by Jaymin Eve
The man’s eyes widened, his brow furrowed as he eyed the stack of coins in Kade’s outstretched palm. He was a shorter, overweight fae, with tired eyes. I was guessing this was more money than he had seen in a lifetime, but still he took an uncomfortably long amount of time to decide. Kade remained calm, never showing any unease. I wasn’t hiding my impatience nearly as well, desperate to get to Violet, but I knew that a disguise would be very helpful, so I kept myself busy by watching our backs. A few people were milling about in the distance, but for now we were alone. Which was good, because if this man said no we would have to knock him out to keep him from talking.
Thankfully, the coins won out; he scooped them up before turning and walking away, leaving his cart of goods without so much as a look over his shoulder. Kade slipped his sword off and I followed suit, stashing them in the bottom of the cart and throwing our coats over them. I pulled my hair from its braid and ratted it up a bit, kneeling down to scoop some of the flour from the cart shelf, wiping it on my nose and on Kade’s shirt. Did we look like bakers? Probably not, but it was the best we could do with what we had.
It didn’t require two people to push the cart, so I let Kade take it. He was the one who stood out the most with his height and the scary vibe he naturally had. I hurried along close by, head lowered like I was just a slave or helper.
The path was not busy, so we made it inside the palace without an issue. I kept Finn’s directions firmly in my head and relayed them to Kade so he’d know which way to go. To get to the dungeon we would have to use the servants’ hallway, which was a long, winding, ramp-style descent, wide enough to allow others to pass coming the opposite way, but still wedged into the back of the palace. Everyone we passed looked a little browbeaten; no one was paying much attention to each other, remnants of a hard life creased across all of their faces despite the faes’ ability to remain young looking forever.
The cart pushed easily down the ramp. The floor was very hard, like concrete, or compressed dirt. As we neared the lower levels, clanking could be heard. That had to be the dungeons.
This castle was huge. We had probably passed five floors on our descent, before we reached the prison section. It was much colder down here. Without my cloak my hands were shaking, my steps stiff. The clanking grew louder, and for the first time I saw someone other than a plain-dressed server-fae moving along our path. A guard, dressed in heavy white furs, which Finn told me were the royal color and uniform.
Kade lowered his head and I did the same, and the guard continued stomping past, his sword swinging wildly from where it was sheathed in his belt-scabbard. I was just lifting my head up again, relieved to be past him, when the guard called something to us in a language I did not understand. Kade and I paused, keeping up our charade in the hopes we could talk our way out of this. If we were caught out now, they would alert all the guards, and it would be much harder to reach Violet.
Brushing my hair down to make sure my ears were covered, I spun around and bowed my head low. The guard took a step toward me and I could feel Kade tensing at my back. Raising my head, I blinked rapidly and forced my face into a blank stare. Acting stupid got plenty of people out of trouble. Being stupid got them into it, though, so you had to be careful about how much of it was an act.
“I’m sorry, sir.” I kept my voice low and trembly. I knew they spoke English here, I had heard it many times. Hopefully he didn’t think it was odd for us to use it.
The guard switched to English easily. “I said, What are you doing down here? The baked goods go to floor five, near the kitchens.”
His accent was heavy, the words slow. I tried desperately to think of something to say. “We were sent down with treats for the guards.”
Everyone loved treats, right? Kade shifted his big body closer. It felt like he was part of the stone wall behind me he was that tense. I could feel very low rumbles rocking his chest.
The guard took another few steps toward me. I could see him much better now, the way his closely-set eyes focused on my body, especially around my chest and thighs. He gave off all the creepy vibes, from his overly shiny bald head to the yellow tinge of those eyes.
“We really need to move, sir.” It was really hard for me to keep my voice low and sweet. I pretty much just wanted to knee him in the balls, and he had come close enough for me to reach without a problem.
He leaned over until our faces were inches apart. “The queen would never allow a call for treats. The guards are here to work, not eat. But I’ll let it slide if you come with me now, just for a quick chat, without your big friend.”
My hand moved before my brain caught up. I pulled my arm back and punched him in the throat, one solid blow that knocked him backwards and left him wheezing on the floor. Before I could finish the job, Kade turned and slammed his fist down into the guard’s temple, knocking him out cold. I quickly spun around to make sure no one had seen, and was relieved to see we were alone on the ramp. I tentatively reached out and ran a palm up Kade’s arm.
“It’s okay. I hit him before he could alert anyone.”
My mate’s body was trembling, on the verge of losing control of his bear and shifting. In a quick burst, I found myself crushed against his hard body. “He was going to touch you,” he growled. “I don’t have time right now to kill him and hide the body, which is the only reason he’s still alive.”
I chuckled. It was strained but it counted. “Well, we do still have to hide the body. Otherwise someone will alert the other guards much faster.”
He gave me one last squeeze before stepping away. “I saw a small supply room a few floors above us. Wait right here and I’ll be back in a minute.”
I nodded, and he turned to roughly haul the guard up and over his shoulder. With a quick glance around to make sure no one else was coming down the path, he took off at a sprint, long legs eating up the distance, until I could no longer see him on the servers’ path. I hunched forward over the cart, pretending to rearrange the pastries and such. A young girl startled me as she burst from the door across the hall. As she hurried past me I noticed the red welt marks across her green tinged skin. I prepared myself for some questions, but thankfully she didn’t even glance across in my direction.
Come on, Kade.
I was mentally urging him on, which of course I had forgotten he could hear.
On my way, woman. Give a bear a minute to hide a body.
I had to hide my chuckles in my hand, otherwise I’d look like the crazy lady laughing at nothing.
Why do I have the feeling we might be having this exact same conversation multiple times over our life together?
He sent me back a bunch of images of him in the woods, axe in hand, chasing down intruders. Well, at least I think that’s who he was chasing, because I lost all train of thought at the sight of my lumberjack mate. Holy sweet nectar of life, Kade was so goddamn hot. Almost unfair, really.
Before I completely lost my mind, he was back, and in a stroke of genius was wearing the guard’s uniform, white furs and all.
“Brilliant,” I whispered, because we had really been pushing it expecting people to believe an almost seven foot tall, ripped warrior-looking guy was here to give out scones.
We started moving again. We were close to Violet. I could feel her unique magic. A magic which had been part of my life since before I could remember. A magic and person I could not live without. Rounding the final corner of the servants’ ramp that led to the dungeons, I saw two large guards at the door. Violet’s energy pulsed then, I could feel it. She knew I was near and was reaching out.
“Forgive me,” Kade whispered to me, before he abandoned the cart and grabbed me by the hair. I immediately knew where he was going with it, so I cried out. His hold didn’t hurt, he was barely pulling, but I had to play my part convincingly.
My scream brought the attention of the guards.
Kade called out down the hallway: “This one was caught stealing from the queen. She’s to be locked up until her punis
hment is decided.”
I kept my head low and made a painful face, letting out a distressed whimper.
“Please don’t,” I begged. “I just wanted some extra food for my family.”
One of the guards was walking toward us now. He scanned Kade briefly, before focusing on me. “We’re all hungry! That doesn’t give you the right to take what the queen has paid for!” He was pretty much shouting in my face, and I could feel Kade tensing even further. I just hoped he could keep his bear under control until we got inside.
The guard, apparently done with his show of dominance, turned to his buddy. “Open it up!” Then he grabbed my arm, trying to take me from Kade.
This time Kade’s grip did tighten on my hair, to a painful level. “She’s mine. She kicked me in the manhood when I tried to catch her. She’s gonna get some payback.” He growled at the guard, one of his more menacing rumbles.
The guard paled a little, before recovering some of his previous arrogance. He let out a rattle of a chuckle. “I understand. Take her in.”
Kade had to duck his head to step through the low doorway, making sure to keep a tight hold on me in case the guards were watching us. As soon as we were farther inside, the heavy door clanked behind us and I relaxed a little.
Hang on, Vi! We’re coming.
Kade let me go when we reached a short set of stairs. There was no other path, so we moved down. From below I could hear moaning and faint screams, and it sent chills up my arms.
“Are you okay?” Kade ran his hands through my hair gently, dropping them to my shoulders for a brief rub.
I nodded, reaching up to give his hand a quick squeeze. “Let’s go get her.”
He grabbed my arm, underneath the armpit, and proceeded to descend the steps with me. We would keep up this guard and slave charade for as long as it worked. As we dropped off the last step into a dark hallway, I could see a row of large arched stone doorways, each with heavy bars across them.
I wanted to scream Violet’s name, but only a few doors down a guard was sitting on a chair reading something. As we neared, he looked up and I immediately focused on the set of keys visible in his pocket. A few silver keys had fallen out, glinting in the fire lights. Kade must have seen it too, because he called the guy over.
“Hey, you won’t believe this. Come look.” He pointed to something on my neck.
The guard looked intrigued, standing to walk the three short paces to us. The second he was in arm’s reach, Kade dropped my arm and slammed the fae’s head into the wall. It bounced off with a wet thud and the guard landed heavily on the floor. Kade knelt and scooped up the keys from the guard’s pocket.
Kade and I made quick work of getting the guard back in his chair, draping him against the wall so it looked like he was having a quick nap. Then I ran down the hall, whisper-screaming Violet’s name, peering in each of the cells, which were full. But none held my friend. Finally, near the end farthest from the stairs we’d used to enter, I heard a faint response.
“Ari!” A weak sob followed my name. Kade had his borrowed sword unsheathed and was running after me, ready to cut down anyone who got in my way.
I passed the last few cells, glancing in to find mostly women and children, but no Violet. Seeing the browbeaten fae had my blood boiling, but I couldn’t focus on that. Finally, white hair came into sight – well, mostly white … a lot of it was streaked with dirt … or blood, the old, dried kind that turns a dark brown-maroon. She was strung up by metal chains attached to the stone walls, hanging limply, just like in my dream.
“I’m here, Vi!” I shouted.
Kade quickly fit one of the keys into the lock and it clicked open. With ease he slammed the heavy door open and I burst into the room. Scents assaulted me, human waste and torture, which I fought to ignore.
After a quick survey of the cell, to make sure we were alone – the room was empty except for a small table that held a dome glass artifact similar to a snow globe – I ran to Violet. My hands were shaking as I waited for Kade to uncuff her. Her skin was so ashen it worried me.
“Don’t touch me or their magic born will see,” she whimpered, eyes still shut.
My teeth gritted, I forced words through my rigid jaw. “Let them see.” I wanted to kill everyone responsible for this treatment of Violet. Let them send their magic born so they could meet their death.
I placed one hand on Violet’s wrist to steady her arm for unlocking the cuff, and received a little jolt, a shock that ran down my arm and dissipated. Kade growled behind me.
“What was that?” he murmured.
“You felt that?”
He tried the first key but it didn’t work, before he moved on to the next, trying them all one by one.
“Yes, it felt like mecca.”
My words were hurried: “It was probably the spell the magic born put on her. Now they know we’re here.”
Get ready for the exit plan. I’ve got Violet, I said to Finn.
Finn’s reply came back rapidly. I know. Nikoli is fighting one of the magic born right now.
Crap. We needed to go. Finally the fourth key worked. As Kade undid the cuffs, Violet fell into my arms like a sack of flour. My mate gave me a look that said we needed to hurry, and he went back to stand guard at the door.
“You came for me.” Violet’s voice was weak, and I could sense she was completely drained of power. Whatever they had done to her was beyond physical torture; they had also drained her of magic and essence. Those bastards.
“Always,” I told her, hugging her so tightly I was sure I would break her. Kade spun back then and scooped Violet into his arms, throwing her gently over his left shoulder, which allowed him to keep his right hand free to fight with his sword.
“Guards are moving, we need to go,” he said. Violet squirmed on Kade’s shoulder, protesting.
“No, Ari. The glass … you have to touch it. You have to take your essence back or they will do bad things with it.” Her tone was as forced as she could manage in her weakened state, but I knew it was important to her. This was the glass she’d spoken about in the dream, that she said contained my energy…
I walked toward it hesitantly, examining it more closely. I hadn’t paid attention before, but as I stood before it, the true beauty within astonished me. The glass itself was probably only ten inches tall and half that size wide. It had a detailed silver base that wrapped up around the bottom of the domed glass. From a distance, when I’d first glanced at it, I thought it was empty. But it wasn’t.
A turquoise mist was swirling in slow arcs around the center of the glass, tinged through with a silver and gold that reminded me of the color of my eyes. As I stepped even closer, no more than an inch from the glass, my hand began to shake, the hairs on my arms stood up, and I felt this aching in my heart. It was not an ache I had ever felt before. It was almost like a huge cavern existed inside of me, and somehow I had never noticed it.
I was not whole.
I needed to be whole.
Until this very moment I had not known I was half-empty, but there was no way to shut that ache down. I inhaled deeply, and was shocked to find that it smelled of me, felt like me. The silver mists shifted, and I blinked a few times as I wondered if what I was seeing was real. There was an image, familiar to me, the day Finn had arrived in my life when I was five. The massive familiar bonded to a tiny, white-haired wolf-shifter. Another swirl and a new image appeared: my first time on the Island with Blaine and Violet. The next was the day my sister was born and my mother was no longer with me. Over and over, images of my life flashed in the dome, and there was no doubt this energy was tied to me. To my life.
Violet was right. Whatever this glowing turquoise energy was … it was mine.
Unable to stop myself, and knowing time was running out, I wrapped both hands around the glass, intending to pull it up and release the contents. However, the moment I touched it, a shockwave ripped through me and the glass began vibrating in my hands. I couldn’t let it go now ev
en if I wanted to. My body was shaking as hard as the glass.
A cracking sound filled the cell and the turquoise energy pulsed out, growing larger as the glass shattered. With force strong enough to shoot me backwards across the room, the dome exploded, glass spraying everywhere. The turquoise energy slammed into my body, filling up all the parts of me that were empty.
The breath knocked out of me, I struggled to sit up. I expected to be cut to shreds, but there wasn’t one mark on me from the explosion of glass.
I sat there getting my bearings for a moment. My breath was back now, but my insides were swirling strangely. The vibration had not stopped, it had only moved internally. A burst of heat and life shot through my center, through the part of me that had been aching and empty only moments before. I cried out as my head dropped back against the wall, my hands scraping over the dirty stone floor.
“Ari? Talk to me!” Kade rumbled.
The urgency in his voice snapped me out of whatever weirdness was holding me in its grasp. I was able to focus again – well, sort of. I felt like myself, but also … different. I felt alive.
Adrenaline coursing through me, I jumped to my feet. Shifter energy, mecca, and something else mingled within my center. Some new great power was coursing through my body. I hurried across to Kade. He was staring out into the hall, preparing for an impending attack. Dropping my hand onto his biceps, I said, “I’m okay. Let’s get out of here.”
He swung his head around to see me, and even though he tried to hide it, his eyes widened and his jaw went a little slack. Shock. Not something he normally displayed.
I looked behind me, wondering what he was seeing.
“Ari … your ears,” he finally said. His tone was one part shock and two parts awe.
I inhaled quickly as my fingers came up to feel my ears. Oh … my … the tips were pointed like a full highborn fae.
“I’m a fae,” I said to the room, needing to say it out loud so I could try and wrap my head around it.
A clanking of metal had us all focusing; Kade was again in warrior mode. “Stay close behind me, Ari. We need to move fast.”