Imprisoned Heir

by River Starr

  With fear in his voice, Ilias called out. “Bind her! Bind her now!”

  Hushed whispers floated across the room from the window. I didn’t dare look, not even as footsteps echoed in from the doorway.

  In the next moment, Zavian was beside me. He stepped into the shadows and they dispersed. Zavian grabbed hold of my shoulders and spoke in low, quick tones. “Let them go. Do it before I bind your magic again.”

  I did as he said, letting command of the water go. The phoenix shifter cried out. Dax and Titus collapsed to the ground, their eyes rolling back in their heads.

  “I’m a monster.” My words were shaky, my throat as hoarse as if I’d been screaming.

  “No, the thing inside you is,” Zavian hissed. “This will hurt.”

  The joke was on him. Nothing would hurt more than the way my sister was looking at me right now. Her wide eyes, her mouth agape. It was like I was an entirely different person than the one she’d grown up with, than the sister who had cared for her for years since our parents had died.

  Zavian worked quickly as he reapplied the magic-muting tattoo. Only this time, it felt different. As if he’d completely severed the connection to my magic entirely.

  “Get up,” Zavian said as he pulled on my arms.

  I did as he said and offered a shaking hand to my sister. She allowed me to help her up but wouldn’t make eye contact with me.

  More guards swarmed the room and collected Dax and Titus, reapplying their magic-muting tattoos as well. Still more guards collected the phoenix shifter rocking scared in the corner. My magic had terrified him so much, he looked nearly catatonic with a thousand-yard stare.

  Ilias’s voice filled the room once more. “Well, that certainly was eventful. I think we’ve come to a unanimous decision here, don’t you think?” Several of his guests nodded and whispered amongst themselves. “The girl passes. She harmed none, only defended. A monster wouldn’t have.”

  My eyes narrowed. That was the most bullshit statement I’d ever heard—and I’d heard plenty. I opened my mouth to speak. “I just used forbidden—”

  Zavian drove his elbow into my side. “Enough!” Then, more quietly, he added, “They’re scared. Let them be scared.”

  “The rest will remain here,” Ilias said. “The little firebird too. Oh, but do get the death cursed girl some of his magic.”

  My brow furrowed as I glanced up at him. He’d save Cyra even after what I’d just done?

  Seeing my questioning stare, Ilias continued, “We’re not cruel.”

  I barked a laugh. I couldn’t help it, even now with Zavian elbowing me again and telling me to stop laughing. I couldn’t! A sea fae watching all of this, putting us all through this, not being cruel. The sea court was so deranged. Nothing made sense with them.

  First they had us fight other inmates for their own viewing pleasure. Then they had us do dirty work digging up artifact pieces to some random device. Now they claimed I was reformed after using forbidden magic to halt my opponents from killing each other, effectively ending their pleasure by stopping the fight. They wanted me in the sea court now? As a courtesan or soldier?

  None of it was funny, so all of it was. It was just so absurd that I couldn’t not laugh.

  “Take the girl to the infirmary and administer the cure,” the tattooed fae said. “Then bring her to the city for safekeeping.”

  My jaw dropped. “What?”

  Zavian’s grip on my arms tightened to the point where I was convinced he’d leave bruises. “Nyx, if you don’t stop talking, things will only get worse.”

  Ilias turned to me with a truly cruel grin that bespoke for him all the ways he was intending to handle me. I’d seen that look on Dax’s face, then Zavian’s in anger. “You, my dear, will be moved to the city as well to serve the rest of your days in the sea court. A reduced sentence from this prison, indeed. You and I are going to get to know each other very well. I do so wish to know where you learned that magic.” He clapped again, loudly and less gleefully this time, before adding, “Take her to the transport and lock up the others. I wish to be done with this dreadful place.”

  “Yes, sir,” Zavian barked as he dragged me toward the door.

  As we left the room and my sister was pulled away from me, I screamed. I screamed for Cyra’s freedom and for mine. I cursed the sea court. I cursed Eos. I cursed the Deep One and the shadows that lingered in that room as it watched me.

  As I was led down the corridor, Eos’s voice echoed in my mind: This is not the end. The Deep One will return for us both now that you’ve used its power. May we both survive its call.

  29

  Nyx

  Zavian’s grip remained firm until we’d used the runic teleportation circle on this floor to arrive on the docking platform. For the moment, it appeared we were alone up here until the rest of the sea court entourage, including his cousin, joined us.

  “Zavian—”

  He touched a finger to my lips. “We don’t have much time.”

  I kissed his fingers and then took his hand in mine. “I don’t understand why they spared me. I should be dead right now. I thought using magic to puppet people was a crime punishable by instant death.”

  Zavian’s gaze darkened as he brought his free hand to my hold my face. I turned into his warm touch and kissed his hand. “It is.” He touched his forehead to mine. “I don’t know what my cousin has planned. It may have something to do with the artifact we sent you guys diving for. Your unit collected the last of the pieces to recreate it.” Zavian leaned down to kiss me. When our lips met, our magic sparked in pulsating waves between us, growing in proximity to the open ocean.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my body close to his, willing his strength to become my own. Finally, I pulled back. “What does the device do?”

  “I don’t know,” he said. “I’m not allowed to.”

  “Allowed to?”

  “You need to know something before we go back to the sea court.”

  I ran my hand along his cheek. “Are you coming with me?”

  He nodded. “In so much as I’m being summoned back to court, yes. I’m in the direct line of succession. Especially now with my brothers gone. I know you didn’t murder them. But the person inside you did, and the sea court believes that you are her. They won’t treat you well. It will be worse than this prison was. If my cousin has his way, you’ll be assigned to him as his courtesan, and I’m not sure I can handle that.” His body stiffened, although his touch remained gentle as ever.

  “Hey, it’s okay, we’ll figure it out.” I kissed him again.

  Zavian pulled back, his words coming quicker now. “They’ll bring your sister to a jail there, or perhaps somewhere better but more secure. I’ll find out. They’ll use her as leverage to keep you complacent, and she should be safe as long as you aren’t acting out. I’ll make sure they give her the phoenix fire cure for her death curse. But the court you’re about to serve is fractured. The queen has no children. With my brothers gone, all that remain in the line of succession is Ilias and myself, in that order. He’s seen us together. He knows, Nyx. He will keep you close to spite me, and no one will stop him, not even the queen.”

  I held his face in both of my hands and placed kisses on his forehead and both of his cheeks before kissing him deeply. My hold on him was desperate and tight. “As long as my sister is safe, I’ll do what I can. I’m scared.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry.” Zavian’s eyes grew tight. “If I’d believed you sooner, if I’d seen the truth past my own fury at you, I could have spared you from all of this. Everything is my fault.”

  “No,” I said firmly. “It’s Eos’s.”

  “You’re paying the price for her deeds.”

  Little did he know, I’d be paying for it with my life. At least according to Eos, anyway.

  Magic flashed from the runic teleportation circle being activated. We’d have company soon.

  “I’ll find a way to see you. Stay strong, N
yx.” Zavian kissed me again quickly before gripping my arms once more, putting on the facade of the prison guard who hated my guts.

  When we’d last stood here like this, me bound before him, he had hated me. Although it hadn’t been that long ago, it felt like an entire lifetime had gone by since my arrival here, and I’d learned much since then. Chiefly that there was no escaping the Atlantis Institute for Dangerous Criminals. The prison at the bottom of the ocean was just one layer, one step the sea fae took to ensure they enjoyed their captives. Serving the sea court would be another sort of prison. And even if I escaped that, Eos still controlled my fate. And if not she, the Deep One.

  But for now, my sister was as safe as she could be within the sea court’s reach. I would do anything to make sure she stayed safe. I just hoped the Deep One let me complete that goal before calling for me once more. Before it took my sanity and then my life.

  I looked up at my mate as Ilias and his entourage approached.

  Zavian let his gaze rest on me for a moment longer than he should have before turning around and nodding to his cousin. “She’s ready.”

  It was only then that I realized Zavian was stuck in a prison of his own. That we were both lost to the whim of the sea court.

  Despite what people would have you believe, the truth was that not all prisons have cells and bars. And not all are easily escaped from.

  Some were eternal.

  Thank you so much for reading Imprisoned Heir! Nyx’s journey for freedom continues in Courtesan Bound, out September 10th! Pre-order now to have it delivered to your device that morning.

  If you enjoyed the book, I’d be very grateful if you left a review. Reviews help other readers find more stories to read!

  Download Your Free Prequel Now

  My name is Nyx. Not that long ago, my sister and I had an unfortunate run-in with a sea hag off the Cornish Coast. We won, but that survival came at an unforgivable price: the sea hag placed a death curse on my sister.

  I’ve tried to find a cure. Potions, elixirs, even money paid to expensive witches—nothing has worked. But there is one magic we haven’t tried: the taboo practice of necromancy.

  I’m given a recommendation for a necromancer in Edinburgh. He says he can help, but that I’ll have to steal the artifact necessary to complete the ritual from the richest family in the city.

  Luckily, along with being half-fae, I’m also one hell of a thief. And I’ll do anything to save my sister.

  Download Your Free Prequel Now

  About the Author

  River Starr writes books that help you escape, especially fantasy romance full of magic and supernaturals. Favorite things: coffee, wine, chocolate, and a heavy dose of books to chase away the dark... or invite delicious darkness in.