by Hannah West
Energy ripples between us and a set of wings lift from Darrack’s shoulders. They’re similar in design to Zephyr’s and my father’s, the shape more angular than mine. It’s a difference I’ve noticed between male and female fae. Darrack’s are veined with amber and I stare at them in fascination.
‘I’m going to teach you how to fly,’ he announces, drawing my gaze back to his. ‘Release your wings.’
I take a deep breath and do as he asks, feeling my wings peel away from my back. Energy trickles down my spine, like someone’s pouring it between my shoulder blades, as my wings stretch out and flutter behind me. I glance over my shoulder at them, looking like black-veined glass behind me.
‘Beautiful,’ Darrack murmurs.
‘What now?’ I ask, feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny.
It takes a second for him to stop staring at my wings. His eyes are burning with amber light, when he finally looks down at me again.
‘Beat your wings,’ he says.
‘I almost broke my face the last time I tried this,’ I warn him.
Darrack laughs. ‘I’ll catch you,’ he promises. ‘Trust me.’
Trust him? I don’t think we’re at a stage of trusting each other. I haven’t met one fae I feel I can trust, and that includes my father. But I don’t want to offend Darrack and lose this chance of learning to fly.
‘Right,’ I answer.
My wings open and close a few lazy beats, before picking up speed to flutter rapidly behind me. They get so fast that they blur and my feet lift from the ground.
‘Don’t look at them, look at me,’ Darrack coaches.
I turn my face back to his, to find him grinning. I stare at the pointed tips of his canines, before my eyes shift to the dimples either side of his smiling mouth. This guy is going to make some lucky fae female very happy one day, but all I see when I look at him is Zephyr. I don’t know why, but being with Darrack makes me miss Zephyr more.
I miss him. The realisation is jarring.
‘You’re doing it,’ Darrack praises, interrupting my thoughts of Zephyr.
Darrack’s wings blur and he joins me in the air, until we’re hovering level with each other.
‘This feels amazing,’ I admit.
‘Shall we go higher?’
I look down at the ground, currently about a metre below us. ‘You’ll catch me, right?’
‘Of course,’ he answers then pulls us higher.
We stop just short of the woven ceiling and I laugh at the lack of fear. All I feel is elation and the sensation of freedom.
‘Such a lovely sound,’ Darrack says.
‘What?’ I ask matching his grin with one of my own.
I squeal when he spins us, the sound turning into laughter as we complete the turn.
‘I could listen to your laughter for the rest of my days,’ he tells me.
His words are sobering and my laughter fades. He releases my hands to grip my waist and pulls me close. I realise I have no idea how to get down, without Darrack showing me how. I’m stuck up here with him.
‘Darrack, I think-’
‘All other females pale in your wake, Primrose,’ he tells me. ‘I’ve thought of no other since our kiss to remove Zephyr’s Mate Mark.’
‘What?’
‘Aric’s acceptance of my mating request pleases me greatly.’
His words feel like tight bands around my ribcage and it becomes difficult to breathe. My heart starts racing at what I think he’s saying.
‘What mating request?’ I ask.
Darrack frowns. ‘Didn’t your father inform you of our plans?’
I stare at him, while trying to swallow the boulder lodged in my throat. Everything starts to slide into place and the alarm sounding in my head grows louder. Aric’s reassurance that I had options other than mating Zephyr. Darrack’s tolerated intrusions of my personal space. The gown he sent for me to wear. They’re all making sense now. Aric’s planning to mate me off to Darrack and didn’t even tell me.
‘Aric told me,’ I lie, hoping to coax the truth from Darrack. ‘But when you mentioned mating I panicked, thinking of Zephyr.’
Darrack’s frown eases. ‘Zephyr cannot reach you here,’ he assures me. ‘After the ceremony tonight, you won’t ever have to fear him again.’
‘Because we’ll be mated,’ I hedge.
Darrack smiles, eyes glowing bright with triumph. ‘We’ll be bound before the visiting dignitaries, and my Mating Mark will replace the uninvited one on your wrist.’
I look down at my wrist, where Zephyr’s Mating Mark pulses beneath the sleeve of my gown. Darrack’s speaking like his Mating Mark is wanted in place of Zephyr’s, when all I can think of is getting the hell out of the Dark Realm. My darkness scratches at the underside of my skin but I force it back, not wanting Darrack to discover my intent.
‘It’s getting late,’ I tell him. ‘I should return to my room and prepare for later.’
Darrack cups my face. ‘I’m a highborn fae from a good line, Primrose,’ he says, like it should mean something to me. ‘Our offspring will prosper with such a strong pairing.’
I feel nauseous at his speech. Not once has he asked my opinion in the matter, which puts me in the same situation as my time in the Light Realm. Why the hell does everyone want to mate me?
‘How do you know my light is compatible with yours?’ I say, latching onto the first reason I can think of not to mate Darrack.
‘From the moment I removed Zephyr’s claim,’ he answers.
My brain starts to ache at everything I’m finding out. It is pretty obvious Aric has no intension of letting me go, even to the extent of making me Mrs Darrack. Anger burns through me that I didn’t see this coming, and my eyes sting with tears. The little girl inside that rejoiced at finding her father curls into a ball and cries.
‘Hush,’ Darrack murmurs and wipes a tear from my face. ‘Zephyr can’t get to you here.’
I repress a snort, wondering how Darrack would react if I told him Zephyr was in fact in the Dark Realm. Even now I can feel his presence, and it offers its own brand of comfort.
‘I’m just so relieved,’ I lie. ‘I won’t have to worry about Zephyr anymore.’
Darrack presses a kiss to my lips and I force myself not to pull away. Are mating rituals in the Dark Realm the same as in the Light? Does Darrack think he’ll be mating me in light first then in flesh later? I wonder if he’ll force me, if I don’t want to consummate the bonding. Zephyr was adamant he wouldn’t ever force himself on me like that. Darrack has made no such promises.
‘I want to get down,’ I say.
‘You don’t want me to teach you glamour?’
I shake my head. ‘I was on my way to prepare for tonight when you intercepted me in the hallway,’ I tell him then construct a smile. ‘You’re an easy distraction, Darrack. Besides, we’ll have plenty of time for you to teach me how to be the perfect fae, later.’
The crease between his eyebrows disappears and he grins. ‘You’re right,’ he says then coaches me on how to land.
He speaks of our future as he walks me to my room. I ignore him and think of escape to blunt my need to punch him in the face. The feminist part of me is reeling at the way I’ve been treated by the fae I’ve encountered. I’ve met so many powerful, female fae that I know they’re not a gender bias race. It’s my weakness they’re exploiting. First Zephyr then Aric and Alissa, and now Darrack have commented on the great power inside me. I just don’t know how to utilise it, and they’re taking advantage before I have chance to learn how.
‘I’ll collect you as the moon reaches its zenith,’ Darrack says when we reach my room.
‘Can’t wait,’ I say plastering a smile onto my face.
I stand on my tiptoes to give him a peck on the cheek, but Darrack has other plans. He grips my waist and lifts me to his level, before planting his lips on mine. His peaches and cream flavour fills my mouth, when he pushes his tongue inside. He tastes great and isn’t a bad kis
ser, but I don’t want to become Mrs Darrack.
‘Delicious,’ Darrack whispers against my lips before putting me down.
I turn and stumble into my room, shutting the door behind me, and kick off my shoes. I lean against the wood and wipe my mouth with the sleeve of my dress, heart racing. Tears blur my vision and I take deep breaths. Darkness rolls around inside me, restless and impatient for something I can’t grasp. I feel myself teetering on the edge of an abyss and don’t know how to escape it.
‘What do you want?’ I ask and look up into a pair of amethyst eyes.
CHAPTER 14
Zephyr stares at me like he’s seeing me for the first time. My wings are still out, fanned against the door. They do that when I lean my back on something, reacting reflexively, like any of my other limbs.
‘You’re Dark Fae,’ he accuses.
‘You’re powers of observation are outstanding,’ I answer. ‘But let’s not forget who did this to me. I wasn’t anything fae until you came along, Zephyr.’
Something flickers in his gaze and I don’t dare entertain the idea that it’s remorse. ‘I don’t regret claiming you,’ he states.
It scares me that I’m relieved by his comment, that it matters to me he might despise my being Dark Fae.
‘No, I don’t suppose you do, as long as you get what you want,’ I tell him. ‘You do know they’ll kill you if they find you here?’ I say. ‘After all, Light Fae are forbidden to enter my father’s realm.’
‘I only wish to speak with you,’ he answers. ‘I need you to know-’ Zephyr stops and his face goes pale. ‘Your father’s realm?’
I arch an eyebrow. ‘You mean you’ve been here hours and haven’t figured it out? Does the black veining on my wings not give it away?’
‘You’re Aric’s daughter,’ he murmurs.
‘Someone give the male a prize,’ I drawl and push away from the door, moving closer to him. ‘How did you get here?’
‘I followed you through the mirror in Caleb Harrison’s bedroom,’ he says.
‘Caleb Harrison?’
‘Anima’s mate,’ he clarifies, confirming my suspicions. ‘She said she spoke to you.’
‘She told you where I was,’ I say feeling betrayed by the mermaid.
‘No,’ he answers. ‘I followed the pull of your light, like when I found you in the Realm of Man. Anima reprimanded me to within an inch of my existence though, when she realised I can track you.’
So Anima didn’t give me away, even though Zephyr is her friend. The mermaid has integrity.
‘Why are you here?’ I demand.
In this death trap, where there’s not a cat in Hell’s chance of abducting me.
He sighs a defeated sound. ‘To ask you to choose me, Primrose.’
I stare into his purple eyes. ‘Can you find your way out of the Dark Realm, without getting caught?’
Zephyr’s expression turns crestfallen and he nods. ‘I can locate a return portal,’ he answers then walks around me to the door. ‘I wish you a happy life, Primrose.’
‘So you followed me into the realm of your enemy, to ask me to mate you, and aren’t going to wait for my answer?’ I snap.
Zephyr turns back so fast the movement is a blur. ‘You agree to join with me this equinox?’
‘You haven’t exactly made the best impression,’ I argue.
‘I know.’
‘But you’re making up for it?’
Zephyr didn’t have to come here and risk his life, which I’m hoping means we’ll work through the billion issues we’ve got going between us. I don’t picture a fairy tale relationship in our future, but Zephyr’s offering an olive branch and I’m hoping it will be my ticket out of the Dark Realm. Not that I’m committing to bonding with him, but I am already connected to Zephyr. Mate Mark or not, I get the feeling the connection is irreversible.
Knocking prevents him from answering and we both look at the door. The knocking sounds again when I don’t answer and I panic that they’ll come in uninvited.
‘Who is it?’ I shout.
‘It’s Thalla and Wynn, Princess. We’re sent by Lord Darrack to deliver a gown for the ball.’
‘Lord Darrack?’ Zephyr whispers.
‘My latest bridegroom,’ I whisper back.
‘What?’ he snarls.
‘Oh, so mating me off to someone I barely know is shocking to you now?’ I hiss. ‘It’s your fault, Zephyr. Aric thinks mating me off will save me from mating you.’
‘And you agreed?’ he hisses back.
‘Hell no! I’m not supposed to know about it, but Darrack let it slip earlier and I let him think I knew.’ I scrub at a traitorous tear that dares slide free at my father’s scheming. Stupid inner child! ‘Seems I can’t trust anyone,’ I mutter.
‘Tell me how to make it better,’ Zephyr whispers.
I meet his gaze at the sincere edge to his voice. ‘Wait here,’ I tell him, ignoring his protest and go to the door, whispering, ‘Cloak yourself in glamour, idiot! I can still see you.’
Zephyr stares at me in shock then disappears in a mist of amethyst sparkles. I study the spot where he’s standing, startled that he actually did something I asked then open the door. Two females enter when I gesture them inside, with a dress draped between them. I feel the colour drain from my face at the silver material and sense a spike of anger from Zephyr. Silver is the traditional colour fae females wear to be mated, which means I’m staring at a mating gown. The females lay the gown out on the bed then turn to face me.
‘It pleases us to prepare you,’ the dark-haired one says.
‘I’m not ready for you,’ I tell them.
‘But, Princess,’ the blonde female argues. ‘Time grows short to ready you.’
I glare at her in response and she drops her gaze, which then fixes on the ground by my feet. I frown when the dark-haired female sucks in a breath and stares at the same patch of floor. I look down at the rainbow of flowers that have bloomed around my bare feet, remembering I’d kicked my shoes off when I got inside.
‘Out,’ I snap, causing their gazes back to mine.
‘But, Princess-’
‘’I won’t tolerate your staring,’ I snarl, unleashing a little of my darkness for effect. Onyx light crackles over my skin and my eyes go black. ‘Get out.’
The females pale and flee the room, closing the door behind them. Zephyr glitters back into sight and stares at me, mouth agape. I’ve never seen that look on his face and it scares me. He’s lived such a long time and has such power. It must take a lot to shock him.
‘What?’ I ask, checking behind me. ‘What is it?’
‘You’re a Lumen,’ he answers.
‘I’m sorry, what?’
He points to the flowers around my feet. ‘You’re a Lumen Fae.’
I glance at the flowers then back to his face. ‘Zephyr, you need to be more specific,’ I say. ‘I was raised a human remember? I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.’
‘The flowers,’ he tells me. ‘They grow in your wake, when you step on organic ground?’
‘Maybe,’ I answer, not sure where this is going.
Aric didn’t seem this shocked to see flowers growing from my footsteps. He just seemed pleased. Really pleased.
Zephyr shakes his head, awe filling his features. ‘It’s your light,’ he says. ‘It’s so powerful that your form can’t contain it and, as a result, connects to all living entities around it.’
I think of my darkness and how it connects with everyone around me. It’s how I read the emotions of people near me. I know they’re there because I can feel them. My light leeches emotion from them, sucking the essence from their beings and into me. I don’t think it means to do it, but its power is so vast it acts like a magnet to organic energies around me. Except for when I’m with Zephyr, and it reaches only for him.
Zephyr.
‘You,’ I whisper having a light bulb moment.
‘Me?’
Why didn’t I see
it before? I stare at him, mind churning through everything I know. I’ve had my darkness for as long as I can remember, meaning my fae light manifested way before I ever turned fae. It killed my mother by leeching the life from inside her. I think about each time I was around her, and how the darkness would seek her out, the same way it seeks out Zephyr. There was something about her it wanted; something it searched for deep in her centre. Aric had the same problem, but he knew what his light was and how to control it.
‘Light,’ I whisper, thinking of how my darkness reacts to the bright heat at Zephyr’s core.
‘You’re speaking nonsense,’ Zephyr growls.
‘No,’ I correct. ‘It all makes sense.’
‘What does?’
‘I had my light before you turned me fae, Zephyr.’
He shakes his head. ‘That’s not-’
‘Possible? Aric said the same thing, but it’s the truth.’
‘The human body is too frail,’ Zephyr argues. ‘Your light would’ve killed you.’
‘I think it killed my mother instead,’ I whisper.
‘What are you saying?’
‘As a human, I lacked the ability to control my light,’ I explain. ‘So it controlled me; did what it wanted unrestrained. My mum was the person closest to me, so she suffered the majority of the fallout.’
‘You can’t know this, Primrose,’ he says.
‘I call it my darkness,’ I answer, needing him to know. ‘I didn’t know what it was before you turned me fae, Zephyr. It’s been my saviour and my curse, for as long as I can remember.’
His eyes soften. ‘Primrose-’
‘I killed my mum, Zephyr. You need to know, in case you change your mind about me.’
The more I say it the realer it feels. There’s no actual evidence that I killed her, but the pieces fit. It all makes sense and points to me being a murderer. Maybe Mum would’ve survived if I hadn’t been there, sucking the life from her. My mind flickers to that day on the beach when I was six; a day I try not to think of. I was a murderer way before I took Mum’s life.
Zephyr is in front of me before I can blink, holding me. I drop my head on his chest and let him comfort me, with no hope or agenda. His scent fills my insides with warmth, while his heart drums steadily in my ear.