by Linsey Hall
I told you my other ride was an owl.
“I didn’t realize that this was what you meant.”
The owls shifted nervously all around us, and I spared them a quick glance, my heartbeat picking up the pace.
They don’t like it when I’m in this form, so I’ll make it quick. These are the Guardians of the Daughters of Danu. You need to get past them to reach the castle on the other side of the woods.”
“Can you take us?”
I can. They trust my judgment and will allow you to follow me through the woods to the castle. Puka’s gaze turned dark. But doing so is part of a test, and you must pass. If you are pure of intention, you will survive the walk. Do not stop, whatever you do.
I looked at Iain. “We need to follow her. It might get dicey, but just keep going.”
He nodded.
Puka shifted back into her owl form, taking off into the sky. She flew quickly, and we had to run to keep up. Nerves tightened my skin as we ran past the owls. A few launched themselves off their branches to fly alongside us, brushing us with their wings as if to get a feel for our magic.
I tried to imagine only good things—that I was going to the Daughters of Danu for help, nothing more. It was the truth, anyway.
I won’t hurt them, I tried to say with my mind.
None of the owls attacked, thank fates.
They swooped off, and the underbrush rustled. White wolves stared out at us, their eyes golden. Each one was massive, a hulking beast with rippling muscle and long fangs. They growled, prowling out.
My hands itched to draw a blade, but I resisted. “Don’t draw a weapon.”
“All right.”
The wolves stalked us as we jogged, running up alongside and brushing up against us.
Aggression radiated from them, far different than the feeling I got from Puka, who was a magic beast intent on helping me.
The wolves nipped at us, not quite reaching our flesh but making it clear that they could take us down if they wanted to.
They’re testing us. We can’t be quick to attack or they’ll deem us too dangerous.
“Think of your intentions,” I said. “That you mean no harm.”
“They can read our thoughts?”
“I don’t know. But I’m not sure what else to do.” Animals could sense evil, though. Cruelty and wrongness. And these weren’t just any animals. I had a feeling that they were the owls in wolf form.
Eventually, they retreated, their growls disappearing into the distance.
My shoulders relaxed slightly, and I glanced up, spotting the owls returning to the sky above us. Maybe they’d been better able to read our intentions in their wolf form. Or they’d been trying to see how we’d act under threat.
More owls joined us as we approached the edge of the forest. The trees thinned, allowing more and more to gather. They surrounded us, hundreds of them flying silently alongside. It was an eerie experience, but it grew even stranger when we reached the edge of the woods.
The ruined castle rose up tall in front of us, a huge round structure on top of a small hill. A moat surrounded it, and the owls dive-bombed into the moat, disappearing into the water. Only Puka didn’t fly into the water, which was now shimmering with white light. Magic filled the air, a signature I’d never felt before.
The magic arced over the castle, bringing it back to life. The rough gray stone was soon covered in a bright whitewash that gleamed in the moonlight, and pale blue flags waved from the ramparts. Figures appeared at the tops, women with flowing capes and longbows drawn tight.
Iain and I stopped at the edge of the forest.
“They definitely see us,” Iain said. “And those bows can reach this far.”
I drew in a steady breath. “Let’s get closer.”
We approached slowly, trying to make it obvious that we carried no weapons. Puka flew in front of me, her white wings glinting under the moonlight.
“Who goes there?” shouted a voice.
“I am Caera of the Court of Flames!” I yelled back.
“Iain of the Iceni, King of the Court of the Sea.”
There was silence from the ramparts as the Daughters of Danu discussed. I counted quickly, spotting at least a dozen. There had to be more within.
Finally, the drawbridge lowered.
I glanced at Iain and shrugged. “Shall we?”
He nodded.
Well, I’m out of here.
“Enjoy your treats,” I said.
Puka made a squawking noise that sounded a bit like a laugh, and disappeared behind us, headed back toward the forest.
Together, Iain and I approached the drawbridge. The water still shimmered with pale white magic, and I shivered at the idea of falling in. There was something off about it—dangerous and deadly.
“Don’t stare into it too long.” The voice came from the other end of the drawbridge, and I looked up, spotting a woman standing under the gate.
She wore a flowing cloak of pale blue fabric over a tunic of silvery chain mail. A helmet covered her hair, and her jaw was set in firm lines. She was beautiful and timeless, with dark skin and eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of the ages.
“I’ve brought the SoulStone of the Fire Fae.” I held it out, my heart dipping slightly at the battered appearance. “I’m desperate to wash it in the holy font.”
“Your escort here was a bit unorthodox.”
“Puka means well. So do we.”
The woman’s lips tightened. “We shall see.” She gestured for us to come in. “Follow me.”
Iain and I shared a glance, then followed the woman. This wasn’t the warmest welcome, but it also wasn't the worst. Our only alternative was to attack and take the holy font by force, and that did not sit well with me.
The woman led us into a round, open courtyard. Stars gleamed above, and torches lit the interior, revealing many rooms built into the castle walls.
Right in the center of the courtyard, a huge bonfire burned, orange sparks dancing up into the night sky. More than twenty warrior nuns stood around the fire, all of them facing us. They wore matching pale cloaks and silver chain mail, their expressions serious as they inspected us.
Iain and I stopped in front of the fire, and the leader turned to face us.
“We’ve seen your arrival in the winds,” she said.
I nodded, since I didn’t know exactly what that meant. I respected nature, but didn't worship it as these women did, so they were going to have an advantage on that front.
“Did the winds tell you why I’ve come? And why it’s important?”
“They have.” Her gaze darkened. “Though the winds are not certain that it would be a terrible thing if the Fire Fae were to go.”
Oh, shit.
I hadn’t been expecting that.
“Why?” I croaked. Why would the winds want us all dead? “Is it because of the past? The Great Burning?”
She nodded. “The moor cannot tolerate another burning. If your fire devours you before it can escape to the rest of the moor, the land may be safe.”
No no no. I hadn’t expected this. I thought that everyone would be rooting for me. “I’ll stop the Great Burning, I swear.”
“Are you strong enough?”
“Yes.” Fates, I hoped so.
“Prove it.” She gestured to the flames. “Enter the circle of truth and confront the fire within. It will know if you are what you believe yourself to be.”
Oh, I did not like the sound of this.
But no way in hell would I wimp out.
I stepped toward the fire, and Iain joined me.
I glanced quickly at the nun to see if she would allow this to stand. She gave Iain a considering look, then nodded her approval.
Together, we stepped toward the flame.
15
The fire surrounded Iain and me, flickering tall and bright. Wind whistled above, howling through the night as the smoke coalesced to form a black wall around us. Red and orange flames danced just ou
t of reach.
Unconsciously, I grabbed Iain’s hand.
He gripped me tightly, and I stood still as the flame roared, not daring to move. The fire was warm, but not enough to burn. My Fire Fae blood protected me.
Iain, however…
I tried to get a look at him, worry tugging at me. He stood tall and stiff, his brow creased. Clearly, he could feel the true heat of the flame, but he stood stalwart against it.
We have to get this over with.
I didn’t know how to hurry it up, so I closed my eyes and imagined replacing the SoulStone and saving my people. Saving the Dartmoor and all that lived there. I had to convince the flames and the nuns that I was strong enough. Worthy.
Even though I had no magic. No wings.
I was basically human at this point.
I drew in a shuddery breath and focused, vowing to do everything I could to fight the dark evil that was attacking our land.
As if my thoughts had called to it, the shadow of that evil seemed to surround me. It was the same dark mist that had been in the ocean when I’d broken the curse on the Sea Fae, and it was here.
I gasped, wanting to break away.
But I was frozen solid within my mind, the smoke holding me captive.
The darkness filled my lungs, the mist seeming to snake through my body. I could feel it like a brand, marking me.
Making me one of its own.
No.
I tried to fight it, my muscles straining, but I couldn’t move. I was trapped.
No. Fight it.
I tried to break free, knowing that my only chance to prove myself was now. I couldn’t succumb to the darkness here, in front of the Daughters of Danu.
As quickly as the mist had come, it dissipated. The smoke died and the flames flickered down. Once more, I could feel Iain’s hand in mine.
Gasping, I staggered backward.
What had happened?
Where the hell had it come from? And what was it?
I dropped Iain’s hand and spun around, searching for the dark mist that had come and gone so quickly. I hated that my enemy was something so ephemeral. I couldn’t track it, I couldn’t fight it.
It just appeared when it wanted, wreaking havoc.
And it seemed like it was coming for me.
My gaze landed on the warrior nun who had greeted us. Her dark eyes studied me keenly, and she stood with the controlled mastery of one who was truly at peace with her environment and her magic. Nothing ruffled this woman.
Had she seen the dark mist? That I had been weak before it?
It was impossible to tell.
She looked from me to Iain, and then back again. Finally, she spoke, her voice slow and considering. “It is as I thought. The flames approve. The smoke approves.”
The mist approved.
The dark shadow of evil had liked me—I’d felt it. But apparently, she hadn’t seen it. The fire and the smoke were forces that she respected, and they seemed to have approved of us both. The mist of evil was different, and this woman radiated goodness and honor. Had she seen it, she wouldn’t be approving of me right now.
I looked at Iain. Had he felt the dark evil that had permeated the ceremony?
His face revealed nothing.
The woman inclined her head to us. “You have passed the test. My name is Olena.”
Olena hadn’t seen what I’d felt—that I was a total liability.
Should I tell her?
No.
I needed their help. I’d deal with the darkness later. Anyway, it hadn’t taken me over. It’d just visited somehow, maybe using the magic of the ceremony as a conduit. I had fought it off.
I could do it again. I would do it again. “What do we do next?”
Olena gestured to the back wall of the castle. “Come, I will escort you to the holy font. It is located in our chapel. There, you may wash the SoulStone in the sacred waters of the earth.”
“Thank you.” I shared a quick glance with Iain, and he nodded.
We followed Olena through the courtyard, walking past the serious gazes of the Daughters of Danu. My skin prickled under their inspection, and I wondered if some of them suspected me the way that I suspected me.
Between The Oracle’s prophecy about Iain and me and this new development with the darkness, I was starting to lose my grip on the situation. It felt like I was constantly struggling to keep up and could barely manage.
Olena pushed open a sturdy wooden door and led us into a small chapel. Thick stone walls were covered with tapestries, the designs on the fabric so beautiful that I wanted to study them for ages. Each woven fabric depicted a scene from the earth—the sea, the desert, the mountains, the forest. The stained glass over the altar showed an enormous tree sitting on a small green ridge.
Beneath it, in the corner of the room, there was a small fountain built into the wall. Clear water bubbled from it, sparking with pure magic that made my heart feel lighter just to look at it. Whatever magic imbued the water, it felt like pure hope and strength.
Olena gestured to it. “You may bathe the stone in the holy water.”
“Thank you.” I withdrew the stone from my pocket and approached the small fountain. My heart thundered as I neared it, the magic wrapping around me and making me shiver.
This was so strange, compared to most of my life. So Fae.
My time in Magic’s Bend had been so practical. Hunt demons, run P&P, don’t get caught by the king of the Sea Fae.
This however… This involved the magic of the earth, something that I hadn’t dealt with in a very long time. Not since I’d left Dartmoor really.
I stopped in front of the fountain, the SoulStone heavy in my hand. The dark stain on the surface seemed to call to me, burning with warmth.
Don’t.
I jerked, hardly able to believe the thought.
For the briefest moment, I’d considered not washing it.
That was crazy.
I stuck the stone in the water, gasping at the chill of the water. It sparkled against my hand, feeling like bubbles. Light glittered around the stone, pale and gold. It felt amazing and terrible at the same time, and I couldn't put my finger on why.
“It’s working,” Iain said from beside me.
It is.
Thank fates. Any thought of the darkness was driven from my mind as I watched the water cleanse away the shadow that had covered the surface of the rock. Soon, it gleamed a brighter gold and red. Not as bright as before—it was still missing much of its magic—but it was looking better.
Soon, the water became so hot that I couldn’t bear it. The water sparkled more brightly and the bubbles began to sting. I yanked the stone away.
It was still cracked but looked far better. Even I felt better. Stronger. More whole. My magic was still missing, but this was the best I’d felt since the battle at Iain’s Court when I’d lost my magic.
I shared a glance with Iain, whose jaw was set in a firm line but his eyes appeared slightly relieved.
We turned to Olena.
“It looks far better,” she said.
“Thank you.” I inclined my head. “I can’t tell you how much this helps us.”
“Oh, I know.” Her dark eyes gleamed with knowledge.
“How do we find the Grove of Life?” Iain asked. “The Oracle said that you could help us find it.”
“Indeed I can.” She gestured toward the stained glass window. “The grove is on the other side of our land. However, it is only accessible at dawn and dusk.”
How Fae.
“We have several hours then,” I said.
“You may spend the night here. Recoup your strength. You will need it for what is to come. Then, at first light, approach the Grove of Life and make your request.”
“Thank you.” I forced the words to sound calm. In reality, I wanted to run out to the grove right now and beg it to fix the SoulStone and myself.
But it wasn’t an option.
“Come.” She gestured for
us to follow. “I will lead you to a chamber.”
We exited the chapel, returning to the watchful gaze of the Daughters of Danu. They’d waited in the castle courtyard outside the chapel, silent and still. Each was dressed in her mail and cloak, looking ready for battle. Wind ruffled their cloaks, the only movement in the entire courtyard. They were still as warriors ready to strike.
I would not want to get on their bad side.
Olena stopped before them, her voice carrying over the crowd. “It is done. They will approach the grove at dawn.”
This seemed to satisfy the watchful nuns. They gave us one last look—a warning look, there was no other description for it—and dispersed, disappearing like ghosts into various castle doors.
“They don’t trust us,” I murmured to Iain, my lips so close to his ear that I was sure only he would hear my words.
I was wrong.
Olena twitched, turning to us with raised brows. She’d heard, or perhaps the wind had told her. Her gaze met mine as she said, “They trust no one but the earth and our order.”
I supposed it made sense. Especially after what I’d felt in the flames. People—even supernaturals—could fall prey to curses when they least expected. The nuns couldn’t truly trust anyone, no matter how well intentioned.
Like me.
The memory of the darkness made me shiver, and I shoved it away.
“Come.” Olena led us up a set of sturdy wooden stairs to the second level, then turned left into a large room.
The stone walls were covered with simple tapestries, and the hearth blazed merrily. A single bed occupied the space, along with two chairs and a table.
“You may spend the night here,” she said.
Just one room?
Considering the fact that she turned and left without another word, I had to assume the answer was yes. Just one room. Just one bed.
The door shut behind her.
I leaned back against the wall, setting the stone on the table next to me and meeting Iain’s gaze, suddenly exhausted. “Do you think this is going to work? The rituals, the grove, replacing the SoulStone in the Tor of the Ancients?”
“I hope so.” He walked to me, cupping my face in his hand. “You look… drained.”