A dark figure slowly walked out, emerging into the early afternoon sunlight.
Her grayish blonde hair was pulled back into a severe bun, revealing her unnatural paleness. Her veiny hands were folded over her stomach, and her black dress slid over the ground like whispering death. Reddish eyes trained on the surrounding fae, who gasped and backed away.
Lady Cardinal.
My feet rooted to the ground. My body trembled as the former headmistress of Nocturnal Academy walked unharmed into the bright sun, her reddish vampire eyes training on the surrounding fae. Gasps went through the crowd at the sight that should not exist. A few people backed away as Lady Cardinal stepped up to stand beside the king.
“I can make vampires walk in the daylight.” King Peter’s voice echoed through the courtyard, zipping through the silence. “In exchange for such a gift, they will help us in our fight against the Winter Court and our common enemy, Queen Onyx Vinter. Together, we will make the Summer Court greater than it has ever been!”
Lady Cardinal gave Peony a chilling smile, who swayed as if she was about to pass out. Whispers started to spread. My heart thudded in my ears.
Then the axe fell. “Swear your loyalty to me,” King Peter said, “and you will never have to fear the Winter queen again. That is my promise.” King Peter’s eyes glinted with pure evil as he eyed the Vasara students, then the crowd, and finally, me.
I balled my fists, even as everyone around me shrank away. Not one fae, not even the media, stepped forward to ask questions. Everyone was sinking into a pit of fear. Hot rage filled my chest, and Nathan looked at me, begging me to wait a little longer, but I was done taking it anymore. I was done being a dutiful servant. It was time to take back control.
“We will not swear loyalty to you on those terms,” I said, my voice ringing out and clear.
A new wave of gasps spread through the crowd.
King Peter maintained his scary calm. “Yes, you will. You, Virgie Everston, will be the first one. Step forward.”
I considered reaching into my dress and draining the red vial, but showing the other fae that I had to rely on a potion would only weaken their belief in themselves. I would do this without magic. I raised my chin. “I will not swear loyalty to you after you have allied with the vampires. They enslaved us. They treated us like animals back on Earth.” I ignored Lady Cardinal, who pursed her lips in disapproval and shook her head. “They will do it again once the faeland crumbles. Both courts are needed. With the destruction of one, the other will follow.”
Before I could gauge the reaction of the crowd to my words, King Peter stepped forward, raising his palms at me. “Very well, then. If you don’t come willingly, I’ll extract the correct answer from you myself.” Lighting fast, a pair of vines shot into my direction.
I was ready. I darted aside, then reached into my pocket and pulled out the brown vial. The vines circled around me, squeezing around my torso and neck. I opened the vial and released a few drops at my top and lower binding, knowing I was lucky the vines hadn't immobilized my hands yet. The sizzling gave way to charring, and the vines around me collapsed while the rest of them retracted like terrified snakes.
I glanced up at the king whose narrow eyes burned with fury. Before he could attack again, an alarm sent the courtyard trembling. Onyx and her warriors had arrived.
23
Onyx
I knew once we stepped through the portal, we would set the alarm off, yet the shrill sound still jerked my heart into frantic beating as I stepped onto the balcony of the Summer Palace. The winter crown sat on my head, pulling magic from every Winter fae and sending it like an icy waterfall down into my chest. Blair, my generals, and my spy hit the ground beside me. Two hundred Winter warriors surged through the portal behind me as I bolted through the archway and through the corner of the crowded main courtyard. Screams erupted from gathered partygoers as they parted in shock, letting us pass. Yet despite this and being certain that Virgie would come through, I still feared it wouldn’t be enough.
I followed my spy into a corrirdor, pounding the stone floor as we dashed toward the throne room where Thorsten was being kept. General Alden and Sela were flanking my sides while Blair had my back. No one spoke. The corridors seemed mostly empty. The king must’ve made everyone crowd into the main courtyard, where shouts were coming from. What if he’d already made Virgie swear her oath in front of everyone?
We weaved in and out of corridors and my spy led us through secret passages and narrow halls. Screams reached us as did the sound of distant metal and weapons clanking. More screams followed. I didn’t worry about the Summer warriors yet. They’d have to fight their way past my experienced warriors to get to me and Thorsten. I tried not to think how many lives my coup would cost, tried not to think about putting my people into danger. But what other choice did I have? If I did nothing, King Peter would soon invade our lands and create much more bloodshed than this. I needed to get Thorsten and remove the monster from the throne.
A couple of Summer guards stood in the corridor ahead, near the double doors of the throne room. Two well-placed arrows from my warriors sailed overhead and struck them both in the chest before they could react. I swallowed. “The double doors. They're open.” I could see the trees within.
“Over there!” a guard shouted in the distance.
A trap? Sela seized my shoulders and held me back. Blair stayed with us while my spy and General Alden entered the room first. I glanced behind us to find that about twenty Winter warriors had followed and were now building a protective wall between us and the Summer fae. The other Winter fae had hung back to fight. Already the sounds of swords, shouting, and flying arrows had broken out behind us.
“Hold them back!” King Peter ordered.
“All clear,” General Alden called out in a tense voice, and I stepped into the throne room. The tree alley that arched above my head vibrated with magic, but thankfully, nothing attacked. The trees might not like me, but without King Peter present and giving commands, they wouldn’t harm me.
Still, I hastened my step, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible. As I reached the middle of the throne room, I stopped in front of the tall cactus with white blooms. Icy rage built in my chest, but I held it back before I could harm it. How could this be my Thorsten?
A creak sounded, and I jumped aside, two ice daggers materializing in my hand. Sela and General Alden did the same while two fireballs erupted over Blair’s palms.
“Incoming!” Sela shouted.
“Don't attack!” Virgie ran through a side door I hadn't noticed, emerging from between two trees. Behind her was Caleb carrying over his shoulder a Peony that was kicking, but not screaming due to the vines that bound her mouth.
“Stand down,” I ordered, holding up a hand.
“She can’t come here of her own free will due to the oath,” Caleb explained simply as he put her down.
I nodded and let the ice melt. “Can she help?”
“That we’re about to find out,” Virgie said tightly.
“How much time do we have?” I glanced toward the main entrance. In the distance, the fighting continued.
Caleb caught his breath. “A minute, maybe. The king ordered everyone here immediately. The Vasara students are trying to delay the guards. Nathan and Nerissa are helping.”
I tried to force air into my lungs, then motioned at Peony, whose eyes were wide with fear, but determined. “Hurry.”
Caleb pulled out a red potion from his jacket and let the vine around Peony’s mouth fall down by waving his hand. She opened it to scream, but he didn’t give her the chance, instead forcing the liquid down her throat. She choked, but went silent and gulped down the second vial he gave her.
“That’s enough,” Virgie said, her voice vibrating with concern. “That's two already.”
Caleb took a step back. “Peony, are you okay now?”
She blinked, then nodded weakly. “Yes. I can resist the vow better than before.”
I tried to stay calm, praying the strength potion would be enough to override King Peter’s oath.
Caleb opened his palms, and the vines around Peony’s torso, arms, and legs fell away. She stepped toward the cactus and held out her hands. Her brows drew together. Nothing happened. I didn’t feel a hint magic swirling in the air. Meanwhile, the fighting noises from outside grew louder. They were getting closer. A loud thump sounded in the corridor. We needed a swift exit for Thorsten. Someone would have to take him back while I finished what we’d started.
“Open the portal,” I said to General Alden, and he nodded, even though I could tell he did not want to put his energy on that task when we could be attacked any second.
Satisfied when the air shimmered, then began to turn into a blue oval opening that led into the inside of the Winter Palace, I turned back to Peony. Her hands were trembling, her skin was ashen, and her face was all tense muscles, but nothing was happening.
“Peony?” If she couldn’t turn Thorsten back for some reason, I’d rather take him back in his current form than risk King Peter hurting him further.
“It’s not working.” Peony faced Caleb. “The vow is too strong. Give me another potion.”
Virgie wrung her hands, clearly not liking the idea of Peony inhaling a third potion, but Caleb handed another one over, his hand lingering on Peony’s. “Are you sure?”
She nodded and gulped down the red vial. Then she turned back to Thorsten. This time, vines shot from her hands and circled his cactus body. Peony’s forehead wrinkled, and her hands trembled. Sweat poured down her temples as tremors racked her body. Hope swelled in my chest.
“Hurry!” I shouted.
Shouts echoed toward us, and the clanking of blades entered the room. Winter fae stormed into the room backwards, fighting off King Peter’s guards. We were almost out of time.
“One more!” Peony yelled, but Caleb shook his head. I grabbed his collar and tore one of the bottles from his pocket. He swung at me, but I shoved him away.
“I’m sorry,” I hissed as I tossed it to Peony, who caught it with one hand. I heard her gulp and let go of Caleb, who clenched his fists, vines sprouting from his palms.
“It’s working,” Peony breathed, distracting Caleb, and I could’ve sunk down to my knees and kissed her shoes at those sweet words.
“They’re here,” General Alden said. “Everyone, in position!”
With a start, I realized that Sela had already accessed her ice magic as had Blair her fire magic. The two built a protective wall before me. I wanted to join them but not until Thorsten was fine.
Magic sparked in my periphery, and I turned just in time to see the cactus grow taller and taller underneath Peony’s vines. They fell apart to reveal my Thorsten, gasping for air, his eyes filled with red. I wanted nothing more than to kiss him and hold him, but that would be selfish and endanger us all.
As instructed, one of my warriors threw a blanket over him to protect him from the sun. Thorsten groaned, still uncomfortable despite the protection. He had to get out of here or the midday sun would slowly roast him through the fabric.
Even though we needed all hands on deck, I couldn’t risk Thorsten traveling through the portal alone in his current condition. I had to make a decision and fast. “General Alden, go with Thorsten.”
He lowered his hands an inch, and the portal shuddered. “What?”
“This is a command.” My voice was arctic. “Take Thorsten back to the Winter Court. You are in charge until I return.”
Ice spread through my veins and permeated the air, creating small ice crystals that floated in the air, tiny daggers that carried my anger. General Alden gave a tight nod. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”
I shuddered at him addressing me so formally and not as Onyx, but if I had to put up with him not liking me in exchange for keeping Thorsten safe, so be it. “Go! Now,” I yelled as a vine shot for my neck and was burned to ash by Blair.
General Alden grabbed Thorsten’s hand under the blanket. What if he had suffered lasting, irreparable damage? I couldn’t think like that. I couldn’t think about that at all.
Another vine shot for me and was blocked by Sela’s flying icicle as General Alden and Thorsten disappeared through the portal, allowing me to fully focus on the Summer Court.
Icicles shot from my palms as more vines assaulted the trio of Sela, Blair, and I. Our magic struck several Summer guards and threw them back into the trees.
“I was wondering when you’d help,” Blair mumbled, a sarcastic ass even in such a tense situation.
I smiled wickedly and sidled up to Caleb. “I believe you had weed killers for me.”
His response never came as Virgie’s screech pierced through the room. “Peony!”
I whipped around to find Virgie darting forward and catching a Peony who had collapsed and was now shaking uncontrollably like she had a seizure.
I had done this to her. My limbs froze, but a slap on my arm ripped me out of my shock.
“Onyx, focus.” Sela grabbed my shoulders and shook me. She’d been the one to slap me, and I was grateful. “The vials.” Sela jerked her head into Caleb’s direction. While she ensured no vines got to me, I sank down next to Caleb, who was yelling Peony’s name over and over, even though she’d gone motionless. I reached into his jacket pocket and seized several vials of brown liquid. Without them I’d have no chance against King Peter. If Peony was really harmed, the last thing I wanted was for her sacrifice to be for naught.
“Queen Onyx Vinter, how dare you break into my throne room!”
The trees shook with King Peter’s anger. Icy rage filled me, but I held it back, knowing it would do no good. I straightened, putting two of the three vials into the pockets in my sword belt. Blair took the third vial from me. She knew what to do.
Confidence filled me as I faced King Peter, who stood in the doorway of the throne room. While Peony had been changing Thorsten back, Summer guards had poured into the room to flank him, and a few Winter warriors lay dead and wounded on the ground. The two dozen others had retreated to stand behind us, just as I’d instructed them to do in this situation. It was all going according to our plan. As King Peter and I stared each other down, the leaves on his crown curled, but his eyes sparkled with victory. He thought he’d won, that the Shield would protect him from all the elements.
He’d forgotten one.
“How dare you, King Peter, take my consort,” I replied coolly, giving Blair the time she needed. A second later, a ball of her elemental fire exploded across the trees in the throne room, burning much faster and more intense than any natural fire.
“Attack!” the king yelled, and Summer guards charged forward only to be met by Nathan and Vasara students who stormed in from between the trees as Virgie, Caleb, and Peony had earlier.
“Hold them back!” Nathan shouted.
“My High Commander! A traitor!” King Peter’s crown shook. Before he could command Nathan to hurt me, the Vasara students let out a war cry, drowning him out.
I released a breath. Good, they seemed evenly matched for now, and with the trees in the room burning, I could take on the king.
“He's immune to your ice,” Blair whispered in my ear. I gave a tiny nod.
“I’m right behind you,” Virgie said. I didn’t know what Caleb was doing, but I felt incredibly grateful that Sela, Blair, and Virgie were with me. The fighting intensified as the Vasara students pushed the Summer guards to the periphery of the room, under the burning crowns of the trees. Smoke filled the air, but most of it rose into the sky, sparing us of the fumes. I balled my fists and faced King Peter, who remained on the other end of the room.
“You have no right to rule the Summer Court,” I said, advancing.
The king laughed, an ugly, distorted sound. “I won’t let a girl tell me what to do.”
All the fighting in the area seemed to fade into the background. The king shot more vines, and I automatically blocked them with flying ice cr
ystals, glad to discover the Shield didn’t extend to them. The vines fell to the ground like dead snakes. The trees quaked under the assault of fire. My ice daggers that didn’t meet the king’s vines, shot for him. He didn’t even blink as they sailed through the air and struck an invisible wall, breaking and clattering to the ground around his feet. With Sela and Blair’s help, I blocked his attacks. But blocking wouldn’t be enough to win. I had to go on the offensive. I had to use the two remaining vials of weed killer.
“Hold him off,” I whispered to Sela and Blair as I produced a vial. The king’s eyes narrowed. If he didn’t know exactly what the brown vial did, he at least knew it spelled trouble. Another thorny vine shot for me, but Blair blocked it with a fireball. The next few attempts of the king went in the wrong directions, hitting the soldiers around us, no doubt courtesy of Virgie’s power. His distraction had allowed her to slip into his mind.
The next vine that came for me, I grabbed with my hand, but it snaked around my wrist, tightening painfully. I let all the ice explode out of me as I poured the vial down on the vine with my other hand. The vine shriveled up and burned, running up the length until the potion’s effects reached King Peter’s palm, pushing him back several feet. He gasped, and I smiled. So there was a way around the Shield. But before I could do much about it, Sela screamed. I whipped around to find a vampire, a male dressed in black, standing behind her, twisting her neck, his fangs embedded in her skin. Another black-uniformed vampire was slurping away at Blair.
Vampires. Out in the daylight. The smoke was blocking some of the sun, yes, but they shouldn’t be here.
Sunscreen.
The Shield.
Could it really—
“See, I told you my guards come in handy.” The snooty female voice made me whip back around to find that King Peter was no longer in pain, but furious, the leaves of his crown curling in rage. Next to him stood a self-satisfied Headmistress Cardinal. Unharmed by the broad daylight, she didn’t show the slightest sign of discomfort.
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