by Nissa Leder
“You have no power here, princess. The sooner you learn that, the easier it will be for you.”
When Aria spit at Nevina’s feet, she gripped Aria’s arm.
Aria’s skin turned blue as she was frozen in place.
Kaelem released Scarlett’s arm. “I am sorry I took your sister, but I am not sorry for doing what I felt needed to be done.”
The rage in Scarlett simmered. Aria looked so breakable. She remembered when Kassandra had shown her a vision of Ashleigh dying—how it broke Scarlett’s soul to see even the possibility.
“I am going to do what I must for my sister,” Kaelem said as he looked out the window to his right. “But I won’t make you help me. I can release your sister now if you’d like. I’m the only one who can.”
What? Scarlett hadn’t seen that coming. She could take Ashleigh and go. But where?
If it were Ashleigh trapped in a cell of ice, Scarlett would want help saving her.
“No,” Scarlett said. “We couldn’t stay here. It wouldn’t be safe.”
Scarlett wanted to take Ashleigh and run, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t get home without Kaelem’s help and, after seeing the vision, Scarlett knew he wouldn’t risk taking them back and losing his chance to save his sister. Ashleigh was safer in the mirror until she could be freed back in the mortal realm.
After Scarlett had more time to figure out how to tell her everything.
It didn’t matter if Kaelem deserved her help. The image of Aria froze in Scarlett’s mind. She would do what she could to help him.
“How are we going to save your sister?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cade checked his suit in the mirror. He had brought his own Summer Court outfit to wear, one of the finest suits he owned. He was king now, and he needed to look the part.
After a quick knock, Poppy entered his room is a long, mulberry dress. Her blonde hair was curled and hung down to her waist. She’d worn a dress the other night, but he hadn’t noticed how gorgeous she was. The wall of steel she normally kept so high detracted from her natural glow, but tonight, he saw her as a woman.
“You look lovely,” he said.
He could have sworn her cheeks flushed. “I want to apologize. I shouldn’t have challenged Scarlett without discussing it with you first. I still think it was a good idea, but it wasn’t my decision to make.”
Cade just nodded. He may not have wanted to see Scarlett get hurt, but he was glad Poppy showed how strong the Summer Court could be.
Another knock startled them both.
“Enter,” Cade said.
When the door opened, Cade expected it to be a Winter servant to see if there was anything they needed.
Shock rippled through Cade as someone else—someone entirely unexpected—stepped through the doorway.
His mother.
Scarlett checked her hair in the mirror one last time before heading to the Winter Ball. They didn’t have a plan yet, but as it was the last night of the celebration—the official Winter Solstice—it was now or never.
Kaelem sat in the chair by the window as he waited for Scarlett.
“Think I’m ready,” she said.
It wasn’t like it mattered how she looked, but fixing her hair calmed her nerves.
Kaelem stood and took Scarlett’s hands into his own. “Thank you.”
“Don’t make me regret it.”
Scarlett couldn’t see into Kaelem’s mind, but she felt his distance. It made sense he was nervous, but it seemed as if there was more to it than that. She wanted to ask him, but she didn’t.
They linked arms as they entered the ballroom.
The room was breathtaking. Pillars of ice held a balcony that circled the room. Glass chandeliers hung from the clear ceiling that showcased the stars above.
Music echoed through the room as fae twirled in dance.
The Winter Queen sat on a blood red throne—a stark contrast to the snow-white dress she wore—on top of the balcony.
The ballroom flooring was a transparent sheet of ice—though not slick—with brightly colored creatures swimming beneath its surface. Some looked like mortal fish, others more otherworldly.
Kaelem led Scarlett to the middle of the dance floor. “Dance?”
Scarlett let him pull her close as they glided together across the ice, reminding her of their night together at the club. She felt the burn of the Winter Queen’s stare, making the mistake of meeting her eyes. The queen’s expression didn’t change, but a shiver ran through Scarlett.
Scarlett shifted her gaze away. As Kaelem spun her around, someone else watched Scarlett.
Dressed in a royal blue velvet gown, buttoned up to her chin, was someone Scarlett hoped she’d never see again.
Kassandra.
Scarlett’s entire body tensed.
Kaelem raised an eyebrow. He must not have been listening to her mind.
Scarlett glanced toward Kassandra.
Kaelem spun around, and, when he saw the former Summer Queen, his grip on Scarlett tightened.
The dancers parted as Kassandra approached Scarlett and Kaelem.
“How surprised I am to see you so alive,” Kassandra said.
“A happy surprise, I’m sure,” Kaelem replied.
Kassandra tipped her head to the side. “Some might say.”
Scarlett wanted to speak, to say something snarky or witty, but it felt as if she’d swished a bottle of super glue in her mouth and opening it was impossible now.
“Your body may be fae,” Kassandra said. “But it seems as if you’re still as clever as a mortal.”
“Scarlett is a guest of the Unseelie Court.” Kaelem stepped slightly in front of Scarlett, putting himself between her and Kassandra. “And under its full protection.”
“It’s nice to see the Unseelie Court has broadened its horizons to include mortals.”
“We are missing a perfectly good song.” Kaelem pulled Scarlett back into dancing position. “Shall we?”
Scarlett nodded, and then Kaelem led her far away from Kassandra.
“I hate her,” Scarlett said. “I couldn’t even stand up for myself. God, I’m weak.”
“You are not weak.” Kaelem tipped her chin up. “You’ve been fae for less than a month, and you’re already stronger than any new fae I’ve ever seen. Hell, you’re stronger than a lot of those born full fae.”
Scarlett wanted to believe him, but the way her mouth just froze, unable to utter a single word just at the sight of Kassandra, convinced her otherwise.
Poppy and Cade entered the room. From the look Cade gave his mother, Scarlett doubted he’d invited her here. Was today really the first time Kassandra learned Scarlett was alive? Why wouldn’t Cade have told her as soon as he found out?
Scarlett let Kaelem twirl her around the dance floor for the next hour until her feet throbbed and all she could think about was sitting down.
“Not much longer, darling,” he whispered in her ear. “Pretend I just said the funniest thing you’ve ever heard.”
Scarlett fake-laughed as believably as she could. Her eyes met Cade’s. A grimace appeared on his face.
As she looked away from Cade, another stare met hers. Laik, the Seelie Queen’s advisor, watched her and Kaelem as they moved across the dance floor. Scarlett gazed into his eyes, swearing she sensed fear.
The Winter Queen rose from her throne. The crowd hushed. Scarlett turned her attention to Nevina.
“I would like to thank you all for joining us in our celebration of the Winter Solstice. Today marks the longest day of darkness in Faerie, when our power is at its height.” Her gaze found Kaelem. “As always, we are loyal to our allies visiting us from the other courts, and we celebrate the continued peace between our peoples.”
Next to Scarlett, Kaelem muttered something under his breath.
“Please continue the celebration. Servers will be around with more wine and hors d’eourve as the festivities continue.”
The crowd shifted bac
k into the flow of dancing. Kaelem pulled Scarlett close and whispered in her ear, “We should make our move soon.”
Scarlett searched for Kassandra but couldn’t find her. Cade and Poppy twirled on the dance floor. Scarlett wished she could make Poppy trip and fall flat on her face, but she didn’t know how.
As a server passed Poppy, the tray full of wine in his hand fell to the ground and splashed onto the bottom of Poppy’s dress. It wasn’t Scarlett’s doing. Was it just a weird coincidence?
Kaelem wrapped his hand around Scarlett’s waist and guided her away from the crowd as everyone stared at Poppy and Cade.
He whispered into her ear, “I thought a diversion to hide our escape was necessary.”
Scarlett giggled.
When they were out of the ballroom and away from the crowd, Scarlett asked. “So what’s our plan?”
Kaelem shrugged. “We don’t exactly have one.”
Perfect. Attacking the Winter Court during the day their power was strongest without a plan.
What could go wrong?
Chapter Twenty-Three
Scarlett hurried next to Kaelem. They headed toward the prison where Aria was being held. Getting to it was easy enough when he had visited her, but her cell was guarded with extra magic.
“Last time, I hid my trail. No one should have known I’d visited her,” Kaelem said as they walked down a dark hall that got colder with every step. “That doesn’t matter this time. We need to be as quick as possible. If we succeed, they’ll know it was us.”
Kaelem reached out a hand to stop Scarlett. He closed his eyes. “Two guards up ahead.”
They continued, and, as they rounded the corner, two winter guards with swords of ice blocked the way.
“No visitors,” one said.
A cloud of darkness burst from Kaelem’s hands into the guard, who flew backward.
The other sliced his sword at Kaelem. Kaelem ducked and sent a kick into his stomach. The guard buckled over.
The first guard was back on his feet and headed toward Scarlett.
God, she had no idea what she was doing. What was Kaelem thinking to want her help? The guard lunged at her. She spun and missed the blow.
He turned around and tried again.
Scarlett felt a burning feeling in her hands. Instinctively, she lifted them and a ray of light shot through the air and hit the guard directly in the chest.
He dropped to the ground.
Kaelem had taken care of the other guard.
“Did I kill him?” Scarlett asked.
A wave of guilt rippled through her. Could she have taken another life?
“No,” Kaelem said. “He’s just out cold. He’ll wake up eventually.” He grabbed her hand. “Let’s keep going.”
It was so cold, Scarlett could barely feel her face anymore. Kaelem tugged her further into the ice tunnel. He paused, holding Scarlett back.
“There are no other guards.”
That was good, right?
Kaelem, reading her mind, replied, “Good, yes. But also strange.”
He went first, Scarlett right behind. They turned the last corner to find the dungeon empty of any guards. Kaelem rushed ahead, crying out when he reached the cell at the end of the corridor.
Kaelem crouched down by a slender body crumpled on the floor. The figure was female, but bald. It had to be his sister, Aria.
Scarlett kneeled next to him. “Is she…” She couldn’t continue.
“Not yet,” Kaelem said. “But almost. I will kill the Winter Queen if it’s the last thing I do.”
“May I?” Scarlett hesitated. She wanted to try and help, but she didn’t dare move too quickly.
Rage poured like monsoon rain from Kaelem. He stepped back.
Scarlett shifted herself next to Aria. Her thin body looked ready to snap, with almost nothing more than skin covering her bones. Scarlett closed her eyes and hovered her hands over Aria’s heart. Frost crept up Scarlett’s hands.
Aria was freezing to death. Literally.
Scarlett channeled the heat inside herself and spread it through Aria. Aria’s cheeks flushed ever-so-slightly. It would buy her some time, but they needed to get Aria out of the cold. Now.
Kaelem twisted his body to face the dungeon entryway. The Winter Queen, still dressed in white, walked toward them, followed by Kassandra and a group of Winter guards.
“I knew you couldn’t help yourself, King.” Nevina stopped outside of the cell.
They were trapped. The Winter Queen could close them in and they’d all freeze to death. Scarlett couldn’t save Aria if she died, too. And Ashleigh would be stuck in the mirror forever.
This was bad. So bad.
“Love makes people so predictable,” Kassandra purred as she stepped next to Nevina. “I don’t think there’s a greater weakness.”
“Fuck you,” Kaelem said. “Scarlett and I are leaving here with my sister.”
Scarlett admired his confidence, but she wasn’t as sure. She sucked out more of the cold inside Aria to buy her more time.
Scarlett’s hands turned blue. She couldn’t risk any more, not if she had to fight her way out of there.
“You are stealing my property,” Nevina said. “That breaks the Court treaties. I have grounds to hang you all.”
“You can try.” Kaelem kept a protective stance.
Scarlett pushed herself from the ground and stood next to him. She’d faced Poppy in the coliseum with courage, and she’d do the same now, despite the less than favorable odds.
“A mortal at the side of the Unseelie King,” Kassandra said. “I’ve never seen anything as blasphemous.”
“I’m not a human anymore,” Scarlett said. “I’m not easy prey.”
Scarlett’s mind exploded. Pain shot through her body. She fought the urge to puke as Ashleigh’s face surfaced, blood dripping from her eyes. Her sister wiped the tears of blood from her face as they fell to the ground.
“No.” Scarlett forced her mind wall up. The pain subsided. She knew it was just in her head, but it felt so real. What if Kassandra found Ashleigh in the mirror? No, Kaelem said he was the only one who could release her. But could Kassandra get in?
“Learned a few things, have you?” Kassandra said.
The Winter Queen took a step forward. “I’ll give you one more chance. Leave now and watch your sister die, and I’ll spare your lives.”
“Never,” Kaelem snapped.
“She will die either way. You’re too late.”
A band of shadow shot from Kaelem’s hands and wrapped itself around Nevina.
She cried out as it wrapped around her like a snake and constricted.
Kassandra shot out a ball of green energy from her hands that cut through the shadow, releasing its grip on the Winter Queen.
Panic swam through Scarlett. Kaelem was strong, but she wasn’t. How would they get out of there, past the Winter Queen, Kassandra, and the guards?
The thought of dying scared Scarlett, but worse, she knew that if they didn’t make it through this, Ashleigh would spend an eternity living the same day over and over again inside of a mirror.
Scarlett couldn’t let that happen.
She’d felt stronger every day. As much as she missed being mortal, her best chance of protecting her sister came from the magic that now buzzed through her veins.
Kassandra and the Winter Queen had underestimated her.
If Scarlett was going down, she would find a way to take them with her.
If something happens to me, promise you’ll take care of my sister, Scarlett thought, hoping Kaelem was listening.
His eyes met hers and he nodded.
Raith froze when Scarlett’s fear shot through the bond, electrocuting Raith’s nerves.
Sage had just cooked dinner for them as she listened to Raith tell her about his life in the Summer Court.
Another jolt spread through Raith. Something was wrong.
“I have to go,” Raith blurted.
Sage set t
he bowls in her hand on the table. “What’s the matter?”
“Scarlett is in danger.”
“The girl you went to before?”
“Yes.”
Raith’s body cringed as another wave of panic hit him. He wasn’t sure if it was because of the bond between them or simply because of how fond he’d grown of Scarlett, but everything inside him screamed to hurry toward her.
“You’re better, but still not fully healed,” Sage said.
“It will have to do,” Raith said as he reached for Scarlett. “Thank you for everything.”
Sage grabbed Raith’s wrist.
“You can’t stop me,” he said.
“I’m not. I’m going with you.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kaelem dodged a ball of Summer energy as he flung his Unseelie shadow at Nevina again. The guards approached him and Scarlett, weapons of ice in their hands.
One shot an arrow at Scarlett. Her hands shot a ray of light, slicing the arrow in half from its tip to its end. It fell to the ground.
Kassandra and Nevina froze, confusion on their faces.
Light magic was from the Seelie Court, and since Seelie Court fae weren’t supposed to take humans as lovers, Kaelem was sure they were wondering how a mortal girl had Seelie blood in her veins.
Using their shock as a distraction, Kaelem reached out his mind magic. Four of the six guards had no shields. Rookies. Within a breath, they fell to the ground, dead.
The Winter Queen didn’t know the capabilities Kaelem possessed. She’d messed with the wrong king. He’d broken rules by coming in to take his sister back, but if Nevina thought going to war with the Unseelie Court was a good idea, she’d soon learn how mistaken she’d been.
Wrath charged through Kaelem like a bomb ready to explode, refilling the magic he’d used to take down the guards. Nevina had set them up. She’d weakened his sister—or, more likely, had someone else do it, a sly way around the fae bargain they’d made—her body so close to death, as a ploy to get what she wanted. Kaelem would rather die than leave his sister behind—or to do the unthinkable and fulfill his promise to end her life. Power grew inside him. He’d warned Scarlett not to use her own emotion as fuel, but at that moment, he let his own anger explode.