by J. L. Weil
Kai’s eyes lit up, but not in the least bit upset over the accusation. No. My stepbrother was amused.
Karina stepped forward, putting herself in the middle between Kai and Reilly. “Doubting each other is the last thing we need. It breaks us apart, crumbles a fragile foundation, and divides us—all things Talin wants.”
The bickering was normal between Reilly and Kai, and yet… it felt off. The blight. Was it doing this? Pitting us against each other?
Another heartbeat of glaring passed before Kai and Reilly both dropped their gaze.
When neither of them opened their traps to say another word, Karina nodded, her chin firm, looking more every day like the queen she was born to be. “Good. I’m so ready to get out of here.”
I cleared my throat, drawing Reilly’s attention away from my mate. “How far away are Talin’s troops?” It looked like the battle planning would have to coincide with Karina getting that last tail.
“They are still within his borders,” Reilly confirmed. “But it will be a few days, probably less, until they reach the edge of his territory. Thornland isn't the only legion on the move.”
My hand raked through my hair, dread sinking into my gut. “Who?” I demanded.
“All but Lady Awyn,” the shifter informed.
“Son of a bitch,” I hissed. This was bad—so fucking bad.
“Do you know where the other regions stand? Who is joining Talin’s forces?” Kai demanded, swathed in shadows.
Reilly’s gaze pinned mine. “Your mother marches to aid Katsura. I’m uncertain of where Ryker’s allegiances lie. My guess, he will do whatever the Council advises, but he could just as easily aid Talin. The dragons stand with the queen. We will fight beside you. They already fly to Katsura at my command.” Reilly rubbed his jaw, taking a step back. “I’m happy I’m able to help. This shit is going to be legendary, and I want to be on the right side of history.”
Gratitude glimmered in her eyes. “Reilly, you’re a godsend.”
“What about me? If anyone is a god, it’s me.” Kai shot her a serious scowl, making Karina roll her eyes.
“You completely missed the meaning behind the analogy.”
“We should get going,” I interrupted before the bickering got out of hand. “The moons are approaching, and I’d rather not be caught out here when the sun retreats.” I clasped forearms with Reilly. “Your arrival is much appreciated, Brother.”
Reilly squeezed my arm, our eyes meeting. “Despite any differences we might encounter, I’ll always have your back. Even if you got the girl.”
I chuckled as he backed up, allowing himself the space he needed to transform. Reilly shook his head from one side to the other, and shifted into his dragon. Throwing back his long neck, the muscles in his powerful body twitched as they adjusted to his other form. This close, he was an impressive sight. Formidable. Intimidating. Imposing.
If I didn’t know the man under the dragon, I might have believed the beast a worthy opponent. This was one time I was glad the dragon was on our side.
"Lady's first," Kai offered with a sweep of his hand.
I snorted. "Don't pretend to have a gentlemanly bone in your body." I hoisted Karina up on Reilly's back as he crouched down as low as possible.
The dragon, too, snorted, casting his angular head to the side.
Kai’s hand ran over the scales peppering Reilly’s back, each one unique, like a snowflake. They were smooth like polished stones, yet strong enough to protect his weak points. "Just like riding a horse," he mused, giving Reilly a pat.
Adjusting herself upon Reilly’s back, Karina just rolled her eyes at Kai.
He, on the other hand, arched a sandy brow at me. "Front or back, little brother?"
Either way, some part of Kai would be touching my mate. A growl started at the base of my throat, and Kai's smirk gleamed brighter, damn well knowing what I was thinking.
"What's wrong?" Karina asked when neither Kai nor I moved.
Laughter gleamed in Kai’s eyes. "Your mate can't decide if he wants my hands around you or your hands around me."
Gods, the way he said that made me want to slam his face into the nearest tree, so condescending, yet sensual at the same time.
She stared down at us from her perch on Reilly’s back, looking like she was made to ride a dragon. A brief image of her in battle astride a dragon, arrows falling in the air around her like rain flashed through my head. I prayed it wasn’t a premonition, nothing but my mind playing a cruel trick on me.
"Seriously? We don't have time for some weird, fae pissing match,” she scolded.
"You're a prick," I mumbled, hoisting myself up behind Karina, and seeing Kai position himself in front of her.
"Hang on tight, little queen,” he tossed over his shoulder as he got situated.
I smacked the back of Kai's head.
Underneath us, Reilly’s dragon chuckled while he kicked off the ground, wings flapping and sending us airborne. As we climbed higher and higher, visibility seemed to lessen—if that was possible.
"Are you going to be able to find your way to the capital in this dense fog?" Kitten asked, her soft voice carrying to me in the winds.
It was a valid question and worry. Even the skies were blanketed with darkness. My arms wrapped around Karina, keeping her steady on Reilly's back as he tilted upward. Her legs tightened against the dragon, fingers grappling for Kai in front of her.
“Dragons have an exemplary sense of direction. He will get us there,” I assured.
She sank against me, letting her body soften into mine.
This wasn't my first ride atop a dragon, but I much preferred to keep my feet on the ground. Aerial attacks were challenging when you didn't wield fire or have sharp claws, and my fae magic was different from Kai's or Karina's. Fighting was basically my fae skill. If we were attacked, I'd still hunt them down, I would just have to be more cautious of my surroundings and footing. A fall from these heights wouldn't kill me, but it would hurt like a mother fucker. I'd rather avoid the injuries, if possible, not to mention the agonizing healing process.
I kept my focus on the darkness all around us, my hands trained on keeping Karina from sliding off the dragon's back.
The view was devastating. Never in my wildest imagination had I ever thought I'd see the capital in such a wreck. King Ryo would be disappointed in the condition of his kingdom, and it falling to ruins.
However, he would be damn proud of his granddaughter and all that she had accomplished.
The presence I'd sensed since stepping foot in Katsura hadn't tucked its tail between its legs and taken off. The bastard followed our every move, even in the skies—stalking, watching, biding, waiting... for what? I wasn't sure, but I'd be ready when the bastard made his move.
Chapter Three
KARINA
I seemed to consistently find myself sandwiched between these two fae. Not something most girls would complain about, and I wasn’t, but it was difficult to ignore that I had feelings for both of them. Different feelings. Yet, they were there all the same, whether I wanted to admit it or not. Kai wasn’t Devyn. He wasn’t the one who I loved completely, he wasn’t my mate, but that still left the question… What was Kai to me then? A friend?
Why did he make me question everything?
Why did I trust him? Depend on him? Need him?
I didn’t know what to do about it or want Devyn to pick up on my turmoil of emotions, but he would. The Shaman was much better at masking his feelings than I was, years of training gave him that edge.
Devyn had mentioned more times than I could count that as queen, I could take a lover and a husband. Fae laws of union were different from the human world. Was that what these feelings were telling me? Could I really only take Devyn, my mate, as my lover?
Or maybe the more serious question was if I believed Kai would make an appropriate king for Katsura. His reputation wouldn’t make it easy for the fae to accept, despite his royal blood. He was born into the
other side of royalty—the dark side, and yet, I also wielded Unseelie magic.
All I did know was this was too much for my weary brain to dwell upon now. It was a problem to be solved another day.
Sighing, I rested the back of my head on Devyn’s chest, feeling the cooler air brush over my face. I was so tired. It felt like all I was anymore was exhausted. Each time I got back some strength to push on, another catastrophe hit, and I was forced to use my powers. My eyes wanted to drift shut, but I kept them open, not wanting to miss a single sight of my kingdom.
My kingdom.
What a mindfuck. Who would have ever thought I would inherit an entire kingdom? I imagined Jesse and Hannah would think I’d gone insane while I was gone. Me? A queen?
Some days it was so obvious, my future. And others, I wasn’t even sure of my own name.
Snuggled against Devyn, I surveyed what little I could see of the land below. Most of it went by in a gloomy blur though; dragons flew fast as fuck when they had the need.
A few hours into our flight and my ass had gone numb.
Reilly dipped below the clouds, dropping closer to the ground. My eyes took in the hilly terrain, doing my best to imagine what it had looked like before falling ill to the corruption. We passed over a treeless clearing with stone monuments scattered about, and a chill worked its way up my spine, as if I’d just stepped over a grave.
My spirit magic woke within me, that link I had to the other side. “What is this place?”
“That is Midgrave,” Kai answered, his voice traveling with the winds, and I still picked up the traces of somberness.
“It is where many fae are laid to rest,” Devyn informed, the hand around my waist moved in circles, meant to soothe.
The scent of death filled the air, but it was different somehow. “A graveyard,” I murmured, observing the stone structures with a new understanding.
“In a way. It’s the closest to what you would call a graveyard, but not in the human sense. There are no bodies buried in the ground. Just souls,” Devyn explained.
I wondered, if I took a stroll through Midgrave, would I be able to see the spirits? Would they show themselves to me? “Are they trapped there?” I asked.
Devyn leaned forward, bringing his lips close to my ear so I could hear him better. “Trapped isn’t the right word. Indeed, they can’t leave, but the choice was of their own making. It is not a punishment to spend your eternal life in Midgrave, but an honor. Most of them were soldiers, royal guards, and others who loyally served the courts, so they couldn’t bear to leave this world.”
The thoughts of those souls stayed with me long after we passed the site. What had made them choose to stay here, rather than go to the afterlife?
It was difficult to detect what time of day it was with the sun hidden behind ominous clouds. Or perhaps the sun had retired for the day, and the two moons glittered in the sky. I didn’t know, which was disorienting, so when I spotted a golden glow in the distance, I was startled… but in a good way. It had been hours since Reilly took flight.
I blinked, half expecting the dot of gold to vanish or be swallowed by the darkness. A wave of relief washed over me, seeing the small dot of light grow like a lantern of hope. After being shrouded in nothing but gloom for what felt like days, though it was only hours, the glint was a kernel of optimism I desperately needed. Not all was lost.
“Look,” I told them, pointing in the direction of the light. “Do you see it?”
Kai nodded. “That, little queen, is Halcyon. Your castle.”
Eager to get my first look at where my mother grew up, where my grandfather had reigned, I sat up straighter. I knew I shouldn't expect it to be in its glorious grandeur state, but I could hope. Perhaps the castle might have been saved from the darkness that ate everything in its path.
As we drew nearer, that bead of eagerness bloomed, flourishing.
"Thank the gods," Kai whispered.
A rush of relief coursed through me as I laid eyes on Halcyon. It was nothing like what my imagination could have conjured. A shield of magic encompassed the entire castle, similar to the wall that Lady Awyn unleashed—gods magic. It shimmered, repelling the darkness that poked and prodded the shield.
But for how much longer?
Glancing past the veil of magic, I admired the castle within it. My breath caught. Spires of various heights and towers had my eyes darting everywhere, trying to soak it all in at once. The castle and all its surrounding towers looked like Midas himself had touched them with his golden curse. I’d never been in the presence of such luxury. Lush green ferns and mossy grounds blanketed the hill ridges. The castle looked like a little oasis in an ocean of blackness and despair. Decay and misery clung to the air.
“Will we be able to get through the barrier?” I asked. If it was anything like the god's magic Awyn used, I wasn’t sure I had the strength to break through at the moment. And staring at the untouched castle, I didn’t know if I wanted to try. This was the only place in Katsura unaffected by the blight.
Devyn’s chin rested on my right shoulder, eyes pinned on the Halcyon. “Each kingdom has a series of safeguards in place. The difference here is that you are queen. This barrier can’t keep you out.”
I processed his words, which were meant to assure me but failed. He had left out a few key components. “And what about you, Kai, and Reilly?” I specified.
“I have an idea for that,” Kai offered from in front of me, talking over the swift beating of Reilly's leathery wings.
“Do I even want to know?” Devyn grumbled.
“Depends on how bad you want to follow your mate into her castle, little brother. I could always be your guinea pig,” the Unseelie volunteered, which meant he was up to something unsavory. Not that his idea wouldn’t work, it just meant it had a greater chance of not working.
“That’s the first idea you’ve come up with that I actually like. If only I believed you didn’t have selfish motives for offering.” It was Devyn’s response. “What is this idea your devious mind has conjured?”
Kai tossed a wicked grin over his shoulder. “Thank you. It’s not every day you appreciate my mind. The plan is simple. Karina voids us in.”
Reilly began circling the outside of the barrier as we discussed what our next move was. He wove in and out of the grey clouds, but a dragon flying in the sky wasn’t like an eagle. We were bound to be spotted.
“Will that work?” I rasped, a sense of hurry tingling over my skin. The eyes I’d felt all day were still upon us—stronger now that we were staying in one area. I had the urge to scream out at the stalker—demand he or she show themself.
“Only one way to find out,” Kai replied. “And sooner rather than later would be my advice. The thing that has been tracking us since we stepped foot inside Katsura grows antsy.”
It was somewhat of a relief to know the others had also sensed the additional presence. “What happens if it doesn’t work?” I asked because with Kai, you could leave no stone unturned.
A discouraging, shared bout of silence followed between the Shaman and Kai. Not good.
It was enough to make up my mind. “No. I’m not doing it. If there is any chance that either of you gets hurt… I can’t. You’re too important.”
Kai grinned smugly, and I gave into the urge to pinch him in the side. He squirmed just a fraction, but the smirk on his face remained.
Reilly took us down to just outside the glimmering shield, his clawed feet landing with enough force to rumble and shake the ground. Devyn hopped off first and waited for me. Swinging my leg over, I slid down the side of Reilly and into Devyn’s waiting arms.
Kai’s feet touched the earth behind me, and he heaved a long sigh, stretching his arms. “I’d forgotten how uncomfortable dragons were.”
Reilly shifted, doing his own adjusting of muscles and bones as his body turned fae. “Speak for yourself,” he rebutted. “I’m the one who had to carry the three of you for hours.”
“Please
. Dragons are supposed to have superior strength. It should have been a breeze for the dragon heir,” Kai shot back, his voice condescending.
I ignored them, going to stand beside Devyn who was now inspecting the dome of magic. He lifted a hand, his palm hovering just over the golden surface. The energy that protected the castle wasn’t solid like an actual wall, but see-through. Up close, you could see the little particles of magic vibrating. A buzz like a live electric wire hummed through the air.
“You aren’t seriously considering Kai’s plan, are you?” I murmured, placing my hand on Devyn’s shoulder. Reilly had landed us at a far corner near the back of the castle, where we were less likely to be spotted.
The unyielding set of Devyn’s jaw was tight, that of a warrior. His green eyes brightened as they turned on me. “I’m not sure we have an alternative. I hate admitting it, but it's the best idea we have—the only idea.”
I frowned. “I don’t like it.”
Dropping his hand, he shook his head. A strand of black hair fell forward over his left eye. “Neither do I, but we can’t stay out here, that is for certain. Even with Kai, Reilly, and I to protect you, the blight is too consuming for the four of us to fight it off for long. You’re not safe out here, and I can’t let you go in there alone.” He indicated to the castle with a jerk of his head.
“I don’t want to be separated either,” I admitted, hearing Kai and Reilly still bickering behind me.
The features on the Shaman’s face softened and he brushed a lock of windblown hair, tucking it behind my ear. “It’s more than just not wanting to be apart, Kitten. Once you step over the barrier, I won’t be able to get to you. This magic is beyond my reach. If something happened…” He couldn’t even bring himself to voice the words.
My hands framed his face, bringing his gaze to mine. “Nothing is going to happen to me… or us. I won’t let it.”
Emotion flashed through his eyes. Regret? Sadness? Nervousness? I couldn’t pinpoint which. “Everything will change once we enter Halcyon,” he murmured.
