“Please have a seat, Onyx.”
King Olwen, who sat at the head of the table in a black suit, gestured to the opposite end. His cobalt blue eyes trained on me, studying me without revealing his own feelings. His energy crackled through the room and made my hair stand on end. King Olwen was just as powerful as Princess Petra of the Summer Court, if not more.
I took the seat, surprised it didn’t feel uncomfortable. Goosebumps rose on my skin. I felt under-dressed.
Outside, the sun was shining brightly and purple cornflowers were blooming. “Isn’t it a waste of energy to maintain this room so cold?” How else was I supposed to start this conversation? I didn’t want to accuse Olwen of being a deadbeat until I knew the truth for sure.
King Olwen chuckled. “Not energy, ice magic. And no, it’s not a waste if it represents who we are.”
I swallowed hard, ignoring his ego. It was best to get straight to the bottom of why I was here. “Why do you think that I’m your daughter?” I mean sure, I had the same shade of cobalt blue eyes as him, and under my purple dye my hair was raven just like his. Also, I did possess ice magic, but so did other fae who came from the Winter Court.
King Olwen chuckled. “You waste no time. Good quality to have.”
I cocked my head, waiting for my answer.
He sighed. “Are you familiar with the plague in the faeland?”
I nodded, remembering Sullivan’s history lessons. “Yes, it caused a lot of problems. Some fae fled to the human realm and the Summer Court had fertility issues. The Summer Court claims that it was started by the Winter Court. At least, according to Lord Sullivan.”
King Olwen—I was sticking with that title, and most definitely not Father or Dad—took a sip from his china cup that looked tiny in his broad hands and motioned for me to have some breakfast. I poured myself some coffee and stirred in some cream, needing the caffeine before I could swallow any food.
“Yes. I created the plague,” King Olwen admitted calmly, and I nearly choked on my coffee. There was no remorse in his voice. I’d been expecting him to refute the idea, to tell me that it was no one’s fault, and that the vamps had twisted history once again. However, it appeared that this was one thing they had gotten right.
“You created the plague?” I could barely get the words out.
He leaned back. “I created the Barren Plague after the Summer fae attacked us and tried to take a part of our Winter lands. So I reasoned: no soldiers, no war. I would make the Summer fae unable to produce children. Surely that would stop them from trying to expand their territory.” He shrugged and then frowned. “However, the Plague spiraled out of control and began to infect our own people as well. A merciless war broke out through the faeland. My people can still procreate once infected, but it is much more difficult for them.” King Olwen sighed. “Then, in retaliation for my defense of the Winter lands, the Summer Court assassinated all four of my children.”
I gasped at the horror but wasn’t exactly surprised. Petra and Preston had been merciless. They wouldn’t hesitate to do the deed or order their soldiers to do it.
“One of my lovers was desperate to give me a child, but unable. She and others were affected by the plague. And even if they could carry a child as one of my women did—”
I held up my hand. “You have several concubines?” Was he as bad as Vulthus? What kind of monster was my father?
King Olwen’s gaze hardened. “You could call them that, but that’s not how I view them, and I can assure you that they come to me willingly.”
I blinked. “So it’s an honor to be what, one of five women who get to share you?”
He nodded. “Twelve women, and yes, it is an honor. They are each treated as queens. Well, without the power obviously.”
“Obviously.” I grabbed a sandwich with smoked cheese, needing to stuff my mouth before I said something incredibly rude. The power in this room warned me that it was not a good idea.
“Back to the war.” King Olwen sipped his tea. “When one of my women was able to get pregnant and began to show, she was killed by an assassin of the Summer Court, and I realized that the same fate would befall any of my future heirs.”
I blinked. I didn’t like how the Winter Court was run, but compared to the Summer Court it seemed civilized. It was no wonder the Summer Court had produced offspring as evil as Preston and Petra. They intruded on other lands and left the earthbound fae to rot as slaves.
“Thus, I decided to venture to the human world, where the powerful Summer fae rarely go. I needed to continue my bloodline in a safer location.”
Anger rushed into my veins, and I gripped the armrest of my chair, channeling my own ice into it, finally not having to hide it. A new layer of frost spread over the armrest.
Olwen wasn’t moved. “You don’t approve, but I am a king, Onyx. I must focus on the bigger picture.”
I couldn’t hold back anymore. “So you went around knocking up women before abandoning them? I bet the human ones didn’t know about your polygamic tendencies.”
He nodded, a gleam in his eye. “It’s easy for fae to charm humans, and it’s not exactly difficult to convince human women to lay with me.”
I gritted my teeth. Was he calling Mom a slut? Him, who slept around as much as possible? I was angry at her, and she had countless lovers, but if he was going to imply that she was promiscuous, he should bear the title too. “How many?” I asked instead.
He hesitated, and I leaned forward. “How many human women?” I repeated. Did I have half-siblings out there?
“Twelve.” He spoke as if I should have figured it out.
“Is that your favorite number or something?”
His gaze darkened. “Careful, child. I am trying to be patient with you, but I will not allow you to disrespect me.”
I leaned back in my chair and glared at him.
He put a salami canape in his mouth and chewed slowly as I waited. Finally, he continued. “I couldn’t get away with more without making the Summer Court aware of my intentions. And twelve is a good traditional number. Only six became pregnant and of those…” He rubbed his forehead. “My intention was to monitor my lovers carefully, but I couldn’t.”
I raised an eyebrow, not trusting my mouth.
“Phinian Kallan, the King of the Summer Court, put an enchantment on me that resulted in me losing part of my memory, including who I had laid with. I can only remember bits and pieces. If I were not a king myself, I may have lost my entire memory.”
I exhaled and grabbed a blueberry scone. Olwen at least thought he was telling the truth. I needed some calories for this story. Because as made up as it sounded, I had a bad feeling that it was true.
“I tried to keep an eye out for any children who showed unusual abilities in Denver, but the SD’s presence increased in the city, and all fae went into hiding.”
I nodded, knowing this part to be true from first-hand experience. “Why did you choose Denver?”
“Denver is near the wilds. And the wilds allow easier travel between the worlds. The vampires discovered this and that’s why they increased their presence here. After a while, I realized I would have to pretend to be friendly with the vampires if I wanted a chance at finding my children.”
“So you’re not actually friends with Vulthus?” He had denied it the previous night in the car, but I needed to be sure.
King Olwen laughed. “Absolutely not. I was using him. I maintained a ruse for eighteen years. I also like to ensure that the Summer fae here are being kept under control.”
He wanted revenge. I balled my fists under the table. “How do you know I’m yours and not a child of someone else from the Winter Court?”
King Olwen furrowed his brows. “Your magic, of course. It’s so powerful that it could only come from the royal line. As the King of the Winter Court, I can sense how much magic any winter fae posses.”
I swallowed hard, slowly allowing myself to believe what he was saying. I had a father now, and maybe..
. “Do I have siblings?”
King Olwen’s face clouded, and he shook his head. “Sadly I have found none, which is why we’ll have to ensure that you hone your abilities so that no fae or vampire can ever harm you.”
I swallowed hard as the final piece clicked into place. So this is why I was here. Of course, this was no sweet father-daughter reunion. This was not a goddamn Hallmark movie. King Olwen had rescued me because he wanted something from me, just like everyone else.
3
Onyx
“So you brought me here to train me.” I studied King Olwen carefully.
His gaze remained hard. No warmth lived there. “To keep you safe and to train you.”
I wanted to ask where he had been for the first eighteen years of my life, but he had already washed his hands of that time. He blamed the Summer Court for his memory loss and the vamps for not being able to get in touch. How hard had he looked for me? Mom and I had done a pretty good job at staying hidden, but certainly, if he wanted to find us, he could’ve. And how had he found me last night? He must’ve heard through the grapevine that Vulthus’s property went missing and that the only car that had left the academy was Mei Wu’s. From there, Olwen had put the pieces together.
But he had known long before that about my existence. Icy anger rose within me and flowed down my arms. “You saw me at the first outing in the spring term, but you did nothing. You didn’t rescue me at the bidding ball. You only got to me after I escaped on my own.” I pushed away my plate and crossed my arms. “Care to explain?”
“I don’t like your tone, young lady.”
I gritted my teeth. “And I don’t like people sweeping into my life when it’s convenient for them. I don’t like to be used.”
He inhaled, sharp and cold. Good. I wanted him to squirm and think about the life he had condemned me to when he chose to procreate with my mother.
“Onyx, I couldn’t do anything at the outing. I saw you, and I realized that you were my daughter, but we were surrounded by vampires. If I had done anything, it wouldn’t have worked, and then I would’ve lost my cover, which I worked on for eighteen years. Don’t you think that’s enough dedication?”
I stayed silent, unable to argue with that.
“Obviously, I couldn’t get to the academy. Even fae who teach there don’t know how to get in and out unless it’s to travel back to the faeland. Only royals and friends of the vampires are allowed to teach there. As a member of the Winter Court, I was not fit to teach Summer fae.”
My arms broke out in goosebumps as memories of Preston dragging me through the portal shot through me. He had tried to force himself onto me before he planned to use me for breeding in the Summer Court.
I pushed away the nightmares and refocused on Olwen. “Fine. So you couldn’t get to me before the bidding ball, but were you planning to help me after Vulthus bought me?”
King Olwen sighed. “Yes. I was planning to get you out of his stronghold. We’re rather close, and I have been several times to—”
A knock cut off the rest of his sentence, and then the door was flung open, and Atticus darted inside, bowing low. “Your Majesty, please excuse my intrusion, but you told me to notify you immediately if Lord Vulthus arrived.” Atticus caught his breath. “He’s here, parked in the underground garage. And he demands to be seen now.”
I jumped out of my chair, heart racing in panic. It was daytime. Vulthus shouldn’t be out. And if he had come here now, something was wrong. “I thought you said this place looked like a normal human home,” I said to Atticus. Then I looked to Olwen. “Did you set me up?”
Olwen rose, strode over, and put a hand on my shoulder, which only led to me shrinking away. “Calm down, Onyx. I already told you that my relationship with Vulthus is a ruse. No one can find this place unless I’ve invited them, and they can’t share the location in any way. Vulthus has a protected vehicle with tinted windows driven by fae servants.”
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
He ignored me and turned to Atticus. “Put Onyx in her room, and then take Vulthus to the Tea Room. I’ll meet him there.”
I stepped forward. “No.”
Olwen’s jaw ticked at my impudence, but I pushed onward. “You said you want to train me, make me strong. Hiding in my room makes me a helpless damsel. I want to hear your conversation.”
“It’s too dangerous—” Atticus started, but Olwen raised his hand, and Atticus fell silent.
“Very well,” Olwen said. “You shall hide behind the revolving bookcase. It has a magic peephole in it. But make no sound.”
I smiled, finally feeling a tiny sliver of control. “I won’t.”
Olwen nodded at Atticus who motioned for me to follow him. We hurried down the corridor and through a set of dark doors into a room that had no natural sunlight. This room was made of wood, not ice, but the floor was the same white marble I’d seen before. Overall, the Tea Room looked more like a whiskey lounge, equipped with a bar, several dark couches, a pool table, and a bookshelf. Atticus shoved against the bookshelf, and it turned to reveal a hollow back. Clearly, King Olwen was used to having spies and this house was full of secrets.
Fear gripped me as I realized that the bookshelf didn’t lead anywhere on the other side. I’d be stuck in there. Knowing I needed to be strong, I stepped forward, but paused on the threshold. “Won’t Vulthus be able to smell me?” I whispered.
Atticus shook his head. “This bookshelf is protected with magic. He won’t know you’re here.”
Feeling a bit reassured, I stepped inside and pushed against the back of the bookcase until it did another half turn. Trapped in the small, dark space, I found the peephole that would allow me to witness the interaction. I had to stand on my tiptoes and I hoped I could hear the conversation.
Olwen arrived a minute later, entering through a secret door opposite me that led to a dark corridor. He sat down in one of the armchairs, crossed one ankle over his knee, and opened a newspaper like he had no care in the world. My father was a talented actor.
The secret door opened again, revealing a tunnel. Atticus held open the door, and Lord Vulthus stepped inside. His side-combed hair and crooked nose made my stomach clench. Just the sight of him made me want to throw up. Lord Vulthus’s dark eyes scanned the room, and he sniffed. A predator stalking his prey. He moved forward, and even though he wasn’t nearly as tall or as broad as Olwen, it felt like he would win if a fight broke out between them.
My neck ached where he had bitten me, and my hands trembled at the memory of giving his scarred back a massage. My throat closed up, sweat broke out on my brow, and my feet itched to run.
You’re safe, Onyx, you’re safe, I repeated silently while everything inside of me screamed.
“Vulthus, how are you?” Olwen smiled pleasantly. “May I offer you a cognac or a scotch, perhaps?”
Vulthus’s nostrils flared. “Cognac. Do you still have the limited batch?”
Olwen nodded. “Of course, my friend.”
My breakfast shot up my stomach, and I had to gulp the rancid acid down.
Olwen poured two fingers into two crystal glasses and handed one to Vulthus before sitting back down. Vulthus took the seat opposite. Since the armchairs were positioned in front of the bookcase, it gave me a perfect look at their profiles.
Silence stretched between the two men, and my neck itched. How could Olwen take it? Clearly, this was a power play.
Finally, after emptying his glass in one quick motion, Vulthus flashed his fangs. “Are you going to pretend that you haven’t heard?”
Olwen sighed heavily. “Vulthus, last time you came here accusing me of stabbing you in the back at a party.” He shook his head. “I understand that we live in a dangerous world where we must do everything to protect ourselves, but I’m growing tired of your accusations. We’ve been friends for almost two decades. Don’t you think I deserve some trust?”
Vulthus rose and poured himself more cognac. “I’m willin
g to give you reasonable trust. Being stabbed in the back by an icicle, you must admit makes you a very likely suspect.”
Olwen gave him a bored look, and Vulthus sat back down. “But since you swore it wasn’t you and you’re a pureblood, I believe you.” Vulthus swirled the amber liquid in his glass. “I’m sure you won’t mind answering a few of my questions.”
Olwen sipped his drink slowly, like he had no care in the world. My body, on the other hand, hummed with tension. If Vulthus asked Olwen if he was hiding me, Olwen wouldn’t be able to say no, at least not directly.
“I hope your visits in the future will be of a more friendly and less suspicious nature, but I can see that a lot is troubling you, so please share your worries.” Olwen tilted his head, showing mild interest.
Wow, I kind of wanted to high five my father now. He sure had a way with spinning words. All the times I had escaped from the vampire twins with a quick-witted remark came back to me, and I wondered how much I had in common with the strong fae in front of me. Yes, he was a polyamorist, didn’t care too much about others’ feelings, and always thought about the end result, but weren’t those qualities necessary to get to the top? Would I really rather be nice and weak or strong and successful?
“Yesterday was the bidding ball,” Vulthus said. “I purchased Onyx Logan.” He paused, watching Olwen for a reaction. “For one million dollars.”
Olwen let out a low whistle. “That’s a lot of money.”
Vulthus flashed his teeth. “I was feeling generous. You see, the problem is that she escaped.”
Olwen raised his eyebrows. “How?”
“That’s what I would like to know. Have you or any of your men had contact with a half fae student from Nocturnal Academy in the last few months?”
Olwen tilted his head. “A few months back, I was at that party you invited me to where you showed off your fire fae.”
The Nocturnal and Fae Prison Academy Boxset [A Complete Paranormal and Fantasy Series Boxset] Page 43