Night of Nyx (The Nightfall Chronicles 2.5) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Karpov Kinrade
New York, in anticipation of his welcome to Castle Vianney and his new appointment in the Four Orders. All three of his children have begun their training there, and while Corinne and Wytt are mostly amenable to his unexpected arrival, Kai is clearly displeased.
"If you're here now, then I don't need to be. I came to keep an eye on Corinne and Wytt. I have no desire to be a Knight of any Order," Kai says, ignoring the meal placed before him.
Corinne and Wytt exchange worried glances.
Thane Blackthorn, their dinner guest, slurps at his soup. Varian wishes Kai had chosen a more private environment for this encounter. While Thane may have been raised with the Ravens, he is not one of them and never will be. But Varian must play nice with the 24-year-old Knight, as they will be working together now.
Thane's long blond hair is tied back at the base of his head, and he tugs on the ponytail as he continues to slurp. Varian resists the urge to smack him.
"Kai," Varian says with as much patience as he can muster, "you are the Prince of Ravens, and as such you need to attend Castle Vianney and become a Knight in the Order that chooses you. This is not negotiable. It never has been. Many would give anything to change fates with you."
Kai slams his silver wear on the table. "Then let them. I don't want my spot, so give it to someone who does."
Varian clenches his teeth. He loves the boy more than most people realize, but sometimes he wants to wring his handsome neck.
Thane speaks, his mouth still full of food. "You going to let him talk to you like that? If it were my kid, grown man or not, I would slap him for that insubordination."
All three of the kids who, it is true, are now all adults, turn to stare at Thane. Kai stands and stares down the Knight. "You want to try that yourself? Be my guest."
Varian stands and slams his fist on the table. "Enough! " He turns to Thane. "You are with my family and you will not disrespect them in my presence, do you understand?"
Thane shrinks in his seat, and Kai looks over at his father, surprise on his face.
They lock eyes for a moment and Kai nods, his expression softening a moment, then turns and leaves the room.
Varian falls back into his seat, no longer hungry for dinner . He excuses himself and heads upstairs to his private suite. The furnishings are fit for a king, with Eden designs woven into the room. The fire is lit and the bed, a luxurious affair with silk sheets and bamboo blankets, is turned down. He ignores the bed and heads for the large balcony that overlooks New York, taking a small wooden box from his desk with him.
The night is crisp, reminiscent of fall rather than late summer.
He opens the box and pulls out a single white candle, which he lights and sets on the balcony. He inhales deeply, closing his eyes. "I wish you were here, my love. You were a better parent than I could ever be. I need you. The kids need you. Kai most of all. I wish I knew how to be what he needs. I miss you."
He hears footsteps behind him and smiles a tired smile. He knew this was coming. He just didn't know when. He turns to the figure cloaked in black, hidden behind a white mask.
"I've been expecting you, Nyx."
CHAPTER 5
"You're fighting a losing battle, Nyx. You always have been." Varian stands by the balcony, the white candle beside him flickering in the suddenly vicious wind. Rain begins to pour from the sky, drenching them both.
"You won’t have Nightfall," says Zorin. He doesn't wait for a response. He runs his body into Varian's and pushes him over the side of the balcony. Zorin's wings twirl around him, and he lands softly on the grass outside the villa. Varian rolls and lands on his feet. He wipes the mud from his face.
Zorin summons his sword and lunges.
Varian parries, and the ringing of steel fills the air. Thunder roars above.
And then the dance of death begins.
They move quickly, their blades clashing. To others, they would be little more than a
"If you're here now, then I don't need to be. I came to keep an eye on Corinne and Wytt. I have no desire to be a Knight of any Order," Kai says, ignoring the meal placed before him.
Corinne and Wytt exchange worried glances.
Thane Blackthorn, their dinner guest, slurps at his soup. Varian wishes Kai had chosen a more private environment for this encounter. While Thane may have been raised with the Ravens, he is not one of them and never will be. But Varian must play nice with the 24-year-old Knight, as they will be working together now.
Thane's long blond hair is tied back at the base of his head, and he tugs on the ponytail as he continues to slurp. Varian resists the urge to smack him.
"Kai," Varian says with as much patience as he can muster, "you are the Prince of Ravens, and as such you need to attend Castle Vianney and become a Knight in the Order that chooses you. This is not negotiable. It never has been. Many would give anything to change fates with you."
Kai slams his silver wear on the table. "Then let them. I don't want my spot, so give it to someone who does."
Varian clenches his teeth. He loves the boy more than most people realize, but sometimes he wants to wring his handsome neck.
Thane speaks, his mouth still full of food. "You going to let him talk to you like that? If it were my kid, grown man or not, I would slap him for that insubordination."
All three of the kids who, it is true, are now all adults, turn to stare at Thane. Kai stands and stares down the Knight. "You want to try that yourself? Be my guest."
Varian stands and slams his fist on the table. "Enough! " He turns to Thane. "You are with my family and you will not disrespect them in my presence, do you understand?"
Thane shrinks in his seat, and Kai looks over at his father, surprise on his face.
They lock eyes for a moment and Kai nods, his expression softening a moment, then turns and leaves the room.
Varian falls back into his seat, no longer hungry for dinner . He excuses himself and heads upstairs to his private suite. The furnishings are fit for a king, with Eden designs woven into the room. The fire is lit and the bed, a luxurious affair with silk sheets and bamboo blankets, is turned down. He ignores the bed and heads for the large balcony that overlooks New York, taking a small wooden box from his desk with him.
The night is crisp, reminiscent of fall rather than late summer.
He opens the box and pulls out a single white candle, which he lights and sets on the balcony. He inhales deeply, closing his eyes. "I wish you were here, my love. You were a better parent than I could ever be. I need you. The kids need you. Kai most of all. I wish I knew how to be what he needs. I miss you."
He hears footsteps behind him and smiles a tired smile. He knew this was coming. He just didn't know when. He turns to the figure cloaked in black, hidden behind a white mask.
"I've been expecting you, Nyx."
CHAPTER 5
"You're fighting a losing battle, Nyx. You always have been." Varian stands by the balcony, the white candle beside him flickering in the suddenly vicious wind. Rain begins to pour from the sky, drenching them both.
"You won’t have Nightfall," says Zorin. He doesn't wait for a response. He runs his body into Varian's and pushes him over the side of the balcony. Zorin's wings twirl around him, and he lands softly on the grass outside the villa. Varian rolls and lands on his feet. He wipes the mud from his face.
Zorin summons his sword and lunges.
Varian parries, and the ringing of steel fills the air. Thunder roars above.
And then the dance of death begins.
They move quickly, their blades clashing. To others, they would be little more than a
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