By Blood and Magic

by Jamie A. Waters

  Malek’s eyes narrowed. “You believe that’s why Aberforth had the entangler bite you? To see if you were strong enough to tend their plants?”

  She hesitated and then shrugged. It sounded absurd when he put it that way, but she couldn’t imagine any other reason why they’d need a Fae. “It’s possible. If I’m right, I’m not sure how insistent they’ll be in trying to keep me here—especially if they know the city is dying. I might be able to use my connection with Bane to force open the doorway again, but it depends on how much magic he has left. If we need to leave in a hurry, can you shift into dragon form and fly us out?”

  He frowned and placed his hand over hers. “Yes, but I can feel wards within this place that will make it more difficult. My magic is somehow being suppressed. I won’t be able to do an instantaneous shift, and I can’t travel extended distances without more rest. I’ll get you out of here one way or another.”

  Her home had similar wards in place to prevent dragons or outsiders from using foreign magic. Lifting them would be difficult, especially since she didn’t know how the original denizens of this city had formulated them. She’d never had a chance to learn about the wards before she’d been forced to flee Faerie.

  They were approaching the top of the spire. She’d need to remove the bubble surrounding them to prevent any suspicion. “How long will it take you to shift?”

  “Ten minutes, maybe less. If we run into trouble, I won’t be able to do anything while I’m in between forms.”

  She nodded. It wasn’t ideal, but at least they had an exit plan. “I have a really bad feeling about what they’ve done to keep the trees alive. There’s a sickness in them that’s beyond simply shattering the crystals. I’m hoping Blossom might learn something after she snoops around a bit. In the meantime, we need to be very careful with these people.”

  “I’m curious why they’re so frightened of you,” Malek said, studying the city below them. “You haven’t made any overt threats against them.”

  “They’re unwelcome squatters, and only a Fae can evict them,” Sabine said, pressing both hands against the crystal railing. It pulsed under her touch, responding to her magic. “The city doesn’t want them here, but they’re the closest thing to Fae this city has seen in more than a thousand years. That’s the only reason it’s tolerated their presence. I’m more concerned the city will try to keep me here.”

  Malek cocked his head and frowned. “You talk about the city as though it were alive.”

  “It is,” Sabine replied, running her hand over the crystal. A rainbow of color accompanied the gesture, a sign the city was pleased she was here. The lift stopped at the top, and Sabine lowered the soundproof shield around them.

  The door to the lift opened to a large balcony, offering an expansive view of the entire city and surrounding forest. Sabine walked across the balcony to the doorway of the central chamber. It was familiar enough that she recognized this building had been used as a meeting hall for the ruling family who’d controlled the city.

  As soon as she crossed the threshold, the colors in the chamber shimmered and changed. Instead of the clear crystals surrounding them, the walls had shifted to deep blues and silvers, the colors of her family’s line. The dancing fairy lights overhead twinkled like thousands of stars in the night sky. A crystal throne formed in front of them, beckoning her forward.

  A loud gong echoed throughout the city, and Sabine blew out a breath. Faerie had just declared her the ruler of this city and announced the queen of the Unseelie was in residence.

  She swallowed. “This is very bad. All of Faerie now knows I’ve returned—including my family.”

  “Is this why you’ve come? To try to claim our city for yourself?”

  Sabine spun around to face one of the True Folk Elders. His face was weathered and creased from the passage of time, and his mostly silver hair was tinged blue at the ends. He wore his power like a weighty mantle, and judging by the amount of silver on his skin and in his hair, he had a substantial amount of magic at his disposal.

  Lausianne ran into the room, breathing heavily as though she’d run the entire way to the top of the spire. Several other guards trailed behind her with their weapons drawn, and they fanned out into the chamber hall, trying to surround them. Sabine tensed, but she forced herself not to react outright. If they were wary of her and Malek before, they were now viewing them with outright hostility.

  Malek frowned and moved to stand in front of her in a protective stance. His hand slapped against his sword, and he demanded, “You’re Marsious?”

  “Impertinent dragon,” the Elder sneered, narrowing his eyes on Malek. “Your kind should have been purged from this world centuries ago. It speaks to how far the Fae have fallen if they’ve decided to make alliances with your kind.”

  “Enough,” Sabine snapped, bristling at the insult. She moved to stand beside Malek, placing her hand on his arm in a gesture of solidarity. Malek didn’t tear his gaze away from the Elder and the other True Folk, but his hand tightened on the hilt of his sword.

  “I will decide when it’s enough,” the Elder retorted, narrowing his eyes on her. “You’re the one who has come here and claimed this place as yours. This is our home, and you are only here because we will it.”

  Sabine had to force herself not to react. Instead, she studied the Elder carefully, suspecting his threat was originating from a place of fear. She’d hoped to ask about the sickness affecting the trees, but that was before the city had claimed her as its ruler.

  No matter how much she might wish it otherwise, she wasn’t sure she could extricate themselves from this mess peacefully. If these people feared losing their home, they might try to kill her and Malek to prevent that from happening.

  Keeping the True Folk off balance might be the only way to get through the next few minutes. She might be able to use the city’s magic to her advantage, especially if these people couldn’t tap into it. After so many years of hiding her identity, embracing her heritage now might be the only way to save them all.

  Sabine straightened, determined not to show them any sign of weakness. Focusing on the Elder, she said, “None may hold a piece of Faerie without its acquiescence. Whether I step aside as the city’s ruler is yet to be seen. Be very careful of your next words or they may be your last. As of this moment, you stand within my city and it obeys my commands.”

  The Elder scowled. After a moment, he inclined his head in acknowledgement of her words. “The city may have agreed you are its rightful ruler, but who can know whether it’s simply because you happen to be Fae? We have resided here for centuries, holding this city as our own.” He took a threatening step toward them. “Who are you, other than a would-be child usurper, to claim otherwise?”

  Malek’s entire body tensed, and she gently squeezed his arm in reassurance. His presence gave her a hefty dose of confidence, and she intended to use it. Turning away from the Elder as though he were of little consequence, she moved to stand upon the dais where the throne was located.

  Turning her back on him was a profound insult, and she normally never would have done it, but she needed to establish her dominance now that Faerie had acknowledged her as queen. If she deferred to the True Folk in any way, all the Unseelie would be forced to bend to their will—and that could never happen.

  She seated herself, and a tingle of magic surrounded her. The weight of the Unseelie crown settled on her head, a gift from Faerie itself. It took everything within her to keep her expression neutral and even bored. Faerie wanted to keep her here, and she needed to not only pacify the magic contained within the city but also the True Folk.

  “I am Sabin’theoria, daughter and heir of Queen Mali’theoria, and great-great-granddaughter of Theoria, first of the Fae and child of the goddess Lachlina and the god Vestior. I have been acknowledged by the Wild Hunt as the rightful ruler of the Unseelie and crowned by Faerie herself.” Infusing her voice with power, she leaned forward and demanded, “Who are you to stand within a
city of Faerie and dare call me a usurper?”

  The Elder blanched. Even Lausianne and the other guards appeared shaken by her announcement. He bowed low and said, “My name is Marsious, Your Highness. No disrespect was intended; however, it has been more than a thousand years since one of the Fae has entered this city.”

  Malek moved to stand beside her throne in a position that would afford him a tactical advantage if necessary. The Elder had backed down somewhat, but they were playing a dangerous game. If these people viewed her as a threat, they had the numbers to strike both of them down.

  It grated that she didn’t have enough magical knowledge to fight against people who dwarfed her not only in years but also in experience. Malek might be skilled with a sword, but she was uncertain how much he could help if it came down to a battle. His magic was still being suppressed by Faerie. Only their changed bond was allowing him to move throughout the city unharmed. It was imperative she find a peaceful way to turn this situation around to her advantage.

  Leaning back, she drummed her fingers upon the crystal armchair. The throne was uncomfortable, and she wished it wasn’t necessary to sit in it to make her point. Almost as soon as she had the thought, a pillow formed underneath her. She bit back a smile. She’d forgotten how Faerie magic could change to suit the whims of its rulers.

  “Marsious,” she began, deciding it would be best to soften her approach, “I haven’t come here to evict your people or even to rule over you. However, I need to understand a few things to make a determination on how to proceed. As one of the True Folk Elders, your wisdom and insight will be invaluable.”

  Marsious hesitated and then inclined his head. “Very well. What do you wish to know?”

  Sabine waved her hand, and another chair appeared. It was a small thing, but Marsious and the other True Folk stared at it in surprise. She had a moment to wonder how they’d managed to function in a magical city without the ability to tap into its power. Even the humans had resources at their disposal in the form of advancing technology, which made their existence easier. Without access to Faerie’s magic, these people would have had to cart in all sort of furniture, food, and even basic supplies from the outside world. The city wouldn’t have provided for them.

  She gestured for Marsious to have a seat and asked, “Will you tell me how your people came to this place?”

  Marsious sighed and settled in the chair. “How much do you know about the True Folk, Your Highness?”

  She frowned. “Sadly, very little.”

  He nodded as though unsurprised by her admission. “Most of our spellcasters are shapeshifters, able to live on both land and sea. During the Dragon War, we fought alongside your people, trying to push back the dragons’ advances. Not only did the dragons burn your precious forests to ash, but they also used their wings to beat back the waves, cutting us off from the sea and turning the entire area outside this city into a desert wasteland.”

  Sabine glanced at Malek. From the tight rigidity in his shoulders, she guessed he hadn’t heard this story. She hadn’t either, but her tutors had told her equally horrific tales of the destruction during the war.

  Marsious’s eyes took on a faraway cast, as though reliving the events once again. The thought gave her pause. If he’d been there during the war, he was among the most ancient of Elders. Even if Marsious didn’t intend any harm to her, Malek was in a great deal of danger. She couldn’t hope to protect Malek against an Elder who had centuries of knowledge and experience at his fingertips.

  “For more than a month, our people wandered in search of a haven. They were injured, starving, and the dragons still continued to rain fire from the skies. One of the Fae who had fought alongside us brought us here to wait out the siege, but he perished shortly afterward from his wounds. Since your people had already abandoned this city, we claimed this one for ourselves and have resided here ever since.”

  Sabine studied him carefully. On the surface, he appeared sincere. The True Folk couldn’t lie, but something warned her Marsious was hiding something. His words almost seemed rehearsed, and they lacked the depth of emotion she’d heard from Faerie Elders recounting their experiences during the war. It didn’t matter how long ago tragedy had occurred, the scars always remained.

  Malek frowned. “I can’t imagine what you or your people endured, but why didn’t you eventually try to return to the sea? It’s less than a few day’s walk from here.”

  Marsious glared at Malek. “I do not answer questions issued by a dragon. You are the reason we were forced from the sea.”

  Sabine’s hands tightened on the arms of her throne. Her heart went out to these people and what had occurred, but Malek wasn’t responsible. “The old ways are no more, Marsious. Malek is my ally, and he speaks on my behalf. Anything he wants to know should be treated as though I’m the one asking the question.”

  Malek regarded her with surprise, but she continued to focus on the Elder. They needed to present a united front, or these people would try to divide them. Other than Blossom, Malek was the only other person in this city she trusted implicitly.

  “Very well,” Marsious grumbled, eyeing Malek with distaste. “We are only able to retain our secondary form for a limited amount of time. If we do not return to the sea within one cycle of the moon, we lose the ability to shift forever. Our true home has been forever denied to us. Many of those living here have never known the sea’s embrace.”

  Sabine frowned. That must be why Ilwan had only given them until the next full moon to locate their missing Merfolk woman. If Pearl was here, she’d lose the ability to shift forever if she wasn’t returned to the ocean.

  “Marsious, let us speak frankly,” she said, deciding to try a different approach. “This city is dying. The trees are losing their leaves, and the magic within this pocket of Faerie is dwindling. It’s only a matter of time before it fails completely.”

  Marsious’s mouth formed a thin line. “I’m aware of the dissipating magic. It’s why I had Aberforth seek out and test anyone of Fae descent.”

  Aha. Sabine leaned back, not surprised her suspicion had been confirmed. Marsious had to know no one other than a true Fae could hope to revitalize the city. She was still missing something, and he wasn’t going to volunteer the information willingly.

  There were some benefits to living among the jaded and manipulative Faerie Elders for years. She’d learned to search beneath the surface of their words for the truth.

  “I’m afraid any Fae won’t be enough anymore,” she said, studying Marsious’s body language carefully for some insight into his true purpose. “The city is too far gone. Once the magic of this place has been depleted, you will no longer be able to travel back and forth using the doorways you’ve discovered. Your people will be trapped.”

  A few of the guards whispered among themselves. All of them seemed to defer to Marsious, but it was interesting that none of them, save Marsious, had any inkling something was wrong. She might be able to use that to her advantage later. She just wished she could read him better.

  “The doorway has been more difficult to open lately,” Marsious replied, glancing at his entourage with a frown. “Do you have a solution? Other than banishing us from the only home many of us have known?”

  Most of the guards had stiffened at this pronouncement. Sabine suspected Marsious was trying to paint her as a villain in this scenario. Perhaps he didn’t have as much authority here as he wanted. She wished she understood the dynamics within the city better. More than anything, she needed information. She hoped Blossom might discover something while she was snooping around the city.

  No matter what the pixie might learn, Sabine was running out of time. If her instincts were correct, she had maybe a couple of days before the Wild Hunt could be summoned again. She needed to be far away from this pocket of Faerie before that happened. They couldn’t afford to spend any more time catering to the Elder and his entourage.

  Determined to extricate themselves from this situation as qui
ckly as possible, Sabine shook her head and said, “I may not have a solution yet, but I have no wish to endanger your people by banishing them from this place. Give me this evening to commune with the land to determine the best course of action. We can reconvene in the morning to discuss our options.”

  Marsious studied her and then nodded. “Very well. I will leave Lausianne and these guards in your care to ensure your needs are met. I will see you tomorrow.”

  He rose from his chair and swept out of the room, stopping only to speak softly to Lausianne before he disappeared. Once he was gone, Lausianne approached and bowed low. “May I show you to your quarters, Your Highness?”

  Sabine didn’t answer right away. Since Faerie had already proclaimed her as queen, the city probably had its own ideas about the location of her quarters. But these people were already worried about what her presence might mean for their future. Until she could figure out a solution to save the city, they would continue to view her as a threat. Right now, they were backed into a corner and far more dangerous than she’d anticipated.

  She didn’t want to hurt anyone, but forcing them out of the city might be the best thing for the land. She couldn’t shake the impression these people had done something to corrupt the natural order of things.

  Deciding to play along for now, Sabine stood and said, “That will be fine.”

  Malek fell into step beside her, his hand still lingering on his weapon. Sabine could relate. She had to force herself not to reach for her knives as the group of guards trailed behind them.

  Sabine and Malek followed Lausianne out of the main chamber room and down a long hallway. They turned down several corridors until Lausianne stopped outside an ornate doorway. Crystals infused with Fae magic had been carved into the walls, and the sight was enough to make her relax. With the city as her unconventional ally, they should be able to escape from the room if necessary.