Dark Fae Cursed (Broken Court Book 1)

by Heather Renee

  The king’s island was mostly tropical. No crops were grown here, and it reminded me more of a resort than a land for the people. The castle was opal and obnoxious. Though, even with the bright exterior color, there was an ominous feeling about the structure with its dark roof, turrets, spires, and many windows that only allowed for seeing out, not in.

  I could only make out the tops of the turrets as I walked through white sands, then onto grass as I pulled my wings in. I needed to leave those hidden at all costs. Other feather-winged fae like me didn’t live by the king’s laws, only the few that the reigning supernatural council enforced. There were no second chances with them, and I was glad I’d never been on their radar before.

  The other fae with wings like mine were more nomadic than anything. While I had a strong dislike for most people, I still preferred to be among other magical beings, living life freely.

  As soon as I was within the confines of the small tree forest around the island, I checked my pockets. I had a dagger for discreetness if needed. I had two vials from the trunk with a spell that would make the fae sick. Lastly, I made sure my blue attire was in place.

  My pants were loose to hide the items I carried, and the top was tight to show off my curves. Fae weren’t prudes, so it would have called attention if I tried to blend in “too” much.

  Once I was sure there was nothing left to chance, I exited the tree line and headed for the main gate.

  West Island wasn’t open to all like the other land masses. The guards monitored every fae in and out of the marketplace. Lucky for me, I had a few other identities that would pass their questioning, but each of them could only be used once and needed the glamor Maddox had provided.

  The brick wall curved around, and a guard spotted me. I kept my head up, acting as if I belonged there. He stepped out from his post, no weapon in hand, but his metal-grey leather wings were on full display.

  “What brings you to the castle today, miss?” he asked politely, but I could see the suspicion in his russet eyes.

  Using my best British accent, I replied, “I’m visiting from England. I try to come once every few years and visit the markets, but I will admit, it’s been a while. I see things have changed some since I was last here. Do I need to request a visit and come back?”

  Pretending to be okay with not being invited in would hopefully ease any distrust. It wasn’t uncommon for some fae to live outside of the realm.

  “What is your name?” he asked, pulling out a small device.

  “Maribel Justad. I was born from parents that lived on East Island, but they had a falling out with my uncle before I was born, and I’ve never lived here.”

  When the guard searched for Justad, he would find three fae with that last name. All three dead. All three by my hand.

  “Where are your parents now?” he asked while keeping one eye on me and the other on the screen.

  I grabbed at my chest, sighing. “They were attacked after my uncle requested their presence several years back. It’s why I haven’t been back in so long. This place is painful for me.”

  He nodded, and I knew he was confirming every detail on that screen. The king was a psychopath, through and through. He had information on every fae who’d ever lived on these lands.

  “Well, it doesn’t appear your parents ever registered you. I’ll just need to get your information and you can enter.” He held up the device and took a picture of me. Too bad for them, I’d never look like this again.

  He asked evasive questions about my medical and family history, all of which I made up answers to, and then had me sign my name. “Next time you come back, this won’t be an issue. Thank you for not being difficult. Your kind don’t usually care for the questions.”

  Ah, my kind. Dark fae. Not even the glamor could hide who I really was.

  Instead of replying, I merely smiled and walked past him. Another guard pressed a button and the titanium gate unlocked. Pushing through, I didn’t hesitate and enjoyed the sound of the locks reengaging.

  My first stop would be the well. That was the main water source for all of the people who lived within the walls of West Island. I had two vials of the same spell; one of them would be used on the well, while the other would be snuck into the food at the individual stands in the market.

  There was a line at the well, and I stole a bucket on my way. Fae chatted idly around me, none seeming to be hating their life, and I wondered if Finn had been lying when he mentioned the loyalty on West Island being weak.

  But as I glanced around, I slowed my gaze, really focusing, and found the changes. More guards roamed the streets. Fae smiled, but when I looked closer, I could see the strain in their eyes. The king had been wicked and was going to make my job so much easier. Well, as long as they truly were at their breaking point.

  I needed the people to start a revolt. Without their unknowing help, things would get a lot messier.

  A throat cleared. “Miss Justad, it’s your turn.”

  Damn, the security had come a long way in three years. My picture had already been shared with the other guards. Maybe this wouldn’t be as easy as I thought.

  I pretended to drop my bucket. “Oh my. I’m sorry. It’s been a long trip to get here. I just needed some water for my parched throat.”

  The bastards didn’t even offer to help. Though, it worked for me. I pulled one vial from my pants and poured it into the bucket before I stood back up. If I couldn’t dump the contents directly into the well, I’d have to be creative.

  He watched my every move as I dropped the bucket into the well and brought it back up. “Well, that’s just too much for me to drink on my own.” I blushed at the guard and poured the water back in, hopefully along with the poison.

  He grunted. “Your bucket is empty again. Please refill it and move on before we have to ask you to leave.”

  I gave him a meek smile and did just that before striding toward the market. The area was placed just in front of the castle, and I didn’t hide my attempts to gawk at the structure. Considering I was supposed to be visiting, it would only be normal.

  The entire area, including the castle and market, was surrounded by a brick exterior wall that had been there since before I was born. But what was new was the secondary wall separating the castle from everything else, using the same brick material. Though, they didn’t stop with the wall; there were also barbed wires running up and over the barrier that I was certain wouldn’t feel good to tangle with.

  After I took in the new addition, I watched the guards. There were a dozen of them spread along the castle wall, another six walking the public areas, and I spotted an additional four just beyond the entrance to the castle. More than twenty fae stood in my way of getting to the king, but hopefully that wouldn’t be the case after I was finished with all the phases of my plan.

  Moving along, I smiled politely at the fae behind their tables selling fresh goods and items. They each wore worry lines that they tried to hide with smiles, and guilt assaulted me that I used to be the cause of their concerns.

  My head shook. No, I wouldn’t have sympathy for them. They could have stood up to the king long ago. These people had made their choice, and now I was making mine.

  Striding up to the first bread station I found, I made sure to use my accent again and convinced the fae to show me how he made his bread.

  “Of course, just come around the table,” he offered after I showed my curiosity.

  With the secondary vial in hand, I waited until his back was to me before I turned around and sprinkled several drops of the bottle over the bread on the table. Then, as I tucked the poison away, I brought my hands to my head and swayed a little. “Oh, you’ll have to excuse me. I must go sit down.”

  I didn’t let him reply before I ventured back into the walkway and headed toward my next mark. First was the bread, then I’d find the fruits and vegetables before using whatever I had left over on the dairy. Thankfully, with this poison, a little went a long way.

 
; This was the third time I’d used it for various reasons, and the results had always been satisfactory. The only disappointing part this time was that I wouldn’t be around to witness the effects in person.

  The next table I found was manned by two older women arguing over whose husband was worse than the other’s. They had the produce I was looking for and didn’t give me a second glance as I pretended to inspect the melons.

  “And the toilet seat! He knows I have a small bladder and go to the bathroom at all hours of the night. If I fall in one more time, he’s going to be missing some body parts,” the blonde complained.

  “Oh, you think that’s bad? What about the empty jars of food? Every time I go to get milk, it’s gone! The ungrateful bastard doesn’t ever offer to fill it either. It’s not like the heifer is a mile away.”

  I snickered as I finished the job. Gods, those women had no clue about real world problems.

  After stopping at five more tables, I’d emptied the vial. It was time to head back to Finn’s farm. I turned to leave, and the same guard who’d allowed me through the gate approached.

  He eyed my arms. “You’ve been here for over an hour, and you’ve bought nothing. Why is that?”

  “Well, you must have missed me earlier when I’d eaten a lovely salad from Serene two aisles down, and if you’d like to check with the guards at the well, I’m sure they’ll remember I was there for water. My trip home is long, and I can’t bring items with me. My visit this time was purely for finding my heritage again. I intend to come back and make a longer stay now that I know the grief won’t drown me when visiting the last place my parents were alive.”

  I rambled, maintaining my sweet British accent and smiling up at the guard whose face wasn’t nearly as nice to look at as Finn’s.

  I groaned internally. Where had that thought come from? I would not mix business with pleasure, no matter how delicious the darkness in him had tasted.

  The guard appraised me once more, but I wasn’t nervous. He had nothing on me. Unless the king had turned his men completely ruthless, I was walking out of the marketplace of my own accord.

  “Where are you headed now?” he asked.

  I raised a brow, showing the real me for the first time all afternoon. “Why? Are you inviting me somewhere?”

  He choked and sputtered. “I-you… No, miss. I wasn’t.”

  This fae had no idea how to handle a real woman.

  “Disappointing. Well, maybe I’ll see you next time I visit.” I patted him on the chest, successfully avoiding having to weave more lies into my story, and brushed against him as I passed by, heading toward the gate.

  Exiting the compound was almost too easy. That was until I glanced back one last time and my eyes met that of my worst enemy.

  King Easton Zephyr stood in the middle of the market, his familiar shit-brown eyes glaring at me as the guard I’d just flirted with babbled on, likely about me.

  I wasn’t ready to face the king, but I did take an extra second to soak in the changes he’d gone through over the last three years. I wouldn’t have thought he’d willingly go through the motions of transitioning to the After Years stage, but there were grey streaks through his previously flawless auburn hair and wrinkles not only around his eyes, but forehead and mouth, too. Gone was the strong man I once feared, and in his place was a stranger I still hoped to kill.

  All of the extra security suddenly made more sense.

  Whoever had poisoned the bastard had shaken the king to his core. He was clearly already paranoid, and I couldn’t wait to push him over the edge.

  Chapter 16

  When I arrived back at the farm, already having removed my glamor, Finn and Neva were waiting for me outside. Finn held no emotion in his face, just a dead stare that had me nervous. Feeling nothing was worse than being furious. Neva, on the other hand, was elated.

  “Where have you been?” she asked after lunging at me.

  I patted her back awkwardly. “Out. Did I miss anything?” My eyes met Finn’s, and I finally saw a flare of emotion, but I couldn’t decipher what it was.

  “Poor Ivy had an episode. The poison in her causes her body to go into convulsions when under stress,” Neva answered.

  Ah, the pissed-off vibe I was beginning to pick up from Finn was making sense.

  Finn crossed his arms. “Yeah, she had one right after we realized you were gone, and nobody had a clue as to where you might have run off to.”

  I pried Neva from my side and waved my hand. “I told you I had part one ready for torturing King Zephyr. I didn’t need help, so I went and took care of it.”

  “What does that mean?” Finn snapped.

  “It means that small traces of poison are now all over the produce in the market, and the well has been contaminated.” I glanced at my non-existent watch. “I’d say by nightfall, the effects will begin to show.”

  “How?” Finn said through clenched teeth.

  I waltzed toward him and trailed my nail down his bicep. “You want to know my secrets, you better start telling me some of yours.” I couldn’t help myself from messing with him when he made it so easy most of the time. Even when I knew it was a bad idea.

  Without waiting for a reply, I headed into the house. Maddox was just coming from the hallway, and his shoulders released some tension. “Glad to see you’re back.”

  I nodded. “Do you have any business at the castle within the next couple of days?” I still wasn’t sure I could trust him, but he hadn’t told the others where I’d been, so I’d tread carefully for the time being and use him when I could. I had to remember he may have only kept my secret because he didn’t want to get yelled at by Ivy for helping me.

  “I could probably make a trip. Why?” he asked, and Finn brushed past me, waiting for the answer as well.

  “I need to know how things are looking on West Island, but I won’t be able to return myself. Finn doesn’t seem to know when to bend the rules, but something tells me you won’t have as much of an issue with that.” That was the only hint he’d get from me that I saw past the sweet fiancé persona he put on around the others.

  He grinned. “I don’t bend the rules. I’m just better at keeping my temper in check. I’ll make my way there tomorrow after I’ve tended to my own land. Speaking of, my day hasn’t gone quite how I planned. I need to get back.” He turned toward Finn. “Ivy is sleeping. Probably best to leave her that way for as long as she’s able. She’ll want to see Lucinda when she wakes as well.”

  Finn grumbled, but I stopped listening. Instead, I went to my chair and took a seat. It had been a productive day, and I was ready to relax while I awaited news of phase one.

  Except, every time I closed my eyes to do just that, all I saw was the king staring back at me.

  The first time Maddox tried to go inside the marketplace, he was turned away unless he had something to offer the people. So, when we’d sent him back the following day with one of his workers, we made sure he had plenty to offer, including several crates of lettuce, corn, and fresh water.

  He had been gone for three hours, and I was bouncing on my toes waiting for him to get back. Not because I worried for him, but because I needed to know how King Zephyr was reacting, along with the other fae. The whole point of phase one was to make the people second-guess the king’s ability to keep them safe. I needed them to question everything.

  Gods, how I wished I could have gone myself, but with their heightened security, my attempts at sneaking in would have to be few and far between.

  “Ms. Lucinda?” Neva said from across the room.

  “Yeah?”

  She pointed at me. “I think Beatrix’s spell is beginning to wear off. I can feel your magic from over here.”

  I glanced down and saw the swirls of teal dancing around my body and following my curves. Well, at least I’d made it close to the castle once without being outed. Now that I thought about it, the guard who let me in shouldn’t have even known I was a dark fae. The spell must have been
lifting even then.

  I called my magic back to me and stuffed it down. If the block was gone and I used my power, then there was a good chance the king’s guards would find me quicker than I was hoping for.

  “What does that mean?” Finn asked.

  “If anyone is looking for me and is familiar with my brand of magic, then they’ll be able to find me. Let’s just hope nobody thinks to search for me during the chaos.” I winked at him and moved toward the window. Still no Maddox in sight.

  Gods, I hated that I couldn’t trust him fully. Ivy was doing better and swore he was nothing other than good, but she was in love. Emotions like that made people do and believe in stupid shit. It was why I’d decided to stop testing the boundaries with Finn. Well, as much as I was capable of anyway.

  After his little show the other day, I had a hard time forgetting how he’d felt pressed against me with his tongue working its magic.

  Finn hadn’t mentioned it again and, since I’d been so focused on phase one, neither had I. Maybe it was for the best.

  “He’s here,” Ivy announced as she came from the hallway. She’d spent a lot of time in bed and away from me at Finn’s demand. Apparently, I wasn’t good for her health.

  Finn opened the door, and I followed him out. There wasn’t a chance in hell I’d let him hear what happened before me.

  They shook hands, and Maddox nodded to me. “I don’t know what you used, but that whole area stunk like death.”

  “Are people dying?” Finn snarled and glared at me.

  Maddox grinned. “No, but they certainly wish they were. They’ve got bodily fluids coming out both holes, and a lot of it is being dumped on the castle gates. They’re demanding he find someone to heal them, but the king killed nearly all of the healers when he was sick, and the rest fled except for Ivy.”

  This was working even better than I thought.