The bouncer on the left opens the door as the one on the right touches his earpiece and says, “Princess Sage has arrived,” like he’s Secret Service. I want to laugh, it’s so cheesy. Are they going to give me a code name next, like the Albatross?
But the laughter dies in my throat as we walk inside. The soaring ceiling is vaulted three floors above us; I can see people milling about on the landing of the next floor. A wide staircase winds up and splits in two directions. The only light is coming from thousands of candles along the floor, lined up to create a pathway. Huge tapestries hang on the gray stone walls. They’re woven in bright colors, images of peaceful pastoral scenes, bloody battles, and entwined lovers.
Aelia walks ahead, but I pause, my eyes catching a tapestry with a woman resting in a forest. She’s sitting beside a river, and a smaller figure that looks like a water faerie is perched on a rock, weaving yellow flowers into the woman’s curly auburn hair.
“She’s so lovely,” I say to Faelan, who stands beside me.
“That’s your sister, Queen Lily.”
My stomach flutters. My sister . . . I look closer, studying her features, the high cheekbones, the large golden eyes, how her hand rests delicately on her cheek. “She looks peaceful.” That’s not how I recall her feeling in any of my dreams, but maybe there was a time when she was.
“It’s from a story,” Faelan says, “‘The River Queen,’ about a young woman who fell in love with a water wysp only to have it kill her, drowning her in her own tears. It’s silly, really. And an insult to Queen Lily’s legacy to be pictured in it.” He sounds sad.
I turn to him, about to ask him if he’s going to be all right, but his features shift to anger as he spots someone over my shoulder and a voice comes from behind me.
“Welcome, my love.”
A chill works up my spine.
Kieran.
He moves to stand in front of me, his gaze scraping over me in a way that has heat climbing my neck and cheeks. “I’m breathless,” he says. “You are a sight.” And without turning to look at Faelan, he directs his next words to him. “She’s going to be the death of us both, isn’t she, bastard? This one is true fire in the flesh. It’s too bad you’ll never taste her.”
My pulse skips at his insinuation.
“Fuck right off, prick,” Faelan growls.
Kieran just laughs softly. Deadly. “Poor castoff. You have certainly gotten yourself in trouble this time, haven’t you? You’re completely taken.”
Faelan steps up to loom over him.
They size each other up, and the more Kieran stares at Faelan, the harder his features become.
I wave a hand between them. “Hey, I’m right here.”
Kieran turns to me, and I step back at the stone in his eyes. “He apparently feels something more for you than a simple protector bond. Does he have reason to?”
“What?” I ask, trying to play dumb. “What do you mean?”
“His spirit is tuned to yours,” Kieran says as he looks me over. “And yours to his.”
I release a nervous laugh, crossing my arms over my chest. I’m pretty sure it will be really bad if he thinks there’s something between Faelan and me. So I lie. “The guy can’t stand me. And I’m not exactly a fan of his either. He’s a huge downer.” I shrug. “He thinks I’m gonna go bonkers and become some kind of killer.”
Kieran glances at Faelan, who’s frowning at me, his jaw working.
“But you know, it’s a party, so . . .” I wave my hand aimlessly at the crowd upstairs. “Have fun measuring dicks, boys.” I step back, then I turn and say over my shoulder, trying to sound unaffected, “I’m off to find the bar.” As I walk away, I focus on breathing, praying it’s not obvious that every inch of me is shaking.
I wander aimlessly through the crowd for a while and am relieved when no one seems to know or care who I am. I get a few second glances from a group of men around a smoky pool table, but I walk past them and head into a long hall where the milling people thin out. The shadows grow and the light dims as I work my way along. The people I see are either making out or talking on their phones, not paying attention to me.
I was supposed to be getting to know this place, this world, but here I am hiding like my old self. Maybe I’m not ready for this. After that moment downstairs, I realize I’ve got no clue how to keep from falling into a trap—and everything’s a trap.
I find a door at the far end and knock, going halfway in when there’s no answer. It takes me a second to realize I’m not alone in the room; the sound of rustling makes me freeze. It’s too dark to see, though.
“Hello?” I say, backing out. Could Kieran have made it past me when I wasn’t looking?
I put my hand on the handle and push the door open more.
Light from the hall casts into the room, falling on something on the far side, in the corner.
A bird.
I spot the light switch and flick it. A dim glow comes from a chandelier above.
It’s a black bird. A raven, perched on a stack of books.
I step into the room again and study the creature. As I look around, I realize I’m in a library.
Oh wow. It’s huge, two stories high, bookshelves floor to ceiling, full to the brim.
The raven squawks.
I walk into the center of the room. As I get closer to the bird, I realize it’s huge, almost unnaturally so. There’s an odd patch of silver feathers on the right side of its neck. It tips its head and eyes me sideways, like it’s making sure I’m allowed to be in here, then it hops closer and opens its shiny beak, releasing a low caw. It keeps staring at me as if it has something to say, and all I can do is stare back and wonder if it’s really just a bird. In this place, who can tell?
“What a party, huh?” I say.
It tips its head again. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear it’s keying in on my boobs, but that’s just—
A flash of yellow light reflects on the wall behind the raven, and I realize it’s a reflection from my medallion. It must’ve caught the bird’s eye.
The creature screeches again, then flies up and perches on the edge of a higher shelf. The sound of wings continues, though, and I swear I smell roses . . . smell ice . . .
The ground tilts, tingles washing over me—
“You shouldn’t be in here,” a clipped female voice says from behind me.
I spin and see Princess Mara standing in the doorway. She’s glaring at me like she’s completely offended that I’m in this library with her pet bird instead of out mingling.
She glances up at the raven. I could swear fear flashes across her features for a second. “This room stays locked. How did you even get in?”
I shake my head and point at the door. “I knocked,” I say stupidly.
She considers me for a second and then looks back at the bird. “This isn’t a safe place for a newblood princess.”
It’s a library.
“You need to go back to your party,” she adds.
I almost say, “Yes, ma’am,” like I’ve been scolded by a teacher for not having a hall pass. Instead, I just nod and back out of the room. What was I thinking wandering around this place alone? The door slams in my face, even though Princess Mara’s hands stay clenched at her sides.
It’s official: everyone’s having fun at my party except me. Well, or Faelan. I’m pretty sure that wherever the guy is, he’s miserable too.
I find Aelia and her coven laughing and cooing in a room full of young men. One of the girls, Victoria, is doing a magic trick, floating playing cards around her hips. Each time a card flies out, one of the guys catches it. If it’s hearts, she kisses them. Long, slobbery kisses. I gag and walk away after the third guy. I’m pretty sure she was flicking the kissing cards on purpose, like a rigged Spin the Bottle.
I wander outside and wish I could just drive myself home. As I settle on a patio chair, a shadow falls over me. I know right away that it’s Faelan.
“Where’ve you bee
n?” I ask.
“Following you,” he says. “Watching Kieran.”
“Sounds thrilling.”
“You’re miserable.”
“I am.” I glance up at him. “Your world is sorta boring if you’re not into drinking countless cocktails, gossiping, or playing tonsil hockey with strangers.”
He sits across from me, ignoring my snark. “Did you notice that Kieran’s been avoiding you?”
I did wonder why the dark prince hadn’t accosted me again. I just shrug.
He rests his elbows on his knees. “I spotted him going into the room you came out of, almost the second you left. He’s still in there.” He runs his fingers through his hair, and it falls over his left eye. “He’s up to something.”
“And? What am I supposed to do about it?”
“Do you feel anything . . . odd? Like, in your mind or spirit?”
“What? No—what are you talking about? Be more specific.”
“At first I thought he’d brought you here to show off for you, but when he came over to us and acted so . . . un-Kieran . . .”
“He was a prick, how is that un-Kieran?”
He lowers his voice. “He was jealous. Kieran has everything, he needs nothing. And he never shows weakness.”
I frown at him, not sure where he’s going with this.
“I have a hunch he may have brought you here for a different reason. Like a spell.”
THIRTY-NINE
FAELAN
“You’re sure you don’t feel anything weird?” I ask, looking her over more closely. I try to ignore my body’s reaction to the scattering of freckles on the soft skin of her bare shoulders, the shape of her legs in those heels. Kieran’s a prick, but he’s right; she’s going to be the death of me.
“I’m fine,” she says. “Bored to tears, but fine. What do you mean, a spell?”
“I think we should leave.” The faster we get out of here, the sooner I can relax. Something’s up with Kieran. After Sage left us, he leaned over and told me I shouldn’t have brought her. When I asked him why, he just growled at me to be better at my job as he walked away.
“Fine with me,” she says. “The sooner we get out of here, the better. Shouldn’t we find Aelia, though?”
“I’ll text her. She can get a ride with one of the girls in her coven.”
We stand and make our way back through the party, heading for the entrance. I watch the crowd, looking for a hint of why things feel so off. Then it hits me. How did I miss it? They’re almost all human, only a few Others mingling in the herd. Too many mortals all in one place for a demi party.
I grab Sage’s arm and pull her back through the people and down a hall, looking in each room and seeing shades, druids, pixies, but no humans. The Otherborn are all separated out for some reason.
As we come to the last door, I spot Aelia and her coven making out with a bunch of shades. “Lia!” I bark.
She removes her face from some guy and sits up quick. “What? I didn’t do it!”
“We’re going. Now.”
She slumps, pouting. “Why?”
I step into the room and yank the shade that was groping her from the couch, tossing him. He hits the opposite wall with a crack and falls to the floor, limp. “Now!”
She stands in a rush, teetering. Everyone else is sitting up, gaping at me.
“You’re such a downer, Faelan,” Aelia mutters, her words slurred. “Gods.” She wobbles a little as she comes closer. I can smell alcohol on her breath.
“What did you drink?” I ask, grabbing her by the arm, looking in her eyes to see if she’s been dosed with anything.
“Vodka. Calm down.”
“What’s going on, Faelan?” Sage asks from the doorway.
“This party is a trick,” I say loud enough for the drunk druids to get the clue. “It’s probably a fucking bloodworking or something.”
Aelia frowns and presses a finger to my mouth. “Shhh . . . your face is too loud.”
Victoria sits up, all focus now. “What kind of bloodworking?”
“Hell if I know,” I say, “but you probably don’t want to be here when that room full of humans out there gets ripped to shreds by the half dozen drunk shades in this room.”
“Hey,” one of the shades says, like he’s offended. “I only drink bagged blood, never take from the tap. I’m clean.”
“Sure you are, skippy.” I pull Aelia from the room, leading her down the hall, Sage close behind. I say over my shoulder, “Don’t stop for anything. We head straight for the doors.”
We work through the crowd quickly. I soon see the entry and it’s clear. No Kieran, no Princess Mara, no servant shade. Whatever they’re up to, I need to get Sage as far away from them as possible.
Someone steps into my path, making me stop.
“Finbar,” I say, shocked. What’s he doing here? And then I see Duncan, Astrid on his arm, just behind my elder brother.
Finbar doesn’t acknowledge me; he looks right past me to Sage. And then he bows deep. “Princess, you look stunning.”
“We were just leaving,” Sage says.
“So soon?” Finbar asks. “I hear there’s to be sport.”
My skin goes cold. “What sort of sport?”
Astrid smiles sweetly and says, “Well, the best kind, of course. How many are up there?” She cranes her neck to see the crowd above us. Then she reaches down and lifts her hem, showing off her thigh. Where her dagger is strapped. “I brought Talon.”
My gut roils, the urgency I felt a moment ago turning into real panic at what Sage will witness if we stay. If this is a bloodworking, it’s going to be done the hard way. The humans are to be hunted, probably released on the property like drugged game. I haven’t heard of a party hunt in over sixty years. The Cast outlawed them because it was becoming too difficult to hide the mass killings.
Leave it to the House of Morrígan to get away with breaking such a concrete rule. I know now why my brother Finbar is here, blood-thirsty wretch that he is. But why invite Sage? Especially if the House of Morrígan truly wants to court her favor. It’s crazy. Unless they’re so blind they can’t even see how their own twisted nature would look to someone like her.
“Well, I’m taking Princess Sage home,” I say, making sure to direct my words to Finbar.
“You must stay,” Finbar says to Sage. “It’s going to be brilliant.”
She stares at him, her gaze hard. “Are you deaf? Your brother’s taking me home. If you’ll excuse us.” She brushes past them, heading for the door.
When we get into the limo, Aelia is laughing, trying—and failing—to drunk high-five Sage. “That was an epic asshole takedown, bitch!”
Victoria climbs into the limo behind Aelia. “Now I know why Mom said not to go to Morrígan parties without protection.” She reaches into her bra and pulls out a small sack: a charm. “This thing shielded me from whatever was in the drinks.” She points at Aelia, who’s now slumped over my lap.
“What the hell was all that?” Sage asks, trying to scoot away from Victoria. “What is going on, Faelan?”
“I’m pretty sure they were about to have a hunt and kill a few dozen people.”
Sage gapes at me, speechless.
Aelia sits up straight in a rush, holding up a finger, declaring, “That’s illegal!” And then she slumps back down, this time choosing Sage’s lap.
Sage ignores her. “Why in the hell would that be part of my party? Do they think I’m demented? We have to help those people!”
I can only shake my head. I pull out my phone and call my contact line for the Cast’s envoy, leaving a message about the hunt, hoping they can stop it before too many people are butchered.
When I get off the phone, Sage picks up Aelia, moving her out of the way, and scoots closer to me. “Why would they do that, Faelan? What were they trying to prove?”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense.” I just wish I knew if Kieran wanted Sage or if he wanted her dead. It would make t
his so much easier. I’ll just have to keep her away until after the Emergence.
We drop off Victoria and make it back to the Cottages around midnight. I carry Aelia through the yard, into the back of the main house, and up to her bedroom. I lay her out on the pink blankets, and Sage pulls down her hiked skirt and takes off her shoes, then sits on the other side of the bed.
“Do you think she’ll be okay?” she asks.
“It’ll wear off with sleep, I’m sure. Druids have pretty solid metabolisms.”
We sit for a while, both just watching Aelia sleep, not sure what to say. Eventually Sage stands and we leave the room, heading down the stairs and out through the backyard. When we come to our cottages, she pauses and turns to me, like she wants to say something but she’s unsure. Her eyes search my face for a couple of tense seconds. I know I should turn away, but I can’t manage it.
“Thank you,” she finally says quietly.
But I can’t accept her gratitude. “I’m sorry I let you go in the first place. Anything could’ve happened.”
She shakes her head. “You were being supportive.” She shifts her feet, and then asks, “How many more days until this Emergence thing?”
“Seven.”
“So we’ll lay low,” she says, determination in her voice, like we’re making a plan.
“That’s what I was thinking.” I let myself step a little closer, wanting her to know I mean what I say. “But I don’t want to keep you shut in if it’s going to make you feel overwhelmed.”
She surprises me, resting her palm on my chest. “I’m not going anywhere. I want to see this through. I need to know.” A thin ache blossoms where her fingers graze my sternum, and I realize she’s taking from me, unaware, even through the torque. It’s not enough to harm me, though. And a part of me is strangely comforted by it. As if it’s what I was meant to do.
My heartbeat picks up, and I wonder if she can feel it in her skin as my energy slinks into her.
She rises to her toes and brushes her lips against my cheek.
I stay still as she kisses me, and I let her pull away, rooting my feet to the spot, holding myself back from touching her.
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