by Nissa Leder
“You’re welcome,” Willow whispered as she walked by Sage.
Sage resisted a laugh. Her little sister was as perceptive as she’d always been.
After they were all gone, Sage and Aria sat on the couch.
Sage would never understand the clothing choices of this court. Aria wore tight, shiny black pants and a cherry-colored, flowy top. Her lips matched her shirt, though they were a shade slightly darker.
“How did your trip go?” Aria asked.
“It went well…sort of.” Sage thought of Vienna. Seeing her had brought all of her old feelings back, but it also reminded her of why she’d left. She didn’t regret it, but worried Tamara would use what she now knew against Vienna. “I visited my old tribe.”
“The one you found after leaving the Autumn Court?” Aria slipped off her shoes and pulled her legs up onto the couch, hugging her knees to her chest.
“Yes. I needed to warn them of everything happening outside the isolation of the Autumn Forest. I knew going back would be risky. I didn’t leave on the best terms.” Sage’s mouth went dry. Why was sharing this part of her so difficult? “The tribe leader and I fell in love, and that broke tribe customs.”
Aria lifted an eyebrow. “Loving someone was forbidden? Seems harsh.”
“In many ways, it is. We all love each other as sisters, but the women who prefer men must give up love to be part of the tribe. Sisterhood is the focus. The Autumn Court favors men so strongly, a life without them became worth the sacrifice. But the members of the tribe who are sacrificing the chance at romantic love won’t likely approve of those of us who don’t lose anything.”
“So, you left to protect her?”
“Yes. Another tribe member caught us. I knew she would keep our secret regardless if I stayed or left, but the risk was too high. Someday, someone else would find out our secret. And I was right. When I returned, the worst person to learn of our relationship walked in on us embracing.” Heat rose in Sage’s cheeks. Although she’d made no commitment to Aria and they’d done little more than harmless flirting, somehow admitting she’d just been in the arms of another woman embarrassed her.
“What did your queen do?”
“Forbid the woman from sharing what she saw, but I don’t trust her to follow the order. My only hope is that with me gone again, she will keep her word and stay silent.” Nausea filled Sage’s stomach. If Tamara did disobey her orders, Vienna would have to deal with the repercussions alone.
Aria inhaled and released a huff. “That’s so silly. Any form of love in this world that doesn’t hurt another being should be celebrated.”
“You’re a lot like her,” Sage said. “She always sees the best in things too.”
Vienna was strong. She was a tenacious woman and a capable leader. She could handle Tamara.
Sage needed to focus on her duties here. Everyone would be valuable in the fight ahead.
Chapter Sixteen
Kaelem didn’t like the idea of Scarlett going alone to the Underwater City. Not one bit. Until Maeron had told them about the place, neither of them had even heard of it. As king of the Unseelie Court, he should have known about the city. He should have known about the entire realm of the Otherworld. Surely, somewhere in the Unseelie archives, there was some hint of where the fae had come from.
Then again, he’d spent little to no time in the court’s massive library, so it was possible there was something hidden in the thousands of books.
As much as he wanted to beg Scarlett to wait until they found another way, one where they could go together, he couldn’t. She was well aware of the risk, but given the choice to save those he loved, he’d have taken the risk too. Stopping her would have been hypocritical, not a color he enjoyed wearing. And who was he kidding? She had far more magic than he did. Though he had spent far more time training his skills. Time was something she, unfortunately, didn’t have.
When Kaelem stepped through the portal bringing him home, he groaned. Not only had Scarlett gone somewhere he couldn’t go, but now he was out of the Otherworld completely.
The first thing he did was go to his closet and change. A fresh suit always made problems seem just a little smaller. As he slipped the sleeves onto his arms, he inhaled its fresh lavender scent. He stepped in front of a mirror and adjusted his cufflinks. A black suit with a black undershirt made him look like he was about to go to a mortal funeral.
Kaelem went back into his closet and found a turquoise tie. After he put it on, he returned to the mirror. Better. His mood might have felt all black, but he couldn’t commit to an entirely depressing look.
As he smoothed out his jacket, he thought of Scarlett again. As much as he’d wanted to go with her, it hadn’t been an option. He could have tried harder to convince her not to go, but who was he to tell her what she should and shouldn’t do? Had he been in her position, he would have done the same if it meant he could protect his people.
Once he was satisfied with his outfit, he left his room to find his sister. She wasn’t in her room in the castle, so he tried the dining room. Not there either. He headed to the guest house.
He could sense two minds inside.
Kaelem knocked on the door and opened it.
Aria stood on the outside of the room, facing a large easel with a half painted canvas. “Hello, brother,” she said without turning around.
Sage sat on the couch, straight-backed with her hands resting in her lap.
“Sister,” Kaelem said. “Sage.”
Sage dipped her head in a slight bow.
“Is it craft day?” he asked.
“It’s why-not-paint-something-beautiful day.” After rinsing it off, Aria dipped her paintbrush into a red color and made a few strokes, then set the brush back into the water before turning to her brother. “Did you find what you needed?”
Kaelem shrugged. “Yes. No. Maybe.”
Aria’s forehead crinkled in annoyance. “Which means…”
After a small exhale, he told them both of what happened. Most of it, at least. “Niko backstabbed me. When we showed up to find the man with the information we needed, he was there, too. He bought us drinks and seemed his usual friendly self. A man caught Scarlett’s attention and lured her away.” Kaelem leaned against the doorframe. “Even though Niko betrayed me, his information had been accurate. The man Scarlett spoke with was Sidhe and he warned her about Niko’s plan. I got captured, but she helped me escape.”
“A queen saving a king,” Aria said. “I love those stories.”
Kaelem shook his head and continued. “I’ll just say that Niko won’t be betraying anyone again.”
He swallowed as guilt started to surface. There was no other option. Nico had set him up, and he knew too much. He’d dug his own grave when he backstabbed the Unseelie Court.
Aria shrugged. “I never liked him. He was too self-assured for his own good. I don’t know how many times I turned him down. He was convinced I wanted to sleep with him and just didn’t know it. Apparently, his head was too thick to get the whole I don’t want a man thing.”
“Where’s Scarlett?” Sage asked.
Kaelem had almost forgotten she was there. “Niko had also been truthful about the Sidhe man, Maeron. He is still allegiant to his queen and told us where she must go to find the weapon that can kill Ankou.”
“Which is where?” Aria picked up her brush again and dipped it into the paint. “You are so bad at getting to the point, brother.”
“An underwater city.”
“Huh?” Aria glanced at Sage, who looked equally confused.
Kaelem groaned. If Aria would quit interrupting, maybe he could explain it all. “Apparently, there’s another section of the Otherworld outside of Scarlett’s reign.”
“How is one supposed to get there?”
“With help,” Kaelem said. “As Maeron said, we found a mermaid willing to take her.”
“Take her?” Aria asked.
“Yes.”
“You let her go
alone?”
Kaelem sighed. “What happened to your whole queen saving the king thing? Did you want me to hold her down and tell her she wasn’t allowed?”
Aria glared. “Well, no. But don’t you think it might have a been a decision worth some extra thought?”
“Of course,” Kaelem said. “But how many times have I tried to stop you from doing something you set your mind to? And how many times did it help? I seem to remember a heavy brotherly warning you completely ignored that landed you in the Winter Court prison.”
Aria opened her mouth to say something, but didn’t.
Regret punched Kaelem’s gut. He told himself never to mention that situation again. His sister had more than learned her mistake. But he was frustrated he had no choice. Not then, not now. Even as Aria’s king, he would have never forbidden her from doing something that didn’t break the laws of the court. And Scarlett was a queen herself and not under his rule.
He couldn’t stop her from taking the risk, but he would do whatever he could to prepare for the upcoming war so if Scarlett found the weapon, they could use it on Ankou.
“There’s something else,” Kaelem said. He’d spent most of the conversation looking at his sister, but now his eyes met Sage’s. “Ankou has taken Raith’s mother. Scarlett had a vision.”
Sage stood. “I need to go to him. Maybe I can help save her.”
“I didn’t tell Scarlett not to go to the Underwater City and I won’t tell you not to attempt to rescue Rowen, but I’d advise you to consider waiting. Our best chance is a united attack. He wants us to work alone so we’re easy to defeat.”
Sage glanced at Aria then back to Kaelem. “I need to find Raith and be there for him. I can’t promise I won’t try, but I will consider your advice.”
Aria stepped to Sage and pulled her into a hug. “Be careful. Please.”
Kaelem considered leaving to give them a moment to themselves, but Sage pulled back and said goodbye before he had the chance, so he stepped into the room to let her by him.
“Is that all?” Aria asked Kaelem once Sage was gone.
“There was something else Niko said that surprised me.” Kaelem stepped closer to Aria. “He mentioned fae living in the mortal world outside of any courts.”
“Oh?”
“Had you heard anything about that?”
“Back before Nevina imprisoned me, I heard talk of a life outside the courts. Especially the courts with more rules, but I didn’t know the idea had actually taken off.”
Kaelem nodded. “Apparently, it has.” He wasn’t sure why it bothered him so much. What could he do about it? Force people to remain loyal to him? That wasn’t the kind of king he wanted to be. “I should get inside and have Lola set up a meeting with the army leader.”
As he walked back to the palace, he thought of Scarlett. Had she made it to the Underwater City? Had it all been a trick and now she was floating somewhere in the Otherworld ocean?
No, he didn’t believe that. She was strong and would find a way to get what she needed.
She had to.
Chapter Seventeen
Scarlett followed Nelly to a large bedroom decorated in rich hues of fuchsia, violet, and teal. The area was set up for more than just sleeping, reminding her of a studio apartment. Although it was one big, open area, one section was dedicated to a bed and dresser, another a desk and seating area. The only thing missing was a kitchen, but who knew if they even cooked food?
“You can sit there.” Nelly pointed to the vanity in the corner by the bed.
Scarlett obliged. They hadn’t talked on the way there, allowing Scarlett to soak up her surroundings. It seemed the cathedral-like building served as a throne room and a house. A hallway bordered the large room where she’d met the king. At one corner, they’d taken stairs up three flights to the room they were in now.
She faced the mirror, and in its reflection, saw Nelly approaching her with what looked like a curling iron. But instead of metal, the base was made of a seashell of some sort.
Nelly caught her staring. “I found it on a shore in the mortal world and embellished it a little.”
Since there was no cord, Scarlett assumed it was somehow being heated with magic. Nelly stood behind her and pulled all her hair behind her shoulders. She took a section on one end and began curling Scarlett’s hair in spirals.
As Nelly continued, Scarlett asked her about the Underwater City. The place fascinated her and her curiosity was booming.
“So, you have legs here in the city but fins in the water?” It seemed such a silly question. Clearly, Scarlett had already seen it happen. But she wanted to know more about it.
Nelly chuckled. “You land folk always seem so fascinated by our fins or lack thereof.” She spiraled a large piece of Scarlett’s hair. “But yes, that pretty much sums it up.”
“How?”
“Magic?” Nelly shrugged. “Honestly, it’s been like that since I was born so I don’t know the particulars. My father prefers legs to a fin.”
As Scarlett tilted her head, Nelly groaned then with her free hand, straightened it.
“Sorry.” Scarlett pulled her shoulders slightly back and kept her head upright. “Which do you prefer?”
Nelly paused and stared upward as she thought. “I’m not sure, honestly. My legs allow me to live in our city, so I’m thankful I have them, but nothing is as freeing as swimming with my fin in the sea.”
“Do you bring land creatures here?”
“Occasionally, someone will be brought to the city, but it’s rare.” Nelly ran her fingers through Scarlett’s curls and loosened them up. “Much better.”
After her hair was done, Nelly did her makeup. Scarlett usually preferred natural colors, especially after turning fae and not even needing makeup anymore to feel her best. But Nelly painted her eyelids in a bright hue that faded from pink to purple with a metallic sheen. After the color was on, she applied a heavy coat of mascara to her eyelashes.
When Scarlett looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. It wasn’t that she looked bad. Just different.
But if this would help her chances of getting the weapon, then it was well worth it.
“Now, we need to find you a dress.” Nelly headed to the rack of clothing on the adjacent wall and sifted through the hangers. She paused and glanced at Scarlett. “A think subtle is best.” She pulled out a long, back dress and held it up.
The high neckline was simple but as the fabric got closer to the floor, sparkles embellished the skirt.
After Scarlett put on the dress, she turned to Nelly.
“Perfect.” Nelly nodded in approval. “Someone will come shortly to escort you to dinner.”
“You’re not coming?”
“My father has requested a private dinner.” Nelly glanced in the mirror and adjusted her hair. “And I have a date.”
Kaelem’s face, smiling with flirtatious eyes, flickered in Scarlett’s mind. Why would the mention of someone else’s date conjure his image? God, she needed help.
War. There was a war going on. Rowen had been taken. That’s where her mind should be going to keep her concentrated on what needed to be done. Feelings would make her weak. If it came down to choosing her people or Kaelem, she needed to be strong.
“Hmm?” Nelly’s voice pulled Scarlett from her thoughts.
“Sorry, what?”
Nelly laughed and shook her head. “Your escort is here.” She opened the door to a man in black pants and a red jacket.
“Oh, right.” Scarlett went to the man, who took her arm in his and ushered her to dinner.
“Welcome.” The king sat at a table in the middle of the room. He’d changed into a gray suit paired with a yellow bowtie.
If Scarlett had have ever pictured a city at the bottom of an ocean, it would have been nothing like what she’d seen so far. But the city wasn’t the biggest surprise. It was its king.
He was anything but the long-haired, large-chested Poseidon she’d expected
. Although his arms were covered by his jacket’s sleeves, it was clear he didn’t have huge biceps. And though he’d grow a fin if he went into the water, the man in front of her now looked very human.
“I know I’m gorgeous, but you really don’t have to stare,” he said.
“Sorry,” Scarlett mumbled. What had gotten into her? Her brain felt foggy, as if she wasn’t quite fully in control of it. She hesitated. What was she supposed to call him? “King?”
“Avel.”
“King Avel,” Scarlett repeated.
“Just Avel.” He grinned. Even though he didn’t look like the sea god she’d envisioned, he was handsome. His large eyes sat slightly wide and fit perfectly with his full lips. “We are equals. No need for formality. Unless you prefer I call you Queen Scarlett.”
“No, please don’t.”
Avel grinned. “Very well, Scarlett. I’ve been waiting a long time for you to show up here.”
“You have?” She wasn’t sure if she should be worried or relieved.
“Your former queen sent me a message many, many years ago. She’d learned of a weapon I possessed, but claimed it was too late for her to use it. The letter predicted a new queen would someday inquire about it and that I should agree to her request.” He lifted his glass of what looked like wine and sipped. “I had thought you’d arrive much sooner and eventually assumed you wouldn’t be coming at all.”
“So, you have it?” Scarlett crossed her legs underneath the table.
“Have what, dear?” A playful expression covered his face.
“The weapon.” She tapped her foot against the stone ground beneath her.
Avel swirled the liquid around in the glass. “I do.”
“And you’ll give it to me?” Hope rose in Scarlett’s chest.
“That’s to be decided.”
Scarlett sighed. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. How had she expected anything different? “And how can I convince you?”
What exactly would he want from her? And how far would she go to get it?
Was doing something bad justified if it was for the greater good? She didn’t even know what moral code she lived by anymore. Or really ever had, for that matter. She’d always tried to be a kind person. To help others in need. But she’d never been challenged as a mortal to really learn what her lines of right and wrong were.