Shadowborn Academy: Year Two (Dark Fae Academy Series Book 2)

by G. Bailey

  “Why did you bring me here, Your Majesty? You knew I grew up with humans and would never tolerate the hunt.”

  We step into what can only be the heart of the crypt. Flickering candles surround the vaults. An altar decorated in dark roses has been mounted to the wall. Enshrined within the glass is a black crown with ebony jewels that reflect the light. Narah glides over to it, her coat trailing the floor behind her.

  “This is why I brought you here today. I wanted to show you what you will one day carry upon your head when you rule my kingdom.”

  I approach the altar slowly, taking everything in. “This is my crown?”

  “I had it made when you were still in my womb. Unfortunately, I was never able to show you until now.” She turns to me, her tone markedly softer. “My hands are not without blood and my conscience will never be clear, Corvina, but make no mistake when I say that I am not the monster you should be afraid of in this forest.”

  “Then who should I be afraid of?” I peel my eyes off the crown to look at her.

  “You already know the answer.” She casts a glance at the bracelet on my wrist, the one King Ulric gave me to restrain my wings. “Be careful and wise from now on. You are no longer in a world where light outshines the dark. In this forest, in these kingdoms, the darkness always wins. It is up to us to decide what to do with it once it does. Either we save lives…or we take them away.”

  She pulls something out from her coat pocket. My heart freezes when I see what it is. It’s my blue dolly—the one I carried every day with me when I was human.

  When my world hadn’t burned to the ground.

  The queen found-and kept-my dolly all this time? Before I can utter a word, she vanishes into a cloud of smoke, leaving me alone with my haunted memories, and my future crown.

  “I am utterly confused as to what you have turned your apple into, Princess Corvina.” Ivywood peers over my shoulder, assessing my work. I drop my hands and let the magic go, leaving the once apple as an ice lolly shaped like a teddy bear. “Is it some kind of confectionary?”

  “Ice lolly. I had them a lot as a child with my friend,” I reply to her, telling her something personal I wouldn’t usually. After another particularly bad dream about Sage, she is all I can think about today. My ravens woke me up to tell me they don’t have any good news. Not anything at all. It’s like she’s just vanished from the face of the forest.

  Ivywood moves to my side and stares at me. “Your father and mother are making good time on searching the forest for your friend. She will be found,” she says, as though she can read my thoughts. I wouldn’t be surprised if she could.

  “But no one can promise how she will be found,” I reply sourly.

  Ivywood tilts her head to the side, running her eyes over my own for a second.

  “We are all taught as children not to run into the Enchanted Forest because it takes and hides fae for fun. Maybe your shadowborn friend is being kept safe by the forest until the right time.” Her reply shocks me. It’s almost kind. Almost. “I sympathise with your situation, Princess, for I too, was given away as a baby to a human family, like many light high born fae are. I made close connections with my human brother and sister...and it hurt dearly when I was forced to return to the world of fae. As we live so much longer than humans, it was only a small amount of time before I was at their graves, saying goodbye.”

  “I’m sorry you lost them,” I say, actually meaning it. I may not like Ivywood because of who she sleeps with, and is clearly spying on me, but either way, I do feel sorry for her. That fae tradition is fucked up. I can see why Queen Narah no longer condones it.

  “Don’t you see? I never lost them. They lived full and happy lives, as I am doing right now. My home was with the fae, where I found love and acceptance. If you allow your people into your heart, Princess Corvina, it will soothe the loss of your friend.” Her hand falls on my arm reassuringly.

  I shrug her off and shake my head as she looks at me with wide eyes.

  “Nothing will replace my friend. And her name is Sage Millhouse.”

  “Your Highness, your power...” Ivywood takes a step back, a horrified look shadowing her features.

  I blink down at my body. Dark and light shadows snake around me in a wave. I close my eyes, embracing the power for a moment before breathing out. The magic disappears into my body, and when I open my eyes, Jonah is in front of me. His eyes search mine before he offers me his hand. I don’t hesitate to take it, letting him cover us in shadows, taking us away from this place, and Ivywood. As light returns to my eyes, I smile at the sight of where we are. The sandy beach walk stretches all the way down to the piers which hang into the sea with waves lapping up against them. The sunbeams high in the sky and so many people walk past, oblivious to us hiding behind a sign.

  “Blackpool?” I whisper, not letting go of Jonah’s hand.

  “Didn’t you grow up here?” Jonah asks me with a big grin.

  Someone has been doing their homework on me.

  Jonah links his fingers with mine, tugging me along with another cheeky grin dancing over his lips. Gods, he’s handsome when he smiles like that. He should do it more often.

  “Come on. I want to play on the arcade machines and then we can get some chips and walk through the sea.”

  I chuckle as we walk down the pathway by the beach, only a few people glance our way, likely wondering what uniform we are wearing.

  “Is this a date?” I ask Jonah.

  “Yes,” he answers without a flicker of hesitation. “Be prepared to swoon over my ace dating skills, Vina.”

  “You’re so full of yourself,” I say dryly, he just laughs, letting go of my hand so he can hold my waist to draw us closer.

  It doesn’t take us long to get to the arcade. Jonah, somehow prepared for this, pays the fee to get inside. We spend the next few hours playing on the machines as well as bowling. It’s here I find out Jonah has mad skills and I sadly do not. Hugging my yellow elephant teddy Jonah won me, we go to the top of the pier and order two portions of chips wrapped in paper cones.

  As Jonah waits for our order, I step around the building and close my eyes, calling on the shadows. The elephant teddy disappears as I send it back to the academy to my room. I change my clothes from my uniform into jean shorts and a white t-shirt with a blue cardigan and some slip-on shoes. Magic is amazing. Much better for walking down the beach.

  As I open my eyes, Jonah is back and he smiles.

  “So you’ve gotten better at shadowlocating,” Jonah points out as he hands me a cone of chips.

  They keep my hands warm as we walk down the pier to the beach.

  “I can move objects, but not myself, or even Echo, yet,” I explain. “Honestly, my shadowborn powers have been weird since I went into the water and unlocked my fae self.”

  He nods, eating a chip as we get to the sand. “You have to figure out a way to accept all three of your powers. Doing so will not be easy. Light and dark magic have always reacted badly to shadowborn magic. That’s why there are so few Shadow Wardens and why many die accepting the shadow magic power once they advance.”

  “So basically, I’m screwed? Thanks for that, Jonah.”

  He shakes his head. “If anyone can master more than one power, it’s you, Vina.”

  I blink at the softly spoken words and the way that he looks at me. It’s so much more than how he usually looks my way. My heart pounds as I glance away, kicking off my shoes. I sink my feet into the sand, loving how it feels between my toes and head for the sea. I finish my chips, making the paper disappear with my magic just as I reach the shore. I gasp as the water spills over my feet. It’s so much colder than I remember. Jonah jogs to my side, his trousers are rolled up to his knees, his shoes gone. He stops beside me.

  “I’ve always loved the sea. It’s bitterly cold, but still enchantingly beautiful,” he says right before a wave crashes over our feet and I jump, gasping from the cold once more.

  Gods, it takes your brea
th away.

  Jonah laughs. In the blink of an eye, he picks me up and runs into the sea, holding me above the waves.

  “Don’t you dare drop me, Jonah Vincent!” I warn him, looking into his bright blue eyes. For a moment, the sea, the crashing of the waves, the seagulls soaring above us, all disappear as I get lost in Jonah’s gaze.

  He leans down just an inch, letting me make the decision, I don’t wait as I lean up, pressing my lips to his.

  I sink my hands into his soft silver hair and he deepens the kiss until I’m completely lost in his arms. So much so, that I don’t notice as he drops me into the sea, a wave crashes over my head. I let out a surprised scream, dripping with water, and glare at Jonah. He laughs, patting his knees to entice me to fight him. Arsehole.

  “That’s it, Jonah. You are so dead!”

  “Gotta catch me first, darling,” he shouts back before turning around and running off.

  I chase after him, laughing more than I have in a long time, especially when I use my powers to throw a wave of water at him, causing him to fall over. Oddly, Jonah knew exactly what I needed today, and for that, I will forever be thankful.

  Holding the magical shield higher around me, I effortlessly block off a girl named Kitty’s feeble attacks. My shield adsorbs her power like she isn’t even trying. Sweat dribbles down her face, plastering her red hair to her cheeks and forehead as she hits me repeatedly, slowly losing control. I’m interested to see if she passes out from exhaustion or her magic knocks her out first. Either way, this Magical Defence lesson sucks. I might as well be training the kids back at the foster home at this rate.

  Miss Ivywood, aka Boss Bitch, made new rules again, meaning I can’t fight or train with my magic unless she’s around to supervise. She used the excuse that it was better for everyone, but it just means she doesn’t want to risk me losing control when my father or mother isn’t around. Thankfully, Kitty falls on her arse like a log to the floor. I lower my shield just as Ivywood herself walks into the room, clapping her hands once. Everyone drops their attacks immediately and turns to wait for whatever she wants.

  “Princess Corvina, may I borrow you for a second? Please find me in my office.” She pivots on her heel and leaves, expecting me to follow. Curiosity gets the better of me, so I grab my hoodie, pulling it over my vest top and leggings before heading out to the corridor. I walk down the endless hallways, passing Gage’s room before reaching Ivywood’s office. I knock on the door once before heading inside to the now very different office. It was once dark and stuffed with bookcases that reeked of ancient dark magic. Now, it’s all white painted walls and a glass desk with two chairs at either side. There is a neat pile of papers on the left side of the desk but there is little else. Ivywood sits in the chair and waves me to the other seat, but I stand behind it instead, wanting to get out of here as quickly as I can.

  “There is a letter from your father. It is urgent,” Ivywood finally says, her tone less than urgent as she passes me the opened letter.

  “Who said you could open a letter addressed to me?” I grumble in annoyance. Of course, she would open it, the nosy bitch. I read the letter and my pulse spikes with every word.

  My hands shake as I fold the letter and place it back on the desk. I turn around but Ivywood’s clear voice stops me.

  “I would not go if I were you. I do not believe your father would leave Sage alone on the island. This reeks of a trap. Wait for me to come with you. We will take guards and—”

  “No offence, but I don’t need your help. Tell my men where to find me, and no one else.”

  I close my eyes, blocking out her reply as I shift into my wolf. My claws scratch across the wooden floors as I sprint out of the academy, and into the forest. I jump over a fallen tree branch just as my ravens surround me in the sky. I look up at them, growling, knowing they will understand they need to get help. I need Pitch, Zander, Jonah, and Gage. And no one else.

  I can’t trust anyone else with Sage.

  My wolf makes quick ground through the forest, and eventually, I come to the lake that surrounds the Howling Hollow. I shift back right on the edge of the lake, the water lapping onto my trainers as I stare in shock at the girl with pink hair standing in front of the skull island.

  Pink hair, dark skin and fae wings…

  “Sage!”

  When I reach the island, my best friend isn’t alone. Twin shadows emerge from the skull-shaped cave, slowly they drift apart, one turning into Eva, and the other into a boy I once thought I knew.

  “Ronan.”

  “Your Highness,” he snarls, spreading his arms and bowing, his periwinkle eyes latched on me. He isn’t the Ronan I remember. The same poison that fills Eva’s body pollutes his own, the dark veins ever-present in his complexion. His eyes are blood-red, his face covered in scars he didn’t have before.

  “What has she done to you?” I ask quietly, glaring at Eva.

  “My queen improved me.”

  Eva just smiles at him, and I almost think Ronan’s legs are about to buckle under the gesture.

  “Is this why you betrayed me? So she’d turn you into a fae?”

  “That’s one of the things I always hated about you, Corvina. You were so full of yourself. Thought you knew everything even when you were wrong. Tell me, how’s Professor Michaels holding up?” He chuckles and moves to stand next to Eva, his wings scraping the floor as he walks.

  Gods, I want to kill him. Or let him bleed out in a ditch for several days. He’ll suffer for what he did, not only to me but to Gage. “I only serve the future queen of the fae kingdoms.”

  “Sorry, but I don’t want traitors like you serving me,” I spit at him.

  He steps forward, his hand clenched and raised as if to strike me.

  Eva holds him back. “Stand down, my love.” Narrowing her eyes on me, she snaps her fingers, and a chain hidden in the sand shoots up to her hand. She wraps it around her wrist and pulls, and Sage falls onto her back with a groan. “If you want me to spare your pathetic little friend’s life, you will do as I say.”

  The fear in Sage’s eyes kills me. She’s trying to be brave, but I know her better than anyone. My magic seeps from my body in dark, smokey tendrils as I turn my glare onto Eva.

  “What do you want?”

  The corners of her mouth twitches. “I want you to bleed.”

  Cold air whooshes over me as Ronan lands at my side. I spin around to hit him, but he strikes me first, leaving a searing handprint on my left cheek. In two impossibly swift moves, he seizes me by the throat and pushes me forward into the cave. Eva drags Sage in after us.

  “Don’t worry, Sage,” I tell her. “I’m going to get us out of here.”

  “I’m not worried, Buzzie,” she says, putting on a brave face. “These bitches should be worried.”

  “Quiet, filth!” Eva yanks the chain, causing Sage to stumble after her.

  Eva and Ronan should be more than just worried.

  They should be terrified.

  Once this is all over, I’m going to take great joy in making them pay. I distract myself with thoughts of blood and vengeance as Ronan drags me into the cave. The sounds of our footsteps bounce off the walls. I’m surprised to find candles and sconces burning away, creating shadows that dance around us.

  “How romantic. You shouldn’t have.”

  Ronan growls, his grip tightening before letting me go. How could I ever have been friends with this guy? I rub my neck, scowling at him as he flies over a wide stretch of water. This is where the Gorgon Lake begins, it starts by surrounding the stone temple where Medusa was supposedly imprisoned long ago. It suddenly dawns on me what Professor Lochlan meant all those months ago by the God of Life rotting in Tartarus forever.

  This isn’t just a temple. It’s a gate.

  “You’re bringing them back,” I say to Eva. “The titans.”

  Ronan returns, bearing a long, silver dagger with an embellished handle. He hands it to Eva with a bow, who then passes him the
chain.

  “Took you long enough to figure out my plan. Pity. I had a fantastic monologue rehearsed, and it was rather impressive.” Eva’s wings flutter as she charges over to me, seizing my arm to take me into the air with her. My own wings keep me upright as we fly over to the temple. “You see, I’m tired, Corvina. I’m tired of creatures like you always getting what they want while strong, beautiful fae like me are pushed to the side. I’m tired of humans invading my forest, but most of all, I’m tired of the dark fae thinking they are it when, in actual fact, they are merely an infestation.”

  “That’s rich,” I snarl at her, “considering you’re now a dark fae. Yeah, I saw the nasty poison you’ve got, and I know what causes it. You’ve turned bad, like rotten fruit.”

  Blood rushes into her face. “I am the future Queen of Helios! Once the titans help me cleanse this forest, the Throne of Luna will no longer exist. All will hail to Helios and worship the Goddess Eris. The Zorya sisters will be no more.”

  “You want to erase your own ancestors?”

  “They were weak. Only Eris knew how to rule a kingdom of light and darkness.”

  I watch her glide over to the temple. She doesn’t enter, like I expect, choosing instead to approach a small altar. I remember seeing this altar in the Book of Zorya. It’s called the Sacred Stone. There are thousands of them and they’re usually used in necromancy. This can’t be good.

  Cutting her palm, Eva lets her blood drip onto the stone. “I am the heir to the Throne of Helios”—she cuts her other palm, not even flinching—“and today, I sacrifice my blood, as you, titans, have sacrificed yours.”

  “And I’m the true heir to that throne, and also the Throne of Luna.”

  Eva glares at me venomously as I ruin her precious ceremony. She flies over and seizes my wrist. Slicing the blade into the palm of my hand, she yanks me over to the stone and squeezes her grip until my blood oozes out. One, two, three droplets splash onto the stone and sizzle like meat on a hot skillet.