Niyx by Samantha Kroese (websites to read books for free TXT) 📕

at his brother. “Because I was a Night Creature, nothing more. He has something against our people. I did not find out what.”

Onyx twitched a long ear, then walked close so he could lower his voice. “You look scared, Niyx. You just destroyed The Shadowed Divide almost single-handedly when the rest of the world didn’t dare. You’re immortal. Why are you scared now?”

Niyx bristled and adopted his emotionless exterior as he straightened. “The Divide had no weapons that could withstand me. Raijin has unnatural light magic. It’s not the normal kind that Templars have, his was unique. Terrible. It felt like being paralyzed and drowning in a boiling pool. It is my weakness. I survived only by chance the first time. I am impervious to common magic. Whatever is fueling his light strips my immortality away.”

“So, he’s your mortal enemy and he has the power to harm you, if not kill you,” Onyx considered that. “And now, somehow, he convinced the King of Aderaan to give him an army.”

A shiver of repulsion worked its way down Niyx’s spine. “If he has trained others to use that strange light magic, my people won’t be able to withstand them.”

Onyx frowned then shrugged. “That’s probably the point. But it’s all right, Niyx. You’re not alone. You have me. And Ruel.”

Niyx met Onyx’s gaze. “You need to be careful, Onyx. You are a Night Creature too. You will be vulnerable to his magic.”

“Only if he sees me.” Onyx winked and snapped the wire around his wrist. “I’ll spy on them and let you know what I find.”

“Be cautious,” Niyx called after him as Onyx hurried from the room.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Onyx knew the rooftops of Aderaan better than its streets now. He ran and leapt from one to the other, knowing the best ones for hiding from the street view, and those which had windows to avoid. He was glad to have a mission, even if spying on the Templars was forbidden and dangerous. When had that ever bothered him? It was preferable to the emotions about the deaths of The Divide that churned underneath the surface of his mind. It bothered him that his twin had so easily destroyed the people who had controlled his life for so long. But now, knowing Niyx wasn’t truly invincible and had his own fears and enemies, Onyx felt they had more in common.

Onyx slowed as he arrived at the balconies of the Templar’s temple. Balconies lined with metal railings surrounded the beautiful square building. As Onyx slipped over a rail and onto the walkway he tried to figure out the design wrought there in the brilliant gold metal. He hoped the pattern was not hiding magical runes of protection he did not understand.

No one ever broke into the Templar’s temple. It was the highest act of treason in elven society. His heart pounded in his chest. He couldn’t sense any protective magic that would warn the Templars of their intruder but just because he could not sense it, did not mean it was not there. He crossed the balcony to lean against the building and flattened himself into as small a target as he could as he edged along toward a door.

A number of people had spoken against The Divide and wanted to destroy them, but Onyx had never heard anyone dare utter the same things about the Templars. No one threatened The Holy Order of Templars. They were above reproach. Ruel, and Rubei before him, had wanted to be a part of the order. The Templars were revered; they were Aderaan’s heroes. Why had this Templar, Raijin, tried to trap and murder a child in the woods? Niyx may have changed from an elf into a Night Creature at a very young age but he had still been a child. The thought bothered Onyx; even as an assassin he refused to kill children.

Onyx perked his long ears as he caught the sharp sound of metal ringing against metal. He glanced inside a doorway to find a mezzanine floor and no one in sight. Deciding the low wall around it would hide him from anyone below, he stepped through the door and into the building. He crept close enough that he could see over the low wall. Two Templars in gleaming armor met in a deadly dance on the sand below.

The Sandsilver weapons gleamed as they sliced through the air. Onyx could only stare in awe, lost in how beautiful they were. Dark silver metal shone with little glimmers like the constellations of stars in the night sky. Each sword had a different pattern engraved in its blade. Onyx forced his gaze away from the brilliant weapons to study the knights who wielded them. One wore the armor of a High Commander, the highest level of Templar. Though the dust from the arena dulled the shine of the red, gold, and silver armor, it was still unmistakable. The other knight was younger, wearing armor indicating a lower rank.

There was a loud clash of metal as the Commander’s sword connected with the chest-plate of the younger knight, and sent them sprawling in the dirt. The young knight’s helm jarred loose and flew across the sand.  Onyx raised a brow when he realized the knight on the ground was a beautiful woman.

The older knight brought his sword to her chin, and she glared at him in defiance. “I yield,” she spat, though nothing about her attitude matched those words. If looks could kill, her brilliant green eyes would have struck the older knight down. She blew strands of red hair out of her face.

The older knight withdrew his blade and sheathed it at his belt before lifting off his heavy helmet. It was clear they were related, but half of the older knight’s face was scarred terribly and one of his ears was only a stump. He smoothed his long red ponytail then offered his hand to the girl. “Your anger and arrogance will be your undoing, Callistra.