by Nissa Leder
“Did you expect the Winter Court to be a graceful loser?” Cade asked.
He wondered how much of what he’d been taught by his tutor had been true. It was unlikely that Winter was the only court to write history favorable to themselves.
“No, but it’s no wonder our courts continue to hate one another if this type of propaganda is spread.” Poppy slammed the book shut and tossed it dramatically across the room.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. The Winter Advisor escorted them back to the throne room where Nevina and her guards waited. A few minutes later, the Fates evanesced in.
Morta stepped in front of the other two. “War has been brewing for many years in your realm and ours. Others have taken power that belongs to us and tonight will be the night we take back what is ours.”
The Seelie and Unseelie courts had stolen the seasonal court powers, but what power had the Fates had taken from them? Did they mean Scarlett?
“Our father, the Darkland King, will gain the full power of the Sidhe tonight when he drinks from the blood of the Sidhe Queen.”
Scarlett. Cade swallowed. They must have somehow captured her. Cade hoped it was a lie, but the smugness on Morta’s face led him to believe it was very much the truth.
She continued, “And you will regain your rightful power when we attack the Seelie Palace tonight.”
Tonight? Cade hadn’t expected things to move so quickly. He hadn’t decided which side to choose. If they already had Scarlett, was there even another side anymore?
Making a choice wasn’t necessary right then. He didn’t trust Nevina or the Fates, but if going with them to the Seelie Court could get him his full magic, then shouldn’t he go? The more power he had, the better he could protect his people, and, if he chose Kaelem’s side, he’d be a stronger ally.
But Genevieve wouldn’t give up the ruby easily. There would be a fight and Cade had no idea what would happen. The Seelie Queen was the most powerful fae. Challenging her was risky and could be fatal. Was more power worth dying for?
But the Fates were Sidhe, beings that came before the fae. Could their magic defeat Genevieve?
Questions raced through Cade’s mind.
“Very well, we are ready.” Nevina stared at Cade. “And the Summer King?”
He didn’t have time to deliberate. There was no turning back. The choice was made. “Poppy and I will fight with you.”
“Good. Let’s enjoy a nice dinner then…we retake what’s ours.”
Kaelem watched the newest episode of his favorite soap opera. The two lovers who had confessed their feelings were just about to take things to the next level and make love. Right as they made their way to the bedroom, the woman got a phone call. The episode ended with her expression going blank and the phone dropping from her hands.
Great, now he’d have to wait in wonder until the next episode.
His stomach grumbled, reminding him it was lunchtime. He called upon a brownie and requested his food be served to him there while he watched a movie.
When he’d finished his lunch, a brownie brought him dessert. Double chocolate pie. Delicious. With war on the horizon, Kaelem couldn’t think of anything better to take his mind off of things than to eat something so savory.
Well, he could think of something else that could distract him, but the pie would do well enough for the moment.
Halfway through the movie—and halfway through the entire pie—Lola spoke to him mind-to-mind.
You have a visitor from the Otherworld portal.
Let her in, he replied.
Finally, Scarlett had come to visit. He’d begun to worry. If she hadn’t shown up within the next two days, he had planned to visit her. He didn’t want to go too soon and look desperate. They might have crossed the line by sleeping together, but it didn’t mean the game was over.
Kaelem stood from the couch and smoothed out his suit. He ran his fingers through his hair as he waited.
When the door opened, he was ready to give a flirty greeting, but clamped his jaw shut when Rowen stepped into the room. He tilted his head to the side.
Kaelem waited. Perhaps Lola meant he had visitors and Scarlett was behind her.
Rowen shut the door.
Was Scarlett avoiding Kaelem? They hadn’t talked after their night together, but he hadn’t sensed any awkwardness. Perhaps she was still playing the hard-to-get game, too.
Uneasiness radiated from Rowen.
Something was wrong.
“What happened?” Kaelem asked.
“I haven’t seen her in two days.”
“And you’re just coming to me now?” He tried to keep calm.
“I thought she just wanted some alone time. She’d been spending a lot of time in the library. I didn’t want to hover over her.”
“Was there any sign of a struggle?”
“None. That’s what was odd. Vida says the wards are holding strong. We should have known if someone made it through.”
Scarlett had always hated when other people protected her. If she figured out a way to the Darkland, she might have gone alone to save the day herself. Kaelem should have seen such an action coming.
“What if Scarlett went through them?”
“That’s Vida’s best guess,” Rowen said. “We don’t know how, but if she created a portal there, the wards wouldn’t have prevented her from going out.”
“How do we find her?”
“Vida’s scouts know where the entrance is, but it’s heavily guarded.”
The Fates wanted Scarlett for a reason. Perhaps they wanted to kill her for the hell of it, but Kaelem guessed there was a bigger purpose. It was logical to find her and save her, he convinced himself. The best decision for his court—simple as that.
“I’ll visit the Seelie Court and talk to the advisor. If they can provide some guards, Seelie and Unseelie magic combined might be strong enough to get us inside.”
And Kaelem knew Laik was hiding something. Whatever it was might be enough for Laik himself to join him in Scarlett’s rescue.
The Fates had said Scarlett was the key to the upcoming war. Had they meant she was the key to unlock the power and that was the end? Or had they meant she was involved after the tree’s power had been unleashed?
Regardless, Kaelem had to save her. “Return to the Otherworld and tell Vida we’re coming and will need a guide to the Darkland entrance.”
Rowen nodded. “Of course. I’ll go with you and fight to save her and to save my son.”
Kaelem had wanted more time to plan before an attack. To gain more allies, learn more about the Fates, and prepare as much as possible.
So much for that.
With or without Seelie help, he would go to the Otherworld tonight.
Chapter Twenty
Scarlett leaned against the cage, her legs pulled into her chest. A tingle spread through her veins. When she opened her hand, a flicker of light appeared.
Her magic. How was that possible?
As a red creature walked by, Scarlett closed her hand. A few minutes later, she tried again. This time a ball grew inside of her palm.
The effects of their bites were fading, and her magic was building. It hadn’t been long since she’d last been bitten. Her body must have somehow been fighting the venom faster.
Scarlett kept her head hanging and her body held tight, hoping to look as defeated as possible. Her magic had returned, but she didn’t have much. She needed to use it wisely.
A few minutes later, a red creature entered the cage with a stick in its hand. It left the door cracked open. Perfect.
It poked her stomach. She ignored it. Next, it pushed the stick hard into her shoulder. She resisted using her magic and, instead, squirmed. Then it swung the stick like a baseball bat at her face. Its jagged end sliced her cheek.
The creature laughed.
Bastard.
When it bent down to grab her arm, Scarlett struck. She sent a ball of light directly into its face, causing
it to drop the stick. The creature screeched. As it grabbed at its eyes, Scarlett picked up the stick. She could leave the thing behind and lock it in the cage, but something inside her had another idea.
She swung the stick as hard as she could into its face, as it had done to her. It dropped to the ground. She approached it. With hands raised in defeat, it spoke to her. She couldn’t understand its words, but the pleading tone was obvious.
Scarlett raised the stick high and plunged it into its chest.
She watched it pathetically slump to the ground then she ran outside from the cage, locking the door behind her even though there was no need. The thing was dead.
Her magic waned. She wouldn’t be able to use much without more time to replenish. She grabbed her staff leaning against the wall. The orb in its center swirled.
Scarlett wanted to run toward the castle. She could take Ankou off guard. But without enough magic, she stood no chance. She needed to be smarter than she’d been before. As she turned toward the tunnel that led back the way she came in, red creatures ran from the direction of the castle.
She ran toward the tunnel entrance. When she was nearly there, red creatures sprinted from the tunnel. Scarlett was trapped on both sides.
She gripped the staff in front of her and slowly spun. Eight. There were eight creatures and one of her and this time she was prepared. If she had her full magic, the odds against her wouldn’t have been so intimidating. But she didn’t. It would have to be plan B: fight them with her staff.
Jaser’s voice played in her memory. He had taught her how to turn from defense to offense with a staff. How to choose the right moment to make a move. How to read the body signals of her opponent.
His biggest advice was when at all possible, avoid a fight altogether. Since both ways out of the room were blocked, that wasn’t an option.
One of the creatures hissed when it glanced inside of the cage and saw its friend on the ground. The rest mimicked the sound, which echoed off the walls.
She’d pissed them off. Good.
A creature from each side attacked. She spun her staff above her head and dipped low, hitting one in the stomach first then the other at the ankles. Both fell to the ground. She hadn’t hit them hard, but her magic gave the staff extra power.
Two more tried next. Ready for her attack, they approached her more slowly than the first two had. She held up her hand and light shot from her palm, blasting into one. The other growled and jumped at Scarlett. Its nails dug into her arm. She winced through the pain and stuck her staff in between its legs.
Quickly, she jerked the staff up into the creature’s most private spot. It fell to the ground. Apparently, that was a universally sensitive spot.
Four down, four to go.
She needed to keep them from biting her again. It was her only chance.
Just when Scarlett’s hopes rose, a familiar voice crushed them.
“Impressive,” Raith said as he entered the room from the castle side. “But I think you’ve had enough fun, don’t you?”
Scarlett lifted her staff. Fighting the creatures was one thing. She was outnumbered, but they had no magic. Raith did.
He raised his arms and a flock of ravens flew at her, pecking at her face. She knew they weren’t real. They were simply a magic trick, but a powerful one that distracted her enough for the creatures to knock the staff out of her hand, grab her arms and legs and bring her to Raith.
She bucked in their grip but couldn’t break free. Light shot from her hand in a desperate attempt to escape, but it uselessly shot into the wall. Her magic was empty again.
“You are feisty; I’ll give you that,” Raith said as three more creatures entered. “Bite her neck this time.”
One of the creatures followed his order and sunk its teeth into her neck. Pain shot down her arm, burning the nerves from her collarbone to her fingertips.
Her neck throbbed as they released her and left again. She tried to produce light again but nothing happened.
“Make sure she’s bitten once every ten minutes now. To be safe.” Raith dismissed the creatures.
A wave of dizziness fluttered through Scarlett. She reached out and grabbed the cell bars for balance. Nausea filled her stomach. How long had it been since she’d eaten? The tray of food she’d been given at Ankou’s request sat untouched across the cell. She didn’t want any kindness from a devil like him.
“You should eat that.” Raith gestured to the plate. “I’m sure it’s cold now, but it might be your last meal, so don’t be too picky.”
Scarlett glared at him. “Why not just end me now if that’s the plan?”
She didn’t like feeling so hostile toward Raith. It felt wrong. But the way he treated her made her hate him and she couldn’t hide it.
“Your time will come at the right moment. Tonight when the full moon comes, Ankou will take your blood and break the curse tethering him to the Darkland.”
Scarlett hadn’t seen Ankou use any spectacular power, but if he was the dark to the light magic she’d absorbed from the tree—and he actually knew how to use his powers—then him roaming freely would be dangerous for everyone.
“You can’t let him do that, Raith. Please.” Somewhere the old Raith had to still be inside of him. She’d seen enough movies where true love’s kiss broke a curse to believe that somehow the spell they had him under could be broken.
But that was Hollywood and this wasn’t. Scarlett didn’t think freeing him was as simple as a kiss. If there was a way to loosen their hold on him, she didn’t know it.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sage had taken a door from inside of the Unseelie Palace back to the Autumn Forest then evanesced outside of its castle—a much easier journey than the one she’d taken to speak with Kaelem.
Now back in the Autumn Court, her first mission was to go speak with her sister and convince her their father needed to know what had happened. If they had any hope of him seeing the depth of the danger they were in, he must know the truth. Fabricating a story about why they were in the Faerie Forest wouldn’t do. If he figured out the lie, he’d be less willing to trust Sage’s advice.
She’d just started to gain his trust. She didn’t want to lose it already.
She found her sister in her room, sitting at her desk writing.
“But he’ll be mad.” Willow rolled up the scroll in front of her and stood. “And he won’t let Declan stay here to heal. I visited him last night. He looks awful.”
“You don’t know that. Father’s been much more welcoming of my return than I ever could have imagined. We won’t win any prize for being the closest of fathers and daughters, but he’s not the same man he was when I left. He deserves a chance.”
As Sage said these words, she realized their truth. She should have given him a chance to understand her before she ran away for so many years. If she’d had explained to him how it felt to be a princess in the Autumn Court, maybe he’d have listened.
She could have at least tried.
But that decision had led her here. She’d learned to fight—to be a warrior capable of protecting those she cared about. And she’d seen outside of the castle walls and learned about the Autumn people.
Even if she could take back her decision to leave, she wouldn’t. But she didn’t want to have to choose anymore. She wanted to be strong and be a princess. To love whoever she wanted and not be limited by old traditions. But before she could even approach that subject, they had to survive the coming war. They had to tell the Autumn King about Declan and the Otherworld creatures.
“I won’t let him banish Declan until he’s fully healed. Father isn’t that heartless. He will sense your affection.”
“And if you’re wrong?”
“Then we will take Declan to the Unseelie Court together. The king offered his protection, and I’m friends with his sister.”
Were they friends? A peck on the lips didn’t make them soul mates, but hopefully it at least put them in the friends category.<
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Willow sighed. “I want to be the one to tell him. And if he doesn’t allow Declan to remain here, we’ll take up the Unseelie King’s offer and go there for the time being. I won’t betray Declan. I’m all he has.”
Sage pulled Willow into a hug. How could her sister be so brave and wise at only fifteen?
One of the brownies appeared, informing them their brother had called a meeting in the throne room. When they walked in, their mother and father each sat on their respective thrones, and Ajax stood in front of them.
“Sisters, thank you for coming,” he said.
Sage stood next to the queen, Willow next to the king, all facing Ajax as he spoke.
“The future of the Autumn Court is hanging in the balance. Our court has a long history of secluding itself from the other fae courts. We’ve stayed strong by keeping out of other wars. This has worked in the past but will no longer serve us best.”
For once, Sage agreed with her brother. They desperately needed allies if they didn’t want to be taken over by the Fates in whatever plan they had.
Ajax continued, “I know the Winter Court has had a reputation for causing trouble in the past, but I believe they are our best hope now. The Fates know things about the future, giving them the advantage. Siding with anyone else is unwise.”
Sage stepped in front of her father. “Ajax is right. We need allies. But not the Winter Court or the Fates. Both have motives of their own. Nevina wants to steal from the Seelie Queen and the Fates want more power for themselves. They will backstab us.”
“Us? You return to our court for merely a breath and expect Father to listen to your guidance?” Ajax said.
“The Fates already have unleashed their creatures into our realm.” Sage glanced at Willow.
In a shaky voice, Willow shared the story of what happened when they rode into the forest. She fought back tears.
“You have been sneaking out to meet a boy?” the Autumn King asked.
“None of that matters right now,” Sage said. “How long until the creatures invade the Autumn Wood?”