Fallen King (Court of the Sea Fae Trilogy Book 2)

by C. N. Crawford

  She didn’t think she was capable of managing all that power. “If you want to master your power, you need to ground yourself over the earth. Or use the sea around you. Use the rocks and the soil to absorb the extra charges of magic when it becomes too intense. You let it flow in and out of yourself in an even, steady stream.”

  She locked her eyes on me and leaned in closer. Tiny droplets of seawater clung to the tips of her long black eyelashes. “And why would you want me to have all that power?”

  Good question. “To find the Merrow faster, should this method prove too slow.”

  Returning her power to her was like watching a dead candle wick spring to life with flame.

  The sea wind whipped over my body, a rising gale.

  Aenor looked out over the dark water. “I can hear the sound of the Merrow growing a little stronger, but he’s still far away.”

  “How long do you estimate it will take to get there?”

  She looked up at the skies. “Considering we’re about to get hit with a storm, it could be a while.” She frowned at the sail. “This ship could easily capsize.”

  She had some sort of plan up her sleeve. She thought she might get away from me to work a spell, probably.

  “The Isle of Crows is nearby,” I said. “I can hear it from here. You can take the ship in to the shoreline while we wait out the storm.”

  “What's there?”

  “A witch’s house. And all the crows, obviously, as the name implies.” It would do, I supposed. I was used to luxury, but I could be adaptable. I happened to know the witch, and I trusted her well enough.

  A gust of wind swelled the sail, and the boat slammed down over a wave.

  “Are you doing this?” I leaned back against the boat, steadying myself.

  She looked at me with wide eyes. “Doing what?”

  With her staged innocent act, I had no doubt she was calling up the storm. She was up to something. I’d be keeping a very close eye on her.

  But why did she think she could lie to me? Didn’t she understand by now that I could make her do what I wanted, tell me what I wanted?

  I stared at her, letting my magic boom around her. Her body went rigid as she realized the enchantment spell had invaded her mind again, a poison in her pretty head. She clutched her fists tight, nails piercing her palms, and her jaw tightened.

  She stared up at me with such a look of intense hatred that it almost felt like a slap in the face.

  “Did you call up this storm, Aenor?” I asked, my voice as icy as the rain.

  She grunted with the effort, body straining. She was taking an unexpectedly long time to answer me, and the boat crashed down again on the waves. She lurched in her seat, her skirt riding up her thighs.

  Was she starting to learn how to resist my enchantment? The rain fell even harder now, as if her fury alone fueled the storm.

  Frustration tightened my chest. I had only a few days left, and I didn’t need any more delays.

  The boat rose again, cresting a wave. When it smashed down again, Aenor jolted even more. With me in control of her mind, she was no longer able to ride the storm as smoothly.

  “Let this be a lesson to you, Aenor. Do not defy me. I control you now.” She yanked her skirt down, looking me in the eyes.

  The gesture, her hands on her thighs, sent heat racing in my blood.

  I shifted sharply where I sat. Why did I find her so alluring? I hadn’t thought about sex in centuries, or felt much of anything.

  Focus, Salem.

  I was in control here. I pinned her with my gaze, and she was helpless before me. A dark smile curled my lips. “Let’s try this again. Did you call up the storm?”

  At last, the word tumbled out of her mouth. “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  Those nails, jutting into her skin. “I want to be alone. I want to do a spell, to see what the future holds now. I want to see what happens when you get what you want. I want to see what chaos you’ll unleash, if the world will burn.”

  I leaned back, sighing. “How interesting. I’d ask to see this little spell of yours, except I don’t care if the world burns. Do you really plan to take me to the Merrow? Or will you try to mislead me?”

  “I’m taking you to the Merrow.” The answer came out fast and clear, not a moment’s hesitation. “I will take you to him, no matter what.”

  “Good.”

  “Are you trying to burn the world?” she asked. “Is that your goal?”

  I glanced at her hands, now dripping a few droplets of blood. “For the gods’ sake, stop doing that with your fingernails.”

  Pure wrath shone in her eyes.

  My chest felt hollow, like someone was carving it out. This invasion of her mind hurt her, and for whatever reason, I didn’t like hurting her.

  Somehow, she’d infected my mind, just like I’d invaded hers.

  I released the enchantment on her. I knew the most important thing. She was definitely taking me where I needed to go.

  Then she lunged forward, eyes blazing with fury. “Never do that to me again,” she snarled.

  Something about the ferocity in her voice, or the blood on her skin, told me I’d agree to her demand.

  Her fierce gaze burned into me. “I know what you have planned. Everyone thinks I’ve gone mad, but I know what you want.”

  My lip twitched with amusement. “I seriously doubt that, my pet.” Only the goddess Anat knew what I truly wanted.

  As I watched Aenor, staring out over the stormy sea, it struck me that she seemed painfully lonely. When she’d gotten her magic back, she’d called a human friend. Humans died so quickly—a hummingbird’s heartbeat and they were gone. Was that whom she attached herself to, only to watch them grow old and die?

  What a miserable existence.

  If I wasn’t careful, I’d start feeling sorry for my captive.

  16

  Aenor

  I guided us toward an island, trying to bury my simmering anger.

  Anger would only distract me. If I was going to resist Salem’s enchantment, I needed diamond-sharp focus. My resistance had started to work, just a little. Each time he tried to compel me, I was able to resist a little more—the song in my mind drowning out the sound of his magic.

  Seawater splashed over my face as we sailed, and I licked my lips. Even in the storm, I could feel the sea was too warm.

  Just like in Acre.

  Lightning speared the sky above us, and I glanced at Salem. He looked strangely at ease in the heaving boat, the storm winds barely touching him.

  My mind started to churn like the ocean around us. Regardless of what the Winter Witch said, I had before me actual proof of a looming threat. The world was heating around us. Was it the Fomorians? I didn’t know. I just knew I’d protect the seas until my last dying breath.

  As we slammed onto the island’s shore, I could hardly see a thing on it—just rowan trees clawing the sky. The sound of crows cawing wildly around us. When the boat slid onto the shore, I stepped out into the shallow water.

  A wave crashed against the shore, the seawater up to my waist now. Ocean spray dappled my skin like a warm balm.

  Salem prowled onto the shore, eyes gleaming in the darkness. “Do you have any predictions when this lovely storm you called up might end?”

  “Nope.”

  That was the truth. I didn’t have complete control over the storms, and if I did, I’d call up a lightning bolt to strike him. I glanced back at the boat, rocked by the squall.

  Salem took off at a fast pace, his head down. I followed behind him, into a wood of rowan and hazel trees. Crows cawed in the boughs above us, their cries piercing the storm. They seemed agitated at our approach, swooping lower around us, grazing my head. I held up my arms to shield myself as they swept overhead. The birds seemed oddly large, their eyes silver.

  It was a shame I hadn’t managed to call up a storm near an Isle of Charming Kittens.

  “Do you have any idea where we’re going?” I
asked.

  “I wouldn’t walk without having an idea where I was going. I’ve been here before.”

  After a few minutes of walking, I caught sight of a house in the distance. Between the trees, warm light glowed through windowpanes.

  We drew closer to the house—which I now saw was a gnarled tree of dark oak, with diamond-pane windows inset in the bark.

  A silvery door had been carved into the trunk, and someone had painted the words Crow Witch on it in spindly letters.

  A knocker hung from the door—a long-fingered silver hand. Salem picked it up to knock.

  A few moments later, the door creaked open on its own, revealing a hall carved into the hollow of the tree. While the outside of the tree was only about ten feet wide, the interior somehow opened up into a fairly spacious hall.

  From behind the door, a small woman stepped into view. Her long brown hair tumbled over a paisley dress, and a thorny crown rested on her head.

  She smiled at Salem. “Welcome. I thought you might be coming, Salem.” She looked between us, an eyebrow rising. “I didn’t know you’d be bringing your lover. I’d heard all these rumors about how Salem doesn’t—”

  He shot her a lethal look that had her closing her mouth fast. “Oh, we’re not lovers,” I said. “At all. He’s literally the devil, so…”

  She rolled her eyes. “Okay. I see someone got cranky on the boat ride. And what do I call you?”

  “Aenor is fine.” I added, “Aenor Dahut, House of Meriadoc, Protector of the Seas.”

  Salem quirked an eyebrow. “So humble, isn’t she, my sweet lover?”

  I debated whether to explain to her that I was basically Salem’s prisoner, but I decided against it.

  Salem flashed me a wicked smile. “My darling lover called up this storm because she wanted to be alone with me. But I can pay you very well for a room in your home.”

  She waved a hand. “Nonsense. You don’t need to pay me. Not like I get a lot of company here.”

  “Two rooms if you have them,” I interjected with a smile. “We’re not actually lovers.”

  Salem shrugged, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Whatever my sweetling wants. Reigning as Protector of the Seas can be a tiring pastime.”

  He really loved messing with me.

  She shook her head. “No. I follow the ancient practices of the Crow Witches, and crows mate for life. I can see the bond between the two of you. You belong together, sharing a room.”

  Geez, that was a shame, because I was pretty sure we both planned to kill each other.

  I sighed. It was all starting to become clear now. So she looked normal, but she was insane.

  The woman shrugged. “Also, I only have one extra room, so even without the bond, you’re sharing. That’s literally the only option. I live in a tree, so… not a ton of rooms in a tree.”

  Well, it wasn’t this woman’s fault that Salem was evil. I did my best to smile. “Thank you for letting us stay. I appreciate it.”

  She motioned to her table. A row of Chinese takeout boxes stood on the oak table, and settings for three. “There’s extra food. I thought I might have visitors.”

  Lanterns hung above the table, and a gust of wind blew into the house, making them swing. I closed the door behind us.

  As soon as we stepped further into the small house, a wave of delicious smells greeted me—ginger and garlic.

  My mouth watered. “You can get takeout here?”

  “I’m a witch. I used a spell.”

  I pulled out a carved oak chair and sat across from Salem. Angel filled our glasses with red wine. Then she scooped white rice and tofu onto our plates, covered in a thick maroon sauce flecked with chilis.

  I felt a bit weird about sitting down at the table soaked in seawater, but these were the only clothes I had.

  Turned out that calling up a storm near the Isle of Crows had been the best damn idea I’d had in ages. I’d fill my stomach, then I’d slip away from Salem to cast my spells.

  “Now.” Angel took a bite of her tofu, then pointed her chopsticks at Salem. “I never believed all those rumors about you. All those sacrifices, all the people you tortured and burned for your amusement in those Jerusalem caves…”

  Salem’s expression darkened. “It’s all true.” His voice seemed to come from a million miles away. “I’m skilled in the arts of cruelty beyond anything you could conceive of in your worst nightmares.” His glittering gaze slid to me, and I felt like I wanted to shrink away from him. “Aenor has been there, to my rocky hell itself. Perhaps it was the ghosts of wickedness that inspired her to kill her own mother there.”

  My stomach flipped. “You burned and tortured people for amusement?”

  Something pained flashed in his eyes, but then he smiled slowly. “I can give you the details, if you’d like.”

  Angel shook her head. “Well, I don’t know. You seem nice. Not the slaughtering kind.”

  Lady, your slaydar is way off.

  Steam curled from the food, and I scooped a forkful into my mouth. It nearly tasted divine enough to distract me from the conversation we’d just had about burning people for fun.

  “So what are you doing here?” Angel asked.

  Salem sipped his wine. “My charming lover and I are looking for the Merrow. He has something I want.”

  She smiled. “Well, whatever it is, I’m sure you have a good reason for wanting to take it from him. You seem like a nice young man.”

  Completely insane.

  I was surprised he just came out with our mission like that, instead of concealing it. But a man as arrogant as Salem maybe didn’t worry about anything getting in the way of what he wanted.

  She exhaled loudly. “But I must say, it seems a bit dangerous.”

  “He’s already sent his lackeys for us. Any ideas where he has been?”

  It struck me for the first time that Salem had an amazing tendency to just tell the truth, however horrible it was. He didn’t always tell the whole story—but nor did he conceal his worst faults. He was different from Lyr in that way—Lyr, who cloaked the truth in shadows.

  I suspected the parts that Salem hid about himself were the good parts, if there were any.

  “I heard his magic through the water,” I added. “But we don’t know an exact location.”

  “Could be Mag Mell,” she said. “He hangs around there sometimes. But I can’t say for sure.”

  Salem leaned back in his chair, and his easy smile faded. Something had unsettled him like the threat of global destruction had not. “Ah. A place I once knew very well.”

  Angel pulled a fortune cookie from the center of the table. “Let’s see… Will Salem find what he’s looking for?” When she pulled out the paper, she smiled. “It says…” She frowned. “‘A closed eye gathers no elbows.’”

  Salem scrubbed a hand over his mouth. “That makes no sense.”

  She crumpled it up and threw it away, then narrowed her eyes at Salem. “Forget the cookie. My sense tells me you’ll get your thing, whatever it is. Then everything will be all right.”

  My stomach sank. I could only hope her intuition was as accurate as her lovers predictions.

  As soon as dinner was over, I’d try my what if spell and see what hell Salem would unleash on the world if he got what he wanted.

  I’d find out if the Winter Witch had been telling the truth.

  17

  Aenor

  I sipped my wine, surveying the room. With my magic back, my senses felt heightened, and the wind howling outside sounded like a sort of forlorn music. The lantern swung over the table, the light startlingly bright. As I ate, the flavors exploded in my mouth. In the sea, my magic felt more comfortable. On land, I felt like I was drowning in light, in noise.

  I drained my glass of wine, muting the flood of sensations a bit. When I finished, I felt a little lightheaded.

  Angel smiled at me. “Definitely lovers. I can show you to your room, and you give me your clothes. I’ll dry them by the fire w
hile he”—she waggled her eyebrows—“you know, grinds your corn.”

  Salem’s eyes gleamed as he looked at me. “Aenor, my love, the next time you want me to grind your corn, you don’t need to go through all the trouble of creating a storm.”

  I smiled back at him, dripping with sweetness. “Of course, darling. You had me at I’m skilled in the arts of cruelty. What girl could resist such charm?”

  Then I dropped the smile and did my best to convey “I will slaughter you in your sleep” with my eyes. Though with my stomach full of delicious Chinese food, it was hard to get a real effective wrath-face going.

  Angel rose from her seat. “Well, I’ll get you two lovebirds to your room.”

  She led us to a set of winding stairs that curved upward within the tree. The air smelled heavily of wood and soil. At the top of the stairs, she pushed through a door into a room.

  It was a cozy space of dark wood, and a ceiling folded over in a curved peak like leaves pressed against each other. Vines grew from the walls, twinkling with lights and lanterns hung among them.

  “Take off your clothes.” Angel held out a hand. “I’ll dry them by the fire.”

  I clutched at my soaking shirt. “I’ll stay wet tonight, thanks.”

  Salem arched an eyebrow. My cheeks flared, and I immediately regretted the choice of phrasing.

  “Suit yourselves.” She crossed out of the room.

  Salem pulled off his jacket, his eyes burning as he looked at me. “I guess this is your lucky night, because you may join me in the bed.”

  “Oh, there will be no corn grinding, Salem. I’m your damn captive. I’m sure you’re used to getting whatever you want because of how you look, but it’s not happening with me.”

  The corner of Salem’s sensual mouth quirked. “How I look? Please elaborate.”

  I glared at him. He knew, of course, that his beauty was a destructive force that left a trail of dropped panties in his wake. He was smoldering, masculine perfection. And most women would be thinking about him claiming them up against a wall.