by Nissa Leder
The chill of the ice enhanced her powers even if magic hid its cold temperature from guests. That was why Winter Court fae were strongest in their own court, as was the case for all the courts in Faerie. Kaelem, on the other hand, gained a slight increase in power during the night, but he had plenty of magic coursing through him no matter the time or place.
The same was so for the Seelie Queen, sadly, and that was why the two mortal realm courts had never attacked one another. Neither had the upper hand. But if what the Fates said was true, that could change.
Kaelem kept his composure as he stared at Nevina. Everything in him wanted to attack the bitch. But that would break court-to-court regulations. He would have thought stealing a fellow ruler’s sister would have broken some rules, but since Nevina tricked his sister into breaking Winter Court law; she was a prisoner fair and square.
Kaelem would break her out regardless of the consequences. But attacking Nevina in the open would only get his sister killed, so, Kaelem would play her games. For now.
“I am here as you asked.” Kaelem’s features remained still.
“I did not ask for you to bring a companion.” Nevina tapped her finger on the throne.
“And you didn’t ask me not to.” Kaelem held back a grin. He knew Scarlett’s presence would bother the Ice Queen, an extra burst of satisfaction to his plan.
“True.” Her dark eyes peered into his. “But I may have been in a more merciful mood had you come alone.”
“If only I’d have known.” Kaelem hated her with every bit of his being. He was glad he brought Scarlett if for nothing more than to anger Nevina. He hoped Scarlett’s power would provide useful in other manners, but for the sense of the Winter Queen’s envy alone, Scarlett had served her purpose.
“Come closer, King of Darkness.”
It was a common name of the Unseelie King, belonging to Kaelem’s father and his father before him, back as far as the Unseelie Court existed. He wanted to tell Nevina to shove it, one of Kaelem’s favorite mortal terms. But he’d come to play nice.
He stepped closer as Nevina lifted her hand toward him. When he gripped her fingers, images attacked.
A prisoner, thin with midnight blue hair cropped short, sat in the corner, behind bars of ice.
His sister, Aria. Kaelem tried to pull away but he couldn’t. His body temperature dropped under Nevina’s grasp.
“Now, now,” the Ice Queen said as she peered into the cell. “You should be grateful I haven’t killed you. Yet.”
Aria lifted her chin and glared at Nevina. “Fuck you.”
“Is that anyway to speak to a queen?”
“You’re not my queen.”
The bars spread as Nevina stepped into the cell. An ice dagger shot out of her hand, stabbing Aria in the shoulder.
Aria screamed.
Another one hit her in the leg, and one more into the flesh of her bare foot.
Nevina continued toward Aria, a smirk on her face. “You have no power here, princess. The sooner you learn that, the easier it will be for you.”
With teeth clenched, Aria spat at Nevina’s feet.
Rage exploded from the Ice Queen. She gripped Aria’s arm tightly and sent a jolt of ice through her.
Aria’s already pale skin turned blue as she was frozen in place.
“No,” Kaelem’s plea echoed through the throne room.
Nevina pulled her hand back. “I feel another visit to the prisoner is in order.”
“I am here at your request,” Kaelem said. “But don’t test me, Winter Queen. Your power is nothing compared to mine.”
“If anything should happen to me,” her eyes met his again, “my guards have explicit instructions to end poor Aria’s existence by means of being frozen and shattered. Quite a morbid end, wouldn’t you say?”
Kaelem regained control of himself. “And if anything should happen to her, I’ll have no reason not to shatter your mind.”
Before he did something he regretted, Kaelem left the room.
It was a game of power, and Kaelem swore he’d be the one to come out on top.
When he was younger, Kaelem had a knack for angering his father. His father’s hot buttons were easy to find and Kaelem pressed every one.
Where Kaelem fit the definition of problem child, his sister was everything their father wanted.
“You could at least try to appease father now and again,” Aria said as they practiced sword fighting in the training building made of glass.
Two chandeliers hung down to light the room from the darkness outside. Stained concrete made the floor beneath their feet.
“And what would be the fun in that?” Kaelem twisted his body and held his sword out. “You are perfect enough for the both of us.”
Aria lunged at Kaelem.
He blocked her attack and made one of his own.
They exchanged hits, neither trying too hard.
“You’ll be king someday, brother.”
Kaelem sighed, dropping his sword to his side. “Not until father dies.”
“You’re twenty. Father just wants to see you take some responsibility.”
He was two years older than Aria. If she had been the oldest sibling, she would have been the first heir to the throne. The Unseelie Court didn’t care about gender.
“Tarek will challenge me once he’s of age.” Kaelem tossed his sparring sword to the side.
His younger brother wanted to be king more than anything. He followed their father around, sucking up to him any chance he had.
“You can’t let him win,” Aria said.
Kaelem nodded. She was right. Tarek was cruel. Kaelem pretended he didn’t care about becoming king, but it was a lie. He liked the idea of ruling for the power it would bring.
Aria, on the other hand, genuinely cared for the people. All the people. He’d seen her laughing with goblins and giving gifts to brownies.
“You’d be the best ruler of us all,” Kaelem said.
None if it mattered, then. As long as their dad lived, he would rule the Unseelie Court.
Someday, though, unless his younger brother beat him in battle, Kaelem would become king and, with his sister to help him, maybe he’d be a good ruler for the people.
Cade watched Scarlett linger outside the door to the Winter Queen’s throne room. He should continue to his room, but he didn’t. He wanted to speak with the queen privately once the Unseelie King left.
Since Cade had to wait anyway, he approached Scarlett.
“Hello,” he said. He should have come up with something better to start the conversation, but he wasn’t sure what else to say. He’d wanted to talk to her at dinner, but every time he tried to speak, his tongue grew heavy.
“Hi.” Scarlett avoided his gaze.
“I’m sorry…for nearly killing you. I thought I had.” Shame spread through Cade. He hadn’t come to apologize, but he couldn’t hold the words in.
“I survived.” Scarlet crossed her arms in front of her chest as she stared at the closed throne room door.
“And my brother?”
She snapped her gaze to him. Anger emanated from her. “Are you sorry you killed him?”
Her words seemed genuine. Had Raith died in the forest? Cade hadn’t been the one to kill him, but maybe a creature got to Raith and finished the job, and the bond between Cade and Poppy had another cause. “He…died?”
“You killed him, didn’t you? To become king?”
“I…” He wasn’t sure what to say. He’d told everyone he’d killed his brother. If he told Scarlett the truth, she could use it against him. But he wanted her to know he’d listened to her words in the battle and after the remorse of having thought he killed her had hit him, he spared his brother. Sort of, at least.
But had he really? He’d left Raith there to be eaten by a forest beast. Would it have been more merciful to finish the job himself? Or if Cade had just helped Raith, maybe he would have surrendered. The castle was a lonely place, and Cade could use an ad
visor. There was no denying their brotherly relationship had its issues, but they’d been close once and Cade missed having Raith in his life.
“You what?” Scarlett snapped. “You got your precious Summer Court crown for your dear mother. Don’t act like you’re sorry.”
She was right. He couldn’t play the victim. And, even if Raith lived, any chance of having him in his life vanished the moment Cade left him in the forest to die. He couldn’t undo the things he’d done.
“What do you want from me?” Scarlett asked. “I’m no longer a helpless mortal desperate for you to feed from my pain.”
“I just wanted to apologize.”
“And you have, so we’re done here.” Scarlett stomped away before Cade could think of a meaningful response.
A few moments later, Kaelem exited the throne room. He said to Cade, “All yours.”
The Winter Queen sat on her throne, eyes on Cade as he entered. The door swung shut behind him.
“Hello, new Summer King. I didn’t think you’d be joining us this year.”
The throne room was long and narrow, with a rounded ceiling made of ice at least thirty feet above. A silver rug led the way to the queen. Marble columns lined the room, connected by arches that matched the shapes of the windows. Crystal chandeliers hung down, reflecting the light shining into the room.
When Cade reached the throne, he bowed. He wasn’t sure exactly what he was supposed to do. They were equals in Faerie: both rulers of their courts, but he was there as a guest so he would show respect whether it was custom or not.
Nevina tipped her chin.
“I’ve come to discuss relations between our courts,” Cade said. “I know things haven’t always been civil between us, but I hope to continue the peace between our peoples.”
“The peace that got my father killed in the war?”
“A war I was not alive for.” Cade didn’t fear showing reverence toward the Ice Queen if it would keep peace in his kingdom, but he knew he must also appear strong if he wanted her respect. “I am not my father. Nor are you yours.”
“Your mother reached out to me when you took the throne,” Nevina said. “She claims our courts may have a common goal.”
His mother mentioned she’d been in touch with the Winter Queen. She hadn’t shared what she’d told her. Instead, she’d warned Cade to be prepared for war against Winter. Which was it?
“My mother is a trusted member of my council.”
Nevina’s eyebrow lifted into a perfect arc. “She didn’t tell you what she shared with me.”
Cade kept his mouth clamped shut.
“We are both rulers of Faerie courts, cursed with bound magic limiting our power, while the mortal realm fae have no restrictions.”
His mother had mentioned a plot to unbind their powers, but Cade hadn’t thought she’d meant it. The danger it would bring if either the Seelie or Unseelie courts found out wasn’t worth the risk.
“We’ve spoken about the situation,” Cade said.
“And do you agree with your mother? Should we join forces and break the burden placed against us?”
“I’ll take it under consideration.” It wasn’t a choice he’d make lightly.
“Very well.” The queen nodded once. “Our fae powers were never meant to be restrained. I hope you come to the same conclusion your mother and I have. The time for change has come and sides will be chosen whether you’re ready or not.”
Teaming up with the Winter Queen would guarantee peace between their courts, for the time being, at least. But at what risk?
Chapter Fifteen
Scarlett sat in an empty library, arms crossed in front of her and a grimace on her face. She’d marched away from Cade like she knew exactly where she was going, up the curving ice staircase and into a room at the top of the stairs that happened to be full of books.
She’d wanted to read one while she waited, but she was too afraid she’d touch something she wasn’t supposed to and the Ice Queen would decapitate her with a sword of ice or something equally brutal.
Nevina gave Kassandra a run for her money when it came to creepiness. Scarlett had experienced Kassandra’s mind gift first hand, and she had no desire to ever do so again. But Nevina was a fae queen, too, and Scarlett had no intention of underestimating her abilities.
Maybe if Scarlett had been there with a different man, she’d have flown under the queen’s radar. But she was there with Kaelem, someone the queen obviously wanted. Scarlett wouldn’t be granted three strikes before the Ice Queen knocked her out.
No, Scarlett needed to be on her best behavior.
She’d been sitting for at least fifteen minutes now. Kaelem should be done.
Scarlett went back downstairs. The door was still shut, but Cade was gone. Either he gave up or Kaelem left and Cade entered.
One of the fae who served the food passed Scarlett.
“Excuse me. Do you know where I’d find the Unseelie King?”
The woman looked startled, but answered, “He went to your bedroom.”
Why would he go to her bedroom? “Where exactly is that?”
“Fourth floor, Miss.”
“Thank you.”
When Scarlett found him, he was shirtless and posed on the turquoise and silver design comforter in a less than appropriate position. Unlike the rest of the castle Scarlett had seen, this room was not made entirely of ice. Stone covered the walls and floor. The mahogany bed frame held an intricate design of roses and matched the fireplace hearth across the room, a fire cracking inside.
“There’s my date,” he said.
Scarlett used her magic to swing the door shut. It was becoming more second nature all the time. I’m not your date.
“Now, darling, it’s okay to admit your feelings for me.”
I’m here because I have to be. Nothing more. “Why are you in my room?”
Scarlett craved a nap. Her exchange with Cade had her in a bad mood, and Kaelem’s chipper mood wasn’t helping. Her mother had taught her the best cure for crankiness was to sleep it off, and taking that advice sounded perfect right then.
“Your room?” Kaelem grinned. “Our room, darling.”
A string of swearing filled Scarlett’s thoughts causing Kaelem to laugh. “Now, now, we have to play our parts.”
“I need to have better control of my magic if you want me to be any help. So, when we’re behind closed doors, my trainer is the only part you play.” They were going to steal from the Ice Queen. Right now, Scarlett would be more a liability than anything. He needed to get his priorities straight if he actually hoped to succeed.
“All right then. Let’s practice.” Kaelem scooted over and patted the empty area of the bed next to him, bedding now wrinkled beneath his weight. “We could have some fun to refill your magic supply.”
Scarlett started to refuse, but then she realized how perfect his abs were. The urge to run her fingers over them struck her. Or better yet, her mouth. He’d taste so lovely.
No, ew. Scarlett shook her head side to side, desperate to shake away such vile thoughts.
Kaelem held his stomach as he roared in laughter.
“I thought I’d learned to block you out.” Scarlett huffed.
“You are getting better at it, but I can push right through the shield if I want.”
“Ugh.” Scarlett reluctantly sat on the edge of the bed. “I don’t know why you have any delusions I’m going to be of any good to you.”
“I know you’ll do everything you can.”
And she would. She’d do whatever was in her power to help him if it was the only way to save her sister. He’d used her love as a weakness.
“It’s not weak to care for someone,” Kaelem said.
“Like you care for anyone but yourself.” Scarlett almost regretted her words. She didn’t know Kaelem that well, but he’d taken her sister and she couldn’t forgive him for it.
A candlestick flew from the bedside table at Scarlett. Instinctively, she blocked it
with her hands.
“Lesson one: your magic is your greatest asset. You need to lose your mortal habits. You have better protection now.” A pillow lifted from the bed right into Scarlett’s face. “If that was something else, you’d be dead.”
“I was listening to you, not preparing to be attacked by a pillow.”
“Lesson two: always be prepared. You don’t think someone wanting to hurt you won’t distract you? The stronger the distraction, the more vulnerable you’ll be.”
She’d show him distraction. Using her magic, she threw a pillow at Kaelem.
He caught it. “Lesson three: know your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. I can read minds, and unless you learn to keep me out, I’ll always know your next move.”
“That’s not fair.”
“Aww, darling, hasn’t anyone already let you in on the secret that life isn’t fair?”
“Don’t mock me.”
“I’m not. But if you want to make it in the fae world, you need to learn no one plays fair. It isn’t in our nature.”
Our nature. That included Scarlett now.
She wasn’t a human anymore. And if she kept acting like she was, she’d never save Ashleigh.
“Being fae isn’t as bad as you make it seem,” Kaelem said.
“You’ve never been human.”
“Neither have you, not really.”
Scarlett glared at him like he’d just insulted her mother. But he was right. Even if her fae nature had been masked, she’d always had it in her.
But being mortal was all she knew. Sure, humans could be selfish and backstabbing and spiteful. But they could be kind and generous and selfless, too. The fae were too proud. Magic and power were their currencies.
Scarlett and Kaelem trained more, until finally Scarlett’s magic ran too low to even lift a feather.
“I need a break,” Scarlett said. “I’m going for a walk.”
Scarlett wore the heaviest jacket she could find from the closet. The Winter Queen had provided clothing for all the Solstice guests from other courts, as a way of showing her hospitality, or so she said.