Page 85 of Shadows of Light
“The last place anyone found it was Doomed Valley,” Kaylia said.
Orin’s eyebrows shot up as he studied the crone beside the window. She was far paler than normal, and dark circles surrounded her pewter eyes.
“Fuck,” Maverick spat.
“And what other places has it been discovered?” Del inquired.
Kaylia closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “It’s been centuries, but it’s been located in some outer realms. I think most of those were by chance. There are rumors the merfolk might know where some is, but I’m not sure if they’re true. You know how the merfolk can be.”
“Secluded, judgmental, fish folk?” Orin suggested.
“Yes, they can… ah… be difficult.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Brokk muttered.
Kaylia continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “Its milk is powerful and….”
Her voice trailed off as the scorpion tapped louder against the glass. They all turned to look at the red scorpion as it poked the glass with its black stinger.
“And the only way to counteract the venom of a noxus scorpion,” Kaylia continued. “It’s only ever saved one immortal before. Most of those stung by a noxus don’t live long enough to receive the antidote. It’s pure luck we walked through the door when we did, or else….”
Her attention shifted to the window. She didn’t have to finish her words; Orin knew what she’d been about to say… or else they’d all be dead.
And Cole would have been the one to unleash death on all of them. Orin rubbed his very pretty throat again.
Before anyone else could say anything more, Cole reappeared in the window. Covered in blood, he glided into the room and stopped before Kaylia.
“We will split up to find the vine,” he said.
Orin somehow managed to restrain himself from looking nervously at the shadows when he realized they’d been reporting their conversation to Cole. He should have known they were listening.
“I think—” Orin blew out a breath before continuing. “—you should stay here. Someone has to protect Dragonia from another possible invasion.”
Cole didn’t speak as the shadows slithered beneath his flesh. Those things made it look like his ciphers moved and flexed, but Cole didn’t. The shadows were working to take him over, seeping through him and creating a madness that would destroy his brother if they didn’t save Lexi.
“The dragons can ensure the realm stays safe,” Cole replied in a voice mostly his own, though the shadows distorted it a little. “No one can sit on the throne and control them while Lexi still lives. And they won’t find her.”
Orin suspected his brother knew exactly where Alina had taken Lexi. The shadows would have tracked their every move.
“Wewillfind that vine,” Cole stated.
Orin nodded, but when he looked around the room, he saw apprehension and doubt on the faces surrounding him.
CHAPTERSIXTY-FIVE
Brokk steppedinto Doomed Valley with Kaylia, seven lycans, three dwarves, and two dark fae guards. Over the centuries, he’d heard many stories about Doomed Valley but never expected to step foot in it.
Mainly because most of those stories were about those whoneversurvived this realm. Some of the stories came from those who did survive the lethal valley.
Many believed those stories were lies and the immortals who spread them never stepped foot in this forsaken land. Or, if they did, they fled almost immediately afterward.
He looked to Kaylia and the guards spread out around them. So far, he couldn’t see what was so awful about this place as the valley spread out before them in rolling hills so green and vibrant the color almost seemed fake.
But it was real and dazzling and so beautiful it stole his breath. How could something be so green and so ripe yet so…doomed.
They said the creatures of Doomed Valley moved so fast an immortal couldn’t get a portal open in time to flee. Countless immortals had entered this realm and never returned. Their deaths had turned into horror stories that frightened children under their beds.
He’d been one of those children. For a time, he was obsessed with the tales from Doomed Valley; he read everything he could get his hands on about it.
