by K.N. Lee
“The war is over, and you are free to leave.”
My knees buckled, and with widened eyes, my breaths quickened. “Are you certain?”
“I am,” she said, stepping closer and taking my hands into hers. She stared down at them, stroking my rough skin with her thumbs. “I am sorry for how you’ve been mistreated, and how many years you’ve been forced to remain here. But, we have fought long and hard with the Tythrans to get you back. And, we’ve won.”
Picturing armies of magic-born fighting against humans left my stomach in knots. “They fought…for me?”
“Of course, they did. And now, I will take you to where you belong. To Allandria, the center of the Seelie Court.”
When I noticed that the warden and the guards were nowhere to be seen I knew it to be true. Despite my wariness, I nodded and was spirited away out into the cold. I did not ask questions, or delay my escape.
No. I was ready.
Whatever was before me would be better than a life of imprisonment. With Kala by my side, I climbed into the carriage and was wrapped in a heavy fur cloak.
If I was dreaming, I did not want to wake up ever again. I was free for the first time since I was a child. Even though I was about to be taken to a land I’d never seen other than in the books my grandmother had sent to me, I did not care.
A cold night with snow falling in torrents was the setting for my journey into the darkness of my fated future. My destiny. It was the day of my eighteenth birthday when the beautiful faerie queen took me away from the Crimson Tower.
My heart continued to race, and my muscles remained tense even as Kala snuggled close and kept me warm—even as we said goodbye to Tythra.
The humans were never my tribe, and each day on their soil was one day closer to my death.
No, I wasn’t born to die such an uneventful death. I’d come from a long line of faeries with immortal blood running through their veins.
I was Princess Celeste Delacord of the kingdom of Mordigan—an elemental chosen by the Guardians despite my heritage.
The first ever with the power to control all of the elements. Perhaps the humans were justified in my imprisonment, for it was prophecized that I could build or destroy nations with a single thought.
As we rode away, I began to wonder when any of that power would give me a sign it even existed.
Court of Shadows
The road from the Crimson Tower was one of darkness and uneven terrain. A pale moon lit the forest on either side and the worn path the carriage took.
“Here,” Queen Sorcha said. “Drink some more.”
She handed me another metal flask of warm brunberry elixir, something she had brewed before venturing across the borders from Allandria.
I accepted and drank enough the quench my thirst and the nagging hunger that ate away at my stomach. It was supposed to give me vitality. Though the taste of licorice lingered on my tongue, I was still waiting to feel such an effect.
We’d been traveling for hours, and Queen Sorcha sat across from me as I snuggled against Kala and fought dozing. It was cold, even with the heavy cloak she’d given me pressed tightly against my body. But, I was used to that. I was used to being uncomfortable and dreaming of warm baths like I’d gotten each night as a child.
It was good that I had experienced a better life—a normal one—but it made me realize just how spoiled I’d been. I was a princess, though my family and I were exiled, we lived a life of luxury. The privilege of a bath was a foreign concept to me now. I’d gotten used to scrubbing myself with rough cloths in cold water.
As Queen Sorcha studied me with those ethereal emerald eyes of hers, I was never more self-conscious of the stench that rose from my body in the midst of such a delicate and composed creature such as her. While she smelled of mint oil, I couldn’t ignore the aroma of layers of sweat and dirt that rose from my rags.
“You’ll soon be returned to your former splendor, Princess. You’ll shine like a new golden coin.”
I lifted a brow. Had she been reading my thoughts? I hoped not. I wasn’t exactly sure what faeries from the Seelie Court could do.
But, the thought of her reading my mind left me wary. I’d gone from thoughts of escaping the carriage to find a quiet place to live out the rest of my life with Kala, to accepting my fate. After so many years in prison, I began to wonder if I was truly fit to be a princess, or a queen for that matter. I was a stranger to the customs I should have learned while I was a prisoner. My grandmother had done all she could to prepare me, but I couldn’t help sensing I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Then, again, there was something innate inside of me that begged to be satisfied. The Guardians had done something to me when I was born. They’d bestowed an ancient power and divine calling that I couldn’t ignore. I wasn’t the only one given the gift.
The other elements called out to me from different corners of the world, and for years I’d had to close my eyes and suppress my yearning to be united with them.
“Thank you,” I said, swallowing against the dryness in my throat. I took another sip of the elixir. “For taking me from that wretched place. I was starting to think I’d die there. Every day, I waited for the warden to open the door and march me out to the gallows.”
“It was the least I could do. After years of war with the humans, I requested the honor of freeing you myself.”
“So, you aren’t afraid of me?”
“Of course, not,” she said with a chuckle. “Why would I fear you?”
Shrugging, I looked to Kala who was sleeping, her head rested on my lap as her body took up nearly the entire seat.
“Being from the Unseelie Court usually elicits prejudice from your court. We’re all tricksters and evil creatures, apparently.”
She shook her head with a sigh. “That’s nonsense. I’ve lived a very long time, and I know that many facts have been bent to fit the perception some faeries would like to define the Unseelie. No. We were all one in the beginning. The fact that you come from the land of dark magic is actually why you were chosen. The Seelie and Unseelie Court have been at odds for centuries, just like the humans. But, I think its time we stop dividing ourselves. The future demands unity.”
Interesting. I still couldn’t help but worry about what the faeries of Allandria would think of me.
“Did you fight?” I asked. “In the war?”
“Oh no,” she said, smoothing her emerald skirt. “Of course, not. I don’t use a sword. Well, I guess you can say I fight with my intellect. I’ve been making policies and negotiating treaties. Finally, King Aerion and the other four kings agreed to one. So, for the first time in nearly a century, the magic-born will have peace with the humans.”
I sat up a little taller. “Why? What made them agree to peace?”
She tilted her head. “Because you and the other elementals will put the world right again. The Veil between the living and the dead needs to be repaired. Only you can do it.”
Such a revelation stunned me into silence. It made sense. They needed me to reverse the damage my ancestors had done after centuries of power struggles and war. So, I wasn’t free at all it seemed. We settled into a quiet that left me alone with my thoughts.
Queen Sorcha yawned and opened a small book. How she could read in the dark was a mystery, but I kept my mouth shut as her eyes scanned whatever was written on the cream parchment.
The sound of the steady trot of the horses as they pulled us along lulled me in and out of sleep. It wasn’t until they made a sudden stop that I fully awakened.
“That’s odd,” she said, leaning over to look out the carriage window, and my teeth chattered as an icy wind swept inside. “Harold, why have we stopped?”
When Harold didn’t respond, I tensed. Something wasn’t right. The horses made a strange neighing sound as if they were being strangled. Sitting up in my seat, I followed her gaze out the window to see dancing flames coming closer and closer to us from the dark forest outside.
/> Humans. My eyes widened as I realized that several armed men were approaching.
It wasn’t until one of the lights came soaring toward us that Queen Sorcha shared my fear.
I knew my freedom wasn’t meant to last long. They’d come to kill me.
About the Author
K.N. Lee is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She is the author of the Dragon-Born Saga, Eura Chronicles, Wonderland University, and the Chronicles of Koa series. When she is not writing twisted urban fantasy, epic tales of dragons, pirates, and mermaids, and dark poetry, she does a great deal of traveling and spending time with her family. Wannabe rockstar, foreign language enthusiast, and anime geek, K.N. Lee also enjoys gaming and sketching. She is a winner of the Elevate Lifestyle Top 30 Under 30 "Future Leaders of Charlotte" award for her success as a writer, business owner, and for community service.
She is signed with Captive Quill Press and Patchwork Press.
(Amazon Author Page)
(Website)
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Also by K.N. Lee
The Chronicles of Koa Series:
Netherworld
Dark Prophet
Blood Princess
Crimson King
Dragon Born Saga:
Half-Blood Dragon
Magic-Born Dragon
Queen of the Dragons
Dragon Prophecy Saga:
Royal Spell
Night Spell
Magic Spell
The Eura Chronicles:
Rise of the Flame
Night of the Storm
Dawn of the Forgotten
Prophecy of the Seer
Fall of the Steel-Born
Empire of Dragons:
Fallen Empire
Reign of Magic
Fire and Fury
Wonderland University:
The Red Queen
The Sea Witch
The Ice Princess
THE GRAND ELITE CASTER TRILOGY:
Silenced
Summoned
Sacrificed
THE FALLEN GODS TRILOGY:
Goddess of War
Goddess of Ruin
Queen of Chaos
STANDALONE NOVELLAS:
The Scarlett Legacy
Academia of the Beast
More from K.N. Lee
Rise of the Flame (Epic Fantasy)
In a magical world where fairies, elves, and dragons exist, one girl is the key to saving humanity. But, can she escape slavery in time?
Half-Blood Dragon (Young Adult Epic Fantasy)
Time is running out for half-blood, Rowen, a lady-in-waiting to a princess. While the two princes of the Dragon Court vie for her affection, she spends her days and nights dreaming of a future free from prejudice based on her lineage. The half-blood is not who she appears to be. As a prophet, she knows what the fate of the realm holds, and it's not the grand parties the kingdom is used to.
Netherworld (Urban Paranormal Fantasy)
In a world where High Faes and fallen angels have devised a peace treaty, humans either live their lives oblivious to the supernatural creatures living amongst them, or actively take part byselling their blood. The High Fae Registration System has kept everyone from killing one another...until now.
The Scarlett Legacy (Paranormal Kyrilce)
Wizards. Dragon shifters. Mobsters with magic. Welcome to Westerly Creek, where one family of wizards give new meaning to organized crime.
Goddess of War (Young Adult Fantasy) Unsuspecting humans. Fallen gods in disguise. A battle for the entire universe.
The Red Queen (YA/NA Paranormal Fantasy)
Graduating highschool was a piece of cake. Try surviving a college where fairies make up the cheerleading squad, doorways open to other worlds, and finals are life or death. Literally.
Welcome to Wonderland University.
Academia of the Beast (New Adult Paranormal Kyrilce)
Allyn escaped the hunters once before. As a witch, she risks capture by the ruling Baran wolf-shifter clan every day.
Fallen Empire (Epic Fantasy)
They say the Age of Dragons ended after the War on Magic, but hiding in the forgotten lands remains one clan destined to reclaim their ancestral home.
Discover more books and learn more about K.N. Lee on knlee.com.