Whims of Fae - The Complete Series

by Nissa Leder

  “Two can play the teasing game, darling,” Kaelem purred.

  Scarlett didn’t respond with words. Instead, her mouth slowly kissed from his neck to his chest, down to his abs, and back up until her mouth found his.

  Their tongues twisted like vines as Kaelem’s hands slid underneath her dress and moved up to her chest. His touch warmed her.

  The lust between them filled the room like heat from the fire. Her head pulled back as her mouth spread into a grin.

  He lifted her and tossed her onto the bed. Desire blazed in his irises as he moved toward her.

  Before, Scarlett might have stopped things just because she could. She enjoyed her game of hard-to-get. Now, nothing could convince her to leave.

  In a fast motion, Kaelem pulled Scarlett’s dress over her head. Just as quickly, she removed his pants.

  Scarlett had never felt such passion. It filled her and tingled every nerve in her body. It was a high like no other.

  Kaelem’s lips explored her, tormenting her in the best way. He started at her mouth and worked his way down, lingering in her most sensitive areas.

  Surely, she would explode.

  He grabbed her waist and pulled her to him, her legs wrapping around him. When their eyes met, she saw the lust in his stare, but she saw something else before his mouth crushed into hers again.

  Her fingers twisted through his hair as his tongue slid across her lower lip.

  Time seemed to slow as her hunger for him grew.

  This was one part of being fae that put mortal life to shame.

  Kaelem sat up as he watched Scarlett rise, naked, from the bed, pick up her dress from the ground, and slip it over her head. Her new tattoos spreading from her fingers to her shoulders and around to the top of her back had made her even sexier and given him a pattern to trace as he’d teased her.

  She said nothing, but before she left the room, she glanced at him and grinned.

  Until next time, darling, he said mind-to-mind as the door shut behind her.

  He fell back onto the bed and let his body sink into his top-of-the-line memory foam mattress topper covered with 800 thread count, Egyptian cotton sheets, which, now that he thought about it, might need to be washed.

  Memories of last night danced in his mind. Scarlett’s long hair falling down as her yearning vibrated through the air. Her mouth on his. Her tongue on other parts. It had been everything he’d anticipated and more.

  As much as he wanted to relive the thoughts of their bodies moving as one, he had other time-sensitive issues that needed his attention.

  After he selected a new suit and was dressed, he grabbed a small glass bottle and a velvet package from a small chest in his closet and made his way to the elevator. Two floors down, he stopped and exited into the hallway. A few rooms over, he knocked on a door.

  Cade, now wearing a Summer Court suit, answered. “Hello, Kaelem.”

  “May we chat?” Once inside, Kaelem shut the door, opened the jar, and sprinkled some of the purple powder on the floor at the doorjamb. “This will help keep our conversation private. Where is your spunky companion?”

  “In her room next door, I imagine.”

  Cade had requested separate rooms for him and his date, which, after sensing his emotions last night, Kaelem guessed he might have regretted.

  “Sensing the lust between you two last night, I expected to find her in your bed.”

  “Not everyone beds every woman they’re close to like you.”

  “I don’t bed every woman.” Scarlett’s face flashed in Kaelem’s mind. He fought a smile. He wasn’t in the mood to kiss and tell. There were more pressing issues. “As interested in my love life as I’m sure you must be, I’m here to talk about you.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, I gather from the Winter Queen’s absence from the ball last night that she has no interest in aligning against the Fates. In fact, knowing how cold she is,” Kaelem resisted a chuckle, “odds are, she’s already allied her court with The Fates’ cause.”

  “And what does that have to do with the Summer Court?”

  “I know about your excursion at the Seelie ball. I expect such viciousness from Nevina, but your involvement surprised me.”

  “I…didn’t come up with the plan,” Cade said.

  “But you participated in it nonetheless. No judgment here. I’ve done plenty of cruel things for my court. I’m not here to lecture you.”

  “Why are you here?”

  “Because by going along with Nevina’s plan, you’ve gained her trust. I want all the allies I can get. Maybe we’re overreacting and the Fates want everyone to be friends and sing around a campfire like teenage mortals, but, more likely, things are going to change in the fae world. If war comes, having a friend on the inside might prove more powerful than a public ally.”

  “You want me to pretend to be Nevina’s ally?”

  Kaelem wasn’t sure Cade had the balls it took for such deception. But a spy on the inside would give his side the upper hand and, if done correctly, could save both their courts. “She’s already chosen you as trustworthy. It isn’t as if anyone would expect you to aid the Unseelie Court.”

  “If they find out, I’ll be as good as dead.”

  “You’ll have to keep your mental shields up at all times. I don’t know what powers the Fates possess. Nevina shouldn’t be able to infiltrate your mind, but others might.”

  “Why would I do this?” Cade’s hands fidgeted at his sides.

  “Maybe you shouldn’t. But I think you’re a smart king and you know that neither Nevina or the Fates can be trusted.”

  “Neither can you.”

  “True, but I think you trust Scarlett and so do I. The Fates want her. Whatever that tree gave her has made her powerful. More powerful than even she realizes. And the Fates want that power. I don’t want them to get it and neither should you.”

  Maybe his desire for Scarlett had blinded him, but in his mind, she was the clear choice. Protecting her could protect everyone. Her mortal upbringing hadn’t prepared her to be the queen of a court, but it had taught her to care for others. Her distance from the court rivalries that had gone on for centuries kept her unbiased. She’d shown her ability to forgive. Cade had nearly killed her, but when she had the opportunity to seek revenge, she let him go.

  He hoped others saw how crucial allying on her side was.

  Kaelem handed Cade the velvet bag.

  Confusion flowed from him as he opened it and pulled out a golden chain. He dangled it in front of his face. “What’s this?”

  “It’s a necklace wrought in willow tree powder.” Kaelem gestured to the doorway. “It keeps out wandering ears or minds. No one, not even me, will be able to infiltrate your mind when you’re wearing it.”

  Cade slipped the chain over his neck and hid it beneath his shirt. “What if I refuse your request?”

  “Then you’ll end up with a powerful necklace to use against me should you so choose.”

  Cade looked downward and locked his fingers together in front of his body. “I’ll do it.”

  “No one else can know. It’s too risky. There’s only one necklace. You’re no good to anyone dead.”

  Cade nodded. “Very well.”

  “Not even Poppy.”

  Cade hesitated. “Fine.”

  Clearly, he didn’t like the idea of keeping secrets from Poppy. But if he had to, Kaelem guessed he could. His life might depend on it.

  Someone knocked on the door.

  “I’ll find you when we can talk again. Until then, you are my enemy.” Kaelem winked. He slid his foot across the powder line and opened the door.

  Poppy looked inside the room. “Everything okay?”

  “I was just leaving. He’s all yours.” Kaelem pursed his lips and made a smooching noise.

  He’d either just created a tremendous ally or given a future foe a mighty gift.

  But what was life without a little risk?

  The golden chain felt cool
against Cade’s skin.

  After the Unseelie King left the room, Poppy asked, “What was that about?”

  Kaelem said no one could know about their discussion. Not if Cade planned on agreeing to his plan. He’d always gone to Poppy for advice. If she didn’t know about Kaelem’s offer, he couldn’t get her opinion.

  He might have told the Unseelie King he’d join him, but he hadn’t actually made up his mind. It was a choice he would have to make on his own this time.

  Poppy tilted her head to the side as she waited for Cade’s answer.

  “Kaelem wants me to team up with him and Scarlett and anyone else who wants to go against the Fates.”

  “And will you?”

  Cade swallowed. “I don’t think I can trust him. You saw how quickly he was to betray us all in the Sidhe realm by stealing Scarlett away.”

  “And you trust Nevina or the Fates more?”

  “Not particularly, but I believe the Fates are powerful. Is it not wise to choose the strongest allies?”

  All of this was true. Cade didn’t trust Kaelem and the Fates were formidable. Although he hadn’t seen them use the mightiest magic he’d ever seen, the way they had used their influence to get Scarlett to the tree to unleash the magic it held was enough to convince Cade of their strength.

  So, why was Cade starting to sweat?

  Images of him and Poppy dancing at the ball resurfaced. The feeling of her body pressed into his as they swayed back and forth. The sweet scent of her hair.

  They hadn’t taken things as far as they had in the cave before Sage had found them, but when Cade had walked Poppy to her room before heading to bed for the night, he’d pecked his lips to hers and his entire body tingled.

  And now he lied to her.

  He hated it, but Kaelem was right. It was too dangerous for her to know. If he were caught and tortured for his deceit, so be it, but he was determined to do his best to keep Poppy out of it as much as possible.

  And to protect her and his people.

  Which meant thinking things through before coming to any real decisions. He’d agreed to join Kaelem, but that didn’t mean he had to follow through. If Cade had learned anything from the Unseelie King, it was to keep his options open. And now, with the necklace he’d given him, Kaelem would be unable to read Cade’s thoughts.

  “I will help with whatever side you choose.” Poppy bowed.

  “About last night.” Cade rubbed the back of his neck, unsure what he should say. He wanted to change the subject. Maybe he should have come up with a different topic.

  “It was a good night, but we shouldn’t let it happen again.” Poppy’s expression kept still. “I can’t let any feelings I may develop get in the way of my duty to protect you.”

  “Of course,” Cade said. “I wanted to apologize if I crossed any lines I shouldn’t have. I’m your king and should not have put you in any position that could make you uncomfortable.”

  Poppy’s eyes softened. “I wasn’t uncomfortable. The opposite, actually. But with so many changes happening, I think we’re best served with keeping our boundaries.” She stared at him, waiting for his answer.

  He wanted to close the distance between them and press his lips into hers again, more passionately than he had the night before. With so much at stake, his heart craved passion more than ever.

  But he was king. His people depended on him. Poppy depended on him, too. He couldn’t be rational if his feelings for her grew. “I agree.”

  “What’s our next move?”

  “To visit Nevina and see what she has to offer us.”

  Cade reached beneath his shirt and adjusted the chain. He hoped Kaelem had been telling the truth about its power.

  “Very well. I’ll grab my things and we can go.”

  He wanted to say something to make her stay. Maybe they could spend one day together without the pressures of looming war.

  Instead, Cade watched Poppy leave the room.

  Chapter Eleven

  When Scarlett returned to the Otherworld castle, Rowen met her at the portal.

  “Was it a successful trip?” Rowen asked.

  “Yes,” Scarlett replied. “Mostly.”

  Scarlett pushed her thoughts of Kaelem away and told Rowen about her run-in with Raith. “He took me off guard. I wanted to believe he really had escaped and was back to being himself. It was foolish, I know.”

  “It isn’t wrong to hope for the best, but now we know for sure. Did he hurt you?”

  Scarlett fought tears and gulped. “Not exactly. He might have if Aria hadn’t thrown the dagger at him.”

  Rowen frowned as sadness filled her. “They’ve ruined him.”

  Scarlett absorbed Rowen’s sorrow and sent happiness her way, just as Cade had done for her in the Summer Court. “We’ll get him back.” She wasn’t sure if she believed it, but she knew they would try. She had to keep hoping.

  “I attended the council meeting as you requested,” Rowen said. “Nothing major has changed. Ailani asked I remind you of the gifts waiting for your attention.”

  “Thank you. I will check in with her tomorrow. Right now, I need to freshen up and practice using my magic.”

  After Scarlett excused herself, she drew a bath. She scooped in an elixir Vida had given her for relaxation and used her magic to heat the water and create bubbles, which, thanks to the elixir, were purple. She slowly dipped her body into the steaming water. As she laid her head back, she closed her eyes and inhaled the lavender scent around her.

  Now that she was alone, she let her mind wander to earlier that morning. She pushed away thoughts of the pain she felt when Raith’s hands touched her and the anxiety that came when she worried about her sister, instead allowing the memory of her night with Kaelem to fill her thoughts. She’d wanted him last night, drunk off of lust and alcohol. But he’d left her alone.

  Then this morning, they’d crossed the line they hadn’t yet crossed.

  And it was wonderful.

  Kaelem had gotten under her skin the first time they’d met, and her attraction to him had only grown. But he’d made countless selfish decisions that drove her absolutely crazy. She never knew how much she could trust him, but their chemistry was undeniable.

  Scarlett dipped her head below the surface and let the hot water seep into her skin. After she finished rinsing off, she changed into fresh clothing then went to the library.

  Her thoughts shifted to the reality of the problems she now faced.

  She wouldn’t be such easy prey next time Raith or anyone tried to capture her. Mastering her magic was her priority now. She was powerful, she just needed to control her magic.

  The book’s energy called to her.

  Had Dana left it in the library hoping that the next queen would find it? There was no denying the book held powerful magic. But if it could help Scarlett defeat the Fates and Dana had known about it, wouldn’t she have given it to Vida for safekeeping?

  The thought that the book might be dangerous crossed Scarlett’s mind. She felt the darkness inside its pages. But if that darkness could help her protect herself and everyone who looked to her to rule them, then she couldn’t turn it down.

  Scarlett double-checked the door was shut before pulling the book from its hiding spot and setting it on her usual table. She closed her eyes and hovered her hands over it.

  The blackness beneath her eyelids dissolved into a vision.

  A man in a charcoal cloak—hood pulled over his head— sat on an ebony throne. In front of him, a young dark-haired woman bowed down with outstretched arms and her forehead on the ground. Two other women, nearly identical, stood behind her, looking at each other.

  There was only one window in the large throne room. A large fire pit sat in the middle, its orange glow spreading throughout. Stone walls rose high to an unseen ceiling hidden in darkness.

  “Please, father,” the woman on the ground begged, “let him go.” She raised her head. Tears dripped from her pallid face.

&nbs
p; “I’m sorry, Nona, you know I can’t.”

  “What good is being King of the Darkland if you don’t even have the power to save him?” Nona spat.

  One of the women behind her bent to the ground. “Come, sister, it’s too late.”

  “But I love him, Morta.”

  “Love is for the weak.”

  “Decuma?” Nona asked the other woman. “Do you not want more from your life than being his slaves?”

  “We are not father’s slaves.” Decuma glanced to the man on the throne. “He must do his job.”

  Nona dropped her face into her upturned palms and bawled.

  Behind them, something creaked.

  The tall double-doors swung open. A guard, mostly human-looking minus the small horns jutting from his skull, yanked a man behind him.

  “Talan,” Nona screamed.

  “Nona,” the man whispered. His dark eyes found hers as a single tear escaped him. “It’s okay.”

  Nona tried to go to him, but her sisters grabbed her arms. “Let me go!”

  The horned-man stopped in front of the man in the throne. “Hello, Ankou, my king. Here is the man you asked for.” He ignored Nona’s sobs as if he couldn’t hear her.

  “Talan.” The king stood, his face still hidden beneath the cape’s hood. “You must make your choice. Continue your life and serve me in the Darkland or face the flames and choose the unknown.”

  Talan turned to Nona. “I love you.”

  “No!” Nona’s words were but a croak.

  “The flames.”

  The horned man pulled Talan to the large fire pit and pushed him into the blaze.

  When her sisters released her, Nona fell to the ground and wept.

  The blackness returned. Scarlett blinked as she opened her eyes and took in the library around her as it reappeared.

  Although their appearances had drastically changed, Scarlett recognized the women in the vision: the Fates. Nona, Morta, and Decuma. They had names.

  Of course, they did. They looked so normal in the vision. Nona had loved a man. Scarlett felt the ache of her sorrow as if it were her own.