Trigger warnings for the whole book, especially later on: abusive relationship, human experimentation, dubious consent (due to manipulation), death and murder, violence, war, depression and trauma, graphic sex scene(s)

Fennrin took a deep breath as more soldiers rushed at him, fear in their eyes as he raised his arm. Fennrin would feel bad for them if not for how often he did this now. The fear almost fueled him in a way.

Before they could get close enough to stab him, he clenched his hand into a fist, breaking their necks in such a quick succession that their deaths were almost instantaneous. Fennrin didn't watch their bodies fall to the grassy ground, already moving to his next target on the battlefield and killing more, Lys-Akkaria's soldiers easily recognizable by their new armor and weapons Fennrin and Ainreth had made. They were practically shining in the morning sun, the lightforged plating incredibly reflective.

Lys-Akkaria was already about to win, Orinovo's soldiers pushed back, no matter what they did, their attempt at creating barricades failing immediately when Fennrin ripped their shadows apart.

Orinovo already had a name for him, after these two months of losing to Lys-Akkaria at every turn—Notsisyk. Or Nightrazer, in Akkarian. Fennrin had been upset to hear that he'd gained such a dark nickname, especially next to Ainreth's Daybreaker one, but after finding out the Lys-Akkarian soldiers seemed to like it, seeing it as a badge of honor, Fennrin had accepted it, too.

Having killed every enemy near him, Fennrin turned around, finding Ainreth burning his way through a crowd of Orinovan soldiers, sending his too-bright light at them in an arch, forcing them to uselessly try to shield themselves from it.

When Fennrin saw Ain finish the soldiers off, was about to turn his attention to pushing Orinovo back, deeper into their own territory, but then he noticed two archers, fairly far away. But even then he could tell they were about try to shoot Ainreth. He wasn't fast enough to stop them from letting their arrows fly, but he was quick enough to grab their shadows mid-flight, turning them around and throwing them back at their owners, stabbing them both with them.

Fennrin nodded at Ainreth then, about to join the fray again, only stopped by Ainreth's red face and dazed expression. The lightweaver seemed to recover quickly though, grinning at Fennrin.

"Thanks, liri! I owe you one."

Fennrin snorted, running to a group of their soldiers fighting Orinovo's, making short work of them when he reached them, though not short enough to save all of people. One of Lys-Akkaria's soldiers went down, having been run through with a sword, before Fennrin could have reached them.

He grimaced but kept going, knowing there were many more to help and fight. Orinovo had very quickly realized that they couldn't let Lys-Akkaria attack at night, given that then Fennrin was nearly unstoppable, which was unfortunate. It would make things a lot easier, and no good people would have to die during these battles.

Fennrin almost reached more soldiers to fight when Orinovo sounded that familiar horn—the signal to retreat. And so he stopped, seeing the terrified soldiers run for their lives. Perhaps they would soon start deserting, despite the harsh punishment it can lead to in Orinovo, some soldiers even being put to death from what Fennrin had heard.

Turning back to look for Ainreth, he didn't have to look for long when he saw the man running to him from the distance, waving at him with a grin on his face. A grin that Fennrin had to return, walking toward him as well, spreading him arms just as Ainreth reached him and tackled him into a hug.

It was almost a post-battle tradition at this point. Ainreth liked hugging him and did so any chance he got, much to Fennrin's delight, but there was something special about being embraced after being in danger.

Yes, he did sometimes feel unstoppable, and every battle they'd taken part in had been much easier than it should have been with both of them using their powers to fight, but it was still a situation that could end badly for them.

"You did so well, Fenn. I watched you cut your way through them, you know."

Fennrin chuckled. It was quite sweet that Ainreth was so supportive, even if the subject of support was killing. But it was necessary.

Even though they could have kept to their original border and assumed Orinovo wouldn't try anything again, this was the right thing to do. Fennrin was sure of it. Just like Daryan had said, the people living in these outskirt territories hadn't been treated well, and they had been sure to express their happiness at being freed.

It still made Fennrin's head spin to have anyone treat him as a savior, a hero. But the locals certainly did, not even seeing the whole Lys-Akkarian army as heroes, or just Ainreth, but Fennrin specifically. It was strange, but Fennrin couldn't help but soak it in. Being hated and feared his whole life, this was just too euphoric to not indulge himself.

"And you stopping that arrow mid-flight?" Ainreth said, full of awe, bringing Fennrin back to reality. "You showing off like that really does things to me, you know?"

Fennrin blushed, smiling shily while Ain chuckled, his cheeks pinking as well. Fennrin was getting better at handling all the innuendos Ainreth threw his way, but it was still a work in progress. Though the fact that Ainreth said things like this so often did make it easier to grow somewhat used to it.

"We'll have to deal with that in our tent later," Ainreth said, snorting, bringing Fennrin into another embrace, putting his head on his shoulder. Fennrin hugged back immediately, kissing Ain's cheek.

It was wonderful how such displays of affection seemed so easy and casual to Fennrin now. A little dizzying still when Fennrin thought about it, but wonderful.

"Very well," he replied, smiling. "Though we need to make more armor and weapons first."

That was almost all they'd been doing since they'd found out about their joint ability to create matter, aside from fighting the enemy soldiers. No books they'd gone through upon finding out had mentioned it existing, and so they'd decided to name it lightforging, combining the names of their az-ari types. But no one aside from Fennrin seemed to care much about lightforging aside from one thing—the matter it produced was light and incredibly durable.

And the Bulwark had immediately given them the task of outfitting the entire army. They had quite a long way to go, still, though the army they were conquering territory with was relatively modest, only around a thousand soldiers. There was no need for it to be bigger, after all, not with him and Ainreth here.

"Ugh, fine, we'll make some swords before we make love. If that will make you happy."

Fennrin rolled his eyes playfully, knowing that Ain was joking, though he couldn't help but be a little annoyed that he was implying this was all on Fennrin. They both had a task to deal with, and Fennrin was the only one trying to be responsible.

All of this left his head when Ainreth kissed him sweetly before taking Fennrin's hand into his own and leading him away from the battlefield, heading back toward the border. Fennrin could see a part of the border wall from here, tiny in the distance.

Fennrin wasn't entirely certain where Ain was leading him at first, knowing that the tents were in the opposite direction, but it became clear soon enough when he noticed the other five generals gathered in a group, talking to each other with a map held by one of them.

When they reached them, the group barely seemed to notice, very seriously discussing casualties, which made Fennrin belatedly embarrassed about his actions just a moment prior. Here he was being affectionate with his lover on a battlefield good people had met their end on. It was very disrespectful, though Ainreth didn't seem bothered in the slightest, inserting himself into the conversation easily.

"How many did we lose?"

"Twenty is the current number," one of the female generals said. Fennrin didn't know any of their names, much to his embarrassment. He was sure they had been told to him, but he just hadn't retained them.

Ain hummed seriously, squeezing Fennrin's hand. Twenty casualties would be incredible under normal circumstances, but given how much they'd been beating Orinovo at every turn, it was quite a high number in comparison to the other battles.

"We've been getting too careless," another general said, nodding to himself. "But that doesn't matter now. This was the last piece of land that belonged to Lys-Akkaria prior to Orinovo taking it over ten years ago."

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Both Fennrin's and Ainreth's eyebrows flew up. "Already? I thought there was still a part we needed to take back."

"That land is uninhabited," replied the man. "We agreed not to pursue it since our mission here is to free our people, and that only. I'm sure you and your work ethic agree, Tyr-Naralyn?"

Fennrin scowled at the general while Ainreth rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. I'm lazy. As if I haven't been doing half the fighting here."

"Actually, I think our shadowforger friend here was doing most of the work," added another general, which made Fennrin duck his gaze a little. That was a bit too much praise for him to handle with eye contact still.

"That's not true. But I'm happy to do what I can to help."

The general raised her eyebrow at the response, looking from Fennrin to Ainreth. "And here I thought it was only power that made you so arrogant, Daybreaker. I stand corrected."

The generals chuckled, including Ainreth, while Fennrin narrowed his eyes, wanting to defend his boyfriend.

"Let's not start comparing egos, friends," Ain said, laughing before pulling Fennrin away again. "Now if you'll excuse us, we're going to go celebrate our victory over Orinovo. Don't come knocking."

Everyone groaned while Fennrin's whole face went red, tensing up with embarrassment as he ducked his head. "Dammit, Ain."

"Yeah, don't worry. No one wants to walk in on you two."

Ainreth just chuckled in response, giving Fennrin a kiss on the cheek before pulling him along toward the tents. Fennrin didn't resist, wanting to get away from this situation immediately. He wished he was as unashamed as Ain was about sex, but he couldn't help but see it as too private to discuss like this. And he didn't want anyone else knowing about what they did in their private lives, either.

"Aw, are you mad at me?" Ain asked, his voice that of mock sulking, making Fennrin shake his head at how ridiculous the other man was. And how much it just made Fennrin love him more.

"I just don't like it when—"

"I make hints, yes. Sorry, liri, it's hard to resist." Ainreth moved his hand so that his arm was now around Fennrin's waist. "I just can't not brag about getting to be with you at every turn."

Whatever annoyance Fennrin was feeling disappeared with those words, far too touched to manage it anymore. All he could do was stare at Ainreth, smiling at him softly, more than likely looking like a love-struck fool.

"Now come on, let's go to our tent, eh?" Ain suggested, making Fennrin let out an amused huff.

"Really? Right now?" Fennrin didn't want to disappoint him, but they had just finished battling Orinovo, and he was neither in the mood nor did he have the energy. But Ainreth rolled his eyes before planting a kiss to Fennrin's temple.

"To cuddle, Fenn." Then he raised an eyebrow. "Unless...."

Fennrin shook his head, smiling. "Cuddling sounds wonderful."

Somehow the moment they entered the tent and lay down, Fennrin's exhaustion from the battle caught up with him, and sleeping was starting to sound like a glorious option, despite not having planned anything like that at all when they'd come back here.

Even their bedrolls were comfortable right now, his body clearly not caring where it would rest as long as it got to do it, and especially with Ain's arms around him. He was usually tired after battles, but something about this one felt so final. They'd done what they'd set out to do, and that felt amazing. Now all they had to do was hold their new territory, but he doubted Orinovo would try anything. Not with him and Ainreth defending the border.

"Do you ever wonder what other power we might have without being aware of it?" Ain muttered as he played with Fennrin's ponytail. He did that a lot, and usually people touching his hair didn't agree with Fennrin, but when Ainreth did it, it made his heart all soft and warm.

"It has occurred to me," Fennrin replied, shrugging. "But I don't know how we could possibly find out outside of an accident. Like with lightforging."

Ain hummed, propping himself up on his elbow. "But speaking of lightforging, I've been thinking. We could maybe make something for ourselves with it. Something fun."

Fennrin wasn't entirely sure what Ainreth was imagining, but between the smirk, the hooded eyes, and Ainreth in general being Ainreth, Fennrin was sure it was somehow related to their lovemaking.

"So much for cuddling," he teased, to which Ain rolled his eyes, his smirk still in place.

"We are cuddling, aren't we?" he pretended to complain, snorting.

Fennrin wanted to make fun of him further, but before he could, someone outside was calling Ainreth's name. The lightweaver groaned, hugging Fennrin closer to himself.

"Not right now!" he called back, burying his face in Fennrin's chest, but the woman outside wasn't deterred.

"Sir, I'm very sorry to bother you, but this is important," her somewhat muffled voice said, making Fennrin sigh. When Ain didn't move an inch, he decided to take things into his own hands and get up, ruining Ainreth's cuddling for him, no matter how much Fennrin's legs didn't want to let him stand right now.

Ainreth grumbled something under his breath, walking over to the tent entrance and pulling the fabric that had been covering it up aside, revealing a soldier, who immediately saluted. "What?"

"Sir!" She bowed her head at him shortly. "A local is asking to talk to you, general. He says he is a deserter from the Orinovan army, and that he has information. But he only wants to talk to you."

Ainreth looked back at Fennrin. The lightweaver seemed a little suspicious, and Fennrin couldn't help but agree as he joined Ain's side. This could very well be a trap, especially given the man apparently former allegiance to the Orinovan army.

But soon enough Ain shrugged, nodding. "Fine, let's get this over with. Show us to him, then."

The soldier hesitated. "Um, he said he wanted to speak to you only, sir."

"Where I go, Fenn goes," Ainreth said adamantly, making Fennrin's heart flutter. It was so foolishly romantic that he couldn't even get himself to point out he would be fine waiting.

The soldier didn't seem convinced, but she nodded anyway, not questioning her superior, turning around and walking in the direction of the tents. Fennrin's curiosity built up more and more as they, after quite a while of walking among the sea of tents, continuing on until they were standing in front of one of them, unremarkable aside from having two guards standing in front of it.

The guards nodded at Ain when they noticed him, stepping aside to let the two of them in. Fennrin frowned as he entered after Ainreth, ducking under the red sheet of canvas that made up the tent, only to see a young, far too thin, brown-haired man in somewhat ragged, patched-up clothing sitting on the carpet inside.

He immediately got up when he saw Ainreth, bowing to him.

"Daybreaker. Thank you for agreeing to come see me." He truly did sound grateful, Fennrin noted, frowning at the man when the stranger turned his surprised eyes to Fennrin. "Oh, and Notsisyk." The man bowed his head to him as well, muttering: "Of course. Like day and night, they can never be separate."

Ainreth chuckled even as Fennrin pulled a face, not sure he liked the cultish energy emanating from that sentence. Was that how the Orinovans talked about the two of them? As if they weren't even human?

"Ah, those are going to be my wedding vows," Ain said, making Fennrin do a double take, forgetting his discomfort at being talked about like a force of nature. "But let's get to the point. You said you have information?"

The man nodded quickly. "Yes. About what the queen has been doing." He shook his head. "I'm certain you have noticed by now that Orinovo has several soldiers capable of using more az-ari powers at once."

Fennrin and Ainreth both nodded, eager to hear more about this. Fennrin hadn't thought the man would have information concerning this enigma, but now that he knew it to be the case, he was incredibly curious. And also quite worried about what the explanation might be.

"Before I do tell you, though...." The man paused, clearing his throat, his expression pulled into a grimace. "I asked for you because I know you to be honorable and trustworthy. Perhaps more willing to believe me. And certainly more than powerful enough to not put me in jail for my involvement in the Orinovan army in exchange?"

Fennrin frowned, not having even realized that had been a possibility. Ain narrowed his eyes, though, confirming to Fennrin that perhaps he should have known better.

"I won't even ask what you did or what your position was to warrant that fear," Ain said, his voice hard and serious, the kind of tone that never failed to make Fennrin a little shocked. "Sure. Consider yourself pardoned. Now tell us everything you know."

The man nodded. "Okay, so, you didn't hear this from me, but Orinovo has been running some kind of experimental program for its soldiers. Only volunteers. And only very high-ranking people, like the kapetan."

Fennrin looked over at Ainreth then, his heart clenching in discomfort when Ain turned his guarded, worried eyes to him. Fennrin wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but hearing it didn't make him feel much better.

The deserter clearly noticed because he nodded again. "You've seen it, haven't you? How he controls fire and the air. You must have fought him."

"What experimentation? How does it work?" Ainreth demanded without bothering to answer the question. It was clear what the answer was, anyway.

The man shrugged. "I don't know. It's only a rumor I've heard. Supposedly there is a facility the experimentation takes place in, but I don't know where. I wasn't high-ranking enough to qualify, not that I would be interested even if I was." The man shuddered, and Fennrin couldn't help but agree.

Even though the idea of somehow giving az-ari powers to regular people was interesting, the idea of being experimented on to achieve it also terrified him. And what if the queen managed to create lightweavers? Or shadowforgers? Lys-Akkaria's advantage would be gone, their people taken over by its eastern neighbor yet again.

"Anything else?" Ainreth asked, but the man shook his head.

"Sorry, that is all I know."

"Then you can go."

The deserter nodded again, smiling, relieved. "Thank you. Oh, and thank you for freeing my home region, too. I can finally go home without being worried Orinovo will come to kill me and my family for deserting."

Fennrin felt a bit of pride warm his heart, but if Ain agreed with him on that wasn't clear because his face didn't change, still just as serious, now with a scowl, too.

"Sure. Go home, then."

As the deserter left the tent, Ainreth sighed, running a hand through his hair, his shoulders slumped. Fennrin immediately wanted to hug him, but he was too tense for that, and he suspected they both were.

"We need to find that facility and stop this," he said when Ain stayed silent for a moment too long. "Clearly whatever experimentation the queen is doing is working."

Ainreth huffed out a sad laugh, which surprised Fennrin enough to blink at him. "I really wanted to take a break."

Fennrin frowned, displeased that this was what Ainreth was upset about. "This is important. We can't just go on a vacation while—"

"I know," Ainreth said, smiling at him as he put his hand on Fennrin's face, cradling it in his palm. "You're right. We'll take a break after we finish saving Lys-Akkaria again. But I get to pick where we go."

Fennrin snorted, shaking his head, though he couldn't help but smile. Ainreth was so ridiculous, and it was impossibly endearing. "Sure."

Ain smiled back, a glowing aura spread out from his body like it always did when he was happy. He leaned in, kissing Fennrin softly and quickly before taking his hand into his own.

"Okay. Let's go be heroes again, then."