He wanted to take comfort from those words, but how could he when he now had blood on his hands? How is that possible? he asked. My mother—

Your mother is as much a slave as the rest of them. A slave to absurd laws and traditions. A slave to limitations the gods never intended for us to have. Who are they to label us? Don’t you think if we were ‘evil monsters’ that the gods would’ve seen fit to end us already? End me? But I’m still here, as are you. The Nightdawn was like a sheet of parchment being folded into fifths, dividing the world. Two of those fifths came together at the same moment. But there are still three of the Divided out there for us to find. Killing them is what will unlock the vastness of our true potential. Not a bunch of bat hearts. And then the king’s time will come. He will know true fear and it will be us who teach it to him.

Those words, “we” and “us”, were not lost on him, but he set them aside to be considered later, focusing on the crux of the conversation. The Divided. But where are the other Divided? And where can we find them?

Alas, I know not. But he does. After all, he saved one of them from my fires all those years ago.

Korsiris knew exactly who the voice was referring to but dared not speak his name. Even now, the skin on the back of his neck prickled from the sensation of being hunted. The hunter becoming the prey was inevitable based on the snatches of memory that surfaced and faded in his mind. Except this time the result would be different. It had to be. Didn’t it? And if the other Divided aren’t out there? If they’re already dead? Then what?

Then I will go quietly into the night.

Just like that?

Just like that. For Her power will be lost. Such was Her commitment.

For some reason, that gave Korsiris comfort.

Now try again, the voice said.

He obeyed, as he always did. As he leapt into the air, his dark wings unfurled from where they were connected by bone and tissue to the undersides of his arms. He beat them once, twice, then a third time, almost laughing at that feeling of lightness that was still new and exciting to him. He rose from the ground, ducking under a branch that threatened to knock him senseless. Another two pumps and he swerved wildly around a tree before banking at a severe angle. His wings, which, only a moment ago, had felt so strong and capable, suddenly weakened. The next two beats only served to slow his descent just enough that he was able to land on his feet with more grace than he’d expected, only needing to drop one claw to the earth to steady himself.