by Nissa Leder
“I always knew you were brave,” Raith said, “but fuck, you’re even braver than I thought.”
Sage laughed. “I’ve always worried I was a coward, leaving like I did. I couldn’t do it anymore, living under the facade my life was.”
“I get it. I never felt at home at the Summer Court after my mom died.”
Sage sensed Raith’s sadness. Since he had Autumn heritage, her royal blood made her more sensitive to his emotion. “We better get down to the dining room. Mother hates tardiness.”
“I’d expect no less from the Autumn Queen.” Raith smirked and gestured to the door. “Ladies first.”
“What a gentleman,” Sage joked.
“Nah, that owl just freaks me out and I don’t want to go first.”
The king and queen were already in their seats when they entered the dining room, Sage’s father at the head of the table with her mother to his right. The queen smiled as Sage and Raith took their seats across from her. Ajax followed them into the room and sat next to the queen. The seat next to him remained empty.
“Where’s Willow?” Sage asked, eyeing the empty spot.
“She is,” the queen hesitated, “not hungry tonight.”
“She doesn’t want to see you after what you did.” Ajax stared at Sage.
A wave of shame washed over Sage. She desperately wanted to see her sister. To apologize for leaving like she did. But she couldn’t blame Willow for avoiding her. Willow might have been better suited for princess life, but she was ever as stubborn as Sage.
“Stop.” The queen glared at Ajax. “There will be no guilt placed on anyone at this table.”
“Sorry,” Ajax mumbled as he avoided the queen’s gaze.
Four brownies served the table. The king thanked them after each course. Although brownies were low fae, the Autumn Court treated them with respect as they both shared an affinity with nature. It was an honor for a brownie to serve the Autumn King, and positions at the castle were competitive.
The group ate in silence, devouring each course, from the salad at the beginning to the pie for dessert. Eating had always been a family event at the castle, but it had never been a time for conversation. Sage preferred it that way before she left and that hadn’t changed.
The sooner they could find out the information they wanted, the sooner they could leave.
Sage had forgotten how delicious food at the Autumn castle could be. She’d never gone hungry when she lived with the warriors, but gourmet meals weren’t part of the lifestyle.
After everyone had finished their dinner, her father excused the entire table. It was family time, and no one was allowed to leave until the last bite was taken.
Outside of the dining hall, Sage stopped Raith. “I’ll meet you back in the room in a bit.”
Raith nodded and left her.
The walls of the castle had been nothing more than a prison to Sage when she’d left five years ago, but as she ran her fingers over the ivy-covered wall of the hallway, fond memories swam through her mind.
It hadn’t always been an awful place. She spent many hours running through the empty rooms, pretending she was a knight on a mission to save a princess.
Until she learned she’d only ever be a princess in those stories. Royal girls weren’t knights.
She’d changed her fate, though.
Sage turned the corner and found herself entering the throne room. Once inside, she closed the door behind her. No one needed to see her there. Anyone not of royal Autumn blood would be punished if caught wandering alone in the sacred room. Sage had royal blood, but she’d disavowed her claim to any status when she’d run away.
Would her father discipline her for trespassing? Truth be told, she knew he would. She’d disrespected her family’s legacy when she’d left. She was lucky he didn’t imprison her when she dared return. Her mother would be to thank for that. The queen had little power over crown affairs, but she had some sway with the king.
Sage approached the raised platform that held the four thrones. Before she’d left, there had been five. One for the king, the queen, Ajax, Sage, and, someday, Willow. Princes’ thrones were positioned in front of princesses’. Even though Willow wouldn’t be old enough for her throne for three more months, her throne had been waiting for her since her birth.
Sage wondered how long after she’d left before they removed hers. What had her parents told the Autumn people? That Sage had died? Or had they shared the truth: Sage had abandoned all of them?
Above the thrones was a skylight. Sage could see the stars above. She’d sneak into the throne room as a child simply to look into the night’s sky. She’d sit in her father’s throne and pretend she ruled the Autumn Court.
Once, she’d heard voices echo down the hall and, in desperation, found some loose boards and slipped underneath the platform.
Now, as the throne room door swung inward, panic rushed through her just as it had when she was younger. Just as before, she hurriedly hid beneath the thrones, thankful no one had fixed the platform in the years she’d been gone.
“Your visit is a surprise,” her father’s voice grew louder as he entered the room. “And unguarded even.”
“There’s no need for such things amongst friends, I would hope,” an unfamiliar voice said.
“Of course not, Winter Queen.”
Nevina. Raith had filled Sage in after they’d attacked the Winter Castle. She’d trapped the Unseelie King’s sister, torturing her nearly to death.
“War is coming,” Nevina said. “I’m sure you’ve heard the whispers.”
“Yes, I’ve heard of the attack on your castle during the Solstice. I apologize I didn’t attend. Perhaps I could have helped.”
Attack on the castle? Such an exaggeration. They’d left the Winter Queen and the former Summer Queen mostly unharmed. Sure, some guards weren’t as lucky, but royals viewed those beneath them as disposable anyway.
But her pride had been wounded, so of course, she’d spread lies.
Sage kept her breath quiet. Getting caught was not an option now. If she was found, she’d be forced to fight her way out. This was supposed to be a secret meeting: two royals speaking to each other. Alone.
“We’ve been tethered to the curse of the seasons long enough, wouldn’t you say?”
A moment of silence passed before the Autumn King answered. “What are you suggesting?”
“The mortal realm courts are stronger, yes, but there are only two of them and four of us. And we all know how much the Seelie and Unseelie despise each other. With a little nudge, that animosity can turn lethal.”
“Have you spoken to the others?”
“The new Summer King is cautious, but his mother knows how crucial it is we take a stand. He’s weak enough to be easily swayed by his mommy.” Nevina chuckled. “The Spring Queen has a tendency to keep to herself, as you know. Spring fae are too busy smelling the flowers to realize the inequality forced upon us. But, with the right motivation, she can be convinced.”
Something tickled Sage’s leg. Who knew how many bugs had made the darkness underneath the thrones their home? Sage’s heart fluttered in her chest as she took a quiet breath to calm herself. After spending years in the forest, a few bugs should be nothing.
“Power cannot be destroyed,” the Winter Queen continued. “They’ve trapped it somewhere and hidden it. If we learn its location, we can take it back. And once our magic is rightfully restored, we can make them pay.”
“Return to me if you’re able to discover where it’s hidden and then we’ll talk. The Autumn Court has been at peace for over a century now, and I won’t break it without feeling it’s for the best of my people.”
“Very well. But know that anyone not with the Winter Court will be against it. My father lost the last war we were in. I don’t intend to make the same mistake.”
Sage waited long after they’d left to head back to her room. She needed to tell Raith what she’d heard.
If war was coming, with which side would s
he stand?
Chapter Six
After her talk with Kaelem, Scarlett wandered around the palace grounds for some time, alone with her thoughts. The garden area had become her place of refuge lately, the perfectly manicured bushes reminding her of her mother and her human life.
The scent of lavender drifted through the air. Scarlett closed her eyes and inhaled the sweet smell. Though she’d learned to handle the grief of losing her mother, a day hadn’t gone by when she didn’t miss her with all of her being, especially now that Ashleigh hated her again. What would her mother have thought if she’d have learned Scarlett had turned into a fae? It was said a mother’s love was eternal, but did that include morphing into a supernatural being? Had she known the fae exist? Had she been part fae like Scarlett was? So many questions that Scarlett could never ask her.
She opened her eyes and glanced up to the string of white lights hanging above the garden. The ambient setting would make a perfect wedding venue. Scarlett imagined a bride standing in front of the red rose bushes in an ivory lace dress. It would have a small train, enough to look elegant but not so much it would be a nuisance. The unspecific bride shifted in Scarlett’s mind to a familiar face: Ashleigh’s. Her strawberry blonde hair fell to the middle of her back, curled into perfect waves. A cheek-to-cheek grin spread across Ashleigh’s face.
Scarlett shook her head, sending the impossible vision away. Ashleigh deserved a perfect wedding with a perfect man. A perfect mortal man. And Scarlett had been the one to take that dream away from her. No wonder Ashleigh hated her.
Scarlett plucked a few roses, their smell even sweeter than the lavender, and twirled them in her hand as she questioned her decision to attend the Seelie ball with Kaelem.
If what he said was true, she didn’t want the Seelie Queen knowing she had Seelie heritage. Would feeding on Kaelem’s emotion really keep it hidden? And was growing closer to him worth it?
The thought of spending any more time worrying about her sister caused Scarlett’s chest to tighten. She couldn’t stay there at the Unseelie Palace alone, waiting for Ashleigh to return, imagining everything she’d taken from her sister, or, worse, waiting for news that something had happened.
Ashleigh needed closure and Scarlett would let her have it.
Meanwhile, Scarlett would visit the Seelie Court.
Eventually, she headed back to her room. After what felt like hours, she finally dozed off.
Scarlett relaxed on the sofa in her house, facing her green piano. The smell of spaghetti spread through the living room.
“Smells delicious,” Scarlett said. “Almost done?”
“Just about,” Ashleigh yelled from the kitchen.
Scarlett’s stomach grumbled. Her sister made the best spaghetti, always paired with garlic bread toasted to perfection in the oven. Scarlett salivated in anticipation.
A shriek pierced her ears as something dropped to the ground with a thud in the kitchen.
Scarlett rushed toward the scream. What had happened?
Panic covered Ashleigh’s face as someone held her in a chokehold.
Kassandra, the former Summer Queen, whose icy aqua eyes narrowed as they glared at Scarlett.
Scarlett’s ears tickled her where their tops curved into points. She was fae now. She’d almost forgotten.
“Let her go,” Scarlett insisted.
Kassandra tipped her head back and laughed a laugh as cold as her eyes. “I told you what would happen if you disobeyed me, human.”
Scarlett searched inside for magic, but found nothing.
Kassandra squeezed Ashleigh’s neck tighter, causing Ashleigh to gasp for air.
“Please,” Scarlett pled. “I’ll do anything.”
“You’re too late.”
When Scarlett tried to step toward them, her feet wouldn’t move. Neither would her arms. She was paralyzed.
Tears of blood dripped from Ashleigh’s bulging eyes. Kassandra held her tight until Ashleigh’s body went limp, falling to the ground.
Kaelem held his breath as his body left the Unseelie Court and evanesced to the mortal realm. His body tingled as it moved swiftly with magic. His first year of evanescing left him nauseous any time he moved a long distance, but now, it was second nature and a pleasant sensation.
His body appeared in front of a mundane human apartment complex. Cars sat side-by-side, packed tightly in the crowded lot. Kaelem stepped over scattered cigarette butts on the sidewalk as he followed the pull inside of him.
Mortals were interesting creatures. Not only did they have such short lives, but they chose to risk lethal disease to shorten their lifespans even more by smoking these disgusting things. Kaelem held his breath so he wouldn’t inhale their toxic scent.
The sound of the voices inside the apartment poured out through the cracks around the door as he approached. Giggles and cheers mixed with conversation. A party. This would be more interesting than Kaelem had planned.
He had two options. Wear a glamour to disguise himself as a human. Or use his magic to make himself entirely invisible to the mortals. The second option of the two was the easiest, but the first sounded more fun. So, Kaelem pictured himself wearing bleached jeans and a steel blue hoodie, similar to the outfit one of the characters wore the day before on his favorite soap opera. He preferred suits but could pull off modern human style, too. His clothes molded into what he’d envisioned.
As he knocked on the door, he remembered his ears and their tops rounded.
A male mortal, tall with thick biceps and a large neck, answered. He stared at Kaelem, mouth gaping.
Who is this guy? Pretty sure I’ve never seen him. Oh wait, is he in my Lit 201? No, that guy has brown hair. Maybe Paige invited him? She should have been here an hour ago. If she ditches me again…
Human minds were the easiest to slip into.
“Hey there,” Kaelem said. “Paige here yet?”
“No,” the guy sighed.
If she shows up for this jackass and ignores me…
“Mind if I come in?” Kaelem dropped his hands to his sides, feigning awkwardness.
I could just slam the door in his face. That’d show Paige. But then I’d look like an ass. “Sure, man.”
Kaelem stepped inside. Some people were gathered around a cheap plastic table while others sat on the couch and recliner facing the television, a superhero movie on the screen. Kaelem had already seen the movie and he was less than impressed, to say the least.
Everyone stared at him. Maybe he should have made his features look a bit more mortal. Oh, well. He turned his head to a familiar face.
Aria stared at him, wide-eyed. She wore heeled black boots that covered her leg to her knee, a black mini-skirt, and a loose sparkly tank top. Unlike Kaelem, she’d glamoured her eyes duller and added a few blemishes to her skin.
It wasn’t her glamour that bothered Kaelem. It was the fact that she sat on a chair, alone, no Ashleigh in sight.
Don’t be mad, Aria’s thoughts played in Kaelem’s mind. She’s in the room behind me with her boyfriend.
Kaelem reached out and heard Ashleigh’s voice, followed by an unfamiliar male one. You took her without telling anyone.
She needed to get out of that place. You don’t know how it feels to be trapped like that.
And you don’t know how it feels to be helpless when someone else hurts someone you love.
Aria’s cheeks flushed. I…I was stupid before, but my powers are back now and I’m smarter. I can protect Ashleigh for a few days. We haven’t heard anything about Nevina or Kassandra seeking revenge. It’s a risk that has to be taken.
Kaelem looked at his sister, really looked. She’d rebounded from the weak state Nevina had caused, a hardness in her stare that didn’t exist before her capture. He’d missed her every day, the anger growing inside him like a fire engulfing a forest. To save her, he became what he despised, forcing Ashleigh into the same fate Nevina had forced upon Aria.
But unlike the Winter Queen, Kaelem hated
himself for it. He reached into the next room and into Ashleigh’s thoughts.
What if he doesn’t forgive me? I hate lying to him. But my sister needing me is all I could tell him. Such a lie. She doesn’t need me. She isn’t even human. What if she’s right? What if someone comes for me and hurts him, too?
Kaelem’s chest tightened as he pulled out of Ashleigh’s head. He’d come there to steal her again, to return her to Scarlett in hopes of some semblance of forgiveness. Yet, he couldn’t do it. She’d only blame Scarlett.
He could do what he suggested. Take Ashleigh then take her memories. But it was a violation that couldn’t be undone, and he’d already taken enough from the poor human.
A small chuckle rumbled from Kaelem’s throat. There he was, standing in a filthy mortal apartment, feeling sorry for a human.
Keep her safe, or I’ll never get Scarlett to forgive me.
Aria pursed her lips, lifting an eyebrow into a perfect arc. She seems to have enlivened a new Kaelem, I see.
Is me hoping to avoid eternal hatred such a bad thing?
Aria grinned. Not at all, brother.
Two of the mortal girls closed in on Kaelem.
“Your hair is so pretty,” one said as she ran her fingers through the long side of Kaelem’s navy hair.
“And sexy.” The other touched his shaved side.
Shit. He hadn’t used his glamour to hide his ganacanagh gift, and mortals were the most susceptible to its power.
Be careful, Kaelem said inside Aria’s mind. He didn’t know what he’d do if something happened to her again.
Same to you. Cupid seems to have his eye on you. Aria smirked then winked.
Kaelem shook his head and laughed as he left the apartment without ever speaking a word aloud to Aria, then evanesced away.
Sweat pooled on Scarlett’s forehead. Her heart raced as she shifted from the world of dreams back to reality.
A nightmare. That was all. Kassandra hadn’t hurt Ashleigh.
Yet.
Scarlett rolled over. The red numbers of the alarm clocked shined noon. It had taken some time, but Scarlett had transitioned to an Unseelie sleeping schedule. No matter when she woke, it would still be dark.