms. 

“I love you both more than anything in this world, but I couldn’t handle it if something happened to you both because I didn’t try. You need to continue without me. Save her for us, for me.” He brushed the tears falling from Alina’s eyes. Ellowyn looked at her father as he pulled them into an embrace and kissed her forehead. “You must be brave for your momma and me. I love you so much, my sweet Ell.” 

Time. Something Alina believed they’d have more of. Even with Evander being human, they were supposed to have his lifetime together and watch their daughter grow. Their time had not been enough. It couldn’t be time to say goodbye. Alina couldn’t accept it. Her mind and heart felt as if they could shatter, unable to grasp that this was their last moment they would share. 

Once Evander helped Alina pull her cloak off, he wrapped his around her and their daughter. Alina grabbed onto Evander’s collar, soaking in the warmth of his embrace. 

“I will find you again,” Evander whispered. “If not in this life, then the next. We will have more time together, I know it. I love you.” 

“As I love you,” Alina gasped, bringing him in for one last kiss. Her feet wouldn’t move. She couldn’t. 

“Please,” she begged, her vision blurring from tears. “I can’t–” 

Evander brushed her cheek with the back of his hand, then cupped the back of her neck. “Always remember how strong you are, you must remember,” he said before kissing her forehead one last time. “Go, now!” 

Evander pulled away, his sword in hand, and ran the opposite way. Alina’s heart went with him. She felt as if her chest had broken, and an emptiness began to fill. Evander clanked his sword against the stone walls as his yells echoed, attempting to draw attention to himself. 

Alina clenched her jaw, swallowing her cries. She couldn’t watch. He gave them the only chance they had. She draped Ellowyn against her chest and shoulder and ran. 

The gust of wind dried Alina’s tears as she raced with all the fight she had, her chest heaving with such agony she nearly couldn’t catch her breath. Sobs escaped her lips as Ellowyn screamed for her father to come back for her. For them. 

The mating bond between Alina and Evander dulled and felt nearly nonexistent as she moved further out of their realm. The magic within her faded. She didn’t dare to look behind in fear of what she might see of her mate and what was left of her kingdom as the smell of smoke nipped at her heels. 

With Evander’s cloak wrapped around the two, Alina and Ellowyn entered the forest, disappearing from their fallen kingdom and everything they’d ever loved.