by J. M. Kearl
She was dying.
I didn’t know from what but I placed my hands against her sternum and the warmth of healing magic radiated from my palms.
The man knelt beside us. “She’s been poisoned.” He touched her lips. “Gravus root.”
The purple-haired woman’s hand flew to her mouth. “We need the antidote.”
I didn’t know what the poison was but my magic should cure her, shouldn’t it? Or was withdrawing poison different? I remembered something about that in one of my classes but what? When her shallow breathing didn’t improve after a few moments I pulled my hands away. It wasn’t working.
I wracked my mind to remember. I pictured Professor Hardoc standing at the front of the classroom. The book in front of me was open to page ninety-two—what was on it? What. Was. On. It.
“Get Astaroth!” the man barked at the woman.
Poison—poison extraction—I pulled at my hair. The information was in my head somewhere. Visteal’s lips darkened by the moment. They were navy blue now. I wanted to scream at her to wake up. Vivenar—that was the magical word for poison. I hovered my hand over her face and thought, vivenar come forth. Minuscule black droplets slowly rose out her mouth and nose. Some even through the pores of her skin.
When nothing else came forth I drew the liquid into one ball between my palms and tossed it to the floor. A small puddle formed.
I grabbed Visteal by the back of the head and cradled her in my lap. Stroking her sweat-soaked hair, I willed her to come back to me. Please, my love. I couldn’t have been too late. She had to wake up.
The blue-skinned Fae watched me with curiosity and caution. “You are him.”
I hadn’t the slightest idea what he meant. “Who do you mean?” I lifted my eyes to him for a brief moment then back to Visteal. She drew in deeper breaths. The color of her lips changed to a dusty rose.
“The wolf shifter she talked about. Prince Zyacus.”
Who was this man? She had told him about me? Why? I opened my mouth to ask when the Winter Prince appeared in wisps of black smoke.
He shoved me aside without even touching me and lifted Visteal into his arms. Then he disappeared with her.
I slammed my fist on the ground and jumped up. “Where did he take her?”
Visteal
I opened my eyes and looked up at the Winter Prince’s face. “Ugh, it’s you.” I’d run into a Prince’s arms just not the Prince I had thought. I knew I’d been hallucinating.
Astaroth dropped me on a bed without an ounce of care and stood back, arms folded. “I thought you were poisoned? Was this a rouse to get my attention? If it were, you’re pathetic.”
I almost gagged. “I was poisoned. The last thing I’d ever do is fake something like that for anyone’s attention let alone yours.” I sat up, no longer feeling any effects of it. “One of those sisters did it no doubt.”
Astaroth took a seat in a high-backed chair, rhythmically clicking his black nails against the armrest. “And here I thought I needed to give you an antidote.”
I thought back for a moment. “You didn’t?” I swore I heard someone remove the poison.
He shook his head and pushed up from his chair.
“Well, someone saved me.”
After telling his guard to fetch Bastian, he returned. “I’ll make certain only one servant I trust serves you from now on. I can’t have you dying on me before you do what needs to be done.”
I wandered to the fireplace and leaned against it. My eyes unfocused watching the flames flicker. I couldn’t believe they’d tried to poison me. Some payback was in order. Except I wouldn’t be a coward and hide what I was going to do. She’s going to know without a doubt it was me.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Astaroth asked. “You look angry.”
I half laughed. Angry? I was more than angry. “None of your concern.”
Zyacus
A small group of people started to gather, and the Fae man tilted his head toward a door. I followed him through it. We ended up in a hallway alone. “Be careful young Prince. We cannot jeopardize this situation. I will find out where she is.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Bastian.”
I heard footsteps and turned to a pair of guards. They bowed to Bastian. “Sir, the Prince is requesting you in his chambers.”
My face was instantly hot. He took her to his chambers?!
Bastian trudged away and I quickly followed. We wandered through the castle until I had no idea which direction was which. When we approached double black doors, Bastian tapped lightly.
“It’s best to stay out here,” he said.
There was no way I was staying away from her. I needed to know if extracting the poison worked.
The doors creaked inward, and Bastian stepped into the dark room. I slipped in behind him. I knew the Winter Prince could easily overpower me but I didn’t care. I had to see her.
A fire roaring the corner was the only source of light. Visteal had one hand on the mantel as if using it to steady herself. I was suddenly hit with a dark force and slammed into the wall.
“Who is the intruder?” Nightfrost drawled, sauntering toward me.
Bastian placed his hands behind his back. “A friend of our Princess.”
I gritted my teeth and stared Nightfrost down.
“I recognize you. The dog from Norcandlia,” he said and took a knife out of his pocket.
I tensed, trying my hardest to move but I was pinned against the wall. When he brought it to my face, I braced myself. The blade dragged down the side of my cheek, cutting me open. It stung but I didn’t let him know that.
Pushing an invisible force of magic against his, I finally got an arm free and punched him in the jaw.
Visteal turned as if just noticing what was happening and we locked eyes. She vanished and appeared in front of me. Astaroth was thrown back and into the opposite wall. She stood before me in a fighting stance.
“Don’t you ever touch him,” Visteal snarled.
“Here we go again,” Bastian said and backed away.
Again? What did that mean? I was released from whatever hold he had on me. I had to find a defense against this bastard. I couldn’t allow him to keep overpowering me.
The Winter Prince stepped forward with blazing wrath. “You would bring this pathetic boy here into my castle? Are you an imbecile?” He and Visteal stood face to face.
The black smoke that moved like a serpent slowly wrapped around my legs. My mind flashed back to outside the academy where he’d smashed me into the ground with what felt like the weight of a dragon.
Visteal sliced her hand through the air and the smoke around me dissipated. My girl was really coming into her power. She could stand her own against this man. A man who’d once controlled several of us with ease. I smiled at her.
“This is the only warning I will give, Astaroth. If you hurt him it will be the last thing you ever do,” Visteal snapped.
“Is that a challenge?” he purred. His dark eyes beheld me with fury.
“Try me,” she shot back.
Was it bad that she was turning me on right then? I knew I should be thinking about anything but that, yet damn I liked her fighting for me.
“You are here to compete for me,” the Winter Prince barked. “If anyone suspects you have a relationship with the dog then it’s over. You’ll be out.”
She wasn’t competing for him; she was competing to get close to the King. I stepped up beside Visteal. “If I’m not mistaken, and I’m usually not, it sounds like you’re jealous of—the dog.” I knew that would probably get me a beating, but it seemed I liked the pain. I readied my shield.
That powerful force of his hit me again, but this time I’d been ready for it. If I could withstand the fury of a dragon, I could hold against him. At least that’s what I was betting on. The sheer force drove me backward a few feet but my shield held true.
Bastian shouted, Visteal yelled, although I couldn�
�t concentrate on what they said. Astaroth marched toward me with determination and if I were going to survive this, I had to focus on him alone. I gritted my teeth and tried to think of a counterattack. Not only was I dealing with a being that was four hundred years old with experience beyond me, he was said to be the most powerful in Faerie. I knew that should have made me afraid. Perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut and cowered in the corner, but that wasn’t me and it never would be.
Before I had the chance to fight back his attack lifted off me. I didn’t let my shield down, but my mouth dropped when I realized what happened. Visteal had shoved a blade in his back.
She wrenched it out and with blood dripping from her dagger said, “Next time I won’t miss your heart.”
Everyone was silent. The crackling fire the only sound. Astaroth turned on her. My pulse raced as I looked back and forth between them.
“How dare you,” he seethed.
Visteal’s usually determined face faltered.
“Sire, you must remember we need her,” Bastian cut in. “She needs to get ready for the presentation.”
“Get out!” he roared, filling the room with black smoke that choked me. “If I ever see the dog in my castle again, he is dead. That is not a threat, Princess. It’s a promise.”
I knew when to run and when to stay and fight. This was one of those times to run. The three of us hurried out of the room and once into the hall, the purple-haired girl paced outside. Her head snapped up and she sighed. “Thank the Fae, you’re alive.” She then grabbed Visteal’s arm. “Now come, you’re due to be on stage in an hour.”
“Wait,” I called to Visteal. I hadn’t even seen her in weeks. I needed to speak to her.
Bastian put a firm hand on my arm when I moved to follow them. “Let them go.”
Visteal looked back at me with sad eyes but said nothing. She couldn’t. There were guards around, and here in this world, I was not a prince and not her boyfriend. I was a nobody. If the gods wanted to knock my pride down a few notches this was a good way of doing it.
“You’ll need to disappear, boy. You cannot be here as a distraction to her.” Bastian glanced back at Nightfrost’s chambers. “This situation is fragile as is. Your being here could ruin everything.”
I wasn’t a distraction. I only wanted to see that she made it through this safe and got to come home with me. “But I need to help her.”
“You can. By leaving.”
I turned and walked away thinking up a plan. I had a dragon now. She decided to join me rather than eat me. I was surprised myself. They underestimated me.
16
Visteal
I’d come close to death not an hour ago, finally got to see Zyacus, and now I was being dressed in a gown to parade around in front of people I cared nothing for. The gown was sheer black across my abdomen and over my chest and arms. A strip about the size of my hand of solid black wrapped around my breasts, showing much more cleavage than I’d ever choose for myself. The bottom half was a glittery onyx skirt that reached the floor with a slit up to my right hip.
Aenea arranged my hair into a braid crown with small pieces freely flowing around my face. Now I stood waiting behind a curtain with the other Chosen. They all had similar fashion to me but each of us wore a different color. Chrishna had on a white dress I had to admit she looked good in.
Staring ahead she said, “Breakfast didn’t seem to agree with you this morning, Snofury.”
Holy Phoenix, this wench was asking for a beating. “I made it out fine.”
“Ha,” she turned to me with a sneer. “That must be why you collapsed. I heard the Prince himself had to save you. Pity he didn’t let you die.”
I gave her a feline smile. “All you did was drive him closer to me, Chrishna. He did choose me after all. I heard you were picked by the King, not Prince Astaroth.”
Her mouth dropped momentarily then she lifted her chin and said nothing more.
A male voice boomed. “Welcome noble Fae of the Courts. I am Preeza, your host for the evening. The Royal House of Winter and Night introduces Prince Astaroth’s Chosen.”
Music played from a group of faeries in the back. String instruments by the sound of it. The curtains pulled open and the ten of us stood before a crowd of thousands. Applause erupted. I took in a steadying breath. I was the first in the line. I hoped I didn’t make a fool of myself.
“Winter Court presents Saffire Snofury. Half Fae and niece of our great general Bastian Snofury.”
I swallowed hard and took three steps forward as Aenea told me. I curtsied to the crowd then lifted my hand to my mouth and blew over my palm. Magic snow drifted across the Fae in front of me. They clapped. Aenea said I should do something to impress them.
“Impressive magic,” Preeza said standing off to the side of the stage. “Snofury is a proper name suited for the lady.”
I smiled at his compliments and looked out, trying to find someone familiar but the lighting didn’t permit me to see anyone clearly. Except for Astaroth and the King and Queen who sat on a balcony overlooking everything. I could see their scrutinizing faces well enough. The Queen leaned over, pointed at one of us, though too far in the opposite direction to be at me. Guess she wasn’t impressed.
Chrishna Iceguard was called forward next. She grinned and dipped into a bow. No magic. I guess she was beautiful enough that she didn’t need it to impress the crowd with tricks. The others were called one at a time. Some did magic. Others did not. Maybe not all of them had the ability.
When the last girl’s name was called the crowd went through another round of applause. Then the man hosting the event said, “Now, can we have all the Chosen step back and prepare for their talent. Saffire Snofury will go first.”
Ugh why did I have to be first? Not that it mattered. I wasn’t really in this to win no matter what Astaroth said. I was here to end the King. Perhaps I’d even have the opportunity… I hurried behind the curtain where Aenea handed me a bow and a quiver of arrows. It wasn’t the magical bow I’d brought with me, but I didn’t need help hitting an easy mark.
“Like we practiced,” Aenea said. “You must hit every target. If you falter, they’ll scorn you like you can’t imagine.”
“I’ve got this handled, Aenea. Don’t fret.” Although I began to nervously sweat.
I slid my head and arm through the strap of the arrow quiver and stepped out. I could do this. I hit targets all my life. Only now I had a few thousand people watching me. I stepped out from behind the curtain and the room had gone silent. Not even a whisper could be heard. It was as everyone held their breath in anticipation.
I reached behind my head, took hold of an arrow, and knocked it back. Aenea stood at the foot of the stage. I was supposed to nod when I was ready for her to throw the first target. But my gaze kept drifting to the King. I knew I could hit him from this distance. I’d hit targets like him a thousand times. I could even push the arrow with my magic. But if King Valefrost had any sort of protection enchantment on him, my attack would only expose me. If I missed, I’d be dead. If his magic stopped the arrow before it reached him, I could be turned into an ice statue and shattered like the last person who tried to kill him. Would the guards attack me? What would Astaroth do?
Aenea cleared her throat, and I tore my eyes away from the balcony. Someone in the crowd snickered. They thought I was freezing up out of fear no doubt. I nodded at Aenea. She raised her hand above her head and an icicle shaped like an “S” appeared high in the air. I sent my arrow flying. It speared the “S” and lodged into the wall. Next she sent up an “N” and so forth until “Snofury” was pinned. I grinned. Even though I wasn’t truly a Snofury it made me proud because so far, they were the only Fae to show me any real kindness. If I belonged to anyone here, I wanted it to be them.
The crowd cheered. I’d hit every single mark. I took a bow and my eyes lifted to the balcony again. Astaroth didn’t clap and didn’t even look impressed. He likely wasn’t. If anything, he was prob
ably still pissed off that I’d stabbed him. Not that I blamed him. I had no idea what he’d do to me later for that.
The King and Queen clapped. Valefrost leaned over to the Queen and said something in her ear.
I was about to exit when the Fae host stepped out and using some sort of magic to project his voice said, “Wow! An amazing talent with a bow. Isn’t she wonderful?”
More cheering.
I did a quick wave and took a step to get out of there. Preeva, a smoky-skinned Fae with silver hair, grabbed hold of my arm. “Hold on there, speedy.”
The crowd laughed. Oh, good pixie, I hoped he wasn’t going to ask me questions.
“We want to get to know you better.” His hand did a quick wave in front of my body. “First I must say how stunning you are in this dress. Am I right, everyone?”
Loud whistles and hollering came from the crowd.
I blushed thinking about how revealing it was. Then I almost said thank you but caught myself. “You’re most kind.”
“What is it that makes Saffire Snofury tick? Hmm?”
How was I supposed to answer that? “I’m not certain what you mean.”
He laughed. “Of course, of course let me elaborate. What motivated you to accept our Prince’s offer to be one of the Chosen, aside from his dashing good looks and the chance of being royalty? We know from the past the challenges are dangerous.”
As if I had a choice. But my motivation? Murder. “I’ve been training most of my life for a challenge like this. I am not afraid. In fact, the challenge, the risk, you could say, makes me tick.” And that was the truth. I loved a good challenge.
“We have ourselves a rush addict, nobles.”
The crowd laughed on command it seemed.
“Do you have a relationship with Prince Astaroth? From my understanding, he chose you. You weren’t selected by the King.” He gave me an eyebrow-raising grin.
If only they knew the truth. “Not one I’d wish to speak of.” Stole that line from Aenea.