Whims of Fae - The Complete Series

by Nissa Leder

  “But we have no idea what else we’ll face. If they’d be willing to ally with us, we’d be stronger,” Scarlett said.

  Raith huffed. “Big if.”

  “They were tied to a tree outside of the camp. If I hurry before they move them, I could be in and out with them in a few minutes,” Sage said.

  Raith looked at Kaelem the Scarlett. “And if they turn against us after you've saved them?”

  “Then it's four versus two.”

  Raith finally agreed, though he made his distaste for the plan loudly known.

  Kaelem didn't say much, which was a first.

  “I’ll go too.” It was Scarlett’s idea. She wouldn’t expect Sage to do everything.

  This broke Kaelem’s silence. “No, that would be pointless.”

  “It’s not worth the extra risk,” Raith added.

  “Sage can gamble her own life but I can’t mine?” Scarlett stared them both down.

  Truthfully, it wasn’t the smartest idea. Sage was a warrior and Scarlett, well, wasn’t. But sitting back and allowing everyone else to fight for her wouldn’t make her stronger. Her decisions were hers to make. Not theirs.

  “We will be back with them soon. Be prepared to fight them if they refuse to ally with us.” Sage headed back toward the camp.

  Scarlett shifted her gaze back and forth between Kaelem and Raith. “I’ll be back soon.”

  Raith reached for her hand. “Be careful. Please.”

  Scarlett kissed his check.

  Kaelem approached her. “Raith and I will kill each other if you don’t return to stop us.” He grinned then kissed her mouth. “For good luck.”

  Scarlett turned and followed Sage without a glance back, thankful she couldn’t feel Raith’s reaction to the kiss, and he couldn’t feel hers.

  Sage heard Scarlett’s footsteps hurrying behind her.

  She had to give the girl credit. Sage had agreed that potentially gaining two allies was worth the effort, but she had no expectation for anyone to help her in their rescue.

  Sage had seen Scarlett destroy the former Summer Queen with her mind magic. Even though her fae power was new, it was strong.

  But here, they had no magic. And Scarlett wasn't skilled in hand-to-hand combat.

  At one time, Sage wasn't either. But Vienna, the Woodland Queen, had taken her in and taught her to become a warrior. Sage didn't have time to teach Scarlett much, but she admired her courage and wouldn't stop her from trying. She just hoped Scarlett didn’t do anything to mess her up.

  “We’re getting closer,” Sage whispered. “Be as quiet as possible and when I give the signal, wait for me. I'll hurry and untie them and we can all head back.”

  Scarlett’s eyes doubled in size. She shouldn't have come if she was that afraid of staying alone for a few minutes. Sage should have known better than to bring her.

  Then Sage heard the rustling behind her.

  Well, shit.

  As her hands were bound, Sage assessed their captors.

  The group was comprised of men and women. Were they fae? She wasn’t sure. They weren't human, though. That much she knew. All looked strong, with flawless skin.

  The woman who pulled Sage along wore a lavender outfit. The crop top and skirt highlighted her muscular abs. The outfit was brighter colored than Sage’s tribe had worn, and looked to be cotton instead of leather, but Sage sensed a similarity between her captors and the group of women who taught her to fight.

  The big unknown was whether or not they had magic. If they did, Sage’s plan would be a stupid idea.

  “I’d like to speak to your leader,” Sage said.

  The woman ignored Sage as she yanked her into the camp. Behind them, a man tugged Scarlett, who hadn’t said a word since their capture.

  Small tents sat in a large square creating a perimeter around three large tents in the center. A fire burned in a large pit made of colorful stone that seemed to glow in the firelight.

  As they walked through camp, the tribe members all stared and whispered amongst themselves. There were no children.

  “I said I’d like to speak with your leader,” Sage repeated, annoyance heavy in her tone.

  Ignored again.

  They approached a wooden cage. Someone opened the door.

  “Inside,” the woman pulling Sage said.

  “I invoke a leader challenge.” Sage spoke with confidence.

  Everyone stared at her.

  If this tribe was anything like hers, a leader wouldn't refuse a challenge.

  And the leader wouldn't let Sage live if she won.

  Scarlett stared through the bars of the cage they’d been put into. The woman tugging Sage had practically pushed her inside, but the man who’d pulled Scarlett was much gentler and even untied her before locking them in the cage.

  Sage remained bound.

  “Why aren’t there any children?” Sage asked as she peered through the bars.

  Scarlett wasn’t sure if she was asking her or herself. “Maybe they’re inside some of the tents.”

  “How long does it take to tell their leader about my challenge?” Sage huffed.

  Scarlett wasn’t sure what Sage’s rush was. They had absolutely no idea who the leader was. Sage was a competent fighter, but what if the leader was even better?

  And just because their group didn’t have magic, it didn’t mean these people couldn’t possess power of their own.

  “If we don’t return, Kaelem and Raith will come looking for us,” Scarlett said.

  Sage rolled her eyes. “Please. I don’t need those oafs rescuing me.” Scarlett didn’t appreciate the arrogance in her tone. “Not everything has to be a physical battle, you know. Sometimes using your brain and being practical is a good idea.”

  Although Scarlett wasn’t the best fighter, she wasn’t helpless. For one, by not resisting, she’d been allowed out of the rope tying her hands together.

  Sage’s furrowed brows softened. “You’re right. But this is our best chance. Even if they come to help us, we’re still far too outnumbered without our magic. And we don’t know whether they have magic. A challenge will be one against one. It’s the best odds we’ve got.”

  “But as you said, we don’t know what magic they might have. And if they do, the leader is likely to be the most powerful of them all.”

  Sage shrugged. “Then I’ll improvise.”

  Scarlett admired her bravery, but she didn’t miss the sliver of worry in Sage’s eyes when she learned her challenge had been accepted.

  “I’ll return to get you when our leader is ready,” the woman who’d bound Sage said before turning and walking into one of the large tents.

  “You’ll do great,” Scarlett told Sage. She meant for her tone to sound encouraging, but it came out worried.

  “No need to lie, I know you think I’m crazy.” Sage grinned.

  “Only a little.” Scarlett laughed. “But I think you’re fearless as hell. And maybe a little reckless.”

  “What’s life without a little risk?” Sage asked.

  As they waited, tribe members walked by, staring into the cage and mumbling to one another. Scarlett now knew what it must feel like to be a tiger at a zoo.

  “Why did you agree to come here with us?” Scarlett asked. “I mean, I’m thankful but…” She didn’t mean to sound so ungrateful.

  “It’s okay. I get it.” Sage leaned her back against the bars and slid down to a sitting position. “I figured Raith would find a way to get himself killed. I know you’d try to save him, but, no offense, you might not be able to and I know the Unseelie King wouldn’t risk a broken fingernail to help him.”

  Scarlett wanted to defend Kaelem, but, truthfully, Sage was probably right. Kaelem would have died to save Aria, but somehow she didn’t think Raith’s life mattered much to him.

  “You care for Raith.” Scarlett moved to Sage and sat next to her.

  “Yes,” Sage said. “I can’t really explain it. When I saved him in the Faerie Forest, I ju
st felt like a part of me had been missing something and that he was meant to be a part of my future.”

  Scarlett stared at Sage’s beautiful face. Her green eyes were fierce, her long, copper locks gorgeous. She was strong and loyal, brave and confident. Everything Scarlett wished she could be.

  “I’m not in love with him, Scarlett,” Sage said. “Truly. If I had to be with a guy, I suppose I see his attractiveness and all, but guys just aren’t my thing.” She smiled. “Seriously, you have no need for any jealousy.”

  “I…” Scarlett wanted to deny her envy, but she knew it was pointless. “I’m sorry.”

  “No need to apologize,” Sage said. “I see the way you look at Raith and he looks at you, but be careful because I’ve seen you look at the Unseelie King with those same eyes.”

  Before Scarlett could respond, the woman returned and yanked Sage away and into one of the large tents.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Sage tightly gripped her daggers.

  Scarlett, hands bound again, anxiously watched Sage as she prepared to fight the leader she had yet to see.

  A crowd of people surrounded Sage as she waited.

  Challenging someone she'd never seen wasn’t her brightest idea.

  The crowd parted. Sage expected to see the leader walk through but instead Poppy and Cade were yanked into the opening.

  To say they looked surprised would be an understatement. Sage met Poppy’s glare and hoped she'd be smart enough to play along.

  A few moments later, the tribe’s leader stepped into the opening. The first thing Sage noticed was that the leader was female. She was tall and lean, with dark hair and caramel skin, and not at all what Sage expected.

  She approached Sage with a grin. “So, you've come to my land to challenge me?”

  “I was tied up by your people so I challenged you. Had I not been so rudely bound, we might be in a different situation.”

  “Fair enough. Those are your weapons of choice?” She gestured to the daggers in Sage’s hands.

  “Yep.”

  “I'm Vida, by the way. I think we should at least know each other's name before we slice at each other's throats.”

  “Sage.”

  Vida glanced at Scarlett and her curved grin flattened. She glanced at a warrior behind her, and when she looked back at Sage, her grin reappeared. “Very well, Sage. Let the fun begin.”

  Vida backed up as the crowd tightened to create a firm border around the fighting arena then pulled two daggers from behind her back.

  Sage had learned to feel out an opponent first, and now more than ever, she knew nothing about her opponent. She lunged to Vida’s right.

  Vida struck her daggers at Sage’s throat.

  Sage blocked them and dove to the side, tumbling away from her reach.

  “You're quick, I'll give you that.” Vida darted at Sage, daggers out.

  She released a war cry as her hands, lighting fast, attacked Sage.

  With reflexes equally as quick, Sage blocked every strike until one cut her arm.

  Blood dripped to the ground.

  Sage ducked as Vida’s dagger cut through the air aimed at her eyes.

  One of the first things Sage had learned with the Woodland tribe was to use her entire body. When someone attacked her with her hands, she would hit with something else.

  Pushing off the ground with her foot, Sage kneed Vida in the stomach, sending her backward as she gasped for air. If Vida had any magic, she wasn’t using it.

  Vida pushed herself up and leaped at Sage with her daggers in the air.

  They sparred again, trading blow for blow as sweat pooled on Sage’s forehead. The heavy, humid air made every strike harder than she was used to.

  With a spin, Vida slashed at Sage’s neck.

  Sage recoiled just in time for the dagger to miss her throat by less than an inch.

  She shuddered. It would have been the end of her. Her strength waned as her stamina grew low. She wouldn’t be able to keep the sparing up much longer.

  Sage would have to make a move soon or she would lose.

  Vida aimed lower this time, swiping at Sage’s knees.

  With a backward hop, Sage jumped out of the way. Instead of using her daggers, Sage slammed her elbow into Vida’s cheek and then kicked her stomach.

  Vida stumbled away from Sage and, dazed from the blow to her head.

  Sage somersaulted toward her and sliced the back of Vida’s calf, dropping her to the ground. Then she jumped on top of her and hovered her daggers over her throat.

  Vida’s eyes filled with rage. “Do it.”

  “My mentor taught me never to kill needlessly. I have no need for you to die.” Sage kept her daggers at Vida’s neck.

  This wasn’t about winning a battle or taking over a tribe. The goal was to save Cade and Poppy and search for the power.

  “If you don’t want me dead, what do you want?” Vida asked.

  “My friends and I go free. We need blankets, weapons, and food for our journey. And you won’t bother us again.”

  Vida glared. Apparently, she didn’t like losing.

  “That or I slit your throat and I become queen of the tribe and my friends and I go on our way with all the food, blankets, and weapons I want.”

  Vida clenched her teeth. “I surrender.”

  She eyed Scarlett again and Sage swore she saw Vida’s eyes soften.

  After Sage defeated Vida, Scarlett’s hands were unbound. She went to Sage, who held out a hand and helped Vida up from the ground.

  “You okay?” Scarlett eyed Sage’s cut. If she had her magic, she could heal it.

  “And you doubted me.” Sage grinned.

  “Leena will take one of you to pack some food,” Vida gestured to the woman who had tied up Sage. “I can take you to get blankets and we will all meet up at the armory hut.”

  Scarlett looked at Sage. Could they trust her?

  Sage hesitated but nodded. “Very well. Our other friends can wait here.” She glanced at Cade and Poppy, neither of whom had spoken a word.

  After Vida had let Scarlett pick out enough blankets and pack them in a sack, she led her to a circular hut filled with weapons. It reminded Scarlett of the training room at the Summer Court, where Jaser had taught her as much as he could about fighting before the battle of heirs. Sage and Leena weren’t there, yet.

  “I’m not sure what Sage wants,” Scarlett said as they waited.

  “You two aren’t from here, are you?” Vida asked.

  The two faced each other in the center of the tent. Although Sage had won the battle, Vida had been friendly toward Scarlett.

  “Not exactly.” Scarlett wasn’t sure how much she should share.

  “What brings you to our realm? It’s been a very long time before we’ve had visitors.”

  So, Vida knew they’d come from another realm. How?

  “We’re searching for something.”

  “Oh?”

  “Are you fae?” Scarlett asked. She might as well learn what she could while she waited for Sage.

  “No, we aren’t.”

  “And you have no magic?”

  Vida glanced to the ground. “We don’t.”

  “What is your weapon of choice?” Vida asked.

  Scarlett stared at the weapons hanging on the wall. “A staff.”

  This choice earned a grin from Vida, who, instead of grabbing the staff hanging with the other weapons, opened a large, rectangular chest and pulled out a much more ornate looking one. It was made of dark wood, with silver twine twisted around the middle portion and an opal-like jewel in the center.

  Vida tossed it to Scarlett, wide-eyed as Scarlett caught it as if she hoped something would happen.

  Nothing did, and Scarlett swore she saw a flicker of disappointment in the warrior’s eyes.

  “Thank you,” Scarlett said, happy to have something to fight with if they were attacked.

  Once Sage and Leena arrived at the hut, Sage chose a few items and they
headed back to Cade and Poppy.

  As they walked, Scarlett asked Vida how they could find the center of the island. She was prepared for her to refuse to help any more than Sage had bargained for, but as they were leaving the camp, Vida gave Scarlett a compass of some sort and told her it would show them the way.

  Kaelem leaned against a tree as Raith paced back and forth. It had been at least an hour since Scarlett and Sage had left. Kaelem didn’t like the idea of Scarlett going into the lion’s den with Sage, but he wouldn’t tell her what she could and couldn’t do.

  “Pacing isn’t going to make them return any faster.” Kaelem crossed his legs. “And if we have to charge the camp and rescue them, I don’t want to have to carry you.”

  “Please,” Raith scoffed. “I have too much stamina for walking to wear me out.”

  “That’s not what I heard.”

  Raith glared. “They’ve been gone too long. What if something happened?”

  Kaelem wanted to tell Raith he worried way too much, but he was anxious himself.

  Sage could hold her own in a fight, but Scarlett needed her magic to defend herself. They knew nothing about the tribe or this realm. What if they were cannibals and had Scarlett tied up and ready to roast over a fire at that very moment?

  Kaelem groaned. When did become so concerned about Scarlett?

  “If you’re so bothered, I guess we can go check on them.” Kaelem didn’t want to seem like he was the distressed one.

  “I wouldn’t want you to dirty your delicate skin,” Raith scoffed. “Feel free to wait here while I go rescue them.”

  “Please, and leave their safety in your hands?”

  “You don’t have magic here, Unseelie King. No curse to give you an unfair advantage.”

  Kaelem didn’t like being without his magic, but he wasn’t as worthless without it as Raith made it seem. “And you don’t have Sage here to protect you.”

  “I seem to remember both Sage and me saving your ass at the Winter Solstice,” Raith said.

  “We can argue or actually come up with a plan.”

  Raith groaned. “Since the last time you tried to rescue someone you almost got killed, how about I decide what we do.”