Queen Fae (NYC Mecca Series Book 3)

by Jaymin Eve

  My heart sank at the thought of having to trek a sick Violet all the way back to the Summer Court. I was kind of hoping we could grab her and make a portal and get out of here. But Violet’s safety and healing was my top priority and I would do whatever it took.

  Everyone was pressed tightly together, waiting for the next move.

  “Thank you so much for helping us get this far.” I reached out and placed a hand on Dalia’s shoulder, and lowered my head in a nod.

  She surprised me by pulling me into a hug, before stepping back and saying, “We can stay a little longer so that all of you can rest while Rowan and I keep watch. Just before first light there is a change of the guards. This is your best chance to enter undetected. We’ll wake you in time and give you all the tools we can to help.”

  “Thank you,” Kade said, from close to my shoulder. “Our family owes you a debt of gratitude.”

  Both of the fae shook their heads, gorgeous hair floating around them. So not natural, but a cool trick. “No debt, just make sure you right the mecca and restore the health to the Otherworld. We ask for nothing more.”

  That I was going to be doing no matter what happened, so I could definitely agree to the deal.

  We didn’t bother to set up camp, Rowan just used mecca to clean and dry a section of floor in a small cave nearby, and we all snuggled down into our furs, backpacks under our heads. I didn’t think I would be able to sleep with my millions of worries – and you know, our comfy stone bed – but my eyes closed the moment my head hit my bag. The day’s exhaustion had won. Finn’s warmth seeped into my right side, Kade’s on my left, fatigue pulled me under, and when Rowan shook me awake, I felt like I had barely slept.

  My body was stiff as I stumbled to my feet, stretching out my limbs. I looked around to find Monica, Blaine, Nikoli and Victor in the same half-awake state as me, but no Kade … or Dalia.

  “They’re outside,” Rowan whispered to me, understanding my rapid scanning of the cave. “Scouting for guards. And Dal is showing him the best way to sneak in.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered back, before quickly ducking outside to freshen up, and then back in again to grab my backpack.

  Kade and Dalia still weren’t back by the time I was strapped in and ready to go, jerky in hand, chewing through the tough but tasty meat. Of course Kade would sacrifice sleep to make sure he got all the information. It was part of what made him an amazing mate and king. He never let anyone else handle the tough stuff.

  I also liked to handle my own battles, and I was annoyed and worried about them being out in enemy land without backup. I had no way to know if they were in trouble or not yet.

  Just as my patience ran out and I was about to set out and search, a scuffing indicated someone was approaching. All of us scrambled under bushes and behind boulders. There was no guarantee these were our friends, and it was better to take them by surprise. Sword down at my side, Finn at my back, I would not hesitate to strike if winter soldiers rounded that corner. My people’s lives were at stake.

  A huge figure stepped in between two frozen trees, icy branches hanging low to form a curtain of sorts. The breath I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding whooshed out of me, and I straightened. Kade’s eyes dropped to the sword resting against my leg and he gave me a wink and that slow sexy smile that did things to me. Hot and swirly things.

  It was kind of sexy that he was proud of me almost attacking him. He never tried to change me, make me act less warrior-like and more stereotypical female.

  Nix moved on his shoulder as he waved us forward, and the others slipped free from their hiding spots. Dalia and Rowan both had lines of stress crossing their ageless faces, and I knew they were worried for us.

  “We’ll wait nearby for your return,” Dalia said. “When you make it out, just head toward this cave and we’ll find you. Rowan is already working on a distraction so we can all leave the winter territory without issue.” Her voice got low and forceful as she drove her final point home. “Remember, this distraction will only work once you are outside the gates. You have to make it out of the village. May the mecca be with you through this journey.”

  The formality of her final words jolted me into action, and I gave her a nod before sheathing my sword and stepping to Kade’s side.

  “Let’s do this,” Monica said, joining me, the others behind her. “We should have enough time to slip in and out before the sun is fully up.”

  I nodded. The light was still dim, not quite the black of night but not morning yet.

  “The guards will change in about ten minutes,” Dalia added. “I showed King Kade the way but you need to hurry.”

  There was no more hesitation. We gave the Summer Court fae one last wave and then Kade was moving. I hurried to keep pace with his long legs. Blaine was on my right and he reached out to briefly squeezed my hand.

  “She’s going to be okay. Violet is tough. Winter won’t break her.”

  That hot burning in my chest, throat, and eyes was back, but I managed to swallow it down, returning his hand squeeze. Blaine knew better than anyone how much Violet meant to me, how devastated I was inside when I thought about not reaching her in time. It was destroying me, and my stellar ability to compartmentalize things was starting to fail. It almost felt like being this close to her, I could actually feel her pain, and I was desperate to save her.

  Kade took us in a loop away from what looked like the main gated entrance and to the eastern side of the wall. As we got closer to the stone barrier, everything was easier to see. Huge pyres were lit along the wall, throwing light across the landscape. Oh, and to highlight the fact that the wall looked utterly impenetrable, huge stone blocks, stacked on top of each other and towering into the air, were staggered with watch towers all around us. I counted at least three fae in each. Kade was keeping us under cover for the time being, sticking to the forest pockets, but we were still about forty yards from the wall, and there was no cover at all in that area. To get closer to the city, we would have to run across the open space and risk being spotted.

  How the hell were we going to do that? A guard change could not take any longer than thirty seconds to a minute. If it was anything like ours back in the city, there would be a simple change of position and a brief update of last shift.

  Instead of moving us closer, Kade veered off to the right, away from the fenced area. I lost sight of the stone structure as the forest closed in around us, cold air biting into any exposed skin. No one spoke for risk of being discovered, and I was seriously starting to worry about where he was leading us. We seemed to be getting further and further from the main fence. Further from Violet.

  We couldn’t speak out loud. I could have used the bond, but it would have been distracting and we were in dangerous lands. I halted as Kade’s hand shot up into the air. The others stopped also, none of us moving as the bear shifter started creeping along again, making almost no sound. He waved us on then, and we all followed in his exact steps, using the moss and packed dirt to avoid any noisy branches or rocks.

  When we were finally behind a large cluster of trees, Kade lifted his hand again and this time pointed to a small gap between two trees. I peered over his shoulder to see that beyond those thick trees was a bare bit of land. A single guard was sitting near a tiny, barred entrance.

  Slave entrance, Finn told me. He must have gotten that from Nix. The thought of slaves infuriated me but I let it go, focusing on saving my best friend.

  The guard was a tall and menacing looking man, as big as Kade, with two swords crossed over his lap. With his bushy, reddish beard, and heavily muscled arms, he looked like a Viking who could squash a man’s head with one hand. Before anyone could ask what the plan was, Kade bent and picked up a small rock. Nix was still on his shoulder and he placed the rock in her beak. Clutching it tightly, she took off, and with barely more than a whisper of wings she flew directly overhead, and I was glad to see that her wing seemed fully healed. Once she was on the opposite side of us, nea
r the far thick wall of forest, she dropped the rock. It made a distinct, loud thump, and the guard was immediately alert, on his feet, both weapons in his hands. He surveyed the land, and we all ducked even lower as he scoped it out.

  “Who wants to die today?” the guard called out as he moved further into the packed trees, away from us and toward the area Nix had dropped the stone. Nix kicked it up a notch then, rustling some branches, and the guard started running.

  “Let’s go,” Kade whispered, and then we were sprinting out into the open field. Kade was the first to reach the gated entrance. He swung his head around, features already taking on some of his bear.

  “There’s a lock!” he growled low.

  Before I could even think of what to do next, I was gently pushed aside by Nikoli. The magic born held both hands on the lock and started whispering. A faint purple glow shot out of his hands and the lock clicked. Nikoli took a step back then to let Kade go through first, and I caught sight of his face. He looked worried. Crap! Something was bothering the magic born, but I didn’t have time to ask what it was. I sensed it was something to do with his powers … maybe they hadn’t worked the way he expected. The lock was open though, which was all that really mattered.

  Kade had to hunch himself over to fit through the dark tunnel. There was no time to protest about him taking all the risks. Besides, I had to be fair. If he didn’t try to change me, I shouldn’t do it to him. Kade was a protector, he would always fight to go first. We all rushed in after him, Blaine bringing up the rear. We made it just in time, shutting the grate and relocking it right before the sound of the guard’s approach could be heard.

  Nix was going to have to wait for us outside or fly over the top out in the open. I wasn’t too worried though, she really couldn’t have gone any further with us; she would stand out in the village. Kade could call for her if we needed help.

  Cautiously, we crept forward in the darkness. I had one hand resting against Kade’s back, and I could feel someone holding my pack. We would not lose each other now, not when we were almost inside. Hopefully. The tunnel was narrow, each side of the walls brushing Kade’s shoulders, and he was crouched almost in half to fit.

  Up ahead, a flickering of light came into view, and we were even more cautious until we realized it was some lit torches, sitting high in sconces on the wall. They burned with never-dying fire magic, and as we moved past I could see more in the distance. We had enough light now to see attackers if they came at us. Of course, fighting in a confined space like this was another story. Hopefully it wouldn’t be a problem.

  Finn remained close to my legs. I was having difficulty not tripping over him, but I knew he was staying close for a reason. He was worried, and that worried me. Once we had walked a good distance into the tunnel, Kade stopped and turned around.

  “Dalia believes we should be fine now until we reach the city. The tunnels are always empty except for once a month when they bring in new slaves. They just keep the one guard out there as precaution.

  “What’s the plan?” I asked. My wolf was a bit upset about being underground like this. She was okay when we were walking, but now that we had stopped she wanted to break free. Finn pressed harder against my leg and a small sliver of calmness threaded through me, enough so I could easily push my wolf down again.

  Kade got right to it. “We go out in three groups. Arianna is with me. Blaine and Monica. Then Victor and Nikoli, who will travel with Finn.”

  I didn’t like that Finn and I were separated, but I knew there would be a reason, so I waited for the rest. Nikoli took center stage then, the torches lighting up his face in a dance of macabre shadows. “Once I’m inside,” he said, “I’ll be able to send out a spell that searches for other magic born. This will hopefully lead me to Violet, and also let me know if any other magic users stand in our way. Once I get Violet’s general location, I can relay it to Finn and he can pass it on to Ari and King Kade. You guys will be the extraction crew while Victor, Finn, and I take care of any nearby threats.”

  Blaine shifted forward a little. “What should Monica and I be doing?”

  Kade spoke up again, and I was so grateful and relieved that he seemed to have planned this entire thing out. I was far too emotional to do any of it myself, I just wanted to bust in guns blazing and get Violet out.

  “The plan is to use this slave tunnel to escape, but I have a feeling that once they know there are intruders and a breakout, they will guard the entrance. So I need you two to find us a backup escape plan. Steal a carriage, some horses, dig a tunnel, make a distraction … whatever you have to do.”

  Monica had a fierce look in her eye. Her strategic mind was already at work, trying to figure out how to get us out of here. “You got it, Your Majesty. We will not let you down.”

  I was so proud of my friends, my pack. “Stay safe, everyone. Let’s bring Violet home,” I said, holding my hand out. One by one, they laid their hands on top of mine, like a football team right before heading out onto the field. If only this were a game and not a fight for our lives.

  Our tender moment broke up too quickly, then Nikoli was stepping forward and taking the lead. It was time to get my best friend back.

  The slave tunnel exited into a stone alleyway. Kade and I were waiting at the entrance, giving Nikoli and his group time to make it out into the open court of the winter palace. The magic born was using a basic disguise again. Conserving all of his energy was important. He had admitted just before disappearing that he felt weak, that opening that lock had taxed him, which was what I had suspected from his concerned look earlier. It was odd though. I was feeling stronger than ever.

  The mecca feels more intense here, I said to Kade as we waited.

  He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into him. I rested against him briefly and felt his lips brush my hair. Yes, they must build their royal villages over the stones. Like we do with our boroughs.

  That made sense. Even with the energy low in the Otherworld, there was still a decent source somewhere here. I could feel it thrumming through my body, energizing me in a way I hadn’t felt since coming here.

  Let’s go, Kade said, and I pulled away from him, brushing down my furred cloak. We would have to blend in and act calm until we received word from Nikoli. It was time to get Violet back.

  Chapter Six

  Familiar faces in the crowd.

  Acting casual, we both strolled from the alley and found ourselves skirting the outer areas of a marketplace. We moved straight into the fray; the best way to blend in was to be in plain sight and act like a local. Thankfully a lot of the highborn fae I could see were tall, and plenty wore thick cloaks and furs with hoods to guard against the cold, so Kade and I did not stand out. We strolled casually into the crowds, stopping periodically to examine some of the crafts and wares on display. We could do nothing else until we received word from Finn.

  “This is beautiful,” I said to a merchant, running my hand over a clay comb and mirror set.

  The woman bowed slightly and muttered her thanks to me. Kade and I moved on to another stall, and I was getting anxious for word of where Violet was. Had Nikoli been caught? Was he having trouble with the spell? Even if they had been caught, Finn should be able to let me know … unless strong magic was involved.

  Just when I was about to lose my mind, I felt my familiar’s energy. Okay, he’s got her location pinpointed.

  Thank the shifter gods!

  Show me, I said. I knew he would understand my meaning. Instead of using words, he opened his mind wider to me. This way I would get images, and his thoughts that went with each one.

  A huge stone structure came into view and I knew without him saying that this was the castle. It looked like a dark version of a stereotypical fairytale palace: moats, turrets, dark stone, and wandering ivy all along the sides.

  Finn didn’t linger on any one image for too long. He rushed past the entrance and showed me that just inside the inner palace gates, over the moat that su
rrounded the entire building, there were two paths. The one to the left was the worker and slave entrance. If we took that, it would lead us right inside, like a ramp that traversed the many floors of the castle. Violet was being kept on the lowest level in the dungeon.

  Finn let me know that Nikoli didn’t think she was heavily guarded, because she was gravely injured; her light was dim. They wouldn’t bother with many guards. I took a steadying breath, relaying everything to Kade through our bond. He nodded, and without another word we took off briskly through the village toward the open gates of the main palace.

  I was barely paying attention to my surroundings, focused on the path I needed to take to Violet. As we turned a corner, about to cross over the raised bridge across the moat, my eyes alighted on a familiar looking fae.

  It was just a brief second of eye contact with a mountain of a man who had been bent down on one knee helping a young boy with his shoe. He had been staring at me as hard as I was staring at him, as if also trying to place me … or was he staring at Kade?

  Before I could say anything, maybe ask Kade if he recognized him, we were already out of sight, moving over the iced dirty water and through the gates of the royal estate. The fork in the path was right at the entrance, and we took the left as instructed. Walking along the cobblestones, I noticed a man wheeling a cartful of scones, biscuits, and even what looked like bagels.

  “Kade,” I whispered, giving a quick head nod toward the pastry guy.

  Kade immediately got my intentions, moving straight across to him. “Sir?”

  The man stopped and took in Kade, his eyes lingering on the shiny sword, before he looked fearfully between us both.

  “Yes?” he inquired in a shaky voice.

  Kade was close enough now to touch him. He reached into his coat and pulled out the coins Dalia had given us. “A bag of coins for your cart. Just leave now, speak of this to no one, and enjoy the gold.”