by Nissa Leder
As they rode through the trees, something shifted ahead. Was it Cade? Or maybe the beast?
“Woah, boy.” Raith slowed Theo down to a trot.
Something grew out of the ground—tree roots. They climbed higher and snaked toward Raith. He tried to back Theo up, but the tree was faster. The roots circled Raith, binding him in place.
His arms struggled against the bonds with no luck. He was stuck. Theo kept still beneath him.
No, this couldn’t be happening. It wasn’t real. Raith remembered the liquid he drank. His mental shields were down and the forest had strong mind magic. This was an illusion—and a powerful one. Raith again fought to break the hold. No luck. Fuck.
His mental shields had been strong for so long, he’d forgotten the influence the forest could have. He’d been able to defeat it before. He could do it again. A squawking noise caught Raith’s attention. A raven sat upon a branch. Another joined. Then another. Their screeching grew louder and louder. Raith felt something drip from his nose. Blood.
He closed his eyes. This wasn’t real. It was an illusion meant to distract him. He emptied his mind, inhaling a deep breath. His brain pictured the forest as it was before, calm, with no attacking roots or loud birds.
When he opened his eyes, everything was back to normal.
It had been an hour and no sign of Raith or Cade spearing the beast. The announcer had told the crowd that once it had been killed, the three would appear back in the courtyard.
Scarlett watched fae talk amongst themselves as they waited for something to happen. She had thought the ball was full of fae, but there were at least twice as many here now. The ball had been adults only, but now children ran around their parents, trying to make the most of their freedom.
Since Raith and Cade had disappeared, Scarlett kept quiet a few feet from the thrones. When she’d first arrived, she had been drained from Cade’s feeding of her emotion. But as she waited, her brain cleared, which had been happening faster the longer she’d been in Faerie.
Kassandra had a human servant bring her a glass of wine, which had been magically refilled three times now. The king sat in his throne, back straight and glossy-eyed. He hadn’t spoken, not even when the servant asked if he’d like wine, too. His expression remained forward as if he looked for something off in the distance.
Scarlett felt odd just standing there, but she wasn’t sure where else to go. Occasionally, she’d catch the gaze of someone in the crowd. Some eyed her curiously, probably wondering who in the hell she was to be accompanying a fae prince everywhere. Some glared. Some seemed to pretend she didn’t even exist.
Kassandra motioned for her servant. “Bring me a plate of fruit. I’m famished.”
The servant, around Scarlett’s age, nodded and rushed off, brown eyes full of panic. Her black hair was pulled into a bun that accentuated her long neck. She came back with a platter of grapes and apples.
“Where are the strawberries?” Kassandra asked as the servant tried to hand her the plate.
“I…They…” She replied.
“I won’t accept it until there are strawberries.” Kassandra shooed the servant girl with a brush of her hand.
She hurried away and came back with strawberries on the plate. Kassandra took it this time, with no thank you. The girl returned to the side of the crowd.
“What are you staring at, human?” Kassandra turned her head toward Scarlett.
Scarlett hadn’t realized she’d been staring, but her gaze had been focused on the queen as the servant had given her the fruit. “Nothing. Sorry.”
“Come here.”
Scarlett stepped slowly toward her. She didn’t have much of a choice. As she walked, she straightened out her dress. When she reached Kassandra, she curtsied to her and then to the king, who didn’t even blink. What was wrong with him?
“For whatever reason, you’ve been blessed with misery that helps my son.”
Scarlett just stared at her. Did she expect her to respond to that with you’re welcome that I’m miserable?
Kassandra flicked her index finger. “Come closer.”
Scarlett leaned in, a mere foot from Kassandra’s face. The queen’s smooth skin was flawless, with not a single blemish. Scarlett was sure there were many aging women in the human world that would kill for such perfection.
Kassandra’s eyes started at Scarlett’s hair and worked their way down to her chest, which, at the angle she was bent, was exposed to the cool air. “You’re attractive—for a human. Most are hideous. And so desperate. The things they’ll let you do to escape their emotions. Death, heartbreak, disease. Humans run.”
“You can heal disease?”
“Of course not. But we can take away the fear of dying. Fear is one of the best flavors of emotion if you ask me.”
Scarlett stood there awkwardly, not sure what to do or say.
Kassandra sighed. “You are lucky my son has given you his attention. To be a prince’s human is something many mortals would kill for. Now leave.”
She didn’t have to tell Scarlett twice. Kassandra gave her the creeps. Scarlett went back to standing alone as she waited for The Hunt to end. Another hour passed. Her feet ached. How long did it take to shoot a boar?
A servant brought Kassandra another plate of fruit, but she stumbled and dropped the plate. As Scarlett watched her rush to pick up everything she had spilled, someone appeared next to Scarlett, grabbed her hand, and Scarlett felt herself pulled away.
Her body felt like a feather moving through the wind, unable to control her direction. Then her feet found the ground. Nausea grew in her stomach. What had happened?
“Just breathe, the nausea goes away,” Kaelem said next to her as he released her hand. Like at the ball, he wore a sleek suit. If his hair wasn’t navy, Scarlett may have thought he was a Wall Street broker or some other human professional. Or more like a model pretending to be one.
Scarlett looked around. They weren’t near the crowd anymore. Somehow, they’d travelled to the courtyard. “What was that?”
“Evanescing.”
“Sorry, what?”
“Moving from one place to another incredibly fast.”
Scarlett took a step. The ground felt hard beneath her feet, like after getting off a treadmill. After a few more, she walked normally. “Where are we?”
“The other side of the castle.”
“Why?”
“Your feet were hurting.” Kaelem motioned to a small fountain. “Have a seat.”
“And what do you care? Surely a fae king has better things to do than rescue some human.”
Kaelem shrugged as he sat on the fountain ledge. “Are you going to join?”
Scarlett glared at him. Why she was mad, she wasn’t sure. Ever since she made that bargain with Raith, she’d been in a foul mood anytime she remembered. She wasn’t sure why she cared so much. It’s not like she’d been begging Cade to let her leave, but she felt better knowing she could ask him to take her away. Then again, deep down, she knew he wouldn’t take her home without a fight. He’d make her feel all the pain at once until she begged him to take it away, thoughts of leaving disappeared.
“God, these brothers really have you bothered, don’t they?” Kaelem ran his fingers through the fountain water. “And you’ve kissed them both. How scandalous!”
“Get out of my head.” Scarlett gritted her teeth as she spoke, trying not to think any more incriminating thoughts. If Cade found out about her bargain with Raith, or worse, the kiss… Scarlett didn’t want to even contemplate what might happen.
“Come, sit, and I’ll get out,” Kaelem said. “For now, at least.”
Scarlett dragged her feet but took a seat next to him. “Do you have some secret plan to drown me in the fountain?”
Kaelem laughed. “You’re so paranoid. No, darling, I have no intention of drowning you. I’d have both summer princes after me then.”
Scarlett rolled her eyes. “A human death would be nothing more than a hiccup
to them.”
“Maybe, but they seem awfully attached to you.”
Scarlett crossed her right leg over her left. She’d rather sprawl out on the grass but that didn’t seem very ladylike and wasn’t practical in her dress. “Is that why you’re so interested in me? You want to piss them off?”
“My, my. Why would I ever want to do that?” The gleam in his eyes told Scarlett he’d have no problem making waves with Raith or Cade. She looked deeper into his eyes then her gaze travelled to his lips. God they looked delicious, like caramel on an apple just waiting to be licked.
Stop, Scarlett.
Head out of the gutter.
What was it about him?
He didn’t react to her dirty thoughts so he must actually be out of her head now. Shocker. Scarlett didn’t think he’d actually keep his word. “Then why bring me here?”
“Summer fae bore me, and The Hunt was taking forever, so I figured I’d get us out of there. You looked to be having a more miserable time than I was.”
“You must have been bored if you’re wanting to spend time with a mortal.”
Kaelem just shrugged. “What brings you to the Summer Court? You don’t seem the typical desperate human that they usually lure in.”
The image of her mom being carted away by the paramedics surfaced. Her chest clenched. Then the tightness slowly disappeared.
“You’re taking my pain, aren’t you?” Scarlett asked.
He didn’t answer. “So, something bad happened and you’re running away?”
“I’m not running…” But that’s exactly what she was doing. She and Ashleigh fought after yet another failed attempt at visiting her mom’s grave, and suddenly a miracle showed up to take her away—to an entirely new realm, nonetheless. “So what if I am?”
Kaelem stood. “No judgment here, darling. Only mere curiosity. I have a habit of learning the nuances of the other courts. Keeps me up-to-date should information ever be needed.”
Scarlett got lost in his eyes again. Then her eyes wandered down past his face, to his chest, then lower…
What was wrong with her? Being around him might be dangerous. Scarlett pushed herself up from the fountain ledge.
“Finding yourself…enticed?” Kaelem said.
“I thought you were staying out of my head.” Scarlett lifted her gaze back to his face.
His eyebrow arched, curious. Something gleamed in his gaze, an awareness of some sort.
“Oh, I am. But you’re practically drooling.” The smirk on his face let Scarlett know he knew something he wasn’t telling her.
“Is there a reason I’m having… improper thoughts?” Scarlett clenched her teeth, embarrassed at the confession.
“Since you asked nicely, I’m a ganacanagh.” Kaelem’s eyes danced. “A fae with especially potent sex appeal.”
Lovely. At least it explained Scarlett’s foul thoughts. Not that Kaelem wasn’t attractive enough to warrant lust without any extra gift—he was a fae after all. And a king. Seriously, what was with all these fae royals giving their attention to Scarlett? She was a mortal. Only, she knew that might not be true.
Not only had she felt emotion radiating off of others—including Cade—but she’d always wondered if something was different about her. Not to mention the dagger orb had lit up in her hands. For her to have intrigued three fae royals, she must have something to offer that other mortals didn’t.
Then again, she might just be a silly prize they all were desperate to win.
“Too bad you’ve already promised to stay here in the Summer Court,” Kaelem said. “I could have helped you out of here.”
Sure, now that Scarlett couldn’t leave he offered his help. Typical. “I thought you were afraid of starting a battle with the Summer princes.”
Kaelem shrugged. “A little drama never killed anybody.”
He leaned his body into hers, his breath hot in her face. His lips puckered ever-so-slightly. A mouth so perfect needed to be kissed…
Scarlett shook her head side-to-side, banishing the lustful thoughts.
Kaelem grinned, then whispered, “I can see what the Summer princes see in you. The Unseelie Court could offer you so much more.” His tone sang of temptation and sinful promise.
Scarlett took three steps back and snapped her gaze away from the Unseelie King. He was dangerous, in more ways than one.
The Hunt couldn’t be over soon enough.
Chapter Twenty
Cade tied the brown mare to a tree. He’d tried to ride her while looking for the beast, but the stubborn creature wouldn’t listen to the command of the reigns. He never liked horseback riding. As children, Raith would ride like the wind while Cade feared even a trot. And right now, Cade didn’t have time for the struggle. He’d be faster on foot.
He meandered through the trees, careful to keep his steps quiet lest he scare the boar away. It had to have been a couple of hours of searching by now and he hadn’t seen it. Not even once. Thankfully, he hadn’t run into Raith yet, either, and since Cade was still in the forest, Raith must not have shot the beast.
Something moved on a tree as he passed it. It circled down the trunk, and, when it hit the ground, Cade realized it was a snake. While on the tree, its skin was brown, but once it hit the forest floor, it turned a bright green. Cade backed up slowly at first, but the snake picked up its pace. As Cade turned to run away, a tree root popped up from underground and Cade stumbled over it.
The snake grew larger until it was at least twenty feet long. What was happening? Cade couldn’t get up in time, and the snake twirled itself around him, squeezing him tight. The announcer said there weren’t any other creatures in this part of the forest, so how was a snake holding Cade captive?
He recalled the liquid he drank. His mental shields were down. Of course. This wasn’t real.
Then he saw the boar, only a few feet away. Was it real, or was the forest toying with him? The beast ran away into the woods. The snake squeezed tighter. The forest was only messing with his head. He just needed to think of something else. Something good. Scarlett’s face popped into his head—the way her dark hair brought out the blue in her eyes. How when she smiled, her eyes squinted. Cade released the tension inside him with an exhale of breath.
The snake and tree root vanished.
Cade pushed himself up and jogged the direction the boar had gone. He saw its footprints in the dirt. It had been real. The footprints disappeared and Cade wasn’t sure which way to go, so he kept moving straight.
Ahead, he saw a black stallion, Raith sitting on top, his bow aimed at the boar.
“Run,” Cade yelled, hoping to scare the beast.
It started to dash away. Cade created a ball of summer energy in his hand and threw it at his brother. But his aim was high and Raith ducked out of the way. Then he let the arrow go. It sailed through the air and found the boar’s heart. Cade glared at his brother, who returned the stare with a wink.
And then Cade was evanesced back into the courtyard. He appeared next to Raith, the beast dead on the ground in front of them.
“The winner of The Hunt is Prince Raith,” the announcer said.
The crowd applauded.
Cade looked to his mother who wore a scowl. This was only one part of the Battle of Heirs, and it didn’t even count for much. The winner of the actual battle would be king, not the one who did nothing but shoot a boar. Maybe this would raise Raith’s confidence and Cade could take advantage during the battle.
He searched for Scarlett but didn’t see her. Raith may have won The Hunt, but Scarlett was Cade’s. Where could she have gone?
Scarlett stepped out from behind the thrones and walked to him.
He pulled her close to him. The Hunt was stupid. Cade didn’t know why he even cared that he lost. Cade would be the stronger brother in the end.
“Come,” he said to her. “Let’s go to your room.”
Cade’s mouth pressed against Scarlett’s as he guided her to the bed. He motioned the d
oor shut with his magic.
In between kisses, she leaned her face back.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her forehead crinkled.
“I just want to take my mind off of the Right of Heir.” Cade reached around Scarlett and unbuttoned her dress.
“You’re upset, let’s talk.” She put her hands on his chest.
Fine, if she didn’t want to be physical, Cade would find another way to strengthen himself. “I don’t feel like talking, but just lie with me?”
Scarlett nodded. She took her dress off and tossed it over a chair in the corner, then crawled under the covers of her bed. After Cade joined her, she curled up next to him.
As her head rested on his chest, he ran his fingers up and down her arm. She closed her eyes as she snuggled closer to his body. He searched for her pain, but he couldn’t find much. She was so much less troubled than usual. What had she done while he was busy with The Hunt?
She peered up, gaze heavy. She parted her lips as if to say something, then snapped them shut and sighed.
Cade moved the finger tracing her arm to her cheek, gently grazing her soft skin. She exhaled and shut her eyes again.
Once she dozed off, Cade closed his eyes and entered her dreamland.
Scarlett was in a mortal bedroom, sitting on the bed as another girl glanced at herself in the mirror.
“You sure it looks okay?” the girl said. When she turned, Cade recognized her—the girl Raith had brought to the ball, Natalie.
Cade focused. Normally when he entered dreams, he physically became part of them. It allowed him to seduce humans, sleep with them, and then leave. No harm, no foul. But Cade had a different idea. He wanted to feel the high of being fully replenished, and though sex gave him power, Scarlett’s pain was a strong source, too. He searched her mind for fear.
The room shifted, and now Scarlett was back in the room she had went to during the ritual. Her mother was dead on the floor. Scarlett searched for a pulse that couldn’t be found. The pain sweltered inside Scarlett’s head.