“Those riders we disposed of were merely the beginning,” Marai said. “Rayghast won’t stop searching for us. It’s only a matter of time before he comes here with an army. He’ll destroy everything with that dark magic. You know this to be true, Keshel. You’ve seen it.”

“What are you proposing we do?” Keshel asked this slowly, calmly, but the distrust in his eyes told Marai that he already knew what she’d come here to ask.

“Rayghast’s army, combined with Varana’s, outnumbers Nevandian forces four to one,” replied Marai. “Even with my magic, it will be nearly impossible to win—”

“Your magic?” spat Aresti.

Marai met her incredulous stare. “I vowed to fight alongside Ruenen and Nevandia.”

Aresti shook her head. “You’ve done many foolish things, Marai, but this is the stupidest of all.”

“By using dark magic, Rayghast has also been creating shadow creatures.” Marai spoke to Keshel, knowing this, more than anything, might sway him. “We know little about them, but it’s clear that every time Rayghast uses his magic, a new beast appears. Their loyalties are unknown, if they fight alongside Rayghast, or if he knows of their existence, but they’re an additional complication. One that we, fellow magic-users, will be able to stop.”

Keshel ran a hand through his long, black hair as he studied Marai’s ungloved, stained fingers. The first signs of concern raced across his face.

“Dark magic is a true threat, and Rayghast will continue spreading it across the continent if he isn’t stopped.” Marai hesitated, knowing now was the time to reveal what she’d been dreading. “I should know. I used dark magic once, myself.”

The other fae followed Keshel’s gaze and noticed Marai’s fingers. She watched their faces shift from confusion to shock. Shame crept up Marai’s spine, and traveled all the way down to her guilty fingers. She forced herself to meet their disappointed and terrified eyes. Marai had committed a grievous sin by using dark magic. She had to suffer the consequences.

But no one said a word. Not even Leif berated her. Perhaps the shame was so prominent in her countenance that they knew she already suffered with the ramifications daily.

“We have no choice, but to come here and ask you to fight with us.” Marai’s words floated in the air like smoke: thick, weighty, and unwanted.

“Us? But we’re just . . . us.” Kadiatu hugged her knees to her chest. She looked so young sitting there. Asking her to fight in a war must have seemed insane.

“No,” said Keshel firmly, “we will not.”

“Rayghast won’t stop with Nevandia. He’ll take over this entire continent with his army and his magic. You’ll have nowhere else to run.”

“Then we’ll run for as long as we can.”

“If you join us, there’s a chance we can win,” Marai said, hearing the plea in her voice and hating it. “Our combined magic can overpower Rayghast and his soldiers. Then you can finally live in peace.”

“There’s no peace for us, Marai.”

“There is a place for you,” said Ruenen, getting to his feet. “A place where you would no longer need to hide. When I become king, I’ll make Nevandia a safe-haven for all magical folk.”

Marai blanched. In fact, they all did.

“You’ll say anything to get us to do what you want,” said Leif with a dismissive gesture.

“The persecution of magical folk is wrong. It’s disgusting,” Ruenen said, jaw tight. “I thought that before I met Marai. I’ll do whatever I can to help end it.”

“Your people will make the lives of magical folk so unbearable that none of us will want to live there,” Thora said. “Or they’ll defect to Tacorn.”

“Let them leave, then,” said Ruenen. “I want to build a kingdom where humans and magical folk can live in peace together. I want Nevandia to be a place you can call home.”

Marai’s throat burned. Her eyes stung.

Keshel shook his head. “All of us living in one place will make it easy for invading armies to attack us.”

“Progress takes time and it will be a difficult path. We’ll need to educate the Nevandians and get you to trust each other,” said Ruenen, “And I know I need to earn your trust, as well, but I promise I will stand with you. I’ll fight for each of you . . . if you will fight for me.”

Marai turned to Keshel. “You said that if Ruenen and Nevandia fall, Rayghast will continue his dominance across the continent. He’ll come for us. But what if we join Nevandia? What if we fight for our future instead of running from it? Maybe this is what you saw in those visions, Keshel. It’s the end of this way of life. Maybe we can build a new life, a real home somewhere else?”

Raife stared distantly at the fire in the center of the cavern, voice lifting as he said, “End the cycle.”

“And what if we all die on this battlefield?” Keshel asked Marai. His face was grim and tight. “What if we leave this cave and none of us survive?”

Ruenen bit his bottom lip.

Marai answered for him. “Then at least we’ll die fighting for a cause we believe in. One last stand of the fae, to show them we aren’t weak.”

A tapestry of silence hung in the air; weighty threads of worry and anger and mistrust woven together.

“You should have time to discuss amongst each other. I’ll leave you be,” said Ruenen, standing. He gave another bow, flashed an honest smile, and exited the tunnel.

“Do you trust him?” Keshel asked once Ruenen’s footsteps were merely distant scratches in the dirt.

“With my life.”

Keshel looked away from her, but not before Marai saw the disappointment in his eyes.

“I find it hard to believe that he’s worth all this faith,” Aresti said. “Even if he’s as good as you say, he’s one human prince.”

“His council has already agreed that if you join us, they’ll provide you with shelter. They’ll incorporate you into their society.”

“You already told other humans about us?” asked Keshel, going rigid once again.

“That’s why I’m confident that this will work,” Marai challenged back. “If they’re willing to overlook their prejudices, so can we. I believe we can work together. I believe we can find common ground.”

“I think you’re blinded by the prince’s charm and smile,” said Leif. “He’s young. He’s new to the throne. He could change his mind in an instant after we help him win the war.”

Marai said, “I know it’s not easy to trust when we’ve been so hurt. It took me a long time to trust him, too. But as I’ve said before, there are many good humans out there. I believe in this future.” She looked straight at Thora and Raife. “I want you to have your own families. To see the world outside of this cave. It won’t happen overnight, but I know it can.”

Marai’s people exchanged wary glances.

Raife got to his feet. “Give us time to think.”

He meant that they didn’t want her in the room. Marai nodded, not taking offense. She moved to exit the cavern.

“Are you leaving?” asked Kadiatu, appearing at Marai’s side. She nervously glanced down at Marai’s fingers.

For a moment, Marai held her breath, then Kadiatu latched onto Marai’s hand.

“Don’t go, please. Stay the night. Eat with us. I . . . want to understand. I want to get to know your prince.”

“He’s not my prince,” Marai said, but felt the corners of her mouth twitch. “We would be happy to stay, if you’ll have us.”