Shadow Hunted: an Urban Fantasy Novel (Shadows of Salem Book 3)

by Jasmine Walt

  Just what atrocities had I committed as Riona Maoilriain?

  Putting the questions aside, I pushed the cell door open, then retrieved the shield. There was no use in torturing myself about what may or may not have happened. Yes, finding out more about who I’d been in my past life, what I’d been doing, and what capabilities I had now were essential. But my past as the Winter King’s daughter didn’t necessarily define who I was now, or in the future. Only my actions now would do that.

  With four objects in hand, I went back up to the main floor, then focused my attention on finding the final object—the silver cuff. It took a while, but on the landing to the second floor, I honed in on it. The signature took me straight back to my own rooms, funnily enough, and I found the cuff sitting atop a jewelry box in my walk-in closet.

  As I stood up on tiptoe to reach for it, a peculiar sensation swept over me. Pausing, I tuned into it, and realized there was a magical object somewhere in this room. And that it was being shaded.

  Silver cuff forgotten, I tore apart my closet, looking behind racks of clothing and in boxes until my fingers found a panel behind one of the walls. I opened it to reveal a silver dagger, the pommel encrusted with pale blue gems. The moment I unshaded it, it blazed bright green with power, and I had to shield my face to keep from being blinded.

  A flash of memory showed me in the thick of a battle, going head to head with a party of Seelie fae in a dark forest. The dagger flashed in my hand as I drove it into the chest of a golden-armored fae male, and he let out a death scream that rattled my bones. The light went out of his eyes instantly, and he slumped to the ground, dead on contact.

  I shivered as the vision broke, staring at the dagger with apprehension. It was at least a four on the power scale. What on Earth had it done? I’d missed the fae’s heart, and they were extremely hard to kill anyway. Yet, he’d still died, the moment I’d stabbed him. Obviously, the weapon was important enough to me that I’d kept it shaded here, but I was reluctant to put it back. So instead, I tucked it beneath my arm, then brought it to the training room with the rest of the items.

  As expected, neither Oscar nor my father were there. They weren’t going to wait around while I spent hours chasing these objects around the castle. But they’d left a translucent bell sitting atop the chest, with a note in flowing script for me to ring it when I was done. Carefully, I set the objects down, then rang the bell. It let out a deep, clear gong that nearly made me drop it—I had not expected that tiny thing to let out such a huge sound!

  A few moments later, the door opened, and my father and Oscar hurried inside. “Is everything all right?” my father demanded, then stopped in his tracks, looking astonished. “You’ve already found them!”

  “Told you she would,” Oscar said, smirking. “Our princess is no fool.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I said dryly, my lips twitching. I spread my arm wide to indicate the objects. “All five of them returned, plus a bonus object.”

  “Ahhh.” My father’s eyes lit as he knelt opposite me. He leaned over and picked up the jeweled dagger I’d retrieved. “I was wondering what you’d done with Laibrath.”

  “Laibrath?” I echoed, testing the strange word on my tongue. Like many of the other things I’d encountered in the castle, it came much more easily than I’d anticipated. “Is that the name of the dagger?”

  The Winter King nodded. “It’s a rare weapon—one of the few that can kill with one strike. It can fell any enemy—human, fae, or otherwise—with a single blow.” He lifted a hand, then conjured a leather belt with a small scabbard. “Wear it on your person always,” he said, handing it to me along with the dagger. “You are safe within my walls, but a wayward spirit like you always finds yourself in the thick of danger.”

  Don’t I know it, I thought, taking the weapon and strapping it to my side. It wasn’t my custom 1911, but I’d take it for now. I had a feeling I was going to be running into the Morrigan again, and having a dagger that could theoretically take her down in one blow would make me feel a hell of a lot better about my odds of survival outside this place.

  As much as I loved the idea of staying tucked inside my father’s fortress, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stand the isolation forever. One of these days, I’d have to venture out into the world again. And this time, I’d have to try not to get killed or kidnapped in the process.

  Chapter 12

  One week later.

  It took me a week before I finally screwed up the courage to ask my father about my past. Part of it was that I wasn’t sure I was ready for the answers…but a lot of it had to do with the fact that we were never alone. Oscar and Solara were always around, preventing me from having any truly intimate conversations with my father. And it was difficult to find a moment where he and I could converse in private—he was always busy.

  But finally, when I came in for dinner one evening, we were alone. Oscar had been sent off on a mission, and Solara was visiting her mother. Over aromatic wine and well-seasoned roast, we made small talk for several minutes before I finally felt comfortable enough to broach the subject.

  “Father,” I said, setting my glass aside. “Can you tell me about my past? My memories haven’t returned yet, and it’s bothering me that everyone seems to know so much more about my life than I do.”

  The Winter King sat back in his chair, a pensive expression on his face. “What do you wish to know?” The atmosphere in the dining room changed subtly, the air growing heavier, and my shoulders tightened in response.

  “Well, anything really,” I said, brushing off the unsettling mood change. “I don’t know much about who I was. Maybe start with how I died…and why.”

  My father’s expression darkened, and he looked away. “It is…a painful subject,” he said, the temperature of the room dropping by several degrees. The roasted meat on my fork—some kind of bird—was abruptly cold when I touched it to my tongue. I set it down and folded my hands in my lap.

  “Please. This is important to me,” I pressed. His face was stone, but guilt was etched into his body language, so I added, “Whatever you say, I won’t judge you for it. My actions were my own.”

  “That they were,” he said, turning back to me. My heart pumped a little harder at the wintry look in his eyes—was he angry at me? “You have a heart of gold, my daughter, and that was ultimately your undoing. Trying to help those who are beyond help has turned my heart to ice, but you…” His glacial gaze melted. “I fear your mortal half will forever drive you to sacrifice yourself for those who do not deserve it.”

  “What does that mean?” I asked, brimming with curiosity. “What did I do?”

  “You may have heard that I was the Unseelie King before I retreated into the Hoarfrost Hills.” When I nodded, he continued. “The two fae races have long been at war with each other, but during my time as king, I was in the midst of negotiating a treaty. I thought things were going well, but a traitor arranged an attack on a Seelie convoy, which sparked instant retaliation from the queen. She decimated half the Cucui clan, and war broke out between the two races, worse than any conflict I can remember.” He shook his head, bitterness thick in his voice. “Naturally, I was blamed for the whole thing and deposed from my throne for endangering the Unseelie lands.”

  “That’s terrible,” I murmured, outrage burning in my chest. It was a familiar outrage, and I sensed that my past-life self had been just as indignant about it. “But what does it have to do with me?”

  The Winter King snorted. “Even though I withdrew from the rest of Unseelie society, you were not content to sit in our castle and spend the rest of your days with your father. After a century of living at home, you decided to go off and explore the Unseelie lands. I didn’t see you for some fifty years after that. And when you came back, you were filled with the same outrage and concern that’s in your eyes right now.” The corner of his mouth quirked into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You had discovered that Unseelie births were dropping
at an alarming rate in all the other clans. And you demanded that something be done about it.”

  I could already see where this is going. “Let me guess; you didn’t want to help?”

  “Why would I?” my father asked, his gaze frosting over again. “I had withdrawn my allegiance from the rest of the Unseelie Court. They made it clear they’ve no need of me and do not value me, and besides, our clan has not suffered the same infertility problem the rest of them have. I suspect their treacherous actions against me brought this upon them, and that this…curse, for lack of a better word…will only be lifted if they come to me, not the other way around.”

  I arched an eyebrow at that—it seemed a little presumptuous to assume that their treason was the reason the Unseelie were having procreation issues, especially since my father hadn’t actually cursed them himself. But then again, I didn’t really understand how faerie magic worked.

  “You think that is selfish,” the Winter King observed dispassionately. “I can see it in your eyes. You thought the same thing back then, and left the castle permanently to search for a cure. I was so angry that I did not keep track of you as I should have.” His expression fell. “Somehow, your quest for answers led you to infiltrate the Seelie Court, where you were found out and executed.”

  I sat up straight. “Do you know what I was looking for?”

  He shook his head. “If the Seelie did have anything, they would not admit it, especially to someone like me. They sent an emissary to inform me that they had captured you and that they would surrender you for no less than the price of my lands.” His lips twisted into a bitter smile. “I love you, Riona, but the health and well-being of my entire clan is my responsibility. I could not sacrifice them all to save you, especially when I knew you would come back eventually anyway.”

  “Of course,” I murmured. “Because your clan isn’t having fertility problems.”

  “Our clan,” he corrected sternly. “I had expected you to reincarnate amongst our people, preferably as Sorana’s child so we might raise you as our own. But Sorana is of another clan, and she was affected by the same fertility issues.” His expression darkened. “We have not been able to conceive a child together.”

  I felt sudden sympathy for Sorana. No wonder she’d looked at me the way she had—I was a direct reminder of what she could no longer have, and a reminder of her failure, as well. My father had no doubt been looking forward to her bearing me into the world again…only to find out I’d been born to a witch couple in the human realm instead.

  I opened my mouth, questions set to pour out, when the dining room doors flew open and a guard rushed in.

  “Chieftain,” he gasped, his pale face flushed with excitement, “the hunting party has returned, and they’ve brought a Seelie prisoner with them!”

  Chapter 13

  My father was instantly out of his chair, his half-full plate forgotten. “Bring him to the audience chamber,” he ordered. “I wish to see him immediately.”

  To me, he added, “Stay here,” then swept out of the room, his snowy-white cape billowing out behind him.

  The command was powerful enough that I stood stock-still for several moments, warring with my instincts. I didn’t want to piss my father off so soon after our reunion, but at the same time, I couldn’t help feeling it wasn’t a coincidence that a Seelie fae showed up just moments after the discussion with my father. I could understand a raiding party, but what would a single Seelie have to gain by venturing alone onto Unseelie lands? It was suicide.

  My mind made up, I hurried toward the audience chamber, instinct guiding me to the side door rather than the front entrance.

  “I do not tolerate Seelie of any kind on my lands,” my father was saying as I burst in. A commanding presence seated upon his antler throne, my father stared down at the prisoner. The fae had collapsed into a heap on the floor, bleeding from multiple wounds. “You will, of course, be executed—”

  “Wait,” I shouted, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, including the prisoner. Pain-filled eyes the color of new leaves met mine, and shock hit me so hard I stumbled. “Maddock?”

  “Brooke,” he rasped, and the word seemed to cost him. His head fell forward, black hair hanging in his eyes.

  I was at his side instantly, alarmed at his condition. I’d never seen him look so beat down. Maddock Tremaine was invincible. Undefeatable. As certain as the rise and fall of the sun.

  The understanding that nothing in life was certain washed over me. And I knew if I didn’t do something, Maddock would die.

  “Get back, Princess,” one of the guards commanded. He grabbed me by the shoulder and hauled me back before I could do anything. “He’s dangerous!”

  “Yes, but not to me,” I growled, turning to face my father. “This is Maddock Tremaine, and I insist that you make no decision on his fate until he has been allowed to explain himself.”

  “You know this fae?” my father demanded, his wintry eyes blazing.

  “Yes.” I waited a beat, then said, “He’s saved my life on more than one occasion, as well as taught me how to use some of my powers.”

  My father’s eyebrows rose so high they nearly melded with his brow line. “That is impossible,” he growled. “You are Unseelie, and a half-fae. One such as he would never help you.”

  I snorted. “Don’t think he was being altruistic at any point,” I said, glancing down at Maddock. “Shadows are valuable, as you know, and Maddock simply saw an opportunity. But he was helpful, and I don’t want him killed without at least hearing what he has to say.”

  In truth, Maddock’s presence was extremely conflicting. He’d rejected me so profoundly that the emotional wounds still ached when I thought about it. Looking at him ripped them wide open, igniting the same sense of rage and betrayal I’d felt when he’d walked out on me. That seething mass of emotion wanted me to kick him while he was down, to let my father execute him, as his people had once done to me.

  But the more rational part of me was curious as to why he’d shown up, and I reminded myself that hurt feelings were no cause to wish for someone’s death. I had no illusions that Maddock had just randomly appeared—he was obviously looking for me. I had to find out why.

  “Very well,” my father said, sighing heavily. He waved a hand at the guards. “Release my daughter.”

  The guards stepped back, though it was clearly against their better judgment, and allowed me to kneel in front of Maddock again. I took one of his hands in mine, and as I’d done before, tossed him that rope of power always curled inside me. He latched onto it greedily, and I bit back a gasp as he pulled hard. His body began to glow with power, and the huge gash on his forehead closed within seconds.

  I let him draw on my magic for a moment more before cutting it off. Letting him drain me dry wasn’t an option, and in his hurt state, he just might. Besides, I wasn’t feeling charitable enough to allow him to heal himself completely just yet.

  “That’s much better,” Maddock said roughly, pushing into an upright position. The chains around his wrists clanked heavily, and his face was pale with effort, but at least he no longer looked as if he was at death’s door. “I appreciate your assistance.”

  “Of course you do,” I said acerbically. “Now why don’t you tell me why you’ve risked your life to come here even though you’re convinced I’m the devil’s spawn?”

  He sighed. “I may have overreacted,” he admitted reluctantly. “But we can get to that later. I came to find ye, because I need yer help. The human world is in grave danger.”

  “What else is new?” I propped my hands on my hips. “The last time you needed my help, you turned your back on me, and I was kidnapped by the Morrigan. What guarantee do I have that you won’t betray me again?”

  “Betray?” my father demanded, his voice ice-hard. “I thought you said he saved your life.”

  “Like I said, Maddock doesn’t do anything without personal gain in mind,” I said, not even looking at my father. “I’m n
ot naïve, Father, but I do want to know why he thinks he can’t get along without me when he’s been doing so just fine for centuries.”

  A muscle ticked in Maddock’s jaw. “Yer friends, the Daire Coven, are close to discovering an ancient channel that has been used by witches in the past to siphon magic from Faerie,” he growled. “Witches created it long ago, but it was sealed by the Seelie Queen at great cost to keep them from taking our powers.”

  “Oh.” I exchanged a look with my father—even he seemed troubled. “How do you know about this?”

  “As I’ve mentioned to ye before,” Maddock said dryly, “it is my responsibility to oversee the safety of the New England area of America, which partially corresponds geographically to my own lands in Faerie. I have been monitoring the site for some time, but those blasted witches have now set up a barrier around the place, making it impossible to access it. No fae or supernatural can approach now, and so there is no one to stop them from discovering the channel and using it for their own selfish purposes.”

  “So you think to use my daughter to breach the barrier, then?” my father inquired. “Because she is a shadow?”

  Maddock inclined his head. “She is likely the only one who can breach it. It is just a matter of time before the witches find the channel, and if they do, it will be much harder to close the second time around. Draining Faerie of its magic will affect all fae, even you so high up on your wintry mountain,” he said pointedly. “We cannot allow this to go unchecked. And,” he added, turning his gaze back to me, “giving the witches free rein to so much power will allow them to do whatever they want in the human realm as well.”

  “I still do not see why you must involve anyone else in this,” my father said. “Why do you not simply kill or banish these witches?”

  “I have already well-exceeded my quota of acceptable disappearances,” Maddock bit out. “Your daughter and I had to take down another witch coven not long ago, and I ended up banishing them all. As a result, the Daire Coven has been harassing my company with lawsuits, phony complaints, bad Yelp reviews, and the like. Naturally, this has put a lot of attention on me, so I must be more careful.”