Whims of Fae - The Complete Series

by Nissa Leder

  Scarlett pulled her mind back into her own head, a pit of sorrow sinking into her stomach. Tears pooled in her eyes as she rushed out of the room.

  Ashleigh would never forgive her.

  By the time Scarlett had entered her own room, she’d regained control of her emotions. Although Kaelem had continued teaching her how to handle her new fae nature, she knew getting too emotional could be dangerous.

  As Scarlett fell back onto her bed, she used her magic to slam the door shut. Not as satisfying as the human way of slamming doors, but Scarlett’s magic had become second nature. Every day, she felt more fae.

  And less human.

  Scarlett sighed. She couldn’t keep Ashleigh with her forever, but she didn’t know how to let her go, either. Someday, she’d have to, and she knew when she did, she couldn’t protect her sister anymore.

  A slight breeze brushed Scarlett’s skin, a sign that someone had evanesced near her.

  Kaelem, most likely. Or maybe Aria. Since only a few could evanesce in the Unseelie Palace, the possibilities were limited.

  Scarlett sat up expecting to see a familiar face but, instead, met three pairs of dark eyes.

  Side by side, three women kept close to one another, all staring at Scarlett.

  “Interesting,” they said as one. “So, this is what the fuss is all about.”

  Scarlett thought about screaming. Who were they? And what did they want?

  As she opened her mouth to call for Kaelem, her throat tightened.

  “No need to call for the King of Darkness,” they said. “We want to speak with you alone.”

  The woman in the middle reached her hand out and gently touched Scarlett’s cheek. “We mean no harm.”

  Though the women had smooth skin, they didn’t appear young. Maturity sat in their eyes as they curiously watched Scarlett as if she were a parakeet in a cage. Their dark hair, shiny like raven feathers, fell past their shoulders. Clearly, they weren’t human, but they were unlike any of the other fae Scarlett had ever seen.

  “What do you want with me?” Scarlett asked, surprised at her ability to talk again.

  “We come with a warning. Changes swiftly approach the fae world. Sides will be chosen. Best not to pick the wrong one.”

  “Okay…” What kind of advice was that? Of course, she wouldn’t mean to choose the wrong side.

  “You will lose someone, but not all will be lost.”

  “Who?” Scarlett’s stomach tightened. Who were these women and how could they predict the future?

  “That is still to be determined.” They craned their heads to the side. “But power is yours for the taking, should you choose.”

  “How? Can I protect my sister?” Gaining power is what had gotten her into the mess she was in, but maybe if she were stronger everything would get better.

  “Ahh, so many questions, child. But the answers aren’t ours to tell.”

  “Please,” Scarlett begged.

  “We’ll meet again,” they said and, within a blink, vanished.

  Scarlett was about to yell for Kaelem—surely, he’d know who they were—when she remembered their warning. Best not to pick the wrong one. If their prediction was true, Scarlett needed to be careful who she trusted. And although Kaelem had followed through on his promise by helping Scarlett learn her fae nature, he’d also trapped her sister in a mirror as blackmail. He would do what was necessary to protect his court, and Scarlett was nothing more than a guest.

  Thinking anything else would be foolish.

  Scarlett didn’t have a court. Seelie and Unseelie blood ran through her veins, and although she felt less and less mortal every day, she had been human for eighteen years. She didn’t know where she belonged.

  All she knew was that she needed to protect her sister. Ashleigh was the only family she had left.

  Scarlett touched the spot on her cheek where the woman’s hand had brushed her skin. The sensation was…odd. She couldn't put it any other way. Something about it felt familiar, almost as if she'd been in that moment before.

  Scarlett had experienced déjà vu, and, though similar, this wasn't that.

  Since joining the fae world, little seemed normal anymore. As she grew into her new fae body—like a child growing into longer legs—things got easier.

  She would keep the visit of the three strange women to herself. What if their prediction was true? Could they really see the future?

  Now, more than ever, she needed to figure out a plan to keep her and her sister safe.

  Chapter Two

  Raith peered ahead to a stone castle almost entirely covered in climbing vines. Green ivy and a red plant Raith hadn’t ever seen in the Summer Court twisted together up the castle walls with only fragments of the castle stone peeking through.

  Energy radiated from the castle grounds. Raith wondered if it was the castle itself or the abundant plant life surrounding it. Since learning more about the Autumn Court from Sage, Raith had become more attuned to his nature gift. He’d felt the power surge through him as he drained the life from a tree, and he’d felt it siphoned from him as he gave the life back. Even though he’d grown up in the Summer Court, his Autumn gift felt innate.

  “Are we going to keep going?” Raith asked Sage, who had stalled a few steps behind him.

  They’d traveled by foot for two days from Sage’s cave. Any time Raith had asked her about the Autumn Court castle, she’d changed the subject. Eventually, he gave up. He figured he’d learn about it once they arrived. She’d been there before, that much Raith could tell by how well she knew the way there.

  The path from the forest led straight ahead toward the castle, but a fence of green hedgerows blocked the way. Raith didn’t see any guards. It was unusual for a castle to not be guarded. There might not have been a war in Faerie for over half a century, but precaution was always necessary. The fae loved power and any opportunity to take it.

  Sage had ignored Raith, so he tried a different question. “Where are the guards?”

  “The Autumn Court doesn’t need guards to protect its border.” She stared ahead, arms stiff at her side.

  At least she replied this time.

  “Why not?” Raith glanced ahead. The hedgerows were only a few feet tall, low enough that any fae could easily jump over them.

  “They may look harmless, but those hedgerows are better protection than any guard would be.”

  Something rattled to their left. Sage’s attention snapped toward the noise. A large owl watched them with its yellow eyes. Its ears perked up like horns on its head as its focus shifted to Sage. After giving a deep hoo, it jumped from the branch and spread its wings as it flew toward the castle.

  “Great.” Sage groaned.

  “What?” Raith watched the majestic bird’s flapping wings straighten as it soared through the air.

  “Now he knows.”

  “Who? And knows what?”

  “So, I’ve never lied to you…” Sage’s stare shifted to the ground. Her hands moved to her hips, her elbows bent outward into triangles. “But I didn’t tell you everything about me.”

  What would have Sage so worried? Was she a criminal wanted by the Autumn Court or something?

  “The Autumn Court King,” Sage sighed, “is my father.”

  That would make her…

  “Yes, that would mean I’m a princess.” She looked up at Raith, jaw clenched.

  “Why didn’t you just tell me?” Raith couldn’t see what the big deal was. And it made sense since he’d felt such a strong connection to her. He’d told her everything about himself, including the bond that remained between him and Scarlett and what it could mean to his right to the Summer Court crown. Why hadn’t she told him the truth?

  “My family history is complicated.” Sage’s brows furrowed. “I prefer to pretend I’m not related to the king. We don’t have the nicest past.”

  “My little brother left me for dead because of some stupid Summer Court ritual. It’s not like my past is all sunsh
ine.”

  “I know.” Sage sighed, dropping her left hand to her side. “I’m sorry, truly. I never wanted to come back to this place, but I’m here to help you.”

  Raith relaxed his shoulders. “You’re right, and I’m grateful. But we have to actually go in if we want to find my mom’s old servant.”

  With another long groan, Sage stepped out of the forest toward the hedgerow. She closed her eyes and inhaled. The hedgerow parted, forming an archway of greenery over the path.

  Before stepping through the archway, the path ahead looked empty. But once Raith and Sage crossed the invisible boundary, someone appeared in front of them.

  It was a tall male fae with ivory skin, bright auburn hair, and green eyes just like Sage. His expression remained still as he eyed Raith up and down then shifted his gaze to Sage. “Welcome home, sister.”

  Seeing her brother for the first time in five years sent a flood of memories rushing through Sage.

  A younger Sage, fifteen years of age, stood in front of a mirror in a mauve-colored dress, her hair carefully done in a braided crown by one of her mother’s servants. She hated all of it: the dress, the perfectly polished hairdo. It screamed princess. Special. Royalty. Someone to be admired solely on a birthright.

  How pretentious.

  A knock on the door bounced through her new bedroom, twice the size of her old one.

  “Yes?” Sage asked.

  “Your mother says it’s time for your introduction.”

  Ugh. At fifteen, Sage would be introduced to the Autumn Court as part of the royal council. True Autumn adulthood didn’t happen until age twenty, but as a young Autumn fae, Sage would be added to her father’s council and given a vote for court matters.

  It was silly since final say always fell on the king himself. A unanimous council decision could be overturned by nothing more than a whim of the king. Trying to use a council as a guise to hide the dictatorship was as pointless as pointless could be.

  “If I must.” Sage considered removing the braids from her hair. It would reveal her long, wavy locks and free them from the confinement of the style. But then she’d have to listen to her mother lecture her about how important appearances were for a princess.

  She’d go to the stupid introduction then she’d flee the castle for a few hours to get the bad taste of the ritual out of her mouth.

  Sage waited on the balcony that overlooked the ballroom below. Vines of ivy twisted up the staircase banister. She placed her hand on a leaf and siphoned the magic from it. The bright green dulled to a drab brown.

  “Sage.” Her mother’s voice might have sounded calm to an outsider, but Sage heard the subtle rage reverberating through it. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  Sage exhaled, releasing the magic back into the leaf. “Nothing, mother.”

  Sage turned to see her mother, as elegant as ever in a floor-length rust-colored dress. Its halter-top showed off the slightly-above-average broadness of her shoulders—a trait Sage had inherited. Her mother’s brows furrowed in a disapproving stare.

  So much for avoiding her mother’s discontent.

  Her mother nodded to a fae dressed in a brown suit.

  His voice spread through the room below, where the most powerful and wealthiest Autumn fae were scattered, all lucky enough to be deemed worthy of an invitation to the ceremony.

  “We welcome the fae honored today as she joins her family as a council member and protector of the Autumn Court.”

  Could he make it sound any more ostentatious?

  Sage let out her feelings with a final groan and eye roll then shifted her mouth into a big grin as she walked down the stairs to the cheers of everyone in the room.

  When she reached the dance floor, her brother held out his arm. Sage let him take her hand in his, and he guided her to her father who sat on a throne, lifted high on a pedestal so he was visible for all to see.

  “I congratulate my daughter on this great accomplishment,” he said. The room remained silent, not even a breath to be heard by any of the guests. Interrupting the king wouldn’t end well for the interrupter.

  Sage’s brother released her hand and approached their father. He handed the king a sword that had been leaning against the throne. Her brother gestured for her to step forward.

  Sage held a groan and obliged, bowing her head to her father, as was the custom.

  The king took the sword and rested its tip on Sage’s shoulder.

  “I welcome my eldest daughter, princess to the Autumn Court council.”

  The crowd burst into applause. Now Sage would gain all the undeserving privileges—and burdens—that came with being claimed by her father, and any freedom Sage thought she’d had disappeared.

  Chapter Three

  The meeting she’d had with the women unnerved Scarlett. Who were they? And more importantly, would their prediction come true?

  Scarlett wished Raith were there. Instead, he was off somewhere with Sage—the exotic, tough Sage who he’d been with while Scarlett was at the Winter Solstice with Kaelem. She had no room to be jealous. Raith was free to do whatever he wanted. Though their connection was strong, they'd made no commitment to one another, and Raith had assured Scarlett before he left that Sage preferred women. Still, envy swam through Scarlett at the thought of her helping him find out more about his mother.

  Scarlett wasn't proud of it, but since becoming fae, she’d learned it was impossible to ignore her emotions. Instead, she’d learned to control them. To use them.

  With a deep breath, Scarlett absorbed her jealousy, turning it into magic inside her. Just as Cade had numbed her when she was grieving at the Summer Court, Scarlett subdued the envy inside herself. Raith wasn’t there to confide in, so she’d figure something else out. Simple as that.

  Ashleigh’s mental promise to never forgive her played in Scarlett’s head again. If Ashleigh was whom the women spoke of, Scarlett needed to find a way to protect her and, if at all possible, somehow gain Ashleigh’s forgiveness.

  Scarlett had to at least try to get Ashleigh to speak to her again, so she headed back to her room. The one good thing about Ashleigh refusing to leave the chair was it made her easy to find.

  A brownie—who’d Scarlett had learned the day before was named Mo—exited the elevator as she passed by. He wore a black suit with a red bowtie. Every brownie had a unique style at the Unseelie Court. Mo’s was the most formal Scarlett had seen so far.

  “Do you need anything, miss?” Mo asked. “Your linens changed, something to eat?” The elevator doors shut behind him.

  “No, thank you.” Scarlett smiled. At least four times a day, one of the brownies checked on her. At first, she thought they were sent by Kaelem—his twisted way of apologizing for stealing her sister or something—but from all the questions they asked her, she realized they came on their own, all for the chance to get to know her better.

  She enjoyed their company. Her sister wouldn’t talk to her, and Scarlett avoided Kaelem as much as she could, still unsure if she should be mad at him or thankful. The brownies were kind and inquisitive and genuinely seemed to like her.

  “I will check back later.” Mo tipped his chin before turning to click the elevator button.

  Scarlett continued. From the hallway, she heard voices inside. She knocked on the door and gently opened it. As soon as Scarlett stepped into the room, the voices hushed. Unlike when she visited before, the bedroom lights were on when she entered.

  Aria sat on the bed, legs crisscrossed, in a hot pink crop top and high-waisted black shorts, something Scarlett could have pictured her friend Natalie wearing.

  Ashleigh’s chair faced the bed instead of the window as it had when Scarlett had left her breakfast. The pancakes, not even a bite gone, remained on the tray.

  “Hey, Scarlett,” Aria said. Her shaved head had begun to grow back, now styled in a short pixie.

  Ashleigh turned her head toward the wall.

  “Hi.” Scarlett reeled in the anger she fel
t at Ashleigh’s reaction. An outburst toward her sister wouldn’t help her cause. “What are you two talking about?” She smiled, hoping to mask any annoyance on her features.

  Aria glanced at Ashleigh and waited for her to respond. When she didn’t, Aria said, “Just girl talk.”

  “Oh?” Scarlett sensed the lie as soon as it left Aria’s lips. They were talking about something important. “Mind if I join?”

  “Not at all.” Aria patted the empty space on the bed next to her.

  Ashleigh mumbled, “Great.”

  “She speaks,” Scarlett said. “A miracle.”

  So much for containing herself.

  Ashleigh looked straight at Scarlett. “Everything’s about you. As usual. Turning into another creature didn’t change that, I see.”

  Scarlett’s chest tightened. Ashleigh had spoken to her. It was what she wanted. But the contempt in her voice stabbed Scarlett’s soul. “I…”

  “You can’t talk your way out of this one, Scarlett. The damage is done. And now I’m all talked out. Thank you for the visit, Aria. I’m going to take a bath.” Ashleigh pushed herself up from the bed.

  Her sister had become so frail. Her arms were tiny now. Dark circles lingered under her eyes, and the bones in her face stood out more than ever before. Scarlett had noticed the changes but she hadn’t fully realized how bad her sister looked.

  Once Ashleigh had gone into the bathroom and shut the door behind her, Scarlett quietly asked Aria, “Will she ever get better?”

  Aria hesitated. She glanced at the door then back to Scarlett. “She needs to go back to the mortal realm.”

  “But it isn’t safe,” Scarlett protested. If Kassandra went looking for her…

  “She’ll waste away here. I know the feeling of being trapped somewhere, and even if this castle may seem more luxurious than a Winter Court prison cell, the claustrophobia of being stuck somewhere you wish you weren’t is the same for her as it was for me.”