Curse of the Fae Moon: Allied Kingdoms Academy Book 2

by J. M. Kearl

  She didn’t have to tell me twice. I wanted to destroy it, not wear it. But worry haunted me. Even now I felt the pull from the crown in the orchards. I hadn’t sleepwalked again but I’d dreamed of it. “I won’t touch it.”

  “Good.” Madison walked closer to the sparring match. “Now go to class.”

  I hurried to herbology. Legacy wasn’t there. She was really angry enough with me not to show up to class apparently.

  Nimblewatt lectured on plants we could eat outside of what we grow for food. Plants that hadn’t been affected by the blood moon. During the rest of my classes I had a difficult time focusing. My mind continually drifted to my crown, to the Fae Prick, to the bargain I made, to my now urgent need to find Atticus.

  All the worry made me want to go run away with Zyacus. Runaway and fall in love and just be together with no pressure of ruling our lands or saving our people. When he asked me last year if I’d ever thought of giving up my crown before, I couldn’t fathom why. But now I could. Then I pictured Legacy and Lora brides of Fae lord’s if I didn’t hold up my end of the deal. Legacy especially was beautiful and powerful; she would be an optimal choice. All thoughts of running vanished. That’s what a coward would do, and I was no coward.

  After my last class I hunted Sir Gideon down and told him we needed to find Atticus.

  “I have been looking for him,” Sir Gideon said. “I am glad you have finally started to care that your guardian cat is missing.” His usual sardonic tone hit me hard.

  “I’m sorry I should have looked for him sooner. I’ve just been… busy.” I carried the needed bowl under my arm. “When I asked for his help I didn’t know it would be dangerous. I thought he’d gossip with the other cats or something, not disappear.”

  Sir Gideon trotted into the cat door and I shoved into number eleven. I set the bowl down, conjured water to fill it, and plucked another white cat hair from my blanket, dropping it in.

  “How do you know that is not my hair?” Sir Gideon asked, twitching his fluffy tail.

  “I guess I don’t but we’ll see in a moment. If I remember right,” I said, putting my fingers at my temples as if they would bring the memory to my mind, “the spell is, viniaro estuada.”

  The bowl’s water swirled and an image began to appear. At first it was hazy but when it cleared my gut twisted. Poor Atticus was locked in a cage… of blue thorned vines.

  This is all my fault.

  His usually brilliantly white fur had patches of black and brown soot. Those big green orbs of his dropped with sadness, breaking my heart a little. Then a sharp pain hit my chest; a feminine hand reached over and scooped him up. Now sitting in her lap the girl came into full view.

  “Holy Phoenix.” It suddenly became hard for me to breathe. The room started to spin. I clutched at my chest. No, no, no. “Legacy,” I choked out.

  “Hold on, Atticus and the princess’s cousin. We will find you,” Sir Gideon said telepathically. The scrying spell didn’t communicate both ways but perhaps the cats could still hear each other.

  Sir Gideon turned his head toward me. “Where is that? Who would trap him?”

  I tried to find anything distinguishing in the background to give the location away but the twisting vines took up the entire image. Although I knew who I had to find to get Legacy and Atticus back. The Prince of the Night and Winter courts. Astaroth Nightfrost.

  Chapter 30

  I sprinted down the steps and outside. The pounding of my feet drowned out the chatting students as I raced by. I slowed when I reached the dead orchards to find that cursed crown. I knew if I held it in my hands the Winter Prick would show.

  As my boots crunched over crusty leaves and dry branches, I searched for the cage of thorns. Of course it wouldn’t just appear when I actually want to find it.

  Panic rising in me the longer it took, I whirled in a circle wondering where I’d last seen it. What if he took Legacy in my stead? What if I can’t get to her?

  A black crow cawed above, watching me dash about in circles.

  As my hopes began to falter, the glitter of black jewels caught my eye. I spelled in front of it several yards away. Kneeling down, I didn’t even hesitate to reach inside this time. But I did take care not to touch the thorns as I wrapped my fingers around it and carefully pulled it out of the opening.

  The cage melted into a puddle of goo and black mist appeared out of nowhere, growing and swirling around my feet. I braced myself for his return.

  His evil, beautiful laugh came through the mist before he did. When he stepped in front of me, my heart hammered. This might have been a mistake.

  “Princess,” he cooed. “We meet again.”

  “Give her back,” I demanded with trembling hands. “And my cat.”

  He grew a sadistic smile. “You resisted my charms longer than I would have liked. But the girl played right into my plans.”

  “Give. Her. Back.”

  “Wear the crown,” he countered.

  I gripped it tighter. “No.”

  “Then you shall never see your cousin or that nuisance of a cat again.” He stared into my eyes with such malice, I knew he spoke the truth. I would never see them again if I didn’t do as he commanded.

  “Why should I wear it? What will it do?”

  He placed his hands behind his back and walked around me. “Give you immense power. Power you can’t otherwise have.” He stopped and held my stare. “And give you the ability to fulfill the prophecy.”

  Just like Madison said. Stay away from him; he’s evil. “I won’t do it.”

  He cocked his head. “Then they will die.”

  “No,” I pleaded. “Isn’t there something else you want?”

  “Wear the crown. Or they die. The choice is yours.”

  Pulse crashing irregularly, tears came to my eyes, and I brought the crown above my head. “I’ll make a deal. If I put the crown on then you must return Legacy and Atticus immediately, unharmed to this academy.”

  He nodded. “Wear the crown and they will be returned as requested, unharmed and immediately.”

  I took a deep breath. I had no idea what I was in for but it couldn’t be worse than losing Legacy and Atticus. The moment the cool metal touched my head a warm sensation traveled down my neck and to my arms. Then cold, burning cold, seared at the center of my forearms. I sucked in a breath and looked down. A three-inch black band with glitter that looked like stars had tattooed around my left arm. My right had a blue band with white snowflakes blowing across my marked skin.

  I didn’t even want to ask but I had to. “What is this?”

  “What the Summer Court neglected to tell you about the prophecy when they made their bargain—“

  I knew it. I knew they tricked me.

  “Was that the human princess would be the wife of a powerful faerie. And I deduced the only way you will be able to kill my father is if that faerie were... me.” His dark tone held the slightest bit of humor. He enjoyed torturing me.

  I couldn’t believe the words coming out of Astaroth’s mouth. Married to a Fae? To him?

  “There’s simply no other way you could get into the Winter Court alive.”

  “I will never marry you,” I said with all the disgust I could muster. “And I already made a deal with Helios, your enemy.”

  Astaroth shrugged and waved his hand. A black ringed portal appeared. “Here are your friends.” He curled his finger.

  Legacy stepped through holding Atticus. Her eyes moved back and forth between us. Leaping down from Legacy’s arms, Atticus darted in front of me and hissed at Astaroth. “Leave her be,” my cat said.

  “Vis! What have you done?!” she exclaimed, tears burst from her eyes. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry. I should have stayed away.”

  Astaroth rolled his eyes. “She saved your life, girl and cat.” He stepped in front of me and touched the tattooed bands around my forearms. “Now everyone will know you belong to me. You can go with the Summer Court, they’ll want to train you and t
hat’s fine. But I’ll come when the time is right and no one will try to stop me.”

  I was suddenly so nauseous and weak I could pass out. I reached for and grabbed onto Legacy for balance. “I don’t understand why you would want the prophecy fulfilled. The Winter King is your father.”

  Astaroth narrowed his eyes. “And the bastard needs to die.”

  ∞∞∞

  The Winter Prince left my head spinning as Legacy and I walked back into the academy. Branded. I couldn’t believe he’d branded me like some animal. And he expected me to marry him? He could pretend I was his wife to get me into the winter court but I’d never agree to it. Never.

  How could I tell Zyacus about this? It’s not like I could hide my new tattoos. He would be devastated. I was devastated. A wedding hadn’t been planned for Zyacus and me or anything but if I planned to marry anyone it would be him. Not that scoundrel.

  Before Legacy and I could even make it to our room, we ran into Zyacus and Aric in the hallway.

  His eyes went from the crown on my head to the Astaroth’s brand. “What is that?”

  Tears I’d been holding back streamed down my face. Not only had I made a bargain with the Summer Court Fae, but I’d made a second one with the Winter Prick to save Legacy. How could I have gotten myself into all this mess?

  “We should find somewhere private to talk,” Legacy said.

  Students stared passing by, whispering behind their hands as the Princess of Delhoon had a public breakdown.

  When we got to Zyacus’s room I tossed the crown, and dove on his bed. I buried my face into the pillow to cry while Legacy told him and Aric what happened. Atticus climbed onto my back and sat there, purring. For once Zyacus’s cat Penelope didn’t growl at me or have a rude comment.

  “How did you get taken by him in the first place?” Aric asked.

  There was a long pause before Legacy answered. I peeked up from the pillow; I wanted to know too.

  “When I ran off, I went to the orchards and I saw Visteal’s crown… I don’t know; it drew me there somehow. I wanted to get it for her, it-er he, Astaroth convinced me I needed to help her. Then when I touched it, Astroth appeared and took me. I was blind folded so I never saw anything except the room I was in with Atticus.”

  Pulling me onto his lap, Zyacus grabbed my wrists and forced me to look at him. “You will not have to marry him. I don’t care what I have to do, I’ll find a way to remove his claim.” He ran his thumbs over the tattoos with an angry gaze. “We’ll find a way.”

  I nodded, wiping tears from my cheeks. “You’re not upset with me?”

  Zyacus’s face softened and he lightly pressed his lips to mine. “Of course I’m not.” His gaze traveled to Aric and Legacy then back to me. Blue eyes searching mine, he took a deep breath and said, “I love you, Visteal.”

  My breath caught, and my stomach started to do funny things as I replayed those words over and over in my head. He loves me. He. Loves. Me.

  Both Legacy and Aric inched toward the door. “Uh, we’re going to go,” Aric said and they both hurriedly exited.

  I turned my complete attention back to Zyacus. I didn’t know if I could say it back. The words were caught in my throat. Tell him you love him. Tell him. Truth: I was scared. To let that wall down was scarier than fighting trolls. More terrifying than going to faerie. I couldn’t even say why for certain. I just knew I could mend from a physical wound; we had healing potion for that, but the heartbreak that Zyacus could destroy me with… I would never recover from.

  “I love you,” he said again, his voice husky and deep. “And I don’t know if you feel the same, but all I know is that I’d go with you anywhere, do anything for you. I won’t let the Winter Prince take you from me.”

  I couldn’t find the words so I kissed him, hard and passionately. We laid down and with my head rested on his chest, I said, “I would do anything for you too.”

  Chapter 31

  Seven days later.

  The Fae never came. The ritual never happened. Taron didn’t die, no one died. No brides were taken. For the first time in my life, my vision hadn’t come to pass. It was hard to believe that with one bargain all the worry and fear I’d had was over. I kept waiting for them to show up, to try to kill Taron, to steal our women but they hadn’t. I wasn’t sure if it had something to do with the faerie magic but I’d found a way to change the outcome. Madison was right. This gave me hope, hope that my curse could actually be a gift. This proved that if I saw someone’s death it wasn’t set in stone. There was a way.

  The Summer Court had held up their end of the deal and now I had to hold up mine or risk being struck dead or something. I wrote two long letters. One for my mother and father. And one for Madison and Papa. They needed to know the truth. If I never came home I couldn’t let them always wonder what happened to me. Why I’d suddenly disappeared without a trace. I couldn’t do that to them.

  I wrote a shorter one to my brothers. Telling them I loved them and to be good and I’d hopefully seen them soon. And finally to Bindy, she’d be so angry but she’d understand. I held each one in my hands as I drug my loaded trunk out of the closet.

  Legacy lunged at me, wrapping her arms so tight I couldn’t breathe. We both cried. “I should be going with you,” she sobbed.

  “No you shouldn’t. Stay here and make sure my parents know what happened. Convince them not to come after me.”

  She nodded. “I’ll try. And you better come back,” Legacy choked out.

  “I will,” I said, wiping my tears. “Send these letters as soon as I’m gone. Don’t forget.”

  With tear-filled eyes, she took the envelopes. “You don’t think we’ll be able to communicate when you’re in faerie?”

  “I don’t know but I can’t risk it. As soon as I’m gone. Send the letters.”

  “As soon as you’re gone,” she repeated. “I won’t forget.”

  Strapped with every single weapon I owned, the bow I’d won from the scavenger hunt included, I felt ready. Ready as I could be. My trunk was filled with more weapons, clothes for every occasion and season, a few poisonous plants (one never knew when those could come in handy), healing potions and salves, and some food and drink. A bottle of my family’s famous honey mead (one never knew when that would come in handy either).

  “Where’s Sir Gideon?” I asked, looking around the room. “I’d hoped to say goodbye to him.”

  Legacy frowned. “I haven’t seen him. Have you Atticus?”

  Atticus bumped against my legs. “I am not sure of his whereabouts but he mentioned going home. Be careful, Princess. Come back to us.”

  I heaved a sigh and said, “Well, I’ve stalled long enough. Helios is waiting for me.”

  “See you soon,” Legacy said as if saying so might make it so.

  “Bye, cousin. Love you.” Then I spelled to the orchards. One day after the Fae moon ended, the trees already had green leaves sprouting. The vegetation that had died was returning. Not far off I saw Taron standing with a group of friends. Alive and well. At least I got to see with my own eyes that this realm began to recover.

  Helios stood with a hand on the hilt of his sword. Zyacus, Aric and Taz near him, waiting for me. “Are you ready?” Helios asked.

  I wanted to rip his head off, but I couldn’t. I’d made a bargain. “You lied to me.”

  “Fae cannot lie.” Helios’s brows furrowed then his gaze fell to the tattoos on my forearms. “Does he know of our bargain? Does he know you’re the one from the prophecy?”

  “He does,” I said, folding my arms. “Apparently he wants the Winter King dead as much as you do.”

  No shock or any sort of feeling revealed on the Summer Prince’s face. “Come,” Helios said, opening the portal to his realm. “There is much you need to learn about the ways of the Fae.”

  Taking hold of my trunk with one hand, Zyacus took the other. As we stepped through into the faerie realm, I turned back to look at the academy, to my home, one last time. I did
n’t know if I’d ever see it again.

  ∞∞∞

  The End… until the next book: Curse of the Cruel and Lovely available for preorder on Amazon

  Other books by J.M. Kearl:

  The prequel trilogy RISE (book 1)

  WRATH (book 2)

  RIVAL (book 3)

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  Books By This Author

  Rise Book 1

  The prequel trilogy to the Allied Kingdoms Academy series

  Wrath (Rise book 2)

  Rival (Rise book 3)

  Curse of Blood and Shadow: Allied Kingdoms Academy 1

  About The Author

  J.M. Kearl

  J.M. Kearl is an award winning author who has been writing since 2005. She published her first book RISE in 2018. She loves fantasy and is a sucker for a good romance, which is exactly what she writes. She's a mother of a little girl, a baby boy, and is married to a great guy. Currently she resides in Idaho with her family, but is usually dreaming of somewhere tropical.