Kirian clumsily gropes around until he finds the woman’s head, and when I look at his eyes, I realize he’s not focusing on anything. For a second, I’m afraid he’s lost his sight again, but then I realize he’s pretending to be blind.
He doesn’t want anyone to know he can see. Clever.
Facing straight ahead, he gives the woman a few comforting pats. “I assure you, I’ll make this right.”
As soon as he utters the promise, she lets out a sob of relief. “Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you.”
Before she can start kissing his feet, he steps back. “My mate has been found. I need you to keep her and the griffin safe while I tend to business at the palace.”
“Of course. Anything you need.” Glancing over her shoulder, the fae woman doles out a couple orders to a female in servants’ clothing, telling her to put Talon in the stables and heat up some soup for me.
“Kirian, please,” I beg quietly. “I want to go with you.”
All my instincts are yelling that we need to stay together, but from the stubborn set of his jaw, I can tell he won’t budge on this.
My unbendable king.
Kirian plants a swift kiss on my mouth before backing away. “Don’t let Quinn out of your sight and protect her with your life if need be.”
He sends me a heat-filled glance and mouths, “I love you.”
I mouth it back.
Then he takes off with Damon, flying straight for the castle. I want to stand here and make sure they get inside, but there’s a small fae boy pulling me into the house while babbling about wanting to show me his toys.
The door shuts behind me, and our greeter takes my soaked coat. “Hello, Quinn, I’m Nalia, and this is my mate Garryn.” The dark-haired woman gestures to the blond man who’s still peering out the window.
He seems way more interested in what’s happening out there than having a houseguest. I’m not insulted. I’m just glad they’re being friendlier now than they were at the ball. I recognize them. They were amongst the fae whispering about my unappealing appearance.
Guess dealing with a stolen family member really puts things into perspective. Who has time to gossip about my freckles when their daughter is missing?
I feel a tug on my hand, and I glance down at the boy. He’s like a little clone of his mother, with his inky hair and yellow eyes. “I have a griffin, too. Wanna see?”
“Gerris, stop hounding the future queen.” Nalia shoots him an unhappy look.
“It’s okay,” I say with a smile. “I like kids.”
“You’ll play with me?” Gerris bounces, still holding onto my fingers.
“Sure. If that’s okay with your mom.” I glance at Nalia, and her mouth is hanging open.
She seems surprised, and I’m guessing a member of the royal family has never offered to babysit before.
“All right,” she says pleasantly, recovering quickly. “Are you hungry?”
“No, thank you.” Although I haven’t eaten since the spaghetti and meatballs last night, my worry is overshadowing my appetite right now.
I hate being away from Kirian. It feels wrong.
At least I have entertainment to distract me. Leading me in front of a stone hearth with a blazing fire, Gerris dumps a wicker basket full of carved wooden animals. One of them is a griffin.
While Nalia watches us from a rocking chair in the corner, he runs circles around me, pretending to fly it through the air. When he asks me to help him line all the animals up, I do, although my fingers are still trembling from the scary ride here.
Thunder rumbles, and I glance outside. I didn’t think it was possible for the sky to get darker, but somehow it does. Hail starts pinging against the window and hitting the house.
“Nalia,” Garryn says, his breath fogging up the glass. “Take cover in the cellar.”
“Is that necessary?” she asks, her clasped hands tightening with concern.
Lightning flashes three times, and much to my horror, it illuminates the clouds. They’re circling faster now, like it could turn into a tornado any second. Suddenly, a bright bolt shoots straight down into the castle.
I feel a sizzle in my chest and dizziness makes my head sway from side to side.
Kirian.
Something happened to him. I know it.
Fear jolts through my heart as the burning heat continues. Sweat breaks out on my forehead, and my vision temporarily blurs.
I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s bad.
Kirian needs me, and I can’t just sit here and do nothing.
“I’m gonna go check on Talon,” I announce, rising on wobbly legs.
Nalia stands so abruptly she almost knocks the chair over. “But we’re not to let you out of our sight.”
Moving in front of the door, she appears to be ready to physically stop me from leaving, and from the knowing press of her lips, I’d say she can read through my bullshit.
We both know I’m not stopping at the stables.
Stiffening my spine, I try to sound as royal as I can. “I’m going to be queen. It’s my duty to take care of Valora. If I have to venture to the Day Realm myself to get your daughter, I will.” I’m surprised to realize I mean it. I care about these people, even if they haven’t always respected me. “But I won’t be able to do that if the king is dead.”
Nalia must hear the truth in my statement, because she slowly shuffles out of the way, sending a resigned look to her husband.
I don’t waste any time. My shoes are still wet from the ride here, and they squish when I fit my feet inside. Deciding to leave the heavy coat behind, I reach for the doorknob. A soft touch to my shoulder makes me pause. I glance to my left.
Garryn’s towering over me, and for a second, I think he might toss me over his shoulder and restrain me.
Instead, he presses a sheathed dagger into my palm. “It isn’t much, but it’s better than being unarmed.”
Gulping, I nod. I’ve never used a weapon before. Hell, I’ve never even punched anyone. I’m not sure if I’d have the balls to stab someone, but it does make me feel better to have it.
As I sprint to the stables, I get soaked all over again. The rain comes down in heavy sheets, and I wipe my eyes as I pull the stable door open. Inside, it smells musty and damp. It’s too dark for me to see well, but I don’t have to search for Talon. He must be sensing the danger, because he’s scraping at one of the doors and letting out a series of pitiful moans.
“Yeah, there’s trouble,” I say, sliding the metal bolt on his stall to let him out. “I need you to take me up to the tower, okay?”
Surprisingly, he nods as if he understands me. Maybe he does. Thankfully, he’s still wearing the saddle.
I pet his beak. “Let’s go kick some Princess Gia butt.”
I don’t know why she didn’t kill me when she had the chance. Was sending me back home a small mercy? Maybe she just wanted me out of the way long enough to gain control.
Of course, she couldn’t have planned on Kirian having my marble or Astrid’s help. If it wasn’t for that, he might not have been able to get to me at all.
And since she knew we were soul mates, she thought separating us would make Kirian lose his mind. Eventually, he would’ve.
Boy, she’ll be happy to see me.
Kirian
“It’s too solid.” Using my axe, I chop at the thick vines around the base of the dome. Every time I cut through them, they grow right back. “Fuck. Gia’s never been able to do anything this big before.”
Damon puts his sword away. “We’ll have to go up.”
“I know.”
It isn’t ideal. Falling into her trap is probably the dumbest decision I could make, but we need to act quickly. I don’t know how far her powers can go. If she loses control, she could decimate Delaveria. As it is, the sky looks like a cyclone could form.
And my mother is in there. I don’t know if Gia would hurt her, but I won’t underestimate my sister. Not ever again.
D
eciding it’s now or never, I put my axe away and leap into the sky. Damon isn’t far behind, and strong wind blows us off course a few times.
When we make it to the bell tower, lightning shoots down, striking the highest point.
We narrowly miss getting struck, taking cover on the stone floor under the rows of bells just in time. Several of them knock against each other, chiming out an eerie tune. Even after the lightning retreats, heat crackles along my back and my hairs stand on end.
“This is fucking wild,” Damon says, crawling to the trap door leading to the stairwell. “Distilled Day water should be illegal.”
He has a point. No one should be this powerful. It’s dangerous, and the secret is definitely out. Once the fae of Valora learn their powers could be this intense, they’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on the substance.
When I shut the door above our heads, we’re cloaked in darkness. None of the lanterns along the walls are lit, and I can’t see a thing. It’s oddly comforting. These are the conditions in which I’ve honed every skill I have.
Reverting back to my days of blindness, I place my feet on each stair with confidence. “Once we get to the hallway, we’ll check the guest quarters for anyone hoping to get a jump on us.”
“Good call,” Damon says behind me. “I’m officially freaked out. Do you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“Exactly. It’s too damn quiet.”
Agreed. The palace is always bustling with activity. Between council members, noble guests, maids, and other staff, noise is constant.
Right now, aside from the wind whistling above us, there’s nothing.
As I descend the winding staircase, I see a faint glow coming from the bottom. Lights are on in the hallway on the other side of the door. This wing of the castle was built after the curse, and believe it or not, it’s fancier than my quarters. I’m excited to see the rooms, even if it’s just to check for ambushers. They’re reserved for the guests of honor, and no expense was spared when they were designed. Plus, they have the best view of Dawn and Dusk.
Quinn would love it.
A strange sensation swirls inside my chest at the thought of her. It feels like something is tugging at my heart. A persistent yearning that’s almost painful.
It’s the bond rebelling against being separated from her so soon after our first mating. Weird to think a third party is butting into our relationship, but the bond is its own entity.
And it wants Quinn.
Well, it’s going to have to wait. I have important business to—
“Kirian, look out for the—”
I feel the wire against my ankle just as Damon shouts the warning. But it’s too late.
As I flap my wings to propel backward, arrows shoot from somewhere ahead. One nicks my thigh, and I recognize the sting of iron. Dozens of others ping against the stone steps, falling uselessly to the floor with a clatter.
Gia’s not playing around. If it wasn’t for Damon’s warning, I could’ve been speared through the heart.
I didn’t sense the tripwire. Damon felt the frequency in the air—the way the draft bounced off the metal that was strung tight.
Damn.
As glad as I am to have my sight back, I probably regained it at the worst possible time. I feel like I’ve lost a superpower I took for granted.
“Maybe you should go first,” I suggest to Damon, ignoring the burning pain in my quadricep.
“Oh, no. I’m here as back up. I’ll make you a deal, though. If Gia kills you, I’ll take her down and run your kingdom for you.”
Coming from anyone else, I’d perceive that as a threat, but I know he’s not serious.
For one, I’m not sure he could defeat Gia if his life depended on it. Sure, he’s a decent fighter, but physical violence has never been his strong suit. Sparring usually ends with me pinning him to the ground and him promising buckets of my favorite ale in exchange for letting him up and not bragging about the victory later.
“Just swear an oath to me,” I say, avoiding the wire along the bottom step while kicking arrows out of the way. “If I die, take Quinn back to Astrid. Have the witch create another portal so she can get home.”
So she can move on. Go to college like she’d planned. Build a life.
Without me.
The mere idea of it hurts me a thousand times more than iron ever could.
“Stop talking like that.” The previous playfulness in Damon’s voice is gone. “You’re not going to die.”
I wish I had the same confidence, but a bad feeling nags at me. I’m not sure if it’s intuition or the bond throwing a tantrum, but something is very wrong.
Dim light streams through a crack as I open the door a few inches. I peer into the empty hallway, only to be greeted by the same eerie silence.
The storm still rages outside, but in here, there’s no movement. Not a breath from anyone on the whole floor.
Cautiously, I move forward. Damon guards my back as I peek into the rooms.
The walls are made from white marble with golden swirls, and crystals drip from the chandeliers. Some of the beds are made and the floors are clean. Others, though… the linens are tossed back, and clothes are littered about the space, as if someone left in a hurry.
“Do you sense anyone?” I mutter quietly.
“No,” Damon replies. “Maybe Gia evacuated the castle?”
I shake my head. “I doubt it. She’s always liked an audience during our challenges.”
“I remember. Shall we go to the throne room, then?”
I make an affirmative noise. “Let’s just hope she hasn’t set booby traps the entire way down.”
Kirian
We encounter three more tripwires, all of which I set off on purpose by throwing my axe toward the string. At least they seem to be a one-and-done. After the first round of weapons has been released, there isn’t a second. It’s a poor attempt to avoid a fight.
“The palace has undergone some renovations since the last time I was here,” I deadpan, kicking a few arrows out of the way while eyeing the ornate double doors ahead.
“I’d say so,” Damon quips. “Arrows shooting from the walls is definitely new.”
“You should stay out of sight until I need you,” I tell him quietly. “It’s better if Gia doesn’t realize I have backup.”
He gives me a solemn nod.
Voices carry to my ears as we near the great hall. I catch a few worried murmurs about the weather, and some whispered concerns about the insane princess.
Damon and I pause just outside, listening for clues as to what we’re about to walk in on.
From the impatient tones of the nobles, I predict Gia’s been waiting for me for a while.
Let the showdown begin.
Giving her the dramatics she wants, I kick the doors open, busting the hinges and splintering the wood.
Terrified shrieks and screams ripple through the crowd. And I do mean crowd. There has to be at least seventy-five fae huddled together at the opposite end of the hall. Some I recognize from our events, but others are new, and from the looks of their ragged clothing, Gia decided to round up some of our farmers.
Scanning the faces, I realize she gathered fae from every station. Probably wanting to strike fear into the hearts of every social class in the kingdom.
It’s hard to keep up the farce of being blind, but I force my gaze to go blank as I look in the direction of my sister.
She’s in my peripheral vision, and I feel like I’m seeing her through new eyes—no pun intended.
She’s sitting in my seat. My crown is upon her head, and it looks too heavy for her small frame. Dressed to impress, she’s wearing a fancy white gown. It glitters, as if it’s made from stardust. And maybe it is.
On the way through the castle, I saw a painting of her. The artist did a good job, because he captured her devious smile perfectly.
“Kirian,” she calls, and I don’t miss how she intentionally leaves ‘king’ off
my title. “I was wondering when you’d make it back this way.”
I stare at a spot somewhere above her head. “Gia, we need to have a serious talk. Privately.” My words echo off the tall ceilings, and I turn to address the crowd. “Anyone who isn’t a member of the royal family needs to leave.”
I don’t want someone getting caught in the crossfire. Blood will be spilled today, and I’d like to limit it to mine and Gia’s.
I catch a few relieved sighs and grateful glances as the fae hustle toward the exits.
“No!” Gia’s command makes everyone halt.
“Yes.”
They glance from me to her, and it pisses me off that they don’t know who to obey.
“You left me in charge,” Gia protests. “I’ve been doing the job you were too weak for, dear brother.”
“I was under the impression you could handle the position. I was wrong. I also thought you were loyal, but that was a mistake. I know what you did, Gia. You’ve committed the highest crime against me and the kingdom.”
A few gasps float up through the air, because everyone knows what that means. Killing a fae’s fated mate is the ultimate offense. To kill one is to kill both.
Which means Gia’s a traitor.
Farrel is probably her accomplice.
Speaking of him, he sits at her side in my father’s place, and I don’t miss the way he squirms uncomfortably. He keeps looking down at his fidgeting hands with a morose expression. The two chairs on either side of them are unoccupied, and when I covertly search the crowd, I don’t see Mother anywhere.
No one speaks, but their eyes nervously volley back and forth between us. They’re not sure who to pledge loyalty to. I’ll fix that right now.
“Go!” I roar. “Go to the safety of your homes. Tell your families I’ll fix the mess Princess Gia has made.”
The Fae King's Curse Page 24
