Whims of Fae - The Complete Series

by Nissa Leder

  Poppy returned the nod.

  As they turned around and began the trip back to the group, something crushed beneath Sage’s foot. The crunching noise wasn’t loud, and for a moment, Sage thought no one else heard.

  Then a roar spread through the forest.

  Raith wanted to believe his brother had known about his mother all along and just played him for a fool but, deep down, he knew Cade was just as clueless as he had been.

  Cade always wore his emotions too transparently to be lying now.

  As they all waited for Sage and Poppy to return, they fell back into silence.

  Scarlett stood next to Kaelem as she stared at the ground. Her face looked tired and Raith considered walking to her and offering his shoulder to rest on, but he decided against it.

  He hated her proximity to the Unseelie King. Jealousy was a common emotion of the fae, who were possessive creatures by nature, and Raith had never felt it so intensely.

  Almost as if he sensed Raith’s envy—which normally wouldn’t be impossible, but with no magic in this land, the ability to read emotion had vanished—Kaelem moved closer to Scarlett.

  Had Kaelem been telling the truth? Had Scarlett slept with him? Raith shouldn’t care, he reminded himself yet again. So why did he?

  Kaelem wrapped his arm around Scarlett and pulled her close. “You okay, darling?”

  Darling? Raith rolled his eyes.

  The hatred in him boiled as Kaelem grazed his finger on Scarlett’s arm.

  Scarlett leaned into him. “This was a stupid idea. What if I never get back to Ashleigh?”

  “You will,” Kaelem assured her.

  Sage’s scream pulled Raith’s attention away.

  “Grab your weapons,” Sage yelled, her voice growing louder as she neared.

  Raith pulled out his daggers, Kaelem and Cade readied their swords, and Scarlett picked up her staff from the ground.

  Behind Sage and Poppy, three large creatures more than twice the size of Raith, gray-skinned and bald-headed, ran through the trees.

  The one in the front held a black sword, slicing the greenery in his way. Another had a machete and the last had a huge bow.

  “We found them,” Sage said, turning to face the creatures.

  “So much for being sneaky,” Kaelem said.

  To Raith’s relief, their group instinctively made a circle around Scarlett. He knew Kaelem would want to protect her, and even guessed Cade would, too, but he wasn’t as sure about Sage or Poppy.

  “I can help,” Scarlett said, but no one moved to let her out.

  The giant with the sword attacked first, a roar booming from his mouth. Closer now, Raith noticed the small third eye in the middle of its forehead.

  He and Cade stepped forward. Together, they charged, weapons out.

  Raith went for its lower half, slicing his daggers at its shins.

  Cade traded blow for blow with his sword against the giant’s.

  For being so large, the giant was a lot faster than Raith would have guessed. With its free hand, it knocked Cade ten feet back onto his ass.

  “Raith!” Cade yelled.

  As Raith turned to see if his brother was in trouble, he saw one of the other giants aim its bow at him and release the arrow.

  It struck Raith through the shoulder. He stumbled back as pain radiated down his arm. He grabbed at the wound, wincing as he bumped the bow.

  He looked up. The giant hovered over him, its sword ready to strike.

  This was how he’d die.

  A sword tip jutted through the giant’s stomach. Blood gushed from the wound. The giant fell forward, the sword handle sticking up from its back. Cade stood over it, surprise covering his face.

  Raith blinked as everything blurred around him.

  “Brother.” Cade’s cracked voice was the last thing he heard before everything went black.

  “Ow,” Raith said as a sharp pain hit his shoulder.

  “Toughen up,” Sage said.

  Raith opened his eyes to see Sage grinning at him.

  “You have the shittiest luck.” She laughed. “Or maybe you are the luckiest person ever. I’m not quite sure.”

  “Is everyone else okay?” Raith wanted to sit up, but his body was too heavy to lift.

  “Yes, Scarlett’s fine,” Sage said.

  Raith was glad to know Scarlett was okay, but the first face that popped into his mind when he regained consciousness wasn’t hers, but his brother’s. “Cade?”

  Sage poured a few drops of liquid from a small black vial onto a cloth. “Not even a scratch.”

  “Lucky bastard,” Raith joked. “What are you putting on me?”

  “Well, unlike the rest of you, I figured this place might be dangerous so I packed some healing ointments.”

  “Always so prepared.”

  “He’s awake?” Scarlett said from behind Raith. She rushed over and kneeled next to him. “You scared us all.”

  “It takes more than a giant with a bow and arrow to kill me.” Raith coughed, weakness spreading through him.

  “You need rest.” Scarlett kissed his forehead.

  “I…” Raith wanted to say he needed her, but tiredness consumed him and all he could do was close his eyes.

  Chapter Nineteen

  No one would let Scarlett do anything.

  Kaelem and Sage took the first watch then Cade and Poppy took the second.

  It was driving her crazy. She wasn’t some fragile human anymore. Why was everyone so set on protecting her? She had a staff and could have helped with the giants, but instead, they all stayed in between her and the creatures.

  She was at least capable of staying awake and watching for anything that might attack. But no, they insisted she get a good night’s sleep. What for? She was the most worthless of them all and the only one who didn’t need to be alert.

  At least Scarlett was allowed to carry the compass Vida had given her.

  Scarlett’s feet ached more with every step. It was their third day of walking and fatigue consumed them all. With his injury, Raith grew slower every hour.

  Scarlett linked her arm with him. Hopefully, she could help walk him without anyone complaining she might get hurt.

  “Hey, you.” Raith smiled.

  His face looked pale, dark circles growing under his eyes. He should have been healing, but Sage said whatever kept their magic from working here must keep their other fae qualities at bay too.

  Scarlett squeezed his uninjured bicep. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’ve had better days.” He coughed. “But, thanks to my brother, I still have my head, so I can’t complain.” Raith glanced ahead to Cade. “I’m surprised he didn’t let that thing decapitate me. Then he wouldn’t have to worry about me interfering with his right to the Summer Court.”

  “You’re his brother.”

  “And in the fae world, blood is a threat.”

  “Not everyone is as evil as Kassandra.” Scarlett didn’t know it was possible to hate her more than she already did, but after hearing Raith’s story, she did.

  “No, but Cade is her son.”

  “Kassandra might be his mother, but I don’t believe Cade is like her.”

  Scarlett had had no respect for Cade after the Battle of Heirs. But since then, he’d surprised her. She’d heard his thoughts as guilt consumed him while Nevina tortured Laik. She’d seen his worry as blood gushed out of Raith’s wound when Sage pushed the arrow through his shoulder.

  He wasn’t a selfish leader. He cared for others.

  Raith’s eyes threatened to close as he put more and more weight on Scarlett.

  “We should find a safe place to make camp for the night,” Scarlett said.

  Kaelem started to complain, but when he saw Raith falling into Scarlett, he closed his mouth.

  A new distress rose in Scarlett’s chest. Somehow, she’d winded herself into a triangle between Kaelem and Raith. It wasn’t some cliché love triangle. Love was such a strong word and turning fae h
ad changed Scarlett in a way she didn’t know was possible. Things like love and lust were different now. Her emotion had turned into a piano. Human Scarlett lived her life in the treble clef, but Fae Scarlett was comprised of both the base and treble, the melody of her soul alternating between the two.

  Music had always been Scarlett’s escape. She’d spent countless hours lost at the piano, fingers rapidly moving to the songs of Chopin and Beethoven. What could be more fitting than using it as a metaphor for her life now?

  “Look!” Poppy stopped ahead of everyone.

  When Scarlett caught up, she saw they’d arrived at a cliff that dropped off to a valley of death.

  The green of the jungle suddenly stopped and, below, gave way to an open area of bare trees. Vulture-like birds with purple heads and dark feathers hovered above.

  On the other side of the valley sat a large white-bark tree with fuchsia leaves, similar in shape to the tree that brought them to the realm. To be able to see it from such a far distance meant it was bigger than any tree Scarlett had ever seen.

  “That’s it,” Scarlett said. “The tree is the power.”

  She couldn’t say how she knew. It was large, sure, and beautiful, but that didn’t mean it was powerful. But as Scarlett stared at it, something inside her vibrated, like when she ran her hands over the three stars as a child only much, much stronger.

  But why would such a beautiful thing be surrounded by such ugliness? It couldn’t be a good sign.

  Could the others feel its power, too? Scarlett considered asking them but decided against it.

  “Let’s camp up here and we’ll finish our journey tomorrow,” Sage said.

  No one argued. It had been days without magic or evanescing, full of humid air and repetitious steps. Perhaps it was because she’d been the only one not taking a guard shift, but more likely because she’d been the only one ever to be human, Scarlett seemed fresher than anyone else. She’d lived eighteen years without magic. In some ways, the respite from it was a relief.

  After they’d eaten dinner—finishing off the last bit of meat from their first night—they all sat around the fire.

  As Scarlett stared into the flames, the tree sang to her from across the valley.

  Kaelem and Cade offered to take the first watch.

  After everyone else went to bed, Kaelem sharpened his sword. The fire burned low, giving off only a little light. It had rained during the day, but for now, the precipitation paused.

  Next to him, Cade brooded silently as he leaned against a tree.

  “You’re more selfless than I would have thought,” Kaelem said.

  “Oh?” Cade stared ahead.

  “You fucked up and let your brother live the first time, and when you had another chance to seal the crown without even dirtying your own hands, you saved him.” Kaelem shrugged. “It surprised me, that’s all.”

  “He’s my brother.”

  “Would he have done the same for you?” Kaelem waited while Cade thought about the question.

  “I don’t know.”

  “I don’t trust him and Sage.” Kaelem planted the seed. “They agreed to come too quickly. I mean, I get he fucked Scarlett and all, but to risk so much with no desire for the power himself? I don’t believe it. And what’s Sage’s role in all this? Do we even know anything about her?”

  Cade shifted his body. “What about you?”

  “Of course I want the power,” Kaelem said. “I don’t pretend to be someone I’m not.”

  “No, you’re upfront about your deceit. Doesn’t make it any less deceitful.”

  “At least I’m actually King of my court.” Holding back a grin, Kaelem put his sword away.

  Cade made getting under his skin so easy. He opened his mouth then shut it. “I’m going to do a perimeter walk.” He stomped away.

  Perfect.

  After Cade had left, Kaelem snuck to Scarlett and picked up her staff.

  He bent over and whispered in her ear, “Shhh. I need to show you something.”

  Scarlett awoke. Groggily, she let Kaelem pull her up and quietly lead her away from the group.

  “What’s the matter?” Scarlett asked.

  Kaelem pulled out a vial of liquid from his pocket. Before she realized what he was doing, he put it to Scarlett’s lips and poured it into her mouth.

  She choked on it, coughing most of it up. But a drop was all that needed to be ingested for it to work.

  “What…” Scarlett’s eyes shut as her body went limp.

  Kaelem caught her before she fell to the ground and carried her away.

  Chapter Twenty

  His shoulder burned as Raith sleepily rolled over on the ground.

  “Wake up.” Someone shook him. “Now!”

  Raith opened his eyes to Cade above him with panic on his face.

  Were they being attacked again?

  Raith quickly pushed himself up despite the pain screaming in his shoulder. “What’s happening?”

  “She’s gone.”

  Raith’s throat tightened. He knew who Cade meant. Why would she leave?

  “He took her. I know it.” Anger filled Cade’s voice. “I left to do a perimeter check and when I got back, they were both gone.”

  Raith wanted to believe the only way Scarlett would leave would be unwillingly, but he’d seen her interact with Kaelem, and he couldn’t deny she was comfortable with him. “Was there a sign of a struggle?”

  “No, but he had to have tricked her. He was messing with my head, trying to convince me that you weren’t trustworthy. He annoyed me enough I had to get away, and when I returned, they both were gone.”

  It could have been a plan between them both. Kaelem would find a way for some freedom and then they’d dash away. But Raith couldn’t believe Scarlett would do that. If she’d disappeared, she was taken.

  “What are you two arguing about?” Sage sat up and, next to her, so did Poppy.

  Cade told them what had happened.

  Sage searched for signs of which way they went, but there weren’t any. Kaelem knew not to leave a trail.

  How could he have lured Scarlett away so quietly? Though Raith didn’t believe Scarlett would leave them willingly, would she have gone somewhere alone with Kaelem for some privacy?

  Raith ignored the questions racing through his mind. It didn’t matter how Kaelem got Scarlett away, all that mattered was finding them before something happened to her.

  “They’re going for the power,” Poppy said. “We have to beat them to it.”

  The sun had begun to rise, illuminating the valley below. They searched for Kaelem and Scarlett, but they were nowhere to be seen.

  “The longer we wait, the closer they get,” Cade said.

  Raith agreed. The sooner they left, the better chance they’d have to catch them. Raith didn’t care about the power, though he’d prefer Kaelem not get it after betraying them. But he wanted Scarlett to remain safe, and he didn’t trust Kaelem.

  They packed up their things and continued the journey. As they followed the valley ledge, they stumbled on a staircase that zigzagged down the steep edge.

  “This looks fun,” Raith said as he gazed over the edge.

  “Oh, yes. So much fun,” Sage said.

  Cade walked to the start of the staircase. “Let’s just get it over with.”

  Poppy went next.

  Carefully, Raith balanced as he took each step. With only one functioning hand, his equilibrium wasn’t centered. One lean too far to the right and he’d drop to the ground with a splatter.

  Leave it to him to survive the attack from the giants only to fall to his death. Raith preferred that not happen. Then he couldn’t get his revenge on the conniving Unseelie King.

  Sage followed him closely, likely ready to grab him if he wavered. Though slow, he made it to the bottom.

  “Whew,” Raith said as he took the last step. “Glad that’s over.”

  They all continued into the forest of bare trees. Though they had no lea
ves, they still blocked a good amount of the sun, but it was much hotter than the jungle had been. And unlike the moist terrain they’d been walking on the past few days, the dirt now beneath their feet was completely dry. Its sandy color blended with the trees making everything around Raith blur together.

  Sage stopped abruptly in front of him. “Shhh. Listen.”

  Everyone froze. Heavy breathing surrounded them.

  A creature with a human body and a furless, wolf-like head stalked toward them on all fours. Before it reached them, he stood on his hind legs and howled.

  Raith regretted his satisfaction after making it to the valley.

  His injury was improving, but he was still useless with a weapon.

  “This isn’t good.” Sage drew her daggers.

  Everyone followed suit, readying their weapons.

  More of the creatures appeared from the cover of the trees.

  Raith feared what had happened if Kaelem and Scarlett had gone this way.

  Scarlett kept her gaze forward, refusing to even look at Kaelem.

  “C’mon, darling. It’s for the best.” Kaelem reached for her hand.

  Scarlett turned her shoulders, looking away from him.

  “It’s going to be a boring walk if we keep silent the entire time.”

  “The tree is across the valley. Why are we walking around? Do you want it to take twice as long so you can annoy me to death before we get there?” Scarlett snapped.

  “I didn’t like the look of all those dead trees. And I mean, c’mon, vultures flying above is about as bad of a sign as you can get.”

  “So, we left everyone else to cross the valley alone?” Scarlett couldn’t believe it. Then again, yes, she could. When had Kaelem not been selfish in his decisions? Did she not learn her lesson when he trapped Ashleigh? Why did he even bother bringing her? The tree was within sight. It wasn’t like Scarlett was much help without her magic if anyone attacked. Why not leave them all behind and go for the power himself?

  “They’re all capable fighters. If they choose to go that way, I’m sure they’ll be fine. Just hopefully slower than us.”