BY SAMANTHA KROESE
INDEPENDENTLY PUBLISHED
FADING LIGHTS TRILOGY
Forbidden
Unspoken
Taboo
WORLD OF EPSYN
Restless Dreams of Darkness
WORLD OF DAKAAL
ASSASSINS
Regret
Ladykiller
Niyx
Niyx
An assassin of Dakaal novel
SAMANTHA
KROESE
Copyright © 2021 Samantha Kroese
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
ISBN: (Paperback) 9798703504598
Imprint: Independently published
Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author’s imagination.
Cover created by EerilyFair Designs https://www.eerilyfairbookcovers.com/
First printed edition 2021.
Acknowledgements:
Thank you to my dear friends who continue to help and support me. Thank you to my editor. Thank you to everyone who gives this book a chance. I hope you all enjoy these characters as much as I do. And thank you to the wonderful community of writers on Twitter.
Although he would be horrified that I write about demons, dragons, and vampires; I would like to dedicate this book to my father. We lost him in 2020. His hard work and love for his family continue to inspire that in my characters and in my real life.
PROLOGUE
The bones hanging from the trees rattled as though in warning, as the chill wind whipped through the branches of the dead trees. Snow drifted between the gravestones and the wrought iron fence around the ancient graveyard. Kiril tripped over a fallen stone and fell on her hands and knees, her blond hair falling into her face. She gasped in horror and looked behind her for her pursuer.
"There she is! We have the witch now!" The gruff hunter called, as he slipped out from behind a tree and waved his companions forward.
Kiril scrambled to her feet, but she stumbled over the hem of her long, tattered nightgown. She couldn't let them capture her. She dove behind a gravestone as an arrow whizzed past her shoulder.
"You might as well come out, my lady. This is the end for you! Come out and we will make your death quick and painless." They used the younger one to call to her. The one that had been almost kind. They weren't truly capable of kindness. Not when they saw her as a monster.
Kiril crawled forward on her hands and knees around the crumbling headstones. In the center of the graveyard stood a strange statue. A man in dark armor sat on a giant throne made of bone with both hands gripping a broadsword as big as he was. Wrapped around the side of the throne was the most intricately detailed dragon's head that she'd ever seen. Startled by the lifelike statue, she retreated and sat as quietly as possible behind a stone.
Kiril's skin started to tingle like a thousand little needles made from ice. Her magic came to life, singing in her veins, warning her of the illusion just a fraction of a second before it was broken.
The statue’s eyes opened and glowed the brightest ice blue Kiril had ever seen. The dragon's matching eyes also opened, and smoke rose from the dragon's nostrils.
As soon as the Hunters started to surround her, ice shot up from the ground and encased their legs. They screamed as the hoarfrost crept up their bodies and melted flesh from bone. Within moments their bare skeletons crumpled at the feet of the man who now stood before her.
Kiril cowered against the tombstone. Never had she seen such horrific ice magic.
Only Night Creatures had glowing eyes of blue like the ones staring at her from the man’s otherwise harsh face. Night Creatures, the undead horde, monsters created from twisted magic. They were reviled by most of the world as disgusting creatures that devoured everything in their path. Without warning, he stabbed his mighty sword into the ground before her and leaned on it, his eyes narrowed as he studied her. The dragon behind the throne sat up, towering above them, clearly awaiting a signal from the man.
"Who are you?" Kiril whispered. She felt a vague sense of recognition but could not place it.
The man tilted his head, his long dark hair whipping around in the cold wind. Though he looked like any other young male elf, tall and handsome, his eyes and the skeletons around him betrayed that illusion. "I am Niyx," he said to her, as if that would answer all her questions. His commanding voice matched his physical appearance. He loomed over her and his stance alone told her that he was not used to being questioned. When she still looked confused, however, he bared his long fangs at her before responding, "I am Lord of the Night. This is my domain. Why do you trespass here?"
Kiril curled up and hugged herself. She forced herself to slow her breathing and her racing heart as she considered his words. If Niyx had wanted her dead, he would have killed her when he killed the others. Lord of the Night? That made him the leader of the Night Creatures. Lord of this enchanted forest. More importantly, the most dangerous predator in this cursed place of magic and death. She assessed the man before her and answered honestly, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to trespass. I was running from them. They held me captive in the manor beyond your forest."
"Why?" Niyx continued to lean on his sword, his cold gaze never leaving her face. Whether he was bored or simply curious, she could not quite tell.
Determined to face her fate with dignity, Kiril tugged at her tattered sleeves and brushed snow from her bangs so she could see better. "I am an oracle. They wished to use my magic. When I told them something they didn't want to believe, they called me a witch, threw me out, and sent the hunters to kill me."
"You have the magic to foresee the future?" Niyx stood up at that and slid his massive blade into the straps to hold it across his back. Then he extended his hand toward her. "You can choose to become mine and part of my forest. Or you can die." His casual tone indicated he was indifferent to her response.
Kiril shrunk away from the hand. "Yours? What does that mean?"
Before Niyx could answer, she noticed dark robed figures flitting like ghosts between the graves until they surrounded her. The tallest of them came to stand beside Niyx. When he removed his hood, she saw that he was also a Night Creature who had once been an elf.
"What my Lord means to say is that you may become his bride and join us, or he will feast upon your blood and magic and consume your soul," the hooded one said solemnly.
Kiril slowly stood up. Even at her full height Niyx towered over her. "I will do neither," she said as she unleashed her magic. Ice raged around them like a storm, forming spikes from the ground.
The hooded figures vanished like smoke when the spikes nearly impaled them. Niyx simply narrowed his eyes and stomped his plate-mail covered foot over the ice spike emerging by him. He lashed out and grabbed her by the arm, yanking her close to him, and hissing with his fangs bared.
When he grabbed her arm Kiril’s magic sent her spinning into a dizzying vision of the future. At Niyx’s touch she saw their future laid bare before them. This terrifying monster was the King she had dreamed would save her. She was destined to be his Queen. The vision lasted only seconds and when her vision cleared she stared up at him in disbelief.
"Choose," Niyx growled, his bared fangs close to her neck now.
"I will be yours," Kiril whispered, even though her heart raced. Even if this man before her was a terrifying predator, her visions were never wrong.
Niyx pull
ed back. He looked pleased as he picked her up to carry her through the graveyard and toward the village of tents past it.
"Do you offer that choice to every woman who gets lost in your domain?" Kiril asked as calm washed over her. She was at home. Finally. This was where she belonged, and no one would harm her again.
"No. It was foretold that an oracle would come. You are the first. And the last," Niyx said with a smirk. "I have waited my entire life for you."
"And I have waited mine for you," Kiril said softly, as she rested against his chest then fell silent as he carried her into the midst of the village where the villagers were already preparing a ceremony for them. Kiril watched the villagers bustle around in confusion. “How did they know to get ready so quickly?”
“They have been ready and waiting for their Queen. We knew you would come,” Niyx explained as he carried her into their midst.
CHAPTER ONE
Snow danced gently through the air over the rows of immaculate graves. The sacred graveyard served as the court for Niyx, Lord of the Night. This marked the seventeenth year he had sat on the ancient throne made of bone during the first true snowstorm of the year. He watched it fall, but his mind was lost in thoughts far away. His magic tracked his people through the forest around him.
He did not like to waste energy when it was unnecessary, so he sat still as a statue as the dark hooded figure floated between the gravestones. His lips twitched downward in a scowl, and his eyes narrowed just slightly. Most days he could tolerate Riven, his most trusted commander. Other days he did not forget that Riven had led the Night Creatures before they had chosen Niyx as their Lord. Today was one of the latter. He had not dared to send anyone else for the mission today. Riven would not lie to him.
Riven had been elven once but he had deteriorated into a lich, no more than paper-thin skin over a skeletal frame. The undead magic of the Night Creatures did not agree with him and he was wasting away. Soon he would lose his physical form entirely, perhaps decaying into a shade, a ghostly remnant of magic. Riven bowed low as he approached the throne. “My Lord.”
“Report,” Niyx commanded. He had no patience for niceties today.
Riven looked up, his dark eyes glowing red underneath the hood. “It is as Kiril says. There is a force of Templars from Aderaan building outside of the city gates. They do not look like normal Templars. They carry Sandsilver weaponry.”
Niyx bared his long fangs in a displeased hiss. “Sandsilver? They have not carried Sandsilver since the treaty.” The very name of the forbidden weaponry filled Niyx with fury. The treaty between his people and the elves had promised that all Sandsilver weapons would be destroyed. A metal said to be forged from the sands of eternity and starlight through an ancient ritual, Sandsilver was the only thing the Night Creatures were weak to. Normal weaponry did little against them but Sandsilver would disintegrate them on touch. Either the elves had lied about destroying the weapons or they had started forging Sandsilver once more. Both options disturbed him.
“I believe that Kiril is correct, my Lord. They mean to slay us.” Riven hovered back a few steps at Niyx’s hiss.
“Ice. Up!” Niyx growled, as he climbed up the back of the throne and onto the back of the giant blue dragon lying behind it.
Ice grumbled and let out a disgruntled snort of frost before rising into the air.
Niyx whispered the spell-command for invisibility and waved a hand to hide them from sight. He guided the dragon at a blinding speed over the tops of the withered trees. He had Ice circle above the forest outside Aderaan’s gates. The elves gathering there were dressed for war. War against the Night Creatures. The Sandsilver glittered like tiny stars were held captive within the metal of their armor and weapons.
Why? Niyx used his magic to rapidly view everything his Night Creatures had done within the last month. Nothing that should have aggravated an assault and a break in the treaty.
Ice hovered there, powerful wings beating against the wind. Frost-breath seeped out of the dragon’s massive maw.
Niyx was tempted to just drop on their heads. He did not think that paltry army could withstand him and Ice. They had never fought a Night Creature like him. There had been none like him before. But if he acted first, they would use it against him. He wanted only to live in peace in his forest with his people but if they started a war he would finish it. He would protect his people no matter the cost.
Niyx turned the dragon back to the heart of the forest. Once back at the graveyard, he slid off Ice and onto the back of the throne and walked down it into the graveyard.
Riven floated along beside him. “What will we do, my Lord? If we stay here, we shall surely perish. You alone among us might stand against the Sandsilver.”
Niyx stalked out of the graveyard and into the tent village that surrounded it. “Kiril!” He called firmly, his magic carrying his voice further than it would have gone otherwise.
Kiril emerged from their tent, their babbling ten-month-old son, Nial, on her hip. She frowned in response to her husband’s call. Her tangled blond hair fell into her blue eyes.
Niyx waved Riven away, and ducked into their tent. Once Kiril followed, he took Nial from her and placed the child safely in his crib. He bent to pick up the dire wolf puppy, Nek, by its scruff and set it in the crib as well.
Once the baby and puppy were settled, Niyx stalked back to the main room of the tent where Kiril had sat down cross-legged in front of the low table. She looked up at him expectantly.
“The Templars of Aderaan are gathering outside the city and carrying Sandsilver weapons. Clearly they intend to wage war upon us and break the treaty. Why?” Niyx crossed his arms and scowled at her.
Kiril rested her arms across her knees and her cheek on them. “I do not know why, Niyx. I only know that they are coming. We must flee.”
“I will not flee,” Niyx said, as he turned to look out the door of the tent. “This forest belongs to me. This is our home.”
Kiril rose from where she sat and came up behind him, trailing her hand gently over his heavy plate shoulder armor. “My love, you can defeat them. But it will cost you all of us if you do it now. It is not worth the price; better to retreat now and find out what is driving this first. The time of living in this forest has ended. All things end.”
“Not all things. I am eternal,” Niyx corrected. He turned to look at his bride. He did care for her and Nial’s safety above all else. He saw the fear in her eyes. Those who had put it there would pay. He had sworn she would never have to be afraid again, and he always kept his word. He reached to pull her into his arms and hold her close, safe. “I will do anything to keep you and Nial safe. You know that.”
“Then we must flee, my love. Scatter the Night Creatures to the wind until we find a new home. A safer home.” Kiril rested her cheek against his chest. “You always said you would go get your brother when it was time. It is time for us to go to him. Just you, me, and Nial. He can help us.”
“As you say,” Niyx said softly. “Pack our things.” He leaned down to kiss her briefly, then he pulled away and strode back into the village.
They spent the next several hours finding places for the Night Creatures of the village to hide in the deeper forest, scattered so the Templars would have a hard time finding them.
Niyx stood in the middle of the abandoned village. His magic enhanced his hearing so that he could hear the Templars marching through the forest toward the camp. They would be there in moments. Behind him Kiril sat on Ice’s back, cradling Nial.
“Niyx?” Kiril asked with a nervous glance toward the forest where their enemies lurked.
Niyx closed his eyes and curled his fists. He reached deep down inside of himself to the pool of cold magic that lived in his mind’s eye. The winter winds rose to a howl at his will, and the gentle snowfall became a blizzard with blinding force. Nial’s soft crying brought him back to reality, and he stalked over to Ice. He climbed onto the dragon behind his family, then whispered the command f
or invisibility again as Ice rose into the air.
Ice shook his great head at the storm, but for a snow dragon it was a merely an irritation. Niyx turned him toward the elven city just as the Templars below raced through the storm and into the village. Niyx looked away when they destroyed the camp. The village was lost. His forest taken. He made it a habit to not dwell on the past. He looked toward the glittering city of the elves as he guided Ice to land on the rooftop of Hrral'tyn manor.
CHAPTER TWO
Onyx slid in through the window of his bedroom. He shook off snow with a frown. His prey had escaped him. That never happened. He bared his fangs in displeasure as he tossed his daggers and gloves onto the stand beside his bed. When he took a deep breath and let it out, he could saw it float through the air. He rubbed his arms. Why was it so gods-damned cold? He turned to make sure he had closed the window.
Memory sparked within him. It stirred a feeling he had not felt for a few years. He stood still as a chill worked its way down his spine. The sniffle of a child made him whirl to face the corner. His gaze met the cold ice-blue eyes of his twin. Niyx stood there in heavy black plate armor, broadsword across his back. Although he was not truly that much taller than Onyx, he always seemed bigger. His presence made him appear as though he was ten feet tall. Next to Niyx stood a petite elven woman with pale hair and piercing green eyes. When Onyx met her gaze, it felt as though she peered all the way into his darkened soul and found him wanting. She held a toddler boy in her arms who had her green eyes, but his skin was a much warmer tone, and Onyx could not sense any magic in the child.
Niyx cleared his throat when Onyx stood there gawking at them for several moments. “I told you that I would come for you when it was time, brother.”
“You really need to learn how to knock. It’s not wise to sneak up on an assassin,” Onyx grumbled as he furrowed his brow. A million questions raced through his mind. How had Niyx gotten in here? Not important. Why was he here? That was the better question. “Time for what?”
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