by E Hall
“The scab?” Glandias scoffs.
I extend my hand to his. “Tyrren, the iron bracelet will take us where we want to go.”
He tilts his head slightly and his lip quirks like he understands.
With one finger, I subtly trace the rune of passage on the bracelet around his wrist, the one I gave him and he used to get back to the RIP Jr campus when I went on the fool’s errand for Jurik—who was actually Glandias.
The mage steps closer, peering over my shoulder. Meanwhile, the others link hands.
Although Glandias will figure out where we went since she gave me the bracelet, it’ll buy us time. That is if it works.
But she can’t be touching me or we’ll take her with us.
I draw on the taste, the texture, and the essence of my light. I feel for it in the ether. There’s a silver thread. I grab onto it in my mind, pulling it closer, hand over hand. The more I pull, the brighter it gets, turning golden, blinding. I inhale and then whirl, using it to blast Glandias back.
I press my finger against the rune and shout, “Now.”
We slip into nothingness, spinning, swirling, lost to space and time.
I keep hold of the golden thread, not willing to let it go. I want my entire fae-self back, light, shadow, and whatever is in between.
Darkness fills my vision as I land on stone and hit my head.
Chapter 30
Leajka
Voices float into my mind. They belong to my sisters.
“No, don’t think about it as running away. Rather, we’re delaying the fight. We need to find our fourth sister,” Kiki says.
“What was that about our father?” Val asks.
“Whatever. Glandias doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” Kiki says dismissively.
But I do.
I wiggle my fingers and take a deep breath. I feel lighter somehow even though my body aches.
“I think she’s waking up,” Tyrren says.
My eyes flash open and land on him. I wrap my arm around his neck, pull myself to sitting, and then sink into his arms. I feel the fullness of his worry, his fear, and his strength. He holds me tight. Almost too tight, considering his vampire strength, but right now I don’t mind. It’s the one thing keeping me from floating away on what are sure to be crystalline fae wings.
Throughout my body, I feel the light is back. It’s like rubies and emeralds, silver and gold. It’s the richest feeling—one I never realized I had until it was gone.
Tyrren pulls back and rakes his hand through his hair. “You okay?”
I have the notion there are students watching this spectacle here on the RIP Jr campus. The riddle of fear and reverence threads through the crowd. Like petals of a dry flower, the events in the Southlands unfold, returning to me like a dream. A combination of dread and victory vie for domination. I know what happened but can’t quite get a measure of what it means.
My sisters gather around me.
Kiki gives me a side hug and whispers, “We sent Soren in raven form to find Heather. We have to get out of here because Glandias is sure to turn up.”
“And we need to get our weapons.” Val gives my shoulders a squeeze and then helps me to my feet.
“We need to make a plan to find our other sister,” I say.
Kiki takes out the note from the demon. “I think her name is Elsie. I keep reading and rereading this thing, hoping some clue will jump out at me and make sense.”
“Well, you have the third stone. Well done, by the way,” Callen says to me.
“I didn’t really do anything.” I shrug.
“You deceived Glandias, you tricky unseelie fae,” Tyrren says with warmth in his voice.
“And I’m guessing she’s not going to be too thrilled about that.”
“Meaning she’ll be looking for us and bent on...well, let’s not think about that. I really didn’t like the way it felt when she used my true name,” Val says.
Kiki passes the note around. “Tell me if we’ve missed something.”
Callen shrugs.
Val reads it once, twice.
I stare at it for a long time, recalling the poem Aina gave me. Had I known she was my mother, I would’ve paid more attention. Although, I do remember a lot about her. She smelled like sugar and snow. Her eyes were spectacularly lavender. She had the sweetest voice, always wanted to know about me, my life, hobbies, and interests. She was one of those people who genuinely listened.
Looking at Val and Kiki now, I realize although I didn’t get the entirety of her, I get pieces of her in my sisters.
Tyrren looks at the note over my shoulder.
Demons shadow thieve, while the fae court grieve. Four sisters to find. One compass to bind. Four crowns to take. One curse to break. Before twelve moons turn, else the realm will burn.
He blinks a few times and I sense his gears turning.
“Hang on,” Val says. “Didn’t you mention that the compass can lead us to each other?”
Kiki nods. “Yeah, Vespertine said that, but it seems more of a theory. The compass got us to the Westlands, but I was drawn to you, I think by the snowflake necklace. Lea, you were another matter. Outside of Borea, the compass wasn’t much help. I was drawn to New York City and we did a search in the police database. But you were obscured while at the reform school. We got word about the facility where Glandias, and before her Emeric, were keeping fae and thought maybe you were there. It was only when I got to that building that I knew you were somewhere inside.”
“Funny that she ended up in the back of that war wagon,” Callen says.
“Humvee,” I correct.
“Hummingbird?” Val asks.
Tyrren and I laugh then he stops abruptly.
He points to the note. “Look. It’s like there are letters beneath letters.” He takes it from my hand and holds it up to the floodlight. “It’s as though another message is imprinted on the paper and only made visible against the contrast of the light.”
“What’s that say?” I trace my finger along the lines, trying to make it out.
Kiki asks. “Is it another message?”
“Initials maybe?” I say.
“NAV,” Tyrren says. “It’s almost like there was a wax seal embossed there, but it came off.”
“I think you’re right.”
Kiki holds up the compass and points to the etching of the letters on the back. ANAV. “Could be a coincidence but—”
“But it could mean something, connecting the note and the compass,” Tyrren says, ever the fan of riddles and puzzles. “ANAV,” he mutters.
I let out a shaky breath.
“We have to find our sister,” Kiki says.
I turn away and then move in a slow circle, glimpsing the administration building, spray paint, knife marks tearing up the wall, and general disorder. It hardly seems like my time here was real. Since meeting my sisters and learning about the curse, traveling to another realm, and escaping Glandias, everything has sped up, intensified.
“We’ve got company,” Callen mutters.
The crowd moves closer as students appear from various parts of campus, likely overhearing the commotion of our sudden arrival.
“The fae here are also in danger,” I say.
“We’ll tell Heather. She’ll do what she can. Although, the police probably saw the Grunder. They likely have supernaturals on lockdown.” Kiki’s lips form a thin line.
“Maybe Uncle Ivan can help,” I say.
“You look brighter,” she adds, noticing exactly what I feel.
We’re just barely out of the beam of light cast by one of the giant security lights on campus.
“I’ve never heard of a shadow fae, well, no longer being lost in shadow. And an unseelie fae at that.” Val arches an eyebrow. “Impressive.”
“I chose to let it go and I chose to reclaim my light,” I say.
“It gives me hope,” she adds.
From the gathered crowd, Amelia gives me a little wave.
&n
bsp; I wave back.
Cole and Felix leer. I imagine Aaron, Tyrren’s roommate, would like to be reunited with his inner light too. Although I can’t say it was easy. We have a fight ahead and then the shadow army is going to have to fight for what’s theirs. That gives me an idea.
Headmistress Jurik, presumably the actual woman and not Glandias the imposter, storms across the lawn. Her sharp bob slices the air with each step.
I’m instantly suspicious since she was working against the fae with Emeric before she was captured.
“Lea Vladikoff, come with me.”
I tilt my head.
Her expression sharpens. “Yes, the others too.”
She must have told the police what happened. I completely forgot she was locked up somewhere. Could she have had a change of heart? Doubtful.
“She had files with biographies of all the fae...and me.” Tyrren runs his hand down his face.
“Can we trust her?” Callen asks.
“No,” I say. “But right now, I don’t think we have much of a choice. Glandias is probably on our heels.”
As we walk toward the building, Soren asks me, “So I take it you weren’t controlled by Glandias’s use of your true name. Power of will? Unseelie rebel?”
I shake my head.
“She had me good,” Kiki says. “I would’ve brayed like a mule had she asked me.”
“Me too.” Val hangs her head.
“I think it was because I was a shadow fae, but even then, in that state, it was an ever-present feeling of disconnection. I was numb. Lost. I can’t explain it but the feeling lingers.”
“So there’s no destroying the shadow fae, but they can be reunited with their shadows.” Tyrren grips my hand.
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing,” I reply.
We exchange a private smile.
“Can you guys read each other’s thoughts, like how shifters can communicate?” Callen asks.
“Like how you and Soren were doing when we first met in the Humvee?” Tyrren asks.
He nods.
“Nope. We just know each other, really really well.” I squeeze Tyrren’s hand back.
The others start up the steps after Jurik.
I pause and lift my gaze to meet Tyrren’s. “We have a long road ahead, but I like the way you think.”
“Oh, yeah?” he asks. “If you’re also thinking about pie, then let me have it. All of it. Apple pie, peach, banana cream, pumpkin, pecan. Remember my mom used to make some mega-crazy recipes? Butterfinger with a graham cracker crust. There’s an awesome Elvis recipe she had with peanut butter. That was my dad’s favorite. She made Mississippi blood pie for Halloween one year with cherry syrup of course. It was delish in a dish.” Tyrren’s smile falls. “But I guess I can’t have pie.”
I lift my eyebrows in question.
“You may have gotten your light back, but I’ll always be a vampire.”
“I’m sorry there’s no reversal or redemption for that. But maybe Ivan will figure something out. He did invent those dissolvable blood pellets, after all.”
“Blood for life.” Tyrren pumps the air.
We laugh at the irony.
“Actually, I wasn’t thinking about pie.” I lift my chin. I was thinking about how to end the shadow army, but now I’m distracted.
His eyes are twin stars that will always lead me home, to comfort, laughter, to everything I need and want. I melt into him. He wraps his arms around me. His embrace is a promise never to let me go, but also assuring me he’ll never hold me back. I return it, entirely, fully.
For a long moment, I forget everything else, awareness fades, and it’s just the scratch on his cheek, the rough tousle of his hair, and the contour of his lips.
“You have really sharp teeth,” I say.
“Better to bite you with?” He smirks. “I’m kidding. I would never.”
“I know, but funny, how it’s always been us against the world and now it is, like, for real.”
He smooths his hand down my cheek. “I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather wage an epic battle against supernatural powers with.”
I playfully swat him. He catches my hand and gives it a kiss.
“You know, I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”
“What? Fight with swords in real life.”
He shakes his head. “I mean be with you. Like this.” His hand travels to my low back and he pulls me close with surprising strength. Actually, it shouldn’t surprise me at all. He’s built from working the forge and now being a vampire, but still, he’s my dorky best friend and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
The truth is, Tyrren and I fit together—two unlikely parts of a whole—always have and always will.
As if reading my thoughts, he smiles and our lips crash together.
We kiss for love. We kiss for freedom. We kiss for the future.
His mouth is warm and soft, a welcome oasis amidst so much difficulty. I press myself against him, trying to absorb whatever it is that makes me love him. I need it right now. I need it always.
“You’re courageous,” he whispers.
“You too.” And because I want to prove it’s true, at last, I say, “I love you.”
He repeats the words, “I love you,” and we kiss one more time before we go inside to face the future.
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Chapter 1
Elsana
I turn away and roll my eyes, busying myself with the task of cleaning up after my cousins as they get ready for the Thunder Tournament.
“Elsie, you missed a spot,” Nesrin singsongs. I return to the mirror and touch up the pink rouge on her round cheeks. She narrows her lavender eyes at me. “You never do things right the first time.”
If the situation were different I’d retort with why is this my job again?
“The crown is off-center. Just a little to the left.” Sadira puckers her thin lips with disapproval.
I adjust the band of woven flowers on her head and force a smile. Clearing my throat, I say, “You both look lovely.” I’m not full-fae. I can lie.
They make me work, sweat and run down my patience by rubbing in the fact that I didn’t receive an invitation to be a spectator at the tournament.
Even if the murkast were allowed, there’s no way my cousins would participate. They’re too, well, girlie. Don’t get me wrong, I love a gown and curls as much as the next person, but to be more specific, Nesrin and Sadira are too lazy, self-absorbed, and obnoxious to perform the tests of skill, cunning, and strength at Skelling Hall. And that’s saying something since the fae are second class citizens in the Eastlands, forced to work to support the elven kingdom. This makes most of us strong and resilient, but somehow my cousins ended up sassy and sluggish. Must be the unseelie in them.
Every year, the elven lords like to remind us of our status by allowing some fae, or murkast as they call us, to attend the tournament. Mostly, so they can flex their muscles in a show of might.
“Father,” Nesrin calls to my uncle Drod as if she expects a response. “Don’t I look beautiful?” She twirls into the front room of our humble cottage.
Like every day, he’s in the chair by the window, waiting and watching as if my aunt will suddenly appear down t
he lane, her cheeks rosy and her smile wide with excitement at her return home.
She went missing on my birthday. He’s hardly moved in the time since. Naturally, my cousins blame me.
Sadira dashes into the room, barges in front of her sister and says, “This dusty pink looks gorgeous on me, don’t you think?”
He’s unresponsive.
I never knew my twin and wonder if all fae pairs are as competitive and annoying as these two.
They start toward the door to make the long walk to the castle. Both turn and give me a persnickety little wave. “Too bad you can’t join us, Elsie,” Sadira says.
“We’ll be sure to tell you all about it, especially about King Asher,” Nesrin adds.
“I’m sure you will,” I mutter. As horrible as the king is, he’s equally handsome, which is to say extremely handsome because he’s extremely horrible—not that I care.
I release a long-held exhale as they scuttle down the lane and out of sight.
Before going to my room, I freshen the cup of water next to my uncle, lay a knit blanket over his lap, and squeeze his shoulder.
My cousins were always horrid, but my aunt and uncle were my saving grace. Thinking about it now, I wonder if Nesrin and Sadira hate me because their parents treated me like their daughter even though I’m not. The thought stops me in my tracks, but so does the creak of my bedroom window.
I slowly push open the door, sighting my bow and quiver hanging on the hook on the wall. My hand slaps against my chest and I take a deep breath as Hattie falls tail over teakettle onto the floor.
We both laugh as I help my best friend up.
“They’re gone. You could’ve used the front door,” I whisper even though I don’t need to.
“This is more fun.” Hattie lifts and lowers her eyebrows then one arches. “Wait. You’re not dressed. Don’t tell me, you were helping the Terrible Two instead of preparing for the best night of your life.”
I sigh. “I’m not sure we should go through with it.”
Hattie trips over the woven rug and catches herself on the edge of the bed. “I hope it’s not because I’m the clumsiest elf in all of Alvheim.”
