by Leia Stone
A flicker of wariness crossed Dante’s golden face. No doubt he wasn’t used to trusting others when he was on a mission. But he simply waved a hand toward the portal.
As Shelley stepped forward, Kian reached out to wrap his hand across her shoulder. “Are you sure it’s safe?”
“I’ll be fine,” she replied.
Kian narrowed his eyes, and I recognized that stubborn look on his face. It was Kade all over. Eventually, Kian released his mate and gave her a nod. Shelley smoothed her coat and unsheathed her sword. “Give me sixty seconds. If I’m not back, come through fighting.”
I pulled out my blade. Kian adjusted the grip on his weapon, and we all moved closer, ready to assist if she needed it.
Shelley’s nerves weren’t obvious as she walked to the archway, but I saw her hand shaking the slightest bit. I kept scanning our surroundings, keeping an eye on the portal. We were in the middle of an Otherworld forest, where anything could attack at any time. Surely these portals had a lot of traffic too. It would not do to be taken from behind.
Shelley was almost there by now, and I blinked a few times as the tree she was approaching started to move, just the slightest tilt toward her. A jolt of an idea slammed into me, and I could feel my pulse pick up as adrenalin surged through my body.
Kade made a noise as I started to follow Shelley’s path. “I’m not going through,” I said to him. “I just need to … check something.”
If Dante had an affinity for communicating with animals, then maybe there was a power associated with the way I could speak to the old fae tree in Kade’s back yard. I inched closer, and when I was standing before the giant brown-barked trunk, I reached out to rest my palm on the tree.
I immediately felt an awareness there, an excitement.
Hello … I’m Queen Arianna, I tried.
An instant reply came back: Hello, Queen Arianna. Winter fae do not usually stop and speak with us. But … I have heard of you from the treeling that is rooted in New York. You are different. It sounded male, with a deep scratchy voice.
I grinned at the knowledge that all of the trees’ consciousnesses must be connected. That was kind of amazing. And hugely useful. Can you do me a favor? My friend has just walked through your arch. Can you tell me if she is okay?
There was nothing for a moment, but then a tingling spread throughout my palm. I can show you.
I closed my eyes and a mini movie screen played in my mind’s eye. There were four guards. Shelley was speaking with them as they surrounded her, weapons drawn.
“My friends and I wish to pass through this arch. You will not harm them. You recognize them as friends of the Winter Court. There is no need for alarm. You will simply let us pass and forget we were ever here.” Shelley’s voice was smooth and deep, with a trancelike quality.
Two of the men nodded, but the other two seemed to be resisting her fae-charms. Shelley stepped closer to the resistors. “You will let us through and tell no one you saw us.” The close proximity must have done the trick. They both nodded, looking slack-jawed.
Shelley bowed deeply and began to back away slowly towards the tree as the projection in my mind faded.
My eyes popped open as Shelley came through the archway and motioned we all follow.
Thank you, kind friend, I said as I straightened.
That warm feeling tickled my palm again. You always have an ally with the treefolk, Queen Arianna.
A burst of warmth followed me as I pulled my hand away. Well … that was interesting. Was there some way for me to use that alliance? To use the wise, ancient strength of these amazing tree-fae hybrids?
“Come, it won’t last long. Two of them were hard to get through to.” Shelley’s voice held a note of impatience.
Dante, a small dagger clutched in his hand, was the first to go into the archway. As I walked through, pressure pushed on my skin, then there was a pop in my ears and I was on the other side. I could see the four guards standing around a fire looking at us. One nodded and another waved. I waved back and walked briskly behind Kade, trying to get away as fast as possible.
We closed ranks around Dante.
“What now?” I asked him. His posture had changed; he was tenser. It was only a subtle change, but I was trained to notice things like that, and it immediately put me more on alert.
“Now we need to be extra vigilant. We’re no longer in friendly territory. Expect conflict at every turn.”
All of us had our weapons out now, except Kade. His staff would not be removed from its case until we were face to face with darkness. We fanned out and walked slowly through the fall woods, which were breathtaking with their yellow and burnt orange trees, frosty snowcapped mountains just visible in the distance, and a brisk chill to the air.
Fall in the city had always been one of my favorite times, especially since I knew winter was just around the corner. Damn genetics. I suppose it wasn’t winter’s fault. Winter had done nothing wrong.
No one spoke a word. After about an hour, Dante paused, crouching. We all followed suit. I sat on my heels, sword held loosely before me. I sensed a disturbance; even the sound of the breeze whistling through the forest had died off.
“Down!” Dante yelled just as a flaming yellow metal disc whizzed between the trees, nearly taking my head off.
I dove to the right and pressed my face into the ground, resting on my cheek in time to see Dante pop up, two sickles in his hands.
My heart was hammering in my chest because I remembered that disc weapon. It was the same weapon the dark fae assassin had used on Staten Island to take Derek’s head off.
Sure enough, as I lifted myself up slightly to see better, a black-clad fae stepped from behind the trees. His face was covered in a mask of some description, but it looked as if his skin was tinged a moss green color. “Well, well, what do we have here?” he said in a gravelly voice.
Giving no response, Dante flung his arm out, releasing a sickle. It soared through the air; the dark fae sidestepped quickly, but it nicked the outside of his arm. Blood spurted out, spraying the trees around him. Looking unperturbed, the evil fae threw another disc, lightning quick. It clipped Kian’s arm, before slicing along Kade’s thigh. Bear roars bellowed from both males, and rage immediately boiled within me.
“Kill him!” I said, not an ounce of remorse. Kian, already healing, took a knee and started firing arrows at the dark assassin. Dante disappeared into the woods, and I was too busy keeping an eye on the dark fae to follow his movements. These dark assassins were super fast and lethal, training and control obvious behind each of their attacks. A few more like this and they could finish us off no worries.
Not on my watch. I built up a large ball of fae magic in my hands. Kade was already at my side, preparing to help me funnel the energy if needed.
“How’s your leg?” I asked him.
His chest rumbled. “It’s fine, just a scratch. It’s already healing.”
Some of the fire in my veins dulled just a little. I was really getting sick of Kade’s body having new cuts, scratches, and holes in it. Time to do something about it.
The assassin was moving again, more of the discs appearing in his hands. I let loose my ball of energy, hoping to hit him while he was on the move, but he dove to the side at the last moment. So freaking fast. He was up again, sprinting toward a huge tree with flaky white bark, scaling it in a second. It was almost as if he didn’t even use his hands to climb. I knew from that vantage point we were going to be sitting ducks, so the four of us sprinted for a small grove of bushy weed-like plants.
“I’m going up into the trees,” I whispered to Kade while dropping my pack to the ground. “Give me some cover.”
I could see he wanted to protest, but he let out a sigh and nodded. “Stay safe,” he warned me, turning and murmuring something to his brother.
Kian immediately lifted his arrow; Kade pulled out some small throwing knives, and the pair launched themselves up and over the bushes, creating noise and dis
traction.
I started scaling a nearby tree. I didn’t have the same skills as that assassin, so I had to sheath my weapon first, but after that I had no trouble. I was an excellent tree climber. Sure, a few years might have passed since my last adventure, but it was like riding a bike. Right?
My foot slipped and I lost my balance for a second, almost plummeting to the ground. Only my strong grip on a nearby branch broke my fall. With a deep breath, I pulled myself up again, trying my best to ignore the shouts from below. When I made it to the first level of strong, thick branches, I let my senses roam out across the canopy. The fae was in black; he shouldn’t blend in. And yet I sensed he was close, but I couldn’t see him.
Two trees across, a voice whispered in my mind, and I almost fell off the branch.
Not one of ours. Otherwise we would be able to dispel him from the branches. The dark assassins avoid our kind.
Thank you, I replied to the tree that was helping me. I peered two trees to my left, and sure enough the black-clad assassin was hanging onto its uppermost branch, about twenty feet away from me.
I had a crazy idea.
Can you launch me at him? I asked my new friend. If he could sway in the wind, he could move at will, right? Broken bones took a long time to heal, and I would be of no use to this mission if I did indeed break anything, but it was also the quickest way to move. Here was hoping my tree friends kept me from going splat.
Of course. We will extend our branches to keep you from falling. There was something strong and reassuring about the ancient words of the trees.
I silently unsheathed my sword just as the assassin started throwing more discs down into the forest. Now! I yelled, tensing my body, while also loosening my grip on the branches I held.
The tree that held me snapped backward, dipping me low toward the ground, its trunk bowing under the weight. Then it straightened and I was airborne. Simultaneous surges of excitement and fear flushed through me as I catapulted towards the black-clad fae.
He barely had time to look up and register my approach before I came crashing down on him, my sword sliding into his abdomen. Branches from a nearby tree came up to hold me in place, and I wrenched my sword upwards, trying to inflict maximum damage.
The fae’s eyes bulged, but with surprising strength he jerked his head forward, slamming into my nose. Pain exploded across my face and I dropped my hold on the sword, bringing my hands up to catch the blood gushing from my face. My eyes involuntarily watered, temporarily blinding me – pinned in close quarters with an assassin.
An assassin I had just pissed off.
I quickly blinked my eyes to clear them, the fuzzy vision disappearing in time for me to see the assassin’s hand rise, a small dagger clutched in it. He struck out, aiming for my neck, ready to slice into my carotid. My breath hitched as I threw my hands forward to block the blow. Cut hands I could heal, but a sliced throat was another thing.
My first deflection worked, but the fae was already gearing up to slice into me again. Suddenly Dante’s head peeked over the dark fae’s shoulder, his hands wrapping around his neck, before he twisted violently, snapping his spinal cord.
A sigh of relief escaped me. The assassin was dead.
“Thank you,” I said, a little breathlessly.
He nodded, his face remaining expressionless, not an ounce of evidence that he had just killed a guy showing at all.
“You okay?” he asked me.
I nodded, and then winced as the throbbing in my nose and forehead increased, not to mention the cuts on my hands. “Just a broken nose and a few scrapes. I’ll heal.”
I retracted my blade from the fae’s belly and let his body fall through the canopy, to land with a hard thud on the ground below. Leaning over, I could see Kade was waiting at the base of my tree.
“We’re okay!” I called down to him.
Dante immediately started to climb down, but I took a moment to place my hand on the tree branch that was cupping my lower back, keeping me firmly in place.
Thank you, friend.
I was surprised when a more feminine-sounding voice answered. You are most welcome.
Then I yelped a little as the branches began to move and configure themselves into a seat, cupping my butt, bending and lowering me to the ground. As I stepped off, I looked up to see all of my friends staring at me.
I smiled, shrugging. “Guess I have a tree affinity or something.”
Dante looked the most astonished, which was a bit comical considering he spoke to and commanded animals.
After another moment of gawking, Kade gave me that slow smile I was so in love with, and I felt his warmth brush across our bond. Glad you’re okay, my little tree hugger.
I laughed. Out loud. As usual confusing everyone who couldn’t hear our inner conversation. We need more trees in our garden.
You got it, love.
He focused then, turning toward the woods. “You think that dark fae was sent by someone to target us specifically? Or were we just in a ‘wrong place, wrong time’ situation?”
Dante answered, “We’re about thirty yards from the winter realm portal. His kind are a standard security measure since the war.”
That made sense, and I liked that theory a lot more than the one where the winter queen knew we were here. We gathered up our packs again, walking in the direction Dante instructed. Only a few paces in, a quiet little bird’s chirp sounded behind us.
Dante pursed his lips and let the air out through his teeth, creating a similar sound.
His birds had returned. A dozen finches flew down from the trees and landed on Dante’s outstretched hands, all chirping and talking at the same time as Dante’s face creased in concern. He sat there patiently and heard from every bird as we watched, waiting for him to translate. When they ceased their chatter, he pulled some seed from his pocket and they all had a feed.
“The winter queen and Dark Fae Lord are together. Which will help in taking both of them out at the same time,” Dante said, very quietly.
Okay. That was good news. The less time we spent on this mission, the better. I had a world to rebuild back in New York.
“The bad news…?” said Kade, picking up on what Dante wasn’t saying. His hand was resting on the dark staff as he stared with a hard expression at the fae.
Dante shifted his weight slightly, the only thing to betray any unease within him. “They are in the Dark Fae Lord’s realm, surrounded by the vilest creatures in existence.”
I didn’t even have a flicker of surprise within me. I’d expected nothing less. Ever since King Samson mentioned erchos, killians, and whatever else he’d said, I’d been waiting to meet those creatures. No way did the fae lord have such things in his army and not use them.
“Can you get us there?” I asked him, trying not to think of the oil-black ercho that had attacked me in central park.
Dante nodded. “I can.”
Kade stepped forward, his hand almost crushing the handle of the case he held. “How many creatures? What types?”
The birds flew off then, in unison, and Dante stood. “I have no idea how many, but I would guess a lot. Winged beasts, water beasts, and ones that were described that I cannot even put into words.”
We can do this. Kade sounded confident. I wasn’t so sure, but we had come too far to back out now.
“Kade and I are still going, but I understand if any of you want to turn back,” I offered. “We just need you to show us the way, Dante.”
He slammed a closed fist onto his chest. “It would complete my life’s work to aid in the death of the winter queen. I am all in.”
Shelley stepped forward. “You can use my gift to confuse any guards on the perimeter to keep the fight small.”
Tears welled in my eyes. “Thank you.”
Kian placed a hand on Shelley’s shoulder. “You have my sword also. Anything that will keep this war from spilling out onto the Earth and coming for our children.”
His words rang true. This wa
s for Winnie and Nathanial, and all of the innocents.
Chapter Eleven
An unexpected alliance.
It turned out there was a secret gateway hidden between the Winter Court and the land of the Dark Fae Lord. Dante had learned this when he was imprisoned in the dungeon. He said it was guarded but that we shouldn’t have too much trouble getting through.
“No one thinks twice about talking in front of prisoners,” he told me when I expressed my surprise at his knowledge. “The moment you are locked up, you cease to be a living being to anyone. They have no respect for you. You become nothing more than a blight on their world. They see you as weak, powerless, and without identity. I learned much in my short time locked away.”
That was interesting. I’d never stopped and thought about it, I’d never been a prisoner before my time with the winter queen, but I could imagine that once you lost your freedom, a lot of your identity disappeared with it.
“What happened to the little girl, the one they hurt to try and force me to give the queen my powers?” I asked him when we were through the second portal and heading deep into the Winter Court.
“Despite being a winter fae, she has found her place in the Summer Court.” A sliver of a smile crossed his face. I hadn’t seen him smile a lot; he was kind of serious. To be expected in his line of work. “She’s staying in the palace under the care of those who raise our children.”
Just like in the shifter world, many of our young were collectively raised.
“She deserved a chance at happiness.” I had seen the fear in her eyes, but also the resignation. I had been reasonably sure that wasn’t the first time she’d found herself at the mercy of the Winter Court. Probably like Shelley, repaying a debt from a member of her family.
That was no life for a child.
Kade squeezed my hand, wrapping his love around me, all of that warmth and soothing energy, which eased the ache in my chest. Kids did it to me every single time; they were a soft spot for me that I would never be able to carve out of my being. I knew it was a weakness. I’d tried to harden myself to it so that no one could use it against me, but … I wasn’t the Red Queen. Or Isalinda.