“He won’t do much. He still believes that I’m his ally.” Olwen offered a chilly smile as he rose, set down the paper, and circled the table toward me.
“He bought my friend and tortures her every day,” I blurted.
Immediately, I regretted letting out those words and showing weakness. The Winter Court was no place for any emotional warmth. I tensed, waiting for Olwen to scowl at me and threaten me, but his eyes sparkled with eagerness.
“You want revenge.”
I swallowed. “Yes. I almost had it at that party.”
“Ah. The ice stake.” Olwen nodded and motioned for Atticus to pick up the paper. “Gregory Vulthus will be difficult to kill. The key to destroying him is to get close to him. I have that ability."
Olwen was dangling bait before me like I was a cat. I hated it. But the guilt once again squeezed my wrists to the point of pain. Damn it. No matter how many times I blinked, I could not get rid of the image of Blair’s dead eyes, of how she was put on display in that cage.
“How do we take him down?” I forced my voice to remain neutral.
“Vulthus must be destroyed from the inside. But first, I need to be sure I have your loyalty.” Olwen’s cobalt blue eyes drilled into me.
The ultimatum wasn’t a surprise. Everything came with a price tag. Friendship. Freedom. Even family. Olwen was good at sensing and exploiting weaknesses.
“Swear loyalty to me and the Winter Court, and I’ll make you a warrior. We’ll destroy Vulthus together.” Olwen gave me a slow, chilling smile, and a shiver ran up and down my spine. Contracts with pureblood fae were binding, at least for humans. What about me? Probably the same, otherwise, Olwen wouldn’t be asking for my word.
Once again, I thought of Blair. If I had doomed all the fae, then I had to at least make up for that. Also, my enemy’s enemy was my friend.
I met my father’s intense gaze. “You have my loyalty,” I forced out.
Olwen produced a dagger set with shiny garnets and took my hand. I didn’t pull back, not even when he sliced my palm and red-hot pain seared through me. I bit my tongue to stop from screaming.
Olwen sliced his own palm. “We’ll take down Vulthus together.”
We shook hands, our blood intermingling, and the air crackled with magic as the contract bound us.
Even though I didn’t like King Olwen and I remained on high alert around him, I had no choice but to side with him, at least for now. Compared to Vulthus and the other vampire at Nocturnal Academy, Olwen seemed like the lesser evil. Still, I couldn’t get rid of the bottomless sadness within me. I had given up a long time ago on meeting my father, yet I was still sad to discover that my family was like everyone else. People just used each other to get to the top.
At least King Olwen was upfront about it. Also, I’d much rather be a Winter fae warrior than a vampire’s slave.
The rest of the afternoon, I explored the fortress that overlooked the mountains, wondering what it must look like to non-fae eyes. The distraction worked for a while, but as evening approached, my dark thoughts returned.
I was here because I thought of myself. Had I worried about others, I’d probably be rotting in Vulthus's dungeons. And Olwen wouldn’t have come to rescue a weak daughter.
By escaping on my own, I proved I was a worthy and convenient addition to his army. He had kidnapped me so he could deny helping me if any of the vamps questioned him. My father was very cunning. I needed to remember that. And if I wanted to survive, I needed to become more like him.
I peeked into one of the libraries. The more the sun set, the more Blair’s emaciated form haunted me. Shit. I upped my pace walking through the mansion’s marble corridors, forcing my gaze to the mountains. I occasionally spotted guards in black and blue uniforms, fae men and women armed with bows and arrows, and they nodded respectfully as I passed. I ignored them. The last thing I needed was to get attached to more fae who could be killed at a moment’s notice.
Friends made you vulnerable. As did romantic feelings. I had learned that crucial lesson with Thorsten.
Hardening myself, I pushed open a door to a courtyard surrounded by pine trees. The air here was crisp and cool thanks to the elevation. I breathed deeply as I studied the cobblestone plaza and the ice statues of fae warriors that circled it. Even in temperatures above freezing, the statues held together with amazing detail. Fae men and women stood at attention with swords and bows. All wore armor. None smiled. Olwen’s magic had probably crafted these statues, just as I had crafted shapes with my own ice. His ability, though, was ten times mine. Would my powers grow as I aged? I hoped so. I was done being weak.
I ambled through the plaza and down a wooded trail, under the watchful eyes of the ice guards. After walking through thick trees, I came to a second plaza, this one set back in the woods. The ground was all dirt, and pine needles muffled the sound of my footsteps. I eyed the darkness between the trees, wanting to melt into it.
My eyes adjusted to the gloom, and I spotted wooden targets set around the area, abused from countless arrows. All the targets were so faded that I could barely see the red rings marking the bulls-eye on each. This was an area where the guards practiced their combat skills.
Good. I needed to hurt something.
Thoughts of Blair’s and Lily’s fates swirled around me like flies. I batted them away and allowed my ice to rise. Facing the closest target, I extended my hand and pulled enough moisture from the air to create a small ice dagger. With a nod, I sent the dagger spinning toward the target. It moved on its own, reflecting pale sunlight as it spun, and then it found its mark with a satisfying crack.
Cold darkness gathered inside my heart as memories crashed against my walls, not wanting to stay outside.
Summoning a second dagger, I let it spin toward the second target.
Crack.
A third dagger materialized before me.
Blair juggled fireballs in her cage as a vampire woman spilled wine all over her. Blair dropped the fireballs, and the vamp guard let the whip sizzle through the air.
I sent the weapon spinning. The target split on contact. Wood shattered and ice fell to the ground.
I was only giving my loyalty to Olwen for revenge, not due to fuzzy feelings. Revenge was safe. I would destroy Vulthus for everything he had taken from me.
The tormenting images of Blair suffering left me. Adrenaline surged through my veins, and excitement filled my chest.
Revenge.
That was all I wanted.
Chapter 5
The next day my physical training began. It was very different from what Mr. Chad had taught in PE at Nocturnal Academy. Mr. Chad had been interested in ogling our legs and asses, which led to a lot of stretching and gymnastics in leotards. Here, on the other hand, I was to wear a full-body suit, and Atticus, who was my trainer, informed me that we’d first work on my stamina. This translated into him putting me through a daily morning and evening run around the mansion, after which he made me do countless push-ups and sit-ups in the cobblestone plaza.
“How am I ever going to defeat anyone by outdoing them in sit-ups?” I asked with frustration as sweat poured down my brow.
Atticus chuckled. “Have patience. We need to build up your muscles first. Without them, you won’t be able to hold a sword or bow and arrow for long. And your stamina will come in handy for using your ice power.”
I sighed, but continued reaching with my elbow for the opposite knee. If his training ensured that no one, fae or vampire, could ever harm me again, I was willing to follow Atticus’s instructions to a T.
I didn’t see much of Olwen over the next week of vigorous training. Sometimes I spotted him watching me for a minute or two before vanishing. He didn’t speak to me, which was fine. Training that would save my ass in the future was preferable to a sentimental father-daughter reunion.
At the end of each day, I tumbled into bed, my muscles aching. At least my bed was comfortable, allowing me to wake up refreshed every morning.
It also helped that I didn’t need to worry about fellow students or teachers picking on me. Atticus was tough, but never cruel.
But despite the betterment in my life, I wasn’t happy. Even the amazing view of the mountains couldn’t calm the restlessness within me. It would stay until I executed my revenge. Vulthus’s fear and suffering would bring me pleasure. An ugly monster lived in my heart, and every day it grew as I watered it with my memories of Vulthus sinking his fangs into my neck. The physical scars healed much too quickly. On the eighth day at Olwen’s mansion when I rubbed my fingers over my neck, there was only smooth skin. But while my body had recovered, my soul hadn’t. It wouldn’t until the monster was dead.
A loud knock on my bedroom door sounded, tearing me out of my thoughts.
“Onyx?” Thankfully, Atticus continued to call me by my name and not the preposterous title.
I opened the door. It was too early for our evening training session and I wasn’t sure I was up for running around the fortress three times.
“King Olwen wishes to see you in the main dining room for dinner.”
I tensed. This was a first in over a week. “I’ll be right down.”
Throwing on a baggy sweater, I headed into the main dining room. Like the Solstice Room, this room had an ice table and chairs with fur cushions, all illuminated in blue light from the inside. Despite this, the chairs weren’t cold to sit on and the food remained piping hot. The room didn’t feel too formal thanks to the pine wood walls and thick tomes nestled in shelves, probably describing the wonders of the faeland. Not that I had bothered to open a book since my arrival. Theory and fables wouldn’t protect me.
I sat down on the fur cushion opposite from King Olwen, who had put on a dark gray suit today that looked like an angry winter sky.
“Onyx,” he said in his low, authoritative voice. “I have attended a couple of outings with Lord Vulthus. I have yet to find a way to get you close to him, but you are to continue practicing your warrior skills. Atticus has informed me of your progress. It is time to take your training to the next level.” Olwen’s eyes were all business. I was here to take orders.
My fists balled, but I nodded.
“After dinner Atticus will outfit you with weapons.”
I felt my forehead wrinkle. “Weapons?”
“Yes. All Winter fae are warriors, even royalty,” Olwen said with pride.
A couple of fae servants swept into the room with trays of food, and my stomach rumbled. The smoked salmon, wild rice, and asparagus melted in my mouth. I ate as much as I wanted, knowing I needed the strength.
Olwen didn’t speak much during dinner, which was fine with me. This was a business relationship. He would teach me how to be strong and turn me into a killing machine.
At least my target was one I would enjoy destroying. For now. Who would Olwen ask me to assassinate after Vulthus?
I breathed out slowly. I didn’t need to worry about that yet. One step at a time.
But what if I couldn’t bring myself to end a life?
I could and I would. I was a warrior, and I had killed before. My tongue itched to tell Olwen how I had ended Prince Preston, but I held back. My gut told me that wasn’t a good idea.
After dessert, a delicious Creme Brulee, the fae servants took away our plates. I studied them. They all seemed polite and reserved, but none were scared. In fact, they appeared to be proud to serve Olwen. The knot in my chest eased. My father might be ruthless, but he wasn’t a tyrant. His people were glad to serve him.
Olwen dabbed his mouth with a silver cloth napkin and rose. “I must go out again and attend to business. Practice while I’m gone.”
Ice gathered in my fingertips at the order, but I nodded. My time would come soon enough.
“I will take you to the practice grounds.” Atticus gave me a small bow.
I followed Atticus out into the cool night and past the warrior ice statues. He led me down the trail and into the trees, which stood out as dark shadows against the dusk.
“Are you sure Vulthus won’t come out here?” I couldn’t take him in a fight, not yet.
“The grounds are spelled with fae magic. Olwen has invited Vulthus to his home, but not the grounds.”
“What if he can fly here?” I’d heard rumors at Nocturnal Academy that some ancient vampires had that ability.
Atticus shook his head. “Again, the protection would stop him. Also, Vulthus can’t fly. It’s not in his lineage.”
I blinked, understanding clicking into place. Was that why Vulthus was such an ass? And did it partially have to do with his rivalry with the Steinbergs? I thought I remembered reading that the Steinbergs were one of the few vampire families who had the ability to fly. Not that it mattered. Vulthus’s beef with the Steinbergs wasn’t my concern.
Atticus indicated for me to walk into the practice area, which was set up with stuffed dummies, swords, and even a bow and quiver resting at the edge. Warrior, indeed.
“King Olwen says that you must learn to combine your ice magic with standard weaponry,” Atticus instructed.
I began with the bow and arrow, grateful to have someone with me out here. Shooting the dummies in the heart was pretty easy, and Atticus nodded in approval. “Now try ice with it. What if you run out of arrows or have to quickly aim at a moving target?”
He had a good point. Breathing out, I summoned my rage as I thought of Vulthus standing before me. Next to him appeared Peony’s face, and to her right was Mei Wu’s, followed by Lady Cardinal, then Mr. Chad, and Lord Sullivan. All the people who hurt me stood around me in a circle, staring from the trees. Peony twirled a blond curl while Vulthus bared his fangs, eyes hungry for blood and torture. On my next inhale, I gathered floating ice and formed an arrow before me. Seizing it, I placed it on the bowstring and pulled back.
The arrow let loose, carrying my rage, and struck the next dummy in the heart. Ice spiderwebbed out. The dummy’s fabric chest hardened and shattered, leaving a gaping hole through which straw poured out onto the ground.
Atticus rushed over to stand beside me. “Onyx, that was impressive.”
“I don’t know how I did it,” I admitted, backing away. Had I really turned one material into another? I could not only summon ice, but turn solid objects into it?
A twig snapped behind us.
We both whirled as my back prickled. “Who’s there?” I shouted into the trees, but no fear bloomed in my chest. I was in control.
A dark figure, almost invisible, sidestepped through the trees. My senses sharpened.
“Show yourself!”
“Onyx,” Atticus said in warning.
Vulthus. It had to be. Or a spy. Maybe it was even Mei, upset I’d ruined her reputation.
I summoned a second ice arrow and moved it into place. “I’ll kill any vamp who sets foot near me!” Then I fired the shimmering arrow into the trees.
Underbrush crashed as the dark figure fled. The arrow thunked into a tree as all movement ceased. No footfalls followed. I blinked. All movement had stopped and there was plenty of space between the bare trunks of the pine trees, leaving nowhere to hide. Anyone fleeing couldn’t have left that fast, not even a vamp.
“Onyx. We must go inside,” Atticus said, taking my arm.
“I thought you said it was safe out here!” My anger remained, and I clutched the bow hard.
He pulled on my arm. “It’s as safe as it can be, but all magic has loopholes. Hurry.”
A shudder ran down my spine, and I broke out into a run back up the trail, Atticus behind me, protecting my back. And once again, I found myself worried about someone else besides me. What if it was discovered that Atticus was my personal guard? Despite my efforts to remain indifferent to him, I had gotten used to his company and came to think of him as a friend. If someone captured him...no, I couldn’t think like that. Atticus would be fine. He wasn’t Lily or Blair. He was a pureblooded fae warrior under Olwen’s protection.
Atticus tapped something out on his ph
one as we crossed the cobblestone plaza with the statues. A few hours had passed while I practiced, and now the sky was dark, the bright moon hanging overhead.
Olwen, must’ve returned from his business a while ago, because he shoved open the back doors to the large stone castle and motioned for us to hurry.
“Does Vulthus know I’m here?” I squared my shoulders as I reached Olwen.
Olwen gave me a serious stare as his dark blue eyes bored into my own. “No.” There was a moment of hesitation on his face, but it passed as quickly as it had appeared, and then he snapped, “Practice inside the basement gym from now on.”
“Has Vulthus come back?” I needed answers.
Olwen’s temple twitched. “Not since our last meeting. I reassured him. Don’t worry about him.”
But I did worry. The king of the sadists wanted me. He’d take his time breaking me if he ever got his paws on me. “Is there anything I need to know?”
“Go inside.” Olwen pointed to the door, his tone leaving no room for arguments. Why was he avoiding my questions? I looked at Atticus, but he just gave a tiny shake of his head, telling me to drop it.
As I headed through the door, I lowered my bow and sneaked a peek over my shoulder at the forest. The only way to reach the training plaza should’ve been through the forest, not from the other side where the brutal and unforgiving cliff cut off the path. And yet, someone had approached from that direction. I was sure of it. Someone had been out there.
Covered in sweat, I dropped my bow in the basement gym, which was just as decked out as the training yard. More ice filled me. Once again, I was stuck in a prison, training to become what someone else wanted. Being kept in the dark.
I had almost killed whoever or whatever was out there.
What if it had been Thorsten? He was a Steinberg. But he was a young vampire, and young vampires rarely had amazing powers. He couldn’t fly. And he was done with me. Unless...unless he wasn’t.
I summoned rage, but it was no use. The image of his beautiful arctic eyes and his well-built form sent warmth through my limbs, chasing away the black ice. I forced my feet to move until I reached the basement gym. If Vulthus had sent one of his men, they wouldn’t have hesitated to strike, either killing or kidnapping me. Or maybe not. Maybe his vamp guard only had the order to spy on me.
Savage Monarchs (A New Adult Prison Academy Novel) (Nocturnal Academy Book 3) Page 4