by Nissa Leder
The bartender pushed the drinks toward them. “Enjoy.”
Kaelem handed one to Scarlett then took the other for himself.
Scarlett drank half of the drink in one gulp. A tingle quickly washed over her. What type of liquor was in it?
Kaelem took a sip. “Hmmm. That’s interesting. And strong indeed.”
They meandered through the room, which was filling up. Some women walked around shirtless. Some people wore masks. One woman, dressed in a leather jumpsuit, held a whip. As they walked by, she winked at Kaelem.
Maeron appeared. “This way. Cerise will see you now.”
They followed him down a long hallway and into the last door on the right.
It was a bedroom with an iron, four-poster bed covered in a fluffy red comforter made of silk. A woman with long, back hair sat at the edge of the bed, one leg crossed over the other and her hands folded in her lap.
She wore a tight, black dress with matching lacy mask. When she saw Scarlett, she rose and removed the mask before bowing. “My queen.”
The woman—who must have been Cerise—was petite with a large chest accentuated by the snugness of her dress.
Maeron sprinkled powder in front of the door. “I must be going. You know how to reach me if you need me.” With a bow, he left, shutting the door behind him.
Cerise stepped closer and ran a finger down Scarlett’s cheek. “You are lovely.”
Scarlett wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or freaked out.
Cerise turned to Kaelem. “Mmmm. A gancanagh. Yummy.” She walked around him, practically drooling.
“We’re here for your help,” Scarlett said, hoping to bring the focus back onto the whole purpose of coming here.
“Yes, as with Maeron and the other protector, Dana entrusted me with information.” Cerise returned to the edge of the bed. “It begins with a story.
“Once upon a time, Dana was the only ruler of the Otherworld. There was no Darkland. Anyone who passed on went to the Otherside, wherever that is for the Sidhe. No one has ever known for certain.” Cerise tucked her hair behind her ear. “Dana was the Queen of Light, but something else lingered within her. Something dark.
“Dana didn’t like the new feelings slithering inside her. She sent me to find a solution to her problem. It took three years, but finally, I found a woman with an answer.” Cerise paused, her eyes wandering back to Kaelem. “You are so beautiful. Are you sure we can’t discuss this later?”
Scarlett expected some witty reply from Kaelem, but he kept his expression still.
“This matter is time-sensitive, I’m afraid,” he said.
Cerise sighed. “The woman spoke of another realm, a realm of pure magic. For the price of a promise, she gave me the necessary herbs and I returned to Queen Dana.”
“What was the realm?” Scarlett asked.
Cerise pursed her lips. “Patience, young one.”
Scarlett sucked in a groan. She wanted answers, not some drawn out fairy tale.
Cerise continued. “It was a spiritual realm the woman spoke of. There, Dana would find the answer she sought. There was a way to separate the darkness from her light, but it must be put into a vessel with equal power.
“Queen Dana was desperate, and so she did what she thought was best. Ankou was given her dark power and the Darkland to call his own. She thought his magic would be isolated to the small part of the realm, but that wasn’t so, at least not at first. She was now pure light, which made him pure darkness. It made him dangerous.”
Scarlett already knew a lot of this. She hadn’t wanted to believe Ankou when he’d told her as much during the ritual, but she’d sensed the truth in his words.
Cerise glanced at the clock on the wall. “Dana began to have visions of a bleak future. One where Ankou would gain control of all of the Otherworld. The only premonitions where he didn’t succeed were ones where Dana was no longer queen. She predicted her ancestor could fix the problem she’d created. I was instructed to help you to the spiritual realm once you’d found me.”
“You can get me there?” Scarlett asked, a trickle of hope vibrating inside her.
With Morta already able to send soldiers into the castle, Scarlett feared that she would soon attack again. If going to the Spirit Realm would bring her an answer, she needed to go immediately.
“Yes. We can perform the ritual to help you cross over, but you must know the risks.”
Concern set Kaelem’s brow. “Risks?”
“There is one way in and one way out of the Spirit Realm. If Scarlett does not make it across before the candle burns out, she will be trapped.”
He looked at Scarlett. “If you’re trapped there, we will stand no chance against Morta. Perhaps it isn’t worth the risk.”
He was right. Morta's power was too strong without someone to fight against her. But if this spiritual realm Cerise spoke of held the answers they needed, how could she not go?
“You’ll have tonight to decide. If you choose to go, tomorrow I will help you. But the decision is yours.” Cerise stood. “Now, I must get to the party. You two may stay in room 207.” With that, she left the room without a glance back.
After Jaser had given Raith and Cade a tent to share, they found breakfast.
Neither had eaten since being in the Otherworld, and their grumbling stomachs made their hunger obvious.
Despite wanting to scarf down as much as possible, Raith made sure not to take too much food. He didn’t need to draw any attention to himself, and he wasn’t sure how rationed the soldiers were. People were less likely to notice if he came back for seconds than if he took a giant mound of food on his plate the first time.
Once he’d dished up, he and Cade took their breakfast back to their tent.
Jaser had given them the jar of Willow Root so their conversations could be kept private.
Cade sprinkled some in front of the doorway before sitting on his bed to eat.
“Well, you’re back in the Summer Court,” Raith said in between bites. “Just not the castle itself.”
The tent was the complete opposite, actually. They each had a bed and blankets and a lantern on the ground in between them. Not quite luxurious living. Raith didn’t mind it so much. He’d lived in the small space every time he stayed in his tree. Although, this tent made his life there seem fancier than it actually had been.
But his brother had only ever known life in the castle. This must be shocking.
“There are so many soldiers here. All fighting for the Summer Court.” Cade glanced at his glamoured shoes. “If I can’t convince them to join our side when I need to, will I have to fight my own people?”
Raith had watched his little brother grow up in the castle with little care to the outside world. Cade would follow his mother’s orders, rarely leaving the castle to see anything outside its walls. He’d brought Scarlett to their world to use her as fuel so he could defeat Raith, with almost no visible remorse.
But now, hearing the concern in his tone, it was more than just the glamour that made him unrecognizable.
Raith had offered to help his brother mostly to ruin whatever it was Kassandra had planned. But seeing him there, willing to do whatever it took to protect his people, admiration flowed through Raith.
“Hello,” Jaser said from outside the tent.
“Come in,” Raith said.
Jaser stepped inside. “The army is leaving. We got orders to pack up. The general has been given a portal door to our new location.”
“Should we go?” Raith asked Cade. They’d come to be close to the castle and learn what they could. They didn’t even know where this mysterious portal would take them.
Cade stood and turned toward Jaser. “When do you leave?”
“At sunset.”
“We can’t learn much if we don’t go with you,” Cade said.
They’d made it into the castle grounds only to leave. But Cade was right. If they wanted to find out what Morta had planned for the Summer Court, then
going wherever the other soldiers went would be the best idea.
Cade and Raith worked together to pack up the tent Jaser had given them. They also changed into actual uniforms so Cade didn’t have to use as much magic keeping up a complicated glamour.
As the sun began to dip into the western sky, the soldiers were all ordered to line up.
Raith and Cade ended up in the middle of the slow-moving line.
Eventually, they got far enough toward the front to see the portal. Unlike most portals that were one single door, this was a set of double doors made of wood, adorned with iron swirls. Two by two, soldiers passed through.
When they were nearly there, Raith saw the grayness on the other side, realizing instantly where they were headed.
“The Darkland,” Raith said. “We won’t be able to evanesce from there.”
It was almost their turn. If they walked through those doors, they couldn’t get back to the Summer Court unless they went back through the portal, which they didn’t even know would be an option once all the soldiers passed through.
“I must go,” Cade said. “I can’t abandon my people. But you can turn back and tell the others where I’ve gone.”
Raith ran his thumb over his fingers. If he went with Cade, no one would know where they’d gone, which meant no one could come to save them if they got trapped there. But Raith had spent so long trapped in the Otherworld while he healed, the idea of going back to sit and do almost nothing felt wrong.
“We’re in this together,” Raith said and stepped forward.
Cade’s gaze met his. With a deep breath, Raith walked side-by-side with his little brother—with his king—into enemy territory.
Chapter Twelve
Sage stood still while Jade tied up the back of her top. They’d been escorted to a tent and each given clean clothing to wear. An official challenge was a ritual, and the Woodland Tribe tradition dictated that certain protocol must be followed.
She held her breath as Jade pulled the string tight.
“There,” Jade said. “Your top is secure.”
Sage glanced down at the gray fighting top and skirt she now wore. Usually, she preferred a warmer brown color, but the darker outfit was Woodland tradition for a night battle.
“I bet Tamara is seething.” Jade stepped around and eyed Sage up and down.
She was right. The anger in Tamara’s glare after Sage had challenged her couldn’t be missed. Sage should have taken satisfaction in it, but her nerves had kept any celebratory feelings at bay.
She could be happy if she defeated Tamara. Until then, she needed to be focused.
After years of training with the Woodland sisters, she’d become a confident fighter. And against most adversaries, she might have felt more assured in her abilities. But as much as she hated Tamara, she didn’t doubt that she was a strong fighter.
The courage it had taken Sage to challenge Tamara had faded, and now she had to face the consequence.
“Everything all right?” Jade asked.
Sage adjusted the waistband of her fighting skirt. “Yes, I’m just realizing the danger in challenging Tamara.”
Although nerves vibrated inside Sage, she didn’t regret the decision. This was the only way she could still have a chance to say goodbye to Vienna’s body. But she couldn’t ignore the risk and the repercussions that would occur if she lost.
She remembered the worry in Willow’s expression as she’d said goodbye to her sister at the Unseelie Court. Then, Sage hadn’t actually thought she’d challenge Tamara, despite Jade’s request for her to do so. She had planned on sneaking into the Woodland Camp and saying goodbye to Vienna without anyone even noticing.
But there was no going back. Even if Tamara would accept a withdrawal, Sage would never back away from her.
Wenda entered the tent. “The tribe is ready.”
Sage took a deep breath and turned toward the door.
Wenda stepped closer. “Nearly all of the sisters will be rooting for you.” She leaned in closer and whispered, “Give Tamara a weakness she can exploit and when she attacks, you can strike her by surprise.”
Wenda moved to the side to allow Sage by.
As Sage passed her, she smiled, thankful for her encouragement and advice.
The sky was a vibrant orange as Sage, followed by Jade and Wenda, approached the center of camp. The bonfire burned high as the tribe’s sisters created a circular perimeter around it.
Tamara stood in front of the flames, her expression a blend of hate and determination.
She likely would love to hurt Sage as much as Sage wanted to hurt her.
The sisters parted and allowed Sage through.
“I’m a kind queen,” Tamara said. “I will allow you one last chance to rescind your ridiculous challenge and bow to me.”
Sage wondered if Tamara would grant her request if she offered to back down with a stipulation that she could see Vienna’s body before it burned that night when the moon was high in the sky. Surely, at least some part of Tamara—despite her arrogance—feared she could lose. Was denying Sage the opportunity to say goodbye worth the chance of losing her newly earned role of queen, or worse, dying?
Truthfully, Sage had to ask herself a similar question. Should she at least try to negotiate one more time? Was her pride of not backing down worth the risk of dying?
Perhaps, if it was about only her honor, Sage could do it. She could try to accomplish what she’d come for: to say goodbye. She had never wanted to be queen of anything. Not the Autumn Court nor the Woodland Tribe.
But looking into Tamara’s eyes, the last pair of eyes that Vienna would have seen before she died, Sage couldn’t back down.
“No thanks,” Sage said, jaw clenched.
“Very well.” Tamara stepped forward.
From the crowd, two of their sisters stepped forward with a set of daggers in each of their hands.
Tamara took the golden set, leaving the silver set for Sage.
After the sisters returned to their spots in the circle, Tamara spoke. “The challenge will now begin. There will be no interference from any of you. The penalty for breaking this rule will be death. No exceptions.” She glanced at Sage from the side of her eye. “It will be a fight to the death…or surrender. Should the loser choose surrender, and the victor grant the request, she will be banished from the tribe immediately.”
The control belonged to whoever won the battle. Should Sage surrender, Tamara had the right to slice her throat anyway, which she would no doubt do with pleasure.
With the perimeter secured by their sisters, Sage and Tamara turned and faced one another.
“I’ll enjoy watching you bleed out when I defeat you,” Tamara said. “Just like your lover did. You both are traitors to our tribe.”
Sage swallowed her fury at Tamara’s words as she lifted her daggers, ready to fight.
As soon as Tamara raised hers, she attacked.
A scream burst from her lips as Sage ran at her.
Tamara grinned as Sage sliced at her stomach.
Sage gripped the hilts tight as she used her fury to strike, attack after attack.
Tamara blocked them all with ease. Eventually, when Sage hesitated, Tamara took the offense, slicing at Sage’s chest.
Sage shifted to defense and met all of Tamara’s blows.
She remembered what Wenda had said. Let her think you have a weakness.
Every time Tamara aimed for Sage’s left side, Sage feigned a small stumble.
After she blocked a blow aimed at her forehead, Sage leaned back into a roll to create some space and finished back up on her feet.
“Tired yet?” Tamara asked as she adjusted her grip.
Sage wasn’t. She’d been training with Scarlett, who had been getting stronger every day, making it harder and harder for Sage to avoid her attacks.
Scarlett wasn’t the only one who had been improving. Sage felt her stamina grow more every day. She assumed she’d be using her enhanced endurance
against Morta’s army—and if she could win this battle, she still would—not to fight for the honor of Woodland Queen. Her breathing remained steady as her blood flowed through her veins, keeping her muscles fresh.
But if Tamara thought she was losing energy, she might relax a little, which Sage could use to her favor.
Sage let out a long exhale, hoping to sound winded. “Not at all. I can do this all day.”
She ran at Tamara again. As she sliced a dagger at her ear, she spun and kicked at Tamara’s torso, landing a kick to her stomach.
Tamara staggered backward. She glared at Sage as she spun the daggers in her hands. “Lucky.” Then she charged.
The two traded blows, the clinking of the metal echoing through the camp. Tamara aimed for Sage’s throat, and as Sage blocked it, she stumbled to the side. This one wasn’t on purpose.
Tamara used the moment of imbalance and sliced at Sage’s arm, the tip of the blade cutting into her skin. Tamara smirked as Sage glanced at the wound on her forearm. Not only was it deep, allowing more blood to ooze from her, but it had pierced her vein.
It was rare for a fae to bleed out, but the blades they were using had been enchanted to prevent fast healing, and a loss of blood would affect Sage.
Her vision vibrated as the lightheadedness began.
It shouldn’t have been happening this quickly. Sage lifted her head.
A pompous smirk spread across Tamara’s face. “Not feeling too well?”
Confusion swirled in Sage’s mind until she realized why Tamara looked so smug. She’d poisoned the blade.
She’d cheated.
Tamara ran at her before Sage had a chance to process what was happening. Her attacks came quick, barely giving Sage time to block them.
Her heart hammered in her chest as the poison seeped into her veins and spread quickly, fueled by the adrenaline rush of battle.
Dizziness whirled in her head.
She didn’t have much time before she passed out.
Let her think you have a weakness. Sage remembered Wenda’s words again.