Adric's Heart

by Rebecca Rivard

“Lord Adric.” Neoma inclined her sleek black head. The guards surrounded them. Two grabbed Rosana, jerking her away from Adric.

  Adric snarled and went clawed, but a fae ball appeared in the hand of a third warrior. He brought it close to Rosana’s face. She swallowed, trying not to flinch from the dark fire.

  Adric froze.

  “Your quartz.” Neoma held a silk pouch out to him. A cruel smile curled her lips. “Just in case you had any idea of trying to escape the prince’s justice.”

  “No!” Rosana whispered.

  Adric hissed, his eyes pure blue flame. But he immediately dragged the chunky gray-and-orange pendant over his head and dropped it into the silk pouch.

  “Wise choice,” Neoma said. “Now, get going.” She jerked her chin at a path of smooth white pebbles.

  The warriors released Rosana, but kept her separated from Adric.

  The trail wound through the trees and past the pond before plunging into a garden that was, impossibly, blooming in the dead of winter. A moon garden of lush white flowers: creamy azaleas, snowy peonies, roses of pale ivory. Even when they passed back into the woods, lilies of the valley carpeted the forest floor like living pearls, and the smooth pebbles beneath their bare feet were as warm as if it was a balmy summer night.

  In the distance, they heard shouting, saw bursts of light above the trees. There was a crack like thunder and the entire sky lit up.

  Rosana’s heart leapt. “They’re here!” she said in subvocal tones.

  In front of her, Adric nodded without looking back.

  “Keep going.” The guards herded them forward.

  The path ended in a clearing. A frisson slid over Rosana’s skin as they entered, indicating they’d passed through a ward.

  The sights and sounds of the battle were instantly erased. Instead, shadows reigned, dark, menacing. Even the rain stopped, the ground beneath their bare feet cold but dry. Neck prickling, Rosana edged closer to Adric.

  One by one, a circle of night fae emerged out of the gloom, each more beautiful than the previous—but in a cold, untouchable way, like perfect, polished statues. Their faces first, gleaming palely like the ivory sheen of the moon behind a cloud, even the darker skinned among them. Next to appear were their spare, elongated bodies: three females in short silver dresses and eight males all in black.

  At the circle’s apex, Langdon shimmered into sight on a solid silver throne topped by a triple moon: a full moon flanked by two crescent moons. Like the other men, he was dressed in unrelieved black except for the circlet of diamond-studded platinum leaves vined around his head.

  Standing at his side was the thirteenth member of the circle, a woman with ebony hair and Blaer’s fine-boned face, but older, harder. Diamonds glittered in her pointed ears and on the platinum bands twined around her upper arms. A single black star hung from a heavy platinum chain around her neck.

  A priestess.

  Rosana’s lungs locked. She dug her bare heels into the soil, tugging them both to a halt.

  “Adric. No.”

  He pressed her fingers. “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.” She shook her head frantically. “It’s her. The woman in my vision. They’re going to kill you.”

  “Come.” Langdon beckoned them with a single pale hand.

  “Be ready to run,” Adric muttered. He released Rosana’s hand and strode forward. “Well?” With a sneer, he folded his arms over his chest. “I’m here.”

  Rosana looked frantically around for Neoma. At least if Adric had his quartz, he could shift—or cloak himself and escape the circle. But Neoma and the other warriors who’d brought them had disappeared.

  She moved up beside Adric. But he put out an arm and moved her behind him without taking his gaze from Langdon.

  Still trying to protect her when they were face to face with one of the darkest, most powerful fae on the planet.

  Her heart clenched. “Amo-te,” she whispered. I love you.

  She remained where he’d put her. Guarding his back.

  Langdon eyed them without speaking. The circle of night fae went motionless along with him, their eyes gleaming darkly like a pack of wolves.

  Rosana gulped, and then pulled back her shoulders. They might sense her fear, but she wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of showing it.

  Adric’s scent was hot with fury. He stared back at Langdon, cat-quiet.

  As the tension stretched, the priestess drew the tip of her tongue over her full lower lip like she could taste their fear and anger.

  Langdon broke the silence first. “Lord Adric. Senhorita do Rio. Welcome to my court. Peace to you and yours.”

  “Fuck your peace,” Adric snarled. “We’re here against our will. I demand you release us.”

  “It was you who trespassed,” the prince returned in silky tones. “As for Senhorita do Rio, I merely granted her request to remain with you.”

  Adric raised a brow. “Did I trespass? Or was I brought here by Lady Blaer? It was the wolf under her geas who brought me through the wards.”

  Langdon frowned. “She told me you forced the wolf to let you into the court.”

  “True. But the wolf led me straight to your lair, and no one stopped us—almost as if you wanted me here. Or was it actually Lady Blaer who wanted me here?”

  Rosana made a small sound. Adric had practically accused Blaer of manipulating things so he could assassinate Langdon. Viewed from a certain angle, it made sense.

  Langdon turned to the head priestess. “Fleur?”

  Her pale throat worked. She moistened her lips. “This is speculation, your highness. The fevered imaginings of a desperate man. Surely you don’t think my daughter is working with this fada.” She shot a dark look at Adric.

  “No,” Langdon replied, “I don’t think Blaer is working with him. That doesn’t mean she’s not using him to cover her pretty ass.”

  The circle of night fae rustled in agitation.

  “However,” the prince continued, “none of this matters. The facts stand. My son is dead—”

  “Because he attacked my people,” Adric said between set teeth.

  Rosana set a hand on the small of his back, willing him to remain calm.

  “As you say.” Langdon inclined his head. “But that’s not the issue. It’s not even important whether you killed Tyrus yourself, or whether it was your sister. The issue is restitution.”

  “What restitution? I can’t bring your goddamned son back from the dead.”

  “No. But you owe me, Adric Savonett.” The night fae rose from his silver throne, prowled toward them.

  Beneath Rosana’s hand, Adric’s body quivered like a stallion itching to attack. “I owe you nothing. Your son got what was coming to him. Your clan has persecuted mine for years. My own parents died to feed your taste for darkness.”

  “Your alpha—your uncle—invited us in.”

  “Fuck that. Yeah, my uncle Leron was a sick S.O.B., but he would never have stayed in power for so long if not for you.”

  “And Lord Tyrus was in Baltimore at your cousin Corban’s invitation,” Langdon added as if Adric hadn’t spoken.

  “And that was his mistake.” Adric stood toe-to-toe with the prince. “Unlike my uncle, Corban was not the alpha, and Tyrus didn’t have my permission to be in Baltimore. I owe you nothing for his death—and every fada in the world will back me up on that.”

  “You still think I want your sister, don’t you?”

  Adric’s chin jerked up. “Then what’s this about?”

  “I’ll admit I desired your sister’s blood. ‘An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. A life for a life.’ Those ancient humans had it right. Harsh, but effective. However, I’ve reconsidered. Perhaps we can resolve this to everyone’s satisfaction. A bargain.”

  Adric’s eyes narrowed. “What kind of bargain?”

  “Due to your sister, I lost a son. In fact, all three of my sons are dead.”

  Another rustle went around the circle. The night fae m
uttered among themselves.

  Langdon ignored them to say, “I had a third son by a human woman.” A muscle flexed in his jaw. “I should’ve brought him up in the court. But instead, I hid—” He shook his head.

  “Had, my lord?” murmured Fleur.

  The prince gave a tight nod. “As I said, all my sons are dead. But my youngest son left a daughter.”

  Rosana’s blood chunked with ice. Her mouth formed a soundless no.

  Adric’s face hardened. “No fucking way.”

  “Yes.” Langdon’s eyes were gleaming pools of midnight. “A life for a life. Have your clan bring Merry Jones to me and you’ll go free. In fact, I’m feeling generous tonight. Bring my granddaughter to me, and I’ll free not just you, but Rosana.”

  43

  Blaer was livid at being excluded from the new moon ritual. She stood at the living room window, staring out at the rain.

  Luc’s nape crawled. The fae lady was at her most dangerous when completely still.

  A quarter mile distant, a pitched battle was being fought, but she seemed unaware of the light and noise. This wasn’t just fada. From the bright bursts of color, the sun fae had joined the battle.

  For the first time in days—no, weeks—hope sparked in Luc. Not for him, but for Adric. Maybe the alpha would get out of this alive, after all.

  He flashed on Rosana’s bewildered young face and swallowed, shame a hot stone in his belly. Just when he’d thought he couldn’t go lower, he had. He’d given a woman—a girl barely out of her teens—to the night fae.

  Adric had been right to be furious. He should’ve just slit Luc’s throat and been done with it.

  At least Marjani was safe. Luc didn’t know what he’d have done if the prince had gotten his hands on her.

  Blaer turned her dark eyes on him. Sensing his distress in that spooky way night fae had.

  “Your alpha and the do Rio woman are at the ritual.”

  “What?” Luc scrubbed a hand over his face. Why would Langdon invite Adric to a private ritual?

  And then he knew. His stomach lurched.

  Blaer prowled across the marble floor. Her dress today was an ice-blue scrap of material that barely covered her ass. Sapphires and diamonds dripped from her throat and glittered on the pointed ears peeking through her platinum hair.

  “The fada attacked the prince in his own lair. You didn’t think he’d let them off with just a slap on the wrist, did you?”

  Luc grabbed her bare arm. “Why are you telling me this?”

  She tilted her head. “Why do you think?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “You want me to get you inside tonight’s circle. But why?”

  “Can you?”

  He knew when he was being used. But who the fuck cared? Adric needed him. Luc had no compunction using Blaer right back.

  He released her. “Take me to the circle. I’ll get us inside.”

  Passing through the portal turned out to be the easy part. Marjani had only gone a few steps into the woods on the other side when she realized the shadows had deepened to pitch-black. Her eyes went night-glow, but she still couldn’t see more than a couple of yards in any direction.

  She tightened her grip on her dagger and peered around, growling lowly.

  “It’s okay,” Fane murmured. “It’s a different time of day in here, that’s all.”

  She nodded tightly. The mechanics of fae vs. human time always made her dizzy. You could spend a few days in a fae court and go home to find a whole month had passed.

  What made her heart falter was the realization that in here, the new moon might be just an hour, not five hours away.

  “You feel Ric yet?” That was Jace.

  “No,” she admitted. She’d hoped that her quartz would relink to Adric’s as soon as they passed through the portal, but it hadn’t. She couldn’t even say for sure if he was still alive.

  “Me, neither,” Jace said.

  “He’s here.” She picked up the pace. “I know he is.”

  That’s when the skies opened up. Rain sluiced down as if someone had turned a fire hose on them. Her black turtleneck was instantly plastered to her body. Within seconds, she’d lost sight of everyone but Jace and Fane.

  She dashed the water out of her eyes and kept moving.

  The deeper they went into the woods, the thicker the shadows grew. With the rain sheeting down, it was like fighting your way through a waterfall. They were soaking wet, and beneath their feet, the forest floor had turned into a gluey black mud.

  The shadows grew thick enough to touch. The nearest one began to slowly spiral.

  They all froze.

  Marjani put out a hand to see if it was as real as it looked. The shadow—or whatever it was—tried to curl around her, but recoiled from the protection charm.

  “Careful!” Fane jerked her back. “It’s some kind of dark magic.”

  The three of them eased around the mini black cyclone, but all the shadows were swirling now.

  “What the fuck?” Jace snarled, his eyes the bright green of his jaguar.

  The shadows spun faster, coalescing into hairy vines that slapped at their faces, dragged at their clothes.

  Marjani dodged between two vines. As before, Olivia’s charm repelled them. But a third vine twined around Jace’s legs and threw him to the muddy ground. In the next breath, he was being dragged through the forest, his body slamming into trees and bouncing off rocks.

  “Jace!” She and Fane sprinted after him.

  He managed to snag an arm around a tree trunk. With the other, he hacked at the vine with his iron dagger. As they caught up to him, the vine disintegrated into ashes.

  She dropped to her knees, brushing the ashes off him. “You okay?”

  Jace’s chest heaved. He gingerly tested his arms and legs. “Yeah.”

  “Here.” Fane held out a hand, pulling him to his feet.

  “God’s cat.” The jaguar shifter swiped a hand over his face. “What the fuck are those vines?”

  “Hell if I know,” said Fane. “Some kind of ward? Or maybe even an illusion?”

  “It was no illusion,” was the grim reply. “I’ve got the bruises to prove it.”

  Fane shook his head. “With the night fae, it’s hard to tell what’s real, what’s not.”

  “Look out!” Marjani slashed at a vine snaking at them from around a nearby tree. As before, it crumbled into ashes.

  She took a second dagger from her boot so she had one in each hand. “Whatever it is, we have to get out of here. Stick next to me. The charm seems to repel them.”

  The men nodded, mouths set, as three more vines dropped around them. Together, they hacked their way forward for several endless minutes.

  Just when she wondered if they’d ever get out of the woods, there was an intense flash, followed by two more in rapid succession. Through the trees, they glimpsed a group of sun fae hurling fae balls at the vines, forcing a large patch of shadows around them into retreat.

  Fane swore and slashed through yet another encroaching vine. “The bloody things are multiplying faster than we can fight them.”

  “The sun fae.” She stabbed a vine right before it wrapped around Jace’s neck from behind. “They’re our only chance.”

  The three of them continued slogging through the mud, dodging the shadow-vines when they could, and fighting them off when they couldn’t, but the sun fae warriors kept moving, too. They couldn’t seem to reach them.

  They fought doggedly on. First Fane, then Jace were thrown to the ground. She helped cut the vines off them, and they continued forward, but they were all tiring. On top of that, they were soaked to the skin, and if there was anything Marjani’s cat detested, it was being cold and wet.

  Then they lost sight of the sun fae. Although they could still hear sounds of the battle, it was impossible to tell exactly where it was coming from.

  “Fuck.” Marjani turned in a circle, hopelessly lost. The shadows had somehow messed with her internal GPS. “Where’d
they go?”

  “I have no idea,” Jace muttered, while Fane just shook his head.

  The shadows seemed to sense their confusion. The vines twisted around them. Not trying to touch them now, just weaving an inky cage.

  Marjani hissed and shrank back against Fane. It was like the vines knew she was terrified of being caged—any fada was, but her own recent experience with Blaer’s cages had amped the fear up to near-panic level.

  Her chest compressed. She snarled, her animal brain telling her to run like hell. She sprang forward. But the vines caught her, throwing her back against Jace and Fane.

  Her terror ratcheted. “The charm isn’t working anymore,” she croaked.

  Jace gave a low growl. She scented his own fear of being trapped, and it amped up hers.

  “Easy, love.” Fane squeezed her shoulders from behind. “Try focusing the charm on one section.”

  Yes. She gripped the charm, shoved it at the vines in front of her. To her relief, they parted. She moved the charm in a circle until she’d cleared a large enough opening in the vine-cage for her to pass through, then squeezed through sideways, unable to wait any longer.

  Fane and Jace were right behind her—which gave her an idea.

  “Form a single line behind me,” she said and moved forward, the charm held out in front of her. Fane hooked his fingers through her waistband, and she heard him direct Jace to keep touching him.

  As before, the vines parted to let her through, and Fane and Jace were able to pass through as well before they closed again. She increased her pace, and the vines and trees merged into each other, twining into a narrow passage with walls of a dank, murky fog that was nevertheless too solid for them to pass through.

  She was growling continuously now.

  “Keep moving,” Fane ordered. “Don’t stop, whatever you do.”

  They continued to what looked like the end of the passage, but wasn’t. The shadows had formed a maze, forcing them to turn first right, then left, then another left and a right, and so on, in a seemingly random pattern.

  Marjani lost all sense of direction and time. All she knew was that somewhere nearby, her brother awaited his execution—and she was trapped in this thrice-damned forest with its living shadows.