Prisoner of Darkness

by Nissa Leder

  Scarlett contemplated hiding again, but what good would it have done? She was better off facing Poppy now and praying for a miracle or that Poppy would just get it over with. With a deep breath, Scarlett tried to remember everything Jaser had taught her.

  Poppy jabbed a dagger at Scarlett’s throat. As she blocked it with her staff, Poppy kicked her in the stomach. Scarlet flew back into the fountain.

  The water was warm as it spilled over Scarlett, but surprisingly not wet. When she pushed herself up, she remained perfectly dry.

  “Scared yet?” Poppy asked as she spun the daggers in her hand.

  Show off.

  Scarlett lifted her shoulder in indifference. “It doesn’t matter how well you fight, Cade would still rather have me.”

  A high-pitched shriek exploded from Poppy’s mouth as she attacked Scarlett.

  You bitch.

  The words played in Scarlett’s mind, but they weren’t her own.

  Somehow, she’d heard Poppy’s thoughts.

  Scarlett fought off the first three strikes. She tried to break into Poppy’s mind again, but to no avail.

  Poppy’s fourth blow sliced across Scarlett’s cheek. Scarlett winced as she felt the icy air hit the open wound.

  Happiness struck her, sending a giggle to her lungs. She felt human again.

  Her laughter didn’t last long. Poppy, face full of frenzy, plunged the daggers into Scarlett’s gut.

  Pain shattered through her insides, a million needles poking into her at once. The air in her lungs had vanished. She coughed, desperate for breath. Blood sputtered out of her mouth, joining the pool of red dripping from her stomach.

  This was what death would feel like.

  “Do you surrender?” Scarlett heard the announcer’s voice from far away, as if it were a whisper lost in the wind.

  She nodded, or tried to, and everything around her faded into blackness.

  “You’ll be okay,” a familiar voice said, soft and distant.

  Someone lifted her into his arms as she drifted to sleep.

  Chapter Twenty

  A fuzzy memory sat on the top of Scarlett’s mind as her consciousness resurfaced. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the moonlight shining through the window.

  Kaelem lounged in a chair at the foot of her bed, fast asleep.

  As Scarlett tried to sit up, pain attacked her from the inside out. “Ow.”

  Kaelem’s eyes popped open. “You’re awake.” He rushed to her side.

  Scarlett carefully felt her stomach. “Is it bad?”

  “I would lie and say no, but I’m pretty sure it hurts like hell so you’d see through it.”

  “I wanted to win so bad.” Anything to wipe that smug look off of Poppy’s face.

  When Scarlett tried to sit up again, Kaelem reached over and gently lifted her, then placed a pillow behind her back.

  “You gave it a good effort.” Kaelem tucked her hair behind her ear. “I don’t think anyone thought you’d draw blood.”

  “Glad to have had the vote of confidence.” Scarlett touched her cheek and felt the scab from the dagger’s slice.

  “It makes you look tough.”

  “And what does this make me look like?” She gestured to her abdomen wound.

  “Also tough. Just not a good fighter.”

  After Kaelem left the room for a moment, Scarlett remembered at the end of the battle, when she heard thoughts that weren’t her own, like Kaelem could. Should she tell him?

  No. She couldn’t trust him. He blew any chance of that when he took Ashleigh. It was a new skill she’d have to master on her own. It wasn’t like she’d accidentally kill a man by reading his thoughts, and that was the only reason she needed him to begin with. If it wasn’t life or death, she could figure it out on her own. And maybe it hadn’t even really happened. She may have just thought she heard the words, nothing more than a trick of the imagination.

  Kaelem returned with a silver mug, steam rising from the top. “This should help with the pain.”

  “Fae drugs. Yay.” Scarlett sipped it. She was expecting it to be bitter, but it was sweet, delightfully so. A tingle spread through her, coating the pain with whatever she’d just ingested.

  “How long have I been out?”

  “A few hours.”

  Scarlett finished the drink.

  “That kiss really pissed Cade off, didn’t it?” Scarlett tried to fill the awkward silence, but her choice of topic only made it worse.

  “We can do it more often, if you’d like.” Kaelem grinned, but his offer sounded empty.

  “That’s okay,” Scarlett said. “Wouldn’t want to start an all-out war here in the Winter Court.”

  “No, not yet.”

  “Not until you get what you need.” Whatever it was. It would be a lot easier if he just told Scarlett what it was. Then she’d know what she might die for, because that was the reality.

  Maybe she had the potential to be a strong fae, but if the fight showed anything, it was that she wasn’t strong yet. Poppy handled her like nothing more than a pest. It was one-on-one and Scarlett had no chance. How was she supposed to be of any real help to Kaelem?

  The only thing Scarlett had any confidence with was healing.

  Healing. Of course.

  She placed her hands over her stomach. With her eyes closed, she inhaled the torn skin. She absorbed out some of the injury, but the slices in her stomach remained.

  “The magic in the weapons keeps your magic from doing much good,” Kaelem said. “But the wound will still heal. It won’t be fully healed by morning, but it should feel better. You should get some sleep.”

  Kaelem lifted the blanket at the end of the bed over Scarlett’s legs. “You’ll get the hang of being fae. Don’t worry.”

  He let Scarlett have the bed to herself as he returned to the chair.

  Once Scarlett had drifted back to sleep, Kaelem quietly left the room. He’d planned on protecting her here at the Winter Court, but he’d failed epically. She wouldn’t die from the injury, but he still felt bad. And sitting there feeling bad would do neither of them any good.

  He’d surprised himself at the worry he felt as Scarlett faced Poppy. With the magic of the battle, Scarlett was in no real danger, yet Kaelem hated the thought of even a cut slicing her skin. He hadn’t planned to grow so attached, but he couldn’t deny his affinity toward her.

  But to save his sister he did the same thing Nevina did to him: stole someone from Scarlett.

  Kaelem knew the feeling of protectiveness he was capable of. He’d have died willingly to protect his younger sister. Knowing he’d failed her was a constant weight pressed into his chest.

  It was the middle of the night and the castle halls were empty. It had been three years now since he’d last visited the Winter dungeon, but he remembered the way.

  Kaelem walked down a long tunnel of stone, one of the few places in the castle that wasn’t made of ice. His footsteps echoed through the long chamber. As he took a deep breath, the smell of rot slipped up his nose.

  How had he let his sister live so long in this wretched place?

  It wasn’t as if he hadn’t tried to negotiate her release, but the Winter Queen was stubborn. The only term she was willing to make to release his sister was marriage to the Unseelie King.

  Unlike in the mortal world, fae marriage was permanently binding—a literal until death do we part. And it wasn’t just an emotional connection being promised, but a tether of power as well.

  If Kaelem married Nevina, their powers would be combined and split evenly. Fae power was all about balance. What was given must be taken from somewhere else. Nevina was cursed by the season of her court, unable to permanently leave Faerie and limited in her power. Kaelem’s ancestors had made it so. If they were to wed, his court would share some of that burden.

  Kaelem had no desire to lose an ounce of his power, but he’d give it all up if it would save his sister. It wasn’t just about him, though. The Unseelie Court need
ed him to be a strong king. Once word got out that the king of the Unseelie Court was vulnerable, so were his people.

  The Seelie Queen would pounce.

  As far back as the fae existed, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts had been at war. It wasn’t always an obvious war, no. Fae were sneaky. The only time the two courts had gotten along was when they left Faerie to live in the mortal realm. Then, they’d worked together to bind the power of the fae left behind.

  Once the spell was done and the Seelie and Unseelie Courts had settled in their new realm, the animosity between them reappeared.

  If Kaelem took Nevina as the Unseelie Queen, his court would be in danger. And as much as he loved his sister and would give his own life to protect her, he had a duty as king to put his people above all.

  Kaelem reached out his mind to feel for the presence of others. Two guards were up ahead. One was hungry and couldn’t wait for his shift to be over. He hated guarding the dungeon. It was boring and pointless. Who would be dumb enough to break in?

  Kaelem moved to the other mind. This one was female, and, apparently, in love with the other guard. How touching. And exactly the information Kaelem needed.

  When he rounded the corner, both guards held out their weapons. The guy raised a sword, the girl a staff.

  “Who are you?” the male asked. When his gaze met Kaelem’s, Kaelem’s mind latched on.

  “The queen needs you to walk around the castle, nice and slowly,” Kaelem said.

  The man nodded and walked past Kaelem and into the tunnel.

  “You’re the Unseelie King,” the female said. “Our queen warned us you might come.”

  “Did she now?” Kaelem said. “Does your friend know of your feelings for him?”

  She glared at Kaelem just as he’d wanted. His mind broke into hers.

  “You should go find your lover and tell him how you feel.”

  Kaelem chucked as she left.

  He continued into the dungeon. Some of the cells were empty. One had a banshee inside, who snarled at Kaelem then begged to be let out. He ignored her and kept going until he reached the cell in the back.

  Bars of ice kept him from going any further. When he peeked through them, his chest clenched.

  Curled up in the corner, his sister held her legs close to her body. Just like in the vision the Winter Queen had shown him, her hair was cropped short. His sister had always had long, beautiful locks. He was sure Nevina had taken them only to hurt her.

  “Aria.” His voice was a mere whisper, but it was enough.

  She lifted her chin. When her eyes met his, she grinned.

  “Brother!”

  She pushed herself up, nearly losing her balance as she took a step. But she continued until she was inches from Kaelem.

  He tried to reach through the bars to touch her, but when his hand slipped in between, a powerful cold sent a jolt to his chest.

  “It’s loaded with magic.” Aria placed her hands flat against the bars.

  Kaelem did the same. It was as close to touching as they could get. “I’m so sorry.”

  Aria’s mouth rose in a half-grin. “Could be worse.”

  Kaelem reached his mind out to make sure no one was near. “I’ve come to get you out.”

  “You cannot marry her, Kaelem. You promised me you wouldn’t.”

  The Ice Queen had let him visit her the day she was imprisoned. He had told his sister of Nevina’s offer. In his heart, Kaelem knew his people needed to come first, but had the queen been there as he saw his sister shivering from the cold, he may have forgotten his duty and agreed.

  Aria knew him better than anyone—so much so, she knew he would do something stupid to save her. She made him promise not to marry the Ice Queen. No matter what happened to her. He didn’t want to, but he could never tell his little sister no, and that day was no different.

  And he would never break a promise.

  He stared at her, stuck in that small cell. Her skin was pale. Dark circles lingered under her eyes. If he could at least find a way to give her warmth …

  “You can’t,” she said.

  Surprise coated his face.

  “My body might be weak, but my mind is strong as ever,” Aria said. “It isn’t like you to let your mental shields drop. Is everything okay?”

  “I won’t break my promise to you, not ever. I won’t marry Nevina. But I have to try to break you out.” His hands roamed over the bars. “There has to be a way to get through the magic. There’s always a way. “

  “Who’s the woman?” Aria tilted her head to the side as she pushed her eyebrows together, a look of inquisitiveness she’d always possessed.

  “What woman?”

  “The one I saw in your thoughts. Brunette, blue eyes. She’s gorgeous.”

  Scarlett’s face flashed in his mind.

  “Yes, her,” Aria said.

  “Someone here to help me.”

  Aria sighed. “Don’t turn yourself into a monster, brother.”

  “I…”

  He lifted his mental shields again. What had been done was done. He’d already brought Scarlett here, and he had no time to come up with another plan. He’d turn into the devil himself if it meant freeing Aria from this dreadful place. He wanted nothing more than to see her face shine with life again.

  Aria lifted her free hand to her heart. “I know you’ll try to save me, but if you can’t, I need another promise.”

  He wasn’t sure he wanted to know what she was going to say.

  She looked into his eyes. “If you can’t get me out, promise me you’ll find a way to kill me.”

  “No.”

  “Kaelem, I can’t do this anymore.” She gestured to the cell, to her body, then to her hair. “My body is deteriorating. They took my hair out of spite. The only thing I have left is my mind, and soon she will take that, too.”

  He would save her. He’d find a way to get her out and she could go home and recuperate. Things would be good again.

  “I know you want that,” Aria said, listening to his thoughts again. “But you can’t start a war with the Winter Court for me. And you can never give her what she wants.”

  When he didn’t answer her, she said, “Promise me, brother.”

  Tears dripped down his cheeks and froze mid-air before they fell to the ground. “I promise.”

  “You got this,” Aria said as she hugged Kaelem.

  Kaelem heard the crowd cheer. His brother must have entered the arena.

  “Tarek has been practicing for this since he was five,” Kaelem said.

  Aria pulled away from Kaelem but kept her hands on his shoulders. “You have far more natural magic than him. Just stay focused.”

  Kaelem sighed. She wasn’t wrong. His power was stronger than Tarek’s, but he hadn’t spent enough time training to properly wield it. An idiotic move. He’d always known his brother would challenge him as soon as he was old enough. He just didn’t think it would be the very first day Tarek came of age. Their father was in good health. Kaelem doubted he’d die any time soon. Why the rush?

  “If I lose…” Kaelem started.

  Aria interrupted, “You cannot lose.”

  He took Aria’s face gently in between his hands. “If I lose, you’ll have to challenge him. But not until you’re ready.”

  “You won’t lose.”

  Kaelem’s eyes fixated on hers. “If I do, it will be up to you.”

  Aria pulled him into one last hug.

  The announcer called Kaelem’s name. “I have to go.”

  “He’s a showoff. Be patient,” Aria said.

  “Love you, sis.”

  Tears welled up in her eyes.

  Kaelem turned and headed into the arena full of Unseelie fae—high and low fae alike—to face his fate.

  “Don’t lose,” Aria yelled as he met the stares of the crowd.

  He’d followed Aria’s wishes; he didn’t lose. Some courts allowed surrender. The Unseelie wasn’t one of them. A challenge for the Right of
Heir was a fight to the death.

  On the ground, blood pooled at Kaelem’s feet. His younger brother’s severed head rolled away from its body.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Cade felt mostly back to normal the next morning, though his ego was still wounded. Challenging the Unseelie King was a stupid move, truly. But it showed—win or lose—he wasn’t afraid of a challenge.

  Poppy challenging Scarlett was not part of his plan.

  He visited her room to confront her about it.

  “I can feel your anger,” Poppy said as she sat in a rolled back, burgundy chair next to a window. “You gave me no choice.”

  “I gave you no choice?”

  “You challenged the Unseelie King in front of the Winter Queen and lost. We couldn’t look weak. What message would that send?”

  “So you challenge Scarlett to show your strength?” Please. He didn’t buy it. “Her obvious inability to fight made you look like a predator.”

  Poppy clenched her jaw. “At least I won.”

  “I may have lost, but at least I picked an opponent worth fighting. I lost with dignity. You won with what?”

  “It sent a message to the Unseelie King that he’s only as strong as his partner.”

  “Scarlett is not his partner.”

  “Then what is she, huh? Because she isn’t yours.”

  She was right. Cade learned that in the Battle of Heirs. Scarlett had chosen his brother over him, and now she chose Kaelem. She’d even kissed him. The thought sent nausea to his stomach. But why? And why would he choose her? As king, he had endless choices for a partner.

  He must know something about Scarlett that Cade didn’t. Raith had known Scarlett was part fae when Cade hadn’t. He must have to have chosen her for his second.

  But Kaelem was infamous for playing games, so maybe he brought Scarlett to the Unseelie Court and to the Winter Solstice simply to get under Cade’s skin, which, if that was the case, was working.

  “Leave Scarlett alone.”

  “Yes, King.”

  Cade didn’t want Poppy mad at him, but he didn’t want Scarlett hurt. “I know you don’t like her and probably won’t understand, but I’m the one who brought her into this world simply to use her as a way to defeat Raith. I don’t know why she’s with the Unseelie King now, but if it hadn’t been for me preying on her vulnerability, she’d still be mortal and far away from here.”