The air around Abad snapped and cracked in his ears as he darted through the sky. He watched as the fey''ra circling the wagons stopped and looked up at him, their yellow eyes tracking his movements as he flew overhead. He felt a smile spread across his face. Drawing on the mana around him, he cast a spell.


    [Candlelight]


    He conjured a ball of flame and threw it at the nearest fey''ra, a smaller female. His flames splashed before the wolf woman, who yelped as his fire seared his legs. She leaped away, barely escaping the full brunt of their heat as the ground ignited. Flying past, he threw a dozen more balls of fire at the others, breaking up their ranks and demoralizing them. He felt a grim satisfaction wash over him as he watched their tactics break down. Within minutes, the majority of the beastkin leaped over the river and began disappearing into the treeline.


    He followed the fey''ra as they fled, raining flames upon their heads as they ran until most disappeared into the forest. Once gone, he scanned the trees for movement. He could see dozens of eyes looking back at him, their yellow glow shining in the moonlight. Rennar, if the large fey''ra at the edge of the forest was indeed him, stepped out of the forest and glared at the warlock. The creature howled a challenge, one that Abad had no qualms about accepting.


    The pitiful creature.


    His blood called for destruction, and his oath to Zethari wasn''t nearly enough to quell his growing wrath.


    [Burn the Weak]


    A ball of blood-red flames roared to life in his hand. He threw it directly at Zethari''s mate, knowing that the creature, if he were anywhere as strong as Zethari, wouldn''t die from the attack. He hoped. The man leaped away at the last second, and the flames exploded where he''d been standing.


    [Burn the Weak]


    More flames appeared in his hands. He channeled more energy into this spell, using the mana in the air to overcharge it. Unlike [Candlelight], which was largely designed to burn materials, [Burn the Weak] was specialized for burning the living and could be infused with far more mana by design. It was less efficient but far more fun. Before Rennar could recover, he threw the ball of flame at the fey''ra. This time, it nearly struck him, but one of his pack mates jumped in the way at the very last second. The red flames ignited as they struck its chest. The beastkin screamed and howled as the unnatural fire tore into it. It tried to roll in the dirt, but Abad laughed at its pitiful attempt at survival.


    That wouldn''t work.


    Abad watched as writhed in agony before finally falling to the ground until it was still. He flew low and cast another spell.


    [Essence Transfer]


    He felt the fey''ra essence enter him, replenishing his life force. The beast was strong. However, as his own essence was replenished by the last embers of the beast''s life, he could feel the mist storm around them begin to subside. He wouldn''t be able to rely on it much longer.


    Dozens of fey''ra howled at him as he flew above them, their voices a mixture of rage as they watched their fellow burn away. Dozens more howls in the surrounding area answered their call. He looked deeper into the treeline. Countless more yellow eyes glinted in the dark, following his every move. There were far more of them than he''d realized.


    He drew on as much ambient mana as he could. The motes of light that had signified the mist storm faded as he did. He decided he''d use as much as he could and be done with it.


    [Burn the Weak]


    A ball of flame far larger than the ones he''d thrown yet erupted to life in his outstretched hands. The red flames burned in his hands, their heat warming his face as his fire roared in the wind. He pulled back and threw it as hard as he could, infusing it with some of his mana and life force. The massive ball of flames roared as they fell, struck a massive tree, and exploded, shattering the tree and igniting the forest around it. Several of the creatures screamed as they were sent flying, and more than a few ran from the trees to the river to quench the wicked flames.


    A voice screamed deep in his mind as he watched them.


    How could these pathetic creatures challenge him? They were but insects facing a god.


    Their glowing, hateful eyes glared at him from below, but he could see their will beginning to break.


    [Burn the Weak]


    He laughed as he threw another fireball toward them. They roared through the air before exploding against another tree. Then he sent another, and another. For each he killed, he cast [Essence Transfer] and replenished himself. The beasts did their best to dodge his flames and began retreating further into the trees, like the rats they were. Abad''s eyes illuminated the night air. His blood boiled with power. He could feel the cool wind against his teeth. He was smiling.


    As the creatures fled into the forest, Abad''s laughter turned to rage. His blood boiled at the thought of their insolence. He hadn''t permitted them to leave. Their role in his legend was to die. They were sacrificial lambs to be bled out on the altar of his majesty. Dozens of trees were on fire, but it wasn''t enough. He threw flame after flame, until the air around him was drained of mana, and his cloak failed for an instant. He fell ten feet before granting it mana and catching himself.


    As he did, the world seemed to grow smaller around him. The air in front of him shimmered, not with scintillating mana but a spell. Abad blinked and shook his head. For an instant, the world seemed to stop. Then, he began to fall again, plummeting to the ground. His cloak flapped wildly behind him, turning from wings to cloth. Then, he felt mana being torn from his spirit. His thoughts snapped back to the present. He''d let his nature get the best of him. He screamed as he fell, channeling as much mana into his cloak as he could spare, and, despite resistance from the hidden mage, the cloak turned back into majestic black wings, allowing him to control his descent. He landed with a thud, rolled, and stood on the far side of the river. A hundred yellow eyes gazed at him from the forest.


    [Burn the Weak]


    He pulled mana out of his spirit and conjured more flames. "Come out, beasts!" he shouted at the forest, searching for any movement. He was at war with himself. His heart raced as his blood boiled, his mind screaming for violence. He took a deep breath and focused. He had to remain present.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    For a long while, there was no movement. No sound. He could see their eyes, but even those had begun to disappear, or they were far enough in the trees that he couldn''t reach them. The predators were so silent that even he couldn''t hear them. He reached out with his senses, and his heart dropped. There were at least a hundred of them, though not all of them felt like the lupana. He could sense other breeds deeper in the trees. He''d hoped he''d be able to scare them off with enough fireworks, but with a pack that large, there was little anyone do. They would all die if he didn''t come up with another plan. He knew the creatures were being supported, or possibly controlled, by a mage of some kind. He needed to find them.


    He reached out with more care, looking for any indication of the mage''s presence. They couldn''t be far. The fey''ra weren''t stupid. They wouldn''t have stuck around to die without reason. For a time, he couldn''t sense them. The cool wind blew, whipping his cloak behind him. An owl gave a single mournful call. He simply waited for anything. Then, he felt a ripple of power, the barest of waves. They were probing him. He focused on that presence and let his spirit reach out. And there, off to the side, behind a tree, was the being who was looking for.


    "Show yourself." He pointed in the mage''s direction as he allowed his spell to fizzle. As it did, a slender shape stepped out from behind a tree. Their figure, slight and feminine, emerged into the clearing. She was human in form, though she wore a mask, painted with a cartoonish grimacing character of a face twisted in agony, to conceal her identity. Her body was covered in a thick black robe, and a hood was drawn over her head. Two black horns curled up from her forehead through holes set into the mask. In her hands was a gnarled staff. Her eyes, glowing and red underneath the mask, locked onto his as she lifted her staff.


    A wave of black energy erupted from it.


    "[Be Dust]." Abad commanded, and the wave of energy dissipated into a cloud of fine particles.


    The figure tilted her head, as if confused, then her eyes flashed red. The shadows of the night rose from the forest floor around her. A dozen fey''ra stepped out of the treeline on either side of her. They circled her, their yellow eyes glowering as they gazed upon him hungrily. The largest of the bunch, Rennar, stepped out behind her. He roared, then placed his hands on her shoulders.


    "Master..." The beast spoke. His creature''s words were garbled and hoarse. "Wishes... for... your... death..." The fey''ra''s words were staccato, forced. "Kill..." It pointed at Abad, and the other fey''ra tensed, a few took several steps forward, but they froze when Abad lifted his hand as if he would conjure more fire.


    The hooded figure reached her slender hand back to the creature. Her black-gloved fingers stroked the beast''s hand. The gesture was gentle and familiar, but her red eyes were cold.


    "Rennar," Abad said. "Your mate waits for you."


    Rennar''s ears twitched. "Mate... Dead."


    Abad shook his head and chuckled, a cruel smile spreading on his lips. "She lives. You attacked her this very night."


    "Impossible." The beast growled. He could make out the sounds of the creature''s jaw working. It jerked, then stopped. "Saw... Her... Die..." It growled and bared its teeth, snarling at him. "Lies... will... not... save... you..."


    The woman reached up and petted him again. "Listen not, my dear servant. This one is one of the false masters I spoke of. He''s nothing more than a fraud." She said in a soft, pleasant voice. It tickled his memory, but he couldn''t place it.


    "She waits for you in the caravan." He pointed his finger back to the wagons. "We''ve been searching for you. Come, and be united."


    "You see," the hooded figure continued as if he hadn''t spoken, "the pitiful fool lies to save himself." She petted Rennar again. "I would never do such a thing. I will always care for you and your people."


    The beast man looked at her, then back at Abad.


    "She''s there, I promise. I am no enemy to your kind." He held his arm out to the man and stepped forward. He heard footsteps approaching from behind him, but he didn''t dare look away. The wolfman took a single step forward, but the woman barred his way. Abad heard soft footsteps land on this side of the river, then Zethari appeared at his side.


    "Rennar," she called to her mate.


    The creature blinked and looked between her and the robed woman, his glowing yellow eyes wide in disbelief. "What... illusion... is... this?"


    She shook her head. "I am real."


    He blinked. The hooded woman placed her hands on the beast''s arm. "The man before you lies. Watch, and I will reveal them." She lifted her staff, and a wave of scintillating energy struck him. He watched as his skin became grey, and his shadowy armor faded. "See, he is little more than a weak imitation of the one you now serve." The wolf people snapped their jaws and took several steps forward.


    "Stop!" She shouted to her mate.


    At the sound of her voice, Rennar took a step toward them, brushing past the robed woman. He was stooped, and his massive claws scraped against the dirt. He shook his head and looked at his mate, whose eyes never left his. "Zeth... Ar... I..."


    The wolf woman raised her hand and reached for him. "Come. Be my mate once more."


    He stared at her.


    "[Serve]." The masked woman''s words rippled with power.


    Rennar''s face fell slack, and he shrank into himself. The man scampered back to the woman. The others did the same. Abad could see the brands on their necks flare as she compelled them to obey. The masked woman stepped around them, her eyes flashing red. "Did you truly think your petty bonds and weak power could take what I have claimed? You are a fool, dark brother of mine." The woman laughed cruelly, and the fey''ra howled. They began stalking toward the warlock and his vassal. "A shame, really. I could have used an ally, but you''ve sealed your fate by lacking the correct level of deference for your better."


    Zethari growled at them and stepped in front of her patron protectively. "This is my oath-holder, the Nightstalker Abad-Shai, the man who freed me from my bonds. Do not attack." Several of the creatures looked at one another and stopped.


    The robed woman took a step back as Zethari spoke. Her red eyes flashed beneath her mask. He knew who she was.


    "Rennar!" Zethari screamed, tears falling freely from her eyes. Rennar, his eyes dumb and mouth slack, didn''t seem to hear her. "Rennar! It is me!" She pleaded with them. "Sogel! Irin!" Her voice became desperate. "Why will you not listen!"


    Abad grabbed her by the shoulder. "We have to run." His eyes never left the masked figure.


    "No!" She screamed at him. "We''ve found him." Zethari''s eyes were filled with a mixture of desperation, hope, and fear. "You promised!" She screamed at him.


    His mind raced. They were far too exposed to take on this number of fey''ra. The beastkin began to fan out and flank them.


    Rennar didn''t reply, his jaw hung loose. A stream of drool fell from the side of his mouth as he stalked toward them. The woman lifted her hand and motioned for them to attack. As the woman''s hand fell, they rushed forward.


    [Devour Essence]


    He tore from the woman as much power as he could, then wrapped his arms around his vassal.


    [Armor of Shadows]


    Shadows bled out of him and wrapped around them both. He felt as one of the fey''ra bit into his skin, but the shadows, affected by [Quasireality], tore through its mouth and throat. It screamed and backed away, clutching at its mouth as its transformation faded. A dozen more blows followed, each screaming at his as they landed, but they were dulled substantially by his shadowy armor. He ran forward, compelled his cloak to unfurl, and leaped into the air. He held Zethari tightly as they soared clumsily to the other side of the river, then fell and landed hard on the rocky ground. The robed woman''s glowing eyes narrowed as he stood back up.


    "[Hold]."


    The fey''ra stopped in their tracks and turned to their master. She waved her pets off and walked to the riverbank.


    "Is it really you?" The woman''s voice was a whisper, her eyes still fixed on his.


    The shadows floated off him like mist. He knew that voice. "Aside from the Thirteen, who are sealed away, as far as I''m away there are only three people besides me who have the power of [Dominion]. Selene is dead, and Zaros would never take that form, so that leaves only one option." His voice was cold. The shadows around him roiled. "It''s been a while, Helia."