by Nissa Leder
Scarlett glanced at the spot to her left where Ashleigh sat. “You doing okay?”
Ashleigh swallowed the food in her mouth. “I’m good.” Her blond hair was long and wavy today and embellished with a silver headband that matched the metallic dress she’d made herself. With no electronics to fill their days and distract them from everything, they’d decided, with the help of the royal seamstress, to learn to sew. Scarlett’s attempt at a dress was an epic fail, but Ashleigh had a natural talent for it. Scarlett pricked herself over and over while Ashleigh increased her stitching speed each day.
Gratitude spread through Scarlett as she thought about her sister. She could still feel the sadness that lingered, but she hadn’t mentioned the mortal world since seeing Scarlett nearly taken by Raith before she’d rescued him. It saddened Scarlett to think of Ashleigh having to hide her longing for her old life, but she appreciated her thoughtfulness.
While Scarlett couldn’t imagine being mortal again, part of her longed for parts of her old life. She’d always thought she wanted so much more from the world than a small town life worrying about a mentally-ill mother, but now, simplicity sounded nice.
The thought of her mother sent anger through her. Her mother had spent her whole life hearing voices because of the Fates. Because they needed Scarlett to find her way to the Otherworld to begin some prophecy. She still wasn’t sure exactly what it was they wanted. World domination? Seemed a cheesy enough thing for the villain to want. But they weren’t facing just one bad guy. Although Scarlett knew Ankou was King of the Darkland, his daughters were strong enough to be to be the villains all on their own. The way they’d bested the Seelie Queen so easily—Scarlett wouldn’t make the mistake of underestimating them.
Thinking of the Seelie Queen reminded Scarlett of her father: Laik. A topic she’d desperately done her best to avoid. He was Seelie King now, but he’d always been her father, even if she’d never known him. And he’d never bothered to check on her mother. When she’d seen him distraught over Genevieve’s death, she’d let her pity curb her anger. But now, the rage consumed her.
Her vision blurred. The sounds around her muffled, the voices becoming distant echoes.
“Scar?” Ashleigh said.
Scarlett blinked. The room shifted back into focus. It wasn’t the first time her anger had affected her like that. She was officially losing it.
Ashleigh leaned closer and whispered, “You sure you’re okay?”
Scarlett wanted to reassure her that she would be just fine, but she couldn’t. Instead, she said, “As okay as I think can be expected.”
When they’d finished the main course, dessert was served. It was a delectable triple layer chocolate cake. Kaelem would be jealous. Scarlett let the sweetness subdue her anger. It was hard to be mad at anything when the cake tasted so good.
After everyone finished eating, she stood. “I want to thank everyone again for attending tonight and for being so loyal. I can’t promise things will be easy, but I know we are strongest together.” Scarlett smiled and raised her glass.
Everyone responded with, “Cheers.”
As queen, Scarlett was the first to leave, followed by Ashleigh. Once outside the dining room, she hesitated. She could go back to her room for the night, but she wanted some fresh air first. “I’m going for a walk.”
“Can I join?” Ashleigh waited a couple of steps behind.
Scarlett wanted some time to herself, but how could she tell Ashleigh no? “Sure.”
Since most everyone would either be returning to their rooms in the castle or leaving the castle grounds through the front door, the sisters took the back door.
When they stepped outside, the first thing Scarlett noticed was the beautiful sunset. Pink and purple swirls filled the sky. Little patches of blue from the day snuck through. Not only was it beautiful, but it was somehow hopeful.
As they continued their walk, Ashleigh asked, “What’s wrong, Scar? You’ve been different since you returned from the Darkland.”
Scarlett reached out her arms and looked at her black tattoos.
Ashleigh added, “I don’t mean those. Well, they might have something to do with it, but I mean how you’ve been acting. You seem crankier than normal and you zone out all of the time now.”
Scarlett shrugged. Ashleigh was right. She was different. But she didn’t want her older sister worrying about her any more than necessary. “Just a lot on my mind.”
Ashleigh grabbed Scarlett’s arm and jerked her toward her. “Don’t lie to me. Please. You already tried that when you first turned fae and look how that turned out. I got trapped in a freakin’ mirror.” She smirked.
At least Ashleigh could joke about it now. For a while, Scarlett worried they would never move past all of it. But Ashleigh was right. Scarlett had tried to protect her and it did nothing but make things worse.
“I think I’m going crazy.” Scarlett cast her glance downward.
Ashleigh took her hands and squeezed them. “What do you mean?”
“Ever since I used the dark magic in the Darkland and the Seelie Court, I’ve felt volatile. Anything that should be mildly annoying turns to pure anger. Sometimes, it’s so strong I literally can’t even see straight. That can’t be good.”
Ashleigh met Scarlett’s eyes. “Well, it doesn’t sound good, but that doesn’t mean you’re losing your mind. You’ve been through so much. It might just take some time to adjust to it all.”
Scarlett hoped she was right. Her body needed time to adapt. Logically, it made sense. “I also had a vision.”
“Of what?”
Scarlett shouldn’t burden Ashleigh with this. She’d been through enough. But was hiding the truth from her really protecting her? Scarlett would want Ashleigh to confide in her, so it was only fair she did the same.
“Ankou,” Scarlett said. “I’d had them before when I was reading the book, but this was different. Before, they’d seemed like moments of the past. Some types of clues I needed so I could figure out how to defeat him. But this felt like I was looking into what he was doing at that moment. Like somehow, I was a bug hovering above, looking down.”
Ashleigh stared at Scarlett. “Maybe it’s a good thing. If you can somehow spy on him, it might help you find his weakness.”
“What if I’m turning into him? Not actually him, but the darkness he possesses. What if it’s going to consume me, too? What if I’m dangerous?”
“I’d love to promise you that it couldn’t happen, but honestly, maybe it could. But you have to be stronger than that. If you’re feeling the darkness grab you, fight the damn thing off.” Ashleigh smiled and grabbed Scarlett’s hand, squeezing it gently.
Scarlet laughed. She could count the number of times she’d heard her sister swear on her hands. Probably just one. The fact that she’d said “damn” made Scarlett oddly happy.
Ashleigh released Scarlett’s hand then turned and locked her elbow with hers. “Now, let’s finish the walk and enjoy this gorgeous sunset, then go back inside and play a game or do something fun.”
As they continued down the path, a flicker of joy sparked in Scarlett, diminishing the darkness just a little.
Chapter Five
Cade rolled over in his bed, trying his best to avoid the glaring sunshine bursting through his window. He’d forgotten to close the curtains before he went to bed the night before. So much for sleeping in.
Last night, he’d only had one nightmare, which meant he actually got a decent night’s sleep. Most nights were filled with dark dreams. Some were replays of when he killed the innocent Seelie Court fae. Her blood stained his hands as he watched her die over and over. Others were of the Seelie Queen’s death. Even if he hadn’t hurt anyone when they’d attacked, he still felt somewhat responsible. Maybe joining the Fates’ side, even as a spy, wasn’t worth it.
The nightmares that worried him the worst were of the future. He’d dream of more choices he’d have to make, more innocent people he’d have to kill. O
r, in others, he’d be the one slaughtered by the Fates after they learned his intentions weren’t pure. They’d make an example of him. Even worse, sometimes they’d discover his secret and take it out on Poppy.
Cade pulled up the blankets to his bare chest. Unlike Raith, Cade had always worn clothing to bed. But the nightmares had caused his body to overheat, so he’d settled on just wearing pants.
The worst part of it all was lying to Poppy. He didn’t want anyone to pay for his choices. What if something happened to her? What if someone found out about him and punished him by hurting her? He’d never forgive himself.
Cade groaned. Apparently, he wouldn’t be getting back to sleep. He tossed the blankets off and begrudgingly got out of bed. Once he was dressed, he headed to his mother’s chambers.
Ever since he’d found out she’d been opening his mail, he hadn’t quite trusted her. He didn’t want to believe his mother would do anything malicious against him, but he couldn’t be sure and now he had an entire kingdom to worry about.
When he approached her room, he was surprised to see the doors open. He went straight inside and about choked on his own saliva when he saw who was there.
Morta sat across from Kassandra, both women sipping their tea as he entered.
“What perfect timing,” Kassandra said as she gestured to the spot next to her. “Come, my son. Sit.”
Now Cade really wished he’d have stayed in bed.
He smiled and sat next to his mother while feeling Morta’s stare press into him.
“What a surprise,” Cade said.
“Isn’t it wonderful,” Kassandra said. “Morta has come to thank you for your help in aiding them against the Seelie Queen. Well, former queen, I should say. I can’t pretend to be surprised. I always knew her arrogance would get the better of her.”
“Yes, we are so grateful to have you on our side.” Morta looked at Cade with a cold stare.
Did she know something? Panic rushed through him as he felt the necklace Kaelem had given him cold against his skin. Sometimes, he thought he felt it pulse. Right now was one of those times. He wondered if it meant someone was trying to read his thoughts.
“The Summer Court is thankful to be aligned with the right side.” Cade grabbed the kettle from the table and an empty glass and poured himself some tea.
“Isn’t he so darling, pouring himself tea as king,” Kassandra said.
“Yes, adorable,” Morta said. “Thank you for meeting with me and I look forward to our continued alliance.” She stood.
She wasn’t actually there to meet him? She’d come to meet his mother? God, did people not realize she wasn’t queen anymore?
Despite his desire to just sit there, Cade stood and bowed. It would be rude if he didn’t, even if she hadn’t cared to see him at all. Staying on her good side was an unfortunate necessity.
Kassandra rose and curtsied. “Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help.”
“Thank you.” Morta nodded before disappearing in a blink.
“When did she get here?” Cade asked.
“About an hour ago.” Kassandra strode toward the door. “Come, let’s go eat breakfast.” Without waiting for an answer from him, she left the room.
He groaned but followed. He was hungry, and he wanted a chance to learn why Morta had come. Still, being ordered like a child annoyed him.
Once they’d sat at the dining table, Cade asked, “Was there a specific reason for her visit?”
A cup of tea appeared in front of Kassandra. The brownies likely knew how angry she got when she didn’t have tea. “She wanted to speak with me about the Summer Court.”
Tea appeared in front of Cade, too. He hadn’t planned on having more, but since it was there, why not? “I’m thankful to have you as guidance, mother, but I’m the king now. Shouldn’t people meet with me?” He’d tried to hide the bitterness but he wasn’t sure if he’d done a good job.
“Of course, my son. But I want to be able to help you in any way I can. You have a lot going on and any responsibilities I can help with, I am happy to take.” She sipped her tea. “This is not sweet enough.” Within seconds, a new glass appeared.
“And I’m so lucky to have you, but I want to be the best king I can be to my people, which means I need to know when someone visits.” Why couldn’t he just demand she tell him what happened and to never take a meeting without his permission again? She’d have no choice but to listen. He shouldn’t even have to think about making such commands. She should just know that going behind his back like that was unacceptable.
“Of course. But sometimes the best kings know how to delegate. You shouldn’t overexert yourself. Allowing me to help you is what a good king would do.”
Cade wanted to argue, but he couldn’t. Truthfully, he believed in the value of good allies and having people he could trust. If he tried to do it all alone, it could end poorly. But something about it all felt off to him, and he couldn’t pinpoint why.
“At the very least, I need to be kept informed of any official meetings and what is being discussed.”
“Morta was simply here to check on our court. Nothing you should be concerned about. I’m proud of you, Cade. You’ve been faced with difficult decisions and chosen wisely.”
Had he? As far as she knew, he had aligned himself and his court with the Fates. Women who, for years, hid who they really were. Women who had been able to evanesce anywhere, their magic overriding any protections placed by any court. Cade hadn’t tried to add any more security measures, but he wasn’t even sure he could keep the Fates out if he tried. “You aren’t worried that their intentions aren’t pure?”
Kassandra laughed. “Please. I’m almost positive their intentions aren’t pure. But whose are? We are magical beings who feed on emotion. None of us are anywhere near pure.”
“They made me kill an innocent woman to prove my loyalty. Did your friend tell you that?” Anger rose in Cade’s throat. His mother seeming so callous bothered him. That he couldn’t trust her with his true intentions worried him even more.
“She said you complied with little hesitation. And who’s to say she was innocent? You presume the world is good, dear boy, but it isn’t,” Kassandra said. “Keep practicing your Summer magic. With the curse placed on our court by the very court of that woman you claim to be so innocent now broken, we finally can be truly strong. There will be new things we all can learn now, but as king, your magic will be the most affected.”
He’d already felt how different his magic was in his body. Summoning Summer energy was nearly as easy as taking a breath. He wondered how he’d fare against Kaelem or the new Seelie King. Kaelem might know about Cade’s true loyalty, but no one else did. What if the Seelie King attacked him in retaliation?
Despite not liking how they’d regained their power, Cade was thankful to have it. He hadn’t realized how dulled his powers had been until feeling their true might. He reached out his arm and faced his palm upwards. An aqua-colored orb glowed in his hand.
“The courts who’ve allied with the mortal girl will be after you now more than ever,” Kassandra said. “You need to train harder so you can protect yourself.”
Scarlett was no longer mortal. Far from it. But his mother acted like she was the same weak thing he’d lured to the Summer Court.
When their food appeared, they ate in silence. She wasn’t going to tell him why Morta had come or what had been discussed. Unless he wanted to force it out of her, he’d have to let it go for now. He wanted to trust his mother, but he couldn’t.
After Cade took his last bite, he stood. “I should head to the training room for the day.”
“Very well.”
Cade bowed to his mother then evanesced away.
Raith carefully slipped a shirt over his head. Though he was gaining more energy every day, his wounds still hurt. Maybe the pain would never go away. Truth be told, he deserved such a fate.
As angry as he was at himself for the things he’
d done while the Fates controlled him, he couldn’t completely regret his decision. He wondered what the Fates would have done if he had refused. He wanted to think they would have been frustrated but let his mother live, but he knew that was unlikely. Especially Morta. She was the worst of the three. She would have slit his mother’s throat just to watch him suffer. And especially now after helping Scarlett escape, Morta would take pleasure in causing him anguish.
And by giving himself over to the Fates and letting them control him, he’d gained an unexpected advantage: they’d spoken freely in his presence. He’d learned the differences between them. As the leader, Morta developed the plans. She had a bloodlust Raith had never seen, her sole focus on victory.
The other two Fates were interesting. Decuma had lured him to her bed his first night there. She’d used him as some sort of toy, but he’d seen her softer side. She’d been careful with him.
Nona was a mystery. She didn’t hold the wrath inside her that her sisters possessed. She rarely spoke, and if he wasn’t mistaken, her aura was filled with grief.
A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.
“Come in,” he said.
Scarlett entered the room. She wore jeans and a t-shirt, reminding him of the mortal he saw through the kitchen window when she sat next to his brother Cade at a human party. But she was nowhere near that girl. Though she’d always been pretty, she was striking now. Magic radiated from her.
The most noticeable difference was the tattoos covering her arms. What had turned them from their original white color to black?
“Hi,” she said. “How are you feeling?”
Raith walked to the bed and sat down. “Better.”