by J. M. Kearl
“You don’t know how to fight against that. Without us, on the last day of the blood moon, Winter will take your women and murder your men for their magic and there is nothing you can do about it.”
My stomach began to churn. He was right. Nimblewatt said no one believed him. King Enden hadn’t believed me. My vision showed them here. And I had no way of knowing how to fight against Fae glamour magic without their help. “Why can’t I kill the Winter King the night of the rituals? Why would I need to go to the faerie realm?”
“He won’t leave faerie. He’s been locked deep within the Winter Court for hundreds of years, since the prophecy came about. It’s Astaroth who does his dirty work.”
“Ugh this isn’t just a red moon that causes famine and other problems here,” I said as everything settled into my mind. “It’s a cursed Fae moon.”
Firo nodded. “Yes, and during this time ancient magic that runs in certain families can unlock in everyone. It’s why the Hesstian Prince is a wolf shifter and why your extensive magical power is growing.”
“And once the faerie moon passes?” Zyacus asked.
“Sorry, you’re stuck with the fur and tail, Prince,” Firo answered as if it weren’t a big deal.
Zyacus let a low growl rumble in his throat.
Buzzing with anxiety I ran my hands through my hair and began pacing. If I went to the faerie realm could I come back? He’d said the two realms only collide during the blood moon every five hundred years. I didn’t want to be trapped there. And if the Winter King stayed deep within his kingdom, how could I even get to him? What if the prophecy was wrong? What if they had the wrong girl?
While I paced in misery, Zyacus said, “Here’s what I don’t understand. If your kind can travel through portals, we saw a Fae man months ago before this,” he pointed at the moon, “so the winter prince and others can come any time it would seem, why wait for the blood moon?”
Out of the corner of my eye Firo watched me. He looked worried. Perhaps worried I wouldn’t help them. Worried we’d risk fighting the ritual on our own. But how could I be so selfish? If I could save countless people from a fight or being stolen away or murdered for their magic, how could I not take this deal?
Folding his arms, Firo said, “It’s the only time the magic siphoning ritual can happen. And they choose new brides every five hundred years because most of their previous women are dead or can no longer bear children. The blood moon also makes the marriage binding magic stronger so the women never leave. They are drawn to their Fae lords through the magic even when the glamour wears off.”
“Wait,” I snapped my head to look at him. “If Helios came to retrieve the scepter then your court must have paid them to attack us… you’re the reason Aric is a vampire.”
Aric curled his lips back, revealing fangs.
“No,” Firo said, holding up his hands. “That wasn’t our doing. I’m not privy to the details but vampires are part of the Night Court. It would have come from them.”
“But Helios was the one who was here,” Zyacus’s hands sparked with blue fire.
“I know with certainty the scepter was stolen from Summer. You’d have to ask Helios how he knew where to find it, but I can assure you we have no reason to attack you. There’s enough conflict in faerie.”
This nightmare only seemed to get worse. We could risk fighting the rituals ourselves and perhaps have our loved ones stolen away and forgotten, or I could join the Summer Court with a vow to kill the Winter King. The thought made me sick. Somehow I, still a student trying to hone her skills, was supposed to kill the Winter King, the most powerful Fae in all the realms.
Chapter 25
I kept pacing back and forth while Firo and Dain waited for my response. “So will you come with us to faerie?” they’d asked.
“No, she’s not going,” Zyacus growled.
“No way!” Taz bellowed.
Aric shook his head. “Absolutely not.”
Good pixie when did they all speak and make decisions for me? I didn’t know what to say. This all happened so fast. “I need time to think about this.” My visions had never been wrong but I had to at least try something.
Firo nodded. “You have until tomorrow at midnight, when we will have Helios, the Summer Prince, here to make a deal.”
“I need three days.”
“Fine.”
I said nothing as I turned and walked toward the academy. With a hand over my belly, hoping some warm healing magic would calm me, I trudged ahead not slowing for the others.
Zyacus spelled next to me and fell into step. “Visteal, you cannot be seriously thinking about taking this deal. Let us fight the Fae when they come. We can beat them.”
“You heard Nimblewatt. Not to mention my vision. They can take control of our minds somehow. Only other Fae know how to stop that.” I walked even faster now. I felt like running, running until I couldn’t think of anything but the pain burning my lungs and legs. “And we experienced what Astraoth did when we saw him outside the academy walls. He controlled four of us like puppets.”
“But we could try kirune against them. It could take away their magic.”
“And us using kirune weapons would take away our magic in the process. That’s assuming we don’t lose our will power and minds to them.”
“We take their magic and their glamour mind control power should go too. And we train without magic regularly. I’m willing to risk that fight,” Zyacus said, “I won’t risk losing you.”
“I’m not so sure I’m willing to risk our people when I can do something.”
Zyacus pulled me to a stop and gripped my arms lightly. “Please don’t do this. Please. We’ll find a way.”
I wrapped my arms around him, squeezing hard. “Like I said, I need to think.”
“Then think while we lay out and watch the stars. I need to tell you what it’s like as a wolf.”
I wanted to but I was so antsy I could barely hold still. “I need to run. I have so much pent up energy.”
He nodded as if he knew the feeling. “Around the perimeter?”
“Race you,” I said and bolted by Taz and Aric who looked confused but didn’t follow.
∞∞∞
We ran around the entire academy grounds, about five miles until I finally collapsed into a soft field of grass. I laid looking up at the stars, my chest rising and falling rapidly. The pain of running had briefly taken my mind off everything. I didn’t think, didn’t feel, but as I caught my breath and the aching in my legs wore off I was bombarded with the choice I had to make.
Zyacus rolled next to me, resting his head against mine. “You’re fast for a girl.”
“Hush up,” I said, smacking his chest with the back of my hand. “How about I’m just fast.”
“You’re fast, Princess,” he amended. The both of us were quiet for a moment. A warm breeze brought the smell of wildflowers. Night bugs chirped, filling the silence. “If you go, I’m going with you.”
I was both relieved and worried. Taking him to faerie was unknown and I knew without doubt, dangerous, but to have him with me would make it bearable. “They only want me. You don’t need to risk your life.”
With a tsk, he grabbed my hand and interlocked our fingers. “What better reason could I ever have to risk my life than for you?”
Turning my head we locked eyes. “I’m scared,” I whispered.
“Me too,” he said. “Scared of losing you.”
I curled into him, resting my head on his chest. We spent the night making wishes on falling stars. Talking about what it would be like to go live on the beach and soak up the sun and drink out of coconuts while tropical pixies fanned us with palm tree branches and fed us fruit.
He told me changing into a wolf was the most bizarre and yet amazing thing he’s ever experienced. All his senses were heightened; he could see further, hear better, move faster, and his drive to protect me grew to a level he couldn’t control.
“It was almost a raging jealou
sy. I didn’t want any of them near you. Not even Taz or Aric.”
“Taz wondered if you wanted to eat him,” I said and giggled. “I can’t believe you’re part wolf.”
“I’m still trying to process it myself,” Zyacus murmured.
After a moment I asked, “They said it was a bloodline trait. Which side of your family do you suppose? And will there be others, do you think?”
“If I had to guess, my mother’s. I also don’t see why I’d be the only one.”
I sat up and looked him in the face. “Do you think this means you’ll have a prolonged life? That you live longer like me?”
His winter blue eyes sparkled in the starlight. A corner of his mouth tugged up. “Wouldn’t that be lovely. More time with you.” He pulled me toward his mouth and after kissing lips and necks and nibbling earlobes, we forced ourselves to stop before our desire overwhelmed us. He ran soft fingers along my back until I fell asleep in the warm comfort of his embrace.
Chapter 26
For two days I hardly slept. Dozing off a few times only to be woken by night terrors of the Fae taking me and no one remembering my existence. No one to mourn my absence.
During the day I focused on my studies and worked so hard training for the tournament, that I collapsed from exhaustion and a cracked rib. The first day I’d trained with Zyacus. The second, I took turns training with Aric and Legacy. Legacy was the one who cracked a rib. Aric had been spectating. Talk about the awkwardness in the room since he and Legacy wouldn’t say a word directly to each other but both of them insisted on training with me… One of them had to give.
I could have healed it myself but I was so weak I couldn’t even lift my arms. Lack of our usual food and hardly any rest had taken its toll. As Aric lifted me into his arms, he said, “You won’t be able to fight in the tournament tomorrow if you don’t get some sleep.”
I sighed, “I’ve tried.”
Legacy hurried to catch up when Aric made for the exit. “Maybe you should sleep with Zyacus.”
Aric looked at Legacy. “Yes, I’m sure sex is the cure for all her problems.”
“I didn’t say sex,” Legacy bit out. “I meant, sleep next to him. You said the night you two laid outside together was the last time you slept. Maybe being around him comforts you, I don’t know.”
When we reached the infirmary, Legacy shoved the door open and held it for us. Aric set me down on a bed.
“I’m going to get you something to drink and eat,” Legacy said and hurried off.
“She may be right about being with Z.”
I caught myself in a mirror across the room. Around my eyes had darkened and my cheeks looked slightly gaunt. I’m a total mess. “Where is he? Why didn’t he come to train with us again?” I couldn’t remember the reasoning when Aric showed up instead of him.
“Kingdom business,” he answered.
A healer approached us and her stern gaze fell from Aric to me. “What happened?”
“I think my rib may be broken,” I said, with my side feeling like it was on fire. My body felt so heavy, like I could melt into the soft bed I rested on.
“She’s also not sleeping.” Aric looked at me for only a moment then back to the healer. “Or eating enough.”
“Well, food is rationed but the princess shouldn’t be without enough,” the healer said, tucking her brown hair behind her ear. “I’ll get you a healing potion, something to eat, and a sleeping tonic.”
My heavy eyes shot wide. “A sleeping tonic? No, I don’t want that.” I didn’t want to be drugged and forced to sleep. Legacy had tried to force me to sleep with the spell and I’d woken minutes later screaming from a night terror.
“It’s nothing bad dear. It will only help you get some rest,” then she walked away before I could say anything further against it.
Legacy came back with a muffin. She shoved a chunk in my mouth before I could even ask. It really hadn’t been that long since I’d had a muffin but as the sweet berry flavor burst on my tongue it felt like forever.
“Where did you get that?” Aric asked, his voice didn’t have its usual Legacy-edge.
Lifting her hazel eyes to him, she half smiled. “I’ve had a secret stash preserved for emergencies.”
I sipped a healing potion through a straw and watched the walls between them slowly come down. “That was smart,” Aric said. “Uh, how have your classes been this year?”
They talked for a while and the dissolving tension between them made me feel better. As did the food, relaxation, and healing potion. I sat up and stretched ready to get back to training.
Legacy reached for me. “You need to rest. Just take the sleeping tonic.”
I looked at the clear drink beside the bed that could have been water. “No, I’ll be fine. Let’s get in a little more training before I have to fight tomorrow.”
“Dragon’s breath, you’re stubborn.” Legacy rolled her eyes. “Don’t make me get Bindy or Zyacus.”
“Don’t get me for what?” Zyacus asked, strolling into the room with his usual cocky swagger. I’d come to realize that was just the way he walked.
After both Aric and Legacy talked about me like I wasn’t even there, explaining all of my supposed ailments, I shot to my feet. “Fine I’ll go try to get some sleep.”
As I headed for the door I caught Aric giving Zyacus a shove toward me. Not that he needed prompting. He swatted at Aric’s hand, and the vampire prince laughed. At least his mood lightened since he’d somewhat made up with Legacy.
When we entered the hallway, Zyacus put an arm around my waist. “If you wanted me to sleep with you to chase away nightmares, all you had to do was say so, princess.”
Truthfully I was too tired for witty banter. So I laid my head against him. Without questions he scooped me up and spelled to his room. There he set me on the bed. Climbing in and drawing the blanket over us, we curled into each other and within minutes I was lost in dreamland.
When I woke it was dark. A small candle gave off a little light as did the stars shining through the window. The treacherous Fae moon bathed the room with a scarlet tint, reminding me why I’d had trouble falling asleep before. I placed my hand on the steady rise and fall of Zyacus’s chest. Being near him calmed me, somehow set me at ease when nothing else would.
His cat sat balled up in the corner watching me with huge yellow eyes. A low growling whine traveled across the room.
“Creep,” I muttered.
“Wench,” Penelope retorted.
Stupid cat. I laid there for a while, enjoying his attractive manly scent and the way the nearness of him made my belly warm. I looked across at the other bed hoping his roommate wouldn’t go spreading rumors but it was neatly made, nobody under the blanket. On further inspection, I wondered if he even had a roommate this year. All the stuff in the room looked to belong to Zyacus.
Well that’s a relief. Carefully, I crept over Zyacus, freezing when he twitched and then hopped onto the floor. I folded my arms and stood before the window. I smiled as a pair of pixies trailing blue and gold glitter twirled and danced in the air. For a moment I felt at peace and then I noticed that wretched thorned cage. It had moved yet again, haunting me like a ghost set on revenge. Music suddenly drifted on the air, a beautiful tune I’d never heard before. Fatigue overwhelmed me as the soft melody played. I laid on the cool stone floor and closed my eyes.
“Where are you going?”
I jerked awake, standing in the hallway of the Hesstian boys’ dorms with Zyacus’s hand wrapped around my wrist. Panic shot through me, I didn’t remember opening the door, I’d just laid on the floor and… “That cursed crown won’t leave me be.”
I hurried back into Zyacus’s room, hugging my arms around myself.
He followed in and closed the door. “What are you talking about?”
“I heard the lullaby. The girl was walking in her sleep,” Penelope added, perched on the top of Zyacus’s dresser.
The cat heard it too? I finally told Zyacu
s that the thing had been calling to me since the day it appeared. I’d sleepwalked twice to get to it. It desperately wanted me to wear it.
His face twisted in concern. “I think you need to stay with me from now on.”
“Oh, joy,” Penelope muttered.
Zyacus shushed her. “I don’t know what it means if you put that crown on but I know it won’t be good.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. We laid in bed again. This time his arms locked around my waist and I knew I wouldn’t be going anywhere.
∞∞∞
I stood before the doors of the arena entry. It was my time to shine in the tournament. The crowd chanted “Hess-ti-a” over and over. Apparently the Hesstian boy in the match before me had been victorious.
My grandfather stood beside me, as we waited for my turn. My entire body was charged with excitement and nerves. I bounced on my toes, sword in hand, electric volts bouncing between my fingers.
“I’m very proud of you,” Papa said, giving me a warm, eye crinkling smile. “You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are. You’re a Sixth Year in a tournament usually reserved for seventh-year students, and I know you are destined for the title Tournament Champion.”
“Thank you, Papa.” I grinned, hoping he was correct. I’d wanted that title ever since I was a little girl. All Academy students wanted to be Tournament Champion. Some might think as a princess I was born to privilege and things would just happen for me, that I didn’t have to earn anything. But being named Tournament Champion couldn’t be given to anyone without merit. It had to be taken, and only the best could attain that status.
“Your parents are here, by the way. They’re incognito but watching from the stands.”
My chest swelled with pride. My parents had come to watch my first real tournament. I had to perform well.
The arena doors opened and the Hesstian boy came through, grinning. “Good luck, Princess,” he said as he passed us by.