Niyx Samantha Kroese (i am malala young readers edition .TXT) 📖

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 for 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