Heir of Lies (Black Dawn Series Book 1)

by Mallory McCartney

  He whispered, his voice hoarse in the man’s ear, making him jump, “The Academy is very much alive. I promise you, we are sick of hiding in the shadows.” He chuckled. “Besides, I’m sure your king would like a reunion after all these years.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Memphis

  The traces of dawn bled through the tree line as they pressed through the forest, Brokk bouncing beside him, and the rest of his friends wearing smug smirks. It was a huge win for them to finally get one of Adair’s men. The Mad King had an uncanny ability to have his soldiers slip through their fingers.

  Memphis’s head spun from the anticipation of information they could finally get their hands on. The first and most important thing being where their friend was hiding after all these years. They were all tired of playing cat and mouse.

  We have to move or raiders will be picking us off one by one.

  Panic clutched his heart at the thought, as Memphis yelled, “We have to hurry!”

  Their hostage grunted as Jaxson shoved him faster, Memphis focusing on making it out of the woods, to where the Academy lay hidden. The trees started to thin, soft rolling hills coming into view. His entire body felt numb as he ran, cursing under his breath.

  The group followed tightly around him, always staying in formation and never faltering. Always prepared for the worst.

  Breaking from the safety of the woods, Memphis frantically reached out with his ability, the tendrils of his mind expanding. “Bryd, we’re back. Take down your barrier!”

  Sprinting full tilt, a shimmer of light reflected with the rising sun, and the empty field before them unveiled a deeper truth. The building was vast. Over the years, the Academy had shifted in looks with their rebuild with kieroian steel.

  The once old bricked school was now a world of metal, the only substance that would keep them protected against Adair’s assault of dark magic. The broken archway leading up to the chiseled stone steps were cracked and worn. The windows had been reconstructed and barred with iron. The once oak doors now stood ripped off the hinges, two rebels standing guard, the heavy iron door shimmering behind them.

  The Academy was once a place where dreams were supposed to be nurtured, a school to master one’s ability. And now, the building was more of a cage, having been transformed over the years as more rebels joined. To the east, their lookout tower stretched up toward the pink wash clouds as the sun rose.

  For six years, they had hidden, buried deep in the earth, while Adair Stratton ensnared Kiero in a future bathed with death; a reality filled with fear.

  Their group bounded up the stairs, slowing to give curt nods to the guards, the shadows dancing in their eyes as they took in The Mad King’s sigil blazed across the man’s chest.

  Reaching the door, Memphis pushed down hard on the handle, revealing a dark hallway. Ushering his team in, he took one last look at the scenery before him. Nyx strutted by him, the guards warily following her. It was to Memphis’s understanding that his girlfriend had beat most of the rebels in their fights, earning herself an unhealthy amount of goods in weapons and clothing. But most importantly to her, a reputation of fear.

  Memphis soaked in the thick rolling forest, and to the east, the skeletons of the Ruined City peeked out. Concrete and ghosts were all that was left of the once thriving Sarthaven: The city beneath the stars. Behind that, the Draken Mountain Range looked ominous as ever, piercing the clouds.

  Sighing, he slammed the door, closing them in the darkness.

  It was disorienting and freezing as always, and Memphis blinked hard as his eyes adjusted. Excited hooting and catcalls exploded, and the founders of the Rebellion danced around him. Memphis was just about to tell them to remember themselves, but Nyx pranced in front of him, violet hair blazing, and pulled him in fiercely for a kiss.

  Her lips were hungry and demanding, and his body bowed into hers. Warmth spread through him, pooling in his gut, and he grabbed her face in between his hands. Her breath was fast, and closing his eyes, Memphis lost himself to her wild, fearless energy. Her tongue parted his mouth, the lingering taste of spiced berries dancing along his senses. Every nerve sang as he pulled her closer.

  The night had been long, the stakes high. They all deserved to savor the victory.

  An awkward, “eh-hmmm,” sounded behind them. Breaking apart from Nyx, Memphis saw a petite girl with electric blue hair. A huge smile broke over his face, and he motioned Jaxson to bring their prisoner forward.

  “Bryd, as always, thank you for keeping watch for our return to the Academy. Where should we put our esteemed guest?”

  Taking a tentative step forward, Bryd inspected the soldier, her eyes widening as she saw Adair’s sash. The lanterns on the iron walls behind them glowed as she smirked, “Cell fifty-five is empty, Commander.”

  Wyatt and Jaxson didn’t wait to drag the guard forward. They followed Bryd down the winding hallway.

  The Academy was swarming with life, rebels barking at one another, murmuring, “Commander,” as they passed Memphis. Nyx squeezed his hand, her consciousness brushing against his, her voice filling the cavities of his mind. “You need to eat before you deal with that. Let’s go get breakfast.”

  Squeezing her hand back, they made their way down the hallway.

  The Academy consisted of a hive of passages and levels, the dining hall the heart of their headquarters. Reaching the rusted elevators, Nyx pressed the worn button, the doors sliding open. Stepping in the iron cage, they were sealed in and then dropped into the ground, the air howling around them as Nyx laughed, their hearts in their throats. It was a fast way to chase away his tiredness if even for a second.

  The gears grounded to a halt, and the cage slid open. Nyx practically dragged him along. Fifty tables were full, and the roar of noise washed over them, the men and women talking excitedly. News spread unnaturally fast, which was a side effect of pooling humans with a varying amount of abilities together.

  Sitting down at an empty table, Nyx pouted. “Someone is especially grumpy for such a productive night.”

  Memphis focused in on her with furrowed brows. How did she not understand the burden that sat on his shoulders? Of what they would all have to face—and very soon. Of how close they were to confronting Adair. If they learned of his location, then it would only mean a march. After all these years.

  Years of you being afraid, he thought.

  Shrugging, Memphis pushed the doubts down. “Just the usual stuff.”

  She arched an eyebrow in disbelief before leaving to get their food. Memphis wanted nothing more than to continue his way to their room and catch a few hours of blissful sleep. But above all else, duty called.

  Nyx returned with small bowls of fruit and bread, which they both devoured in silence. Finishing, she gave him a curt nod, and they got up, both knowing what came next.

  ***

  The cells were located on the same level as the dining hall, so it wasn’t far to go until the stood outside a door labeled, Fifty-Five.

  Brokk was already there, along with Alby whose fiery red hair and spattering of freckles was much too alive for their dreary scene. Having been with the rebellion from the beginning, he rarely talked about his past, but Memphis knew there had been no word of the survival of his hometown, Pentharrow.

  Excitement and dread ran through Memphis like a live current, and he murmured, “Let’s go.”

  The cells were basic, and small strange runes encircled them on the walls. As soon as they stepped in, they took in the guard, whose blood was already running freely, thanks to Wyatt and Jaxson. Bryd stood in the corner, a silent observer.

  “You two have been busy during breakfast,” Memphis said.

  Jaxson grinned as he multiplied in the already small space, showing off his ability. “Even so the bastard won’t talk.”

  Sitting in the chair across from the guard, smoothing his jacket, Memphis blatantly stated, “You have obviously chosen not to comply with our wishes.”

  The guard
spat blood at his face. “Adair will finish you once he finds out you survived.”

  Scoffing, Memphis leaned in. “And how will he? Your men are dead, and you have no idea where you are or how you got here. I would say it’s in your best interest to tell us where Adair’s been hiding all these long years.” He deliberately paused. “Where. Is. His. Kingdom?”

  Interlocking his long fingers, he waited. A flicker of doubt sparked in the man’s eyes, as he took in his words, his façade slipping.

  Nyx stalked toward the guard with lithe grace. She grasped his cheeks, locking her violet eyes on him, whispering, “You will tell us where Adair is. Now.”

  The guard convulsed in pain, a silent battle going on between them. Memphis watched in silent horror, knowing exactly how much pain Nyx was assaulting on his consciousness. Blood started to gush from his nostrils like rivers, and Memphis barked, “Enough.”

  Gasping, the guard slouched forward in his restraints. Memphis leaned toward him. “Are you ready to tell us now?”

  Silence met them like a wall, and Memphis nodded to Jaxson and Wyatt. They bounced, but the man cried, “Wait. Wait.” He looked to Memphis, then said quietly, “The Draken Mountains.”

  Nyx froze as if she’d been slapped. His heart pounded at an uneven rhythm as he choked out, “As in the Draken Mountains? Past the Ruined City?”

  The man was laughing now, blood bubbling from his lips. “Those are exactly the mountains I am talking of. We have built another society in the mines. One which is clear of Mixed Bloods.”

  Spitting in his face again, Memphis’s resolve broke. “I dare you to say that again traitor. Mixed Bloods? How can you even say we are different when we live in a world of super charged abilities? Adair is a power-hungry madman. One that caused this war. We are just trying to end what he started.”

  The guard was laughing uncontrollably, not listening anymore to a word that came out of his mouth. Spit flew from the guard’s mouth in a disgusting display, and Memphis stood up, looking to Brokk.

  His second-in-command stood with him, sadness welling in his golden eyes. Memphis stretched out his hand, Brokk passing him his curved twin blade. He grasped the hilt and turned to the guard, whispering, “I’m sorry.”

  Thrusting the blade forward, the man choked, and the light drained out of his eyes. When the guard died, Memphis turned to the group, his voice flat, “We meet in Command in a half hour. Be ready.”

  Filing out with Nyx, he gripped her hand, the tremor shaking through his body. Nyx squeezed his hand back, as she led him down the hallway toward his room. The heaviness in his heart lifted, when they reached his door. Opening it, Memphis walked in, Nyx quietly following.

  “You did what you had to, Memph. Don’t mourn those who don’t deserve it.”

  Turning, he closed the space in between them. “I know it’s what I had to do, and that is exactly why I acknowledge every life I take. I never wanted to be in this position—to lead a rebellion.”

  Brushing his blood-stained hands against her cheek, Memphis leaned in. “But I have to say, having you by my side always makes it easier.”

  He brushed his lips against hers, lightly at first, but then his tongue hungrily parted her lips. Her hands moved with practiced precision, unbuckling his armored chest plate as it clattered to the ground. Fire burned through Memphis’s veins, his body begging for more. Nyx kissed him back with equal vigor, shoving him roughly toward the bed, “You’re a smooth talker, Carter. It’s one of the many things I love about you.”

  His breath caught as he lifted his shirt off, revealing his defined and scarred chest. Nyx’s violet eyes glowed mischievously as she prowled toward him, and they lost themselves in each other before they had to go back to meet the others.

  Chapter Thirty

  Brokk

  The waves of nausea crashed into him, and Brokk sat tensely next to Memphis. Sitting in Command, the clamor of shouting echoed around the small room, overlapping and cutting each other off as they tried to find a solution.

  Except Brokk and Memphis had the solution, and they had kept it hidden for the last six years.

  Slamming his fist hard on the table, Memphis seethed. “We can’t allow Adair to destroy us. Look what he has already done to Kiero. His armada is vast, the dabarnes ruthless. The darkness that has bred into our country is too much for us to stand a chance. We have no edge, and if we show our hand, he will destroy us.”

  The room fell silent, ghosts of the past playing behind all their eyes.

  Memphis pressed on. “We have his location, and we need to flush him out. We started this rebellion on bare bones, with nothing more to support us than the bonds of friendship, and our hope that, together, we could win against his forces. The question isn’t the Rebellion’s ability to fight. I don’t doubt your spirit, or heart.” He looked at them. “It’s about being smart enough to know that we cannot overpower Adair. His ability is too great. That leaves us with the question about how we approach this situation.”

  “There is no one left to stand up to him,” Nyx said. “The monarchy was built on the Faes’ name, but who is left of that line? Emory is gone. Being a leech, she would have been the last person who could overpower Adair. To have the power to steal someone else’s ability just by touch... I have to say, I am jealous of that fact. There is no one to oppose him other than us. We are the only hope Kiero has.”

  Just at the mention of Emory and her family’s name, Brokk’s gut twisted, palms becoming sweaty. Black dots spotted his vision, and a deep roaring filled his ears. He gasped, “Excuse me.”

  Pushing his chair back, he scrambled out of the room and into the hallway, gulping in the damp air. The shuffle of feet and the clicking of the door was Brokk’s indication to look up at Memphis, his arms crossed over his chest.

  Whispering with venom in his voice, he said, “Pull yourself together, man. It’s too obvious that something is wrong.”

  Standing, the world tilted, and he shook his head. “We have to tell them. It’s been too long, and nothing is getting better. It’s time to make a difference. She could be our difference.”

  Memphis countered, “You don’t think I realize that as well? How is everyone going to react when they find out their leaders have kept this a secret for six years? There will be an uprising. That we saved her while we entered a war. How do we explain that rationally?”

  “The Rebellion will see reason. We start with the team, and then go from there. We start with our friends. We owe them that much,” Brokk replied.

  Memphis ran a hand through his hair, dark circles under his eyes. Loosening a breath, he said, “We do this together.”

  “Always.”

  Keeping a firm hold on his churning breakfast, Brokk reentered Command, knowing when he came out, everything would have changed.

  ***

  Brokk and Memphis finished telling the truth about what happened six years ago when the Academy fell. What they had done to save Emory Fae.

  Brokk looked up to meet Nyx’s gaze first, but she looked like she was about to kill Memphis. Venom churned in her gaze, and Brokk noticed her palming her knife she gripped in her lap.

  The rustling of scanners and screens that kept surveillance disrupted the tension. They had kept up a lot of the technology the teachers of the Academy had created, but their world had reverted with Adair waging war, instead of progressing. Brokk tried to ignore the buzzing and read each of his friend’s expressions but found nothing but hatred in their features.

  The bitter taste of guilt coated his tongue, and for the hundredth time, he reassured himself it was his only choice to save Emory Fae. Even if it meant that his existence had turned into one of torment—that he had become a soldier, that he had killed more of Adair’s men than he would like to tally up, that everything he had done since that fateful day in the woods was for her.

  “How could you do this?!” Nyx suddenly screeched, pushing her chair back and seething. Jabbing a shaking finger into Memphis’s chest, she
said, “I trusted you. This is not something you keep to yourself, Memphis Carter. I trusted you. By fire and flame, you are saying that while Kiero fell, towns have been destroyed, and thousands of people have died, Emory was ensured safety because of you two? You both have betrayed us to save one girl.”

  Nyx was trembling, tears glistening in her eyes as she locked her violet eyes onto Brokk. Wyatt, Jaxson, and Alby looked at them skeptically, their frowns and darkened expressions were answer enough.

  Addressing the room, Memphis whispered, “I’m sorry. We both are. But this can change our chances. From Adair’s point of view, I don’t think there would be anything more challenging than Emory returning from the dead. We use her and the Fae name to be the face of this Rebellion, and we finally end Adair. Emory is the heir of Kiero, and it’s time for her to return, to reclaim her throne. We have no other option.”

  Nyx rolled her eyes. “Well, doesn’t that just sound like the perfect fairy tale. The long-lost princess finally home to free her lands. Only, she saved her hide to leave the rest of us to suffer. Not very noble, from where I am standing.”

  Memphis’s face darkened. “You can be mad at my faults in this and in my decision to keep this from all of you, but Emory would have been killed if she stayed that day.”

  Nyx flipped her purple hair over her shoulder. “Call a meeting. Tell the others. Go on an ops mission, bring her back, and then maybe I will not end you, Memphis Carter.”

  Memphis flushed a deep red, not getting the last word in before Nyx stalked out of the room haughtily.

  The others followed, not giving them a second glance. Memphis turned to Brokk, angry. “Well, that went fantastic.”

  Rolling his shoulders, Brokk ran a hand through his hair. “You have to understand their point of view, Memphis. We both have betrayed our rebellion—our family—with this secret. Let them navigate their emotions while we bring Emory back.”