Esari was unlike any city I’d ever seen. It rose up high on a hill, spread out behind the sprawling autumn forest. There was so much gold, from the streets to the rooftops to the large castle that loomed at the highest peak, its twin towers reaching high into an orange-streaked sky. Every building had been crafted from the wood of the forests, a dark brown that only highlighted the glistening gold of everything else. There were at least three thousand homes, if not more. Plus, bakers and butchers and pubs. All around us, life pulsed from the hundreds of fae who roamed the cobblestone streets.
“Welcome to Esari,” Liam said quietly as I awkwardly dropped from the horse and fell right onto my knees. It was the first time I’d ever ridden one of these things, which meant I didn’t know what the hell I was doing or how to get off of it without falling flat on my face. With a chuckle, Liam wrapped his strong arms around my waist and hauled me to my feet. I flushed, hating that it took so little for him to fluster me. “Looks like I’m going to have to keep a closer eye on you than I thought.”
“I’m fine,” I said in as peppy of a voice as I could manage. Truth was, I was blown away. The Academy was one thing, but this...this was something entirely different. The city was huge, and there were so many fae. And this, I realized, was only a small part of them. There were dozens of other smaller villages within the Autumn Court alone, plus all the fae who lived in the other seasons.
How had humanity gone so long without knowing all this was here?
Liam pulled a golden cloth from the satchel he’d strapped onto the horse. “Here. Wear this. It’ll keep you from standing out too much.”
It was a golden cloak, much like the one that Rourke always wore.
“What about you?” I asked as I slid the cloak over my shoulders. It was a soft material, like silk. “Your hair kind of gives you away, you know.”
He flashed me a grin. “I’m not trying to fit in. The easiest way to get information out of someone? Provoke them. Piss them off.”
My mouth went dry. “I feel like there should be a better option than that.”
“Trust me, Norah. I’ve done this before.”
And I didn’t doubt it.
Overhead, the sky was beginning to darken. As Liam led me through the bustling streets, he explained the different seasons of the fae. They were much like those in the human realm. Autumn was colder with crisp air and rattling leaves, the days short and the nights long. Winter, he said, was even worse, but I expected him to feel that way. He was Summer, after all. Anything but warm hazy days and short nights would seem torturous to him.
We came to a pub called the Rotting Horse, a name that did little to instil a sense of ease in me. Inside, dozens of fae were sitting at long oak tables, but it wasn’t the kind of raucous merriment that I expected from an establishment like this. They were calmly and quietly sipping their pints, exchanging murmured conversations.
“Members of Viola’s Court often come here.” Liam leaned forward and whispered the words into my ear, and shivers coursed along my skin. He noticed my trembling, and he must have taken it to mean that I was cold. Because somehow, his arms were suddenly around me. He pulled me close to his hard chest. His body was so warm, like a radiator that had been left on for hours. Trembling, I had the strange urge to curl up against him and breathe in the scent of fire and rain. Here we were, in strange and potentially dangerous territory, and yet I’d never felt safer than I had in this moment. As if nothing in the world could go wrong, not when Liam’s arms were wrapped around me. Swallowing hard, I glanced up to his eyes, half-terrified to see what I would find in them. His gaze burned.
“All better now, darling?” There was an undercurrent of amusement in his voice, and it snapped me out of my strange reverie.
I pulled myself out of his arms, stumbled back, and hurriedly began to straighten my cloak. There was nothing wrong with it, of course, but I was suddenly in desperate need of something to do with my hands. Anything to distract me from Liam’s smirk. From his hands. From his eyes.
“The cloak will do, thanks. You don’t need to paw at me to keep me warm.”
His lips quirked. “I wasn’t pawing at you. Don’t believe me? I’m happy to give you a true demonstration of what pawing means.”
My entire face flamed, which succeeded in doing two things. First, I wasn’t cold anymore, so that was great. Second, Liam could see just how much his words had gotten to me. That wasn’t so great.
“Like I said.” Liam winked. “Keep on blushing, my beautiful bride.”
“I’m not blushing,” I said through gritted teeth. “And I told you, stop calling me darling!”
Liam ignored me. Instead of responding, he opened the door and ushered me inside the tavern. Rows of lights were strung up across the ceiling, and candlelight flickered on every table. A soft music whispered out from invisible speakers. It was an eerie type of folk music mixed in with a clanging piano that sounded out of tune. I tried my best not to wrinkle my nose. I definitely wasn’t a fan.
“Care to sit?” Liam pulled out a wooden chair for me at the nearest table, pretending as if he were some sort of gentleman, but I knew the truth. He was anything but.
Still, I followed his lead and settled onto the chair. It was hard and somewhat spiky.
“Now, what would you like to drink, darling?” he asked with a wink, speaking loud enough for his words to drift toward the tables around us.
I leaned forward and dropped my voice to a whisper. “Vodka tonic?”
I mean, it was the only drink name I knew.
He let out a low chuckle. “I’m afraid that’s not an option. Don’t worry. I’ll find you something you like. Now, why don’t you drop back your hood and make yourself comfortable while I grab us a couple of drinks?”
I frowned, but I kept up my end of the bargain and did what he asked, pushing the hood away from my face.
“Good girl,” he murmured. “Don’t want to hide that pretty face of yours, now do we?”
In spite of every desire otherwise, my stupid face flushed again.
As soon as he was gone, I began to look around the room. I didn’t get very far though because another fae male took Liam’s seat within seconds. With a sharp gasp, I scooted back in my chair. This fae was...well, he reminded me a lot of Rourke, only...somehow, this one was even more unsettling.
In fact, I’d take it past unsettling and go for flat-out creepy.
His lips were a strange orangey-red, split into an eerie grin that showed off two rows of very pointed teeth. Was he a different kind of fae? None of the Autumn fae I’d met at the Academy so far looked anything like this. His eyes were even a reddish hue, the color of old, dried blood.
I shivered when he leaned forward and traced a long, sharp nail across the surface of the table. “Why would a pretty little thing like you be here with a Summer fae?”
“He’s a half-breed,” I blurted out, though I wasn’t entirely sure that was the truth. It was what Liam had told several fae along the way here, but I had no idea if it was a lie meant only for us to gain access.
“Even worse,” he sneered. “Surely you would be better off with a pure Autumn fae such as myself.”
“I ah...” Desperately, I cast my eyes around for any sign of Liam. He was at the bar, lifting two glasses of orangey liquid into his hands.
“I’m happy where I am.” I turned back to the fae. “So, you can be moving along now.”
“You might think you’re happy, but you’re not.” The male wrapped his long fingers around my wrist and squeezed tight. With a growl, I yanked away and slapped him right on the face. The sound echoed through the quiet tavern. My palm stung, and a big blotchy red spread across the fae’s pale cheek.
I sucked in a sharp breath.
Whoops. I hadn’t meant to do that.
Liam suddenly appeared and slammed the drinks down onto the table. Wood splintered. The murmured conversations fell into a quiet hush, and every head in the tavern turned our way.
I swallowed hard. This wasn’t going well. And I had a feeling it was about to get a lot worse.
“Are you coming on to my mate?” Liam bellowed, his voice a boom against the wooden walls. “Are you trying to steal her away from me?”
The Autumn fae folded his long, thin hands into his lap and looked up at Liam with a chilly smile. “Your mate informed me you’re a half-breed. I was merely suggesting that she might be in a better position if she turned her romantic interests elsewhere.”
“So, you were trying to steal her.” Liam leaned down and snarled into the fae’s face, his body trembling from barely-contained anger. “You. Were. Trying. To. Steal. My. Mate!”
Oh my. Well…this was certainly an interesting reaction, one that should have made me cower in fear. Liam was kind of scary. But…instead of flinching away from him, I leaned forward, enthralled by the fire dancing in his bonfire eyes. I had never seen anything like him before. He was pure fury. Pure power. If he’d told me in that moment that he could rip the very sky to shreds, I would have believed him.
The Autumn fae didn’t even flinch. He merely tsked and rolled his eyes. “Honestly, the Summer temper tantrums are so tiresome.”
Liam leaned forward, bracing his fists on the table, which shook beneath the force of him. “You think this is a Summer temper tantrum? Trust me, it gets a hell of a lot worse than this. Now, get away from my mate or you’ll see what the true force of my anger can do.”
“Liam,” I said in a harsh whisper, the heat on my cheeks deepening. Even though his reaction had intrigued me, it probably wasn’t a great idea for him to continue on like this. We’d never find out what he needed to know if things escalated.
Besides, I didn’t know why Liam was reacting like this. I wasn’t actually his mate. And both of us knew I never would be. So, why was he getting so pissed off that another fae was talking to me? Was he…actually jealous?
The Autumn fae pushed back his chair and stood, crossing his arms over his golden-cloaked chest. All around us, the entire bar did the same. Dozens of Autumn fae stood from their tables, the room a hush that was louder than the murmur of voices from before.
Uh oh.
“I think it’s time you leave. Your mate is welcome here, but you are not.” The Autumn fae rested his hand on the ornate, golden hilt of a sword that he’d somehow kept hidden until this moment.
Double uh oh.
I swallowed hard, my heartbeat flickering a frantic beat. Eyes wide, I glanced from the Autumn fae to Liam’s fiery eyes. Both men looked on the verge of a violent fight, though they were so different in how they held themselves. Liam was visibly angry, his fists trembling with his passionate emotions, as if he were two seconds away from pummelling the fae with all the strength of his body. The Autumn fae, on the other hand, was still, quiet, calm, like a dangerous predator ready to pounce on its prey. Like a snake prepared to strike.
“In Otherworld,” Liam began in a low, dangerous voice, “we do not attempt to steal another male’s mate. It’s devious and cruel. But I guess I shouldn’t be so surprised, should I? Not here, in the Autumn Court. You’re soulless assassins. Failing ones, at that. When was the last time you managed to get a worthwhile kill?”
My eyes slightly widened at his words, though I kept the rest of my face blank. I understood what he was doing now. Provoking them. Inwardly, I rolled my eyes at myself. I couldn’t believe I’d thought he was actually angry that another fae male was talking to me. Of course he wouldn’t be jealous. What an idiotic thing for me to think.
He didn’t like me. There was no real connection between us. Just meaningless flirty banter that would go away just as soon as he figured out who was his mate. And that wasn’t me.
Come on, Norah. Get a grip.
The stillness of the room deepened, and the Autumn fae’s eyes flickered with a strange, eerie darkness that hadn’t been present before. “Perhaps the reason you believe we’re unsuccessful in our assassinations is because you never hear of them, being a Summer half-breed and all.”
Liam leaned forward just the slightest of breaths and dropped his voice even lower. “Oh, I hear about them alright. And I know what you’ve got planned against the other Courts. But you’ll fail. You lot always do.”
The Autumn fae let out a low chuckle, a sound that sent a storm of goosebumps over my entire body. “Doubt us, if you like, but you won’t be mocking us when your entire stifling season has been replaced by the cool breeze of Autumn.”
I jerked back in my chair, shocked by his words. Which had the unfortunate side effect of drawing the fae male’s attention—as well as the rest of the fae in the tavern—away from Liam and right to me.
“You look as though you don’t approve,” he sneered, his fangs flashing against the dim overhead lights. After a moment, he waved dismissively. “Your time with this Summer half-breed has made you weak, and I have no time for soft little things.” He shifted his attention back to Liam. “Now, take your mate and get out of here, or we will put our swords to your necks, starting with hers.”
Chapter Fourteen
Outside of the tavern, Liam was silent as we bustled our way through the city streets and back toward where we’d dropped off his horse. His shoulders were tight, and the skin around his jaw rippled with tension. He didn’t have to say a word for me to understand what he was feeling.
On the one hand, we’d gotten the information we’d come to get, but it had turned out to be far worse than Liam must have been expecting. The Autumn Court was planning something, alright, and it sounded as though they wanted to take down the entirety of the Summer Court.
I half-expected the fae from the tavern to follow close behind us, waiting until the right moment to slide their swords into our backs. But, somehow, we managed to reach the stables safely. We were back on our horse before the darkness had fully deepened, though the heavy storm-clouds overhead crackled with fierce and dangerous lightning. Any moment now, the clouds would open up, and rain would pour down on our heads.
When we reached the forest’s tree line, Liam pulled on the reins to slow the horse’s trot. He cast a glance over his shoulder at the fading city behind us, his entire face a grim knot of worry and anger.
“Here’s a good training exercise for you, Norah,” he said in a quiet, dangerous voice. “What did you make of that?”
“It sounded like the attack they have planned will target the Summer Court Royals,” I said without letting a beat pass. “Like maybe they want to merge your Court with theirs?”
“Close,” he said after a moment. “But I don’t think merging is what they have planned. Notice what they said about the seasons.”
“About the stifling heat turning into a cool breeze?” I asked with a frown. “I thought he was just being dramatic.”
“If only that were the case, Norah.” Liam stiffened and shook his head. “Autumn fae are not dramatic. If one says that the seasons will change, then that is likely precisely what he meant.”
“Can they do that?”
A crack split the sky, and torrents of rain slashed sideways onto the dirt-packed ground. Liam flicked the reins, and the horse began to trot again, but the increased pace did little to outrun the rain. It splattered my face and my hands, soaking into the golden cloak I still wore, the material clinging to my shivering body.
After what felt like hours, Liam stopped the horse in one of the small villages we’d passed through on the way. Every single inch of me was drenched and frozen, so much so that I could no longer feel my toes in my leather boots. The rain had even soaked through them, sneaking in to turn my socks into a soggy mess.
“There’s an inn here where we can stay,” Liam said after he led the horse into the village’s stable. He slid to the ground and held a hand out for me, which I promptly ignored. When I jumped off, my landing was even worse than before, mostly due to the fact I couldn’t feel my feet. I stumbled forward with a yelp of panic, but Liam kept me from toppling into the mounds of hay. His strong hands held m
e upright, and that sparkle in his eyes returned for the first time since we’d left Esari.
My heart dipped.
“We really need to work on your dismounting technique,” he said with a light chuckle. “Otherwise, we won’t be able to trust you to go for a ride without breaking a bone.”
“I’ll admit, I’m not the most horse-savvy person around. I didn’t even know it was called dismounting.” Liam’s hands were so very warm. Even though we’d been riding through the rain for the past hour, none of his heat had disappeared. It was as if it was deep within his core, and it emanated from his skin in a delicious, soothing way. Hell, no need to go in an inn. We could stay here in the stables as long as he kept his arms wrapped around me.
“What in the name of the forest did you think it was called then?” He arched an eyebrow, still chuckling.
I grinned. “Tumbling off?”
His laugh deepened, but it trailed off just as quickly as it had come. “You really are an enigma, Norah, and you’re so different than any Winter fae I’ve ever met. They’d rather be caught dead than laugh about their own weakness. Don’t ever change, regardless of how they say you should be.”
A thrill went through my gut and I pressed in closer to him, snuggling against the warmth of his body. Against me, his body tensed, but he didn’t push me away.
“You’re so warm,” I said, voice tight, breath hitched. “The rain was freezing, but I don’t feel cold anymore.”
His arms tightened around me, and the musky summer scent of him filled my nose. “Be careful, darling. You’re playing with fire. The others might care about the rules, but I’m nothing like them.”
My heart pattered in my chest. I pulled back and looked up into his orange-red eyes. “What rules?”
His grin widened as he traced a finger across my cheek. Despite the warmth from his body, I shivered in his arms. “It’s against the rules for the instructors to be intimate with any of the students, not until after graduation. It’s to ensure that things don’t get complicated if and when a changeling ends up being in a different Court than originally thought.”
A Dance With Darkness (2020 Ed) Page 12
