A Dance With Darkness (2020 Ed)

by Jenna Wolfhart

I held up my hands, heart pounding. “I’m one of the students at Otherworld Academy. I’m just here looking for my friend.”

  His eyes narrowed. “The Academy is hours away.”

  “I rode a horse,” I said, hands still raised. “I left it back there at the edge of the woods while I searched for my friend.”

  “And why is your friend lost in our woods?” he asked in a steely voice. “As I said before, the Academy is hours away. It seems unlikely she would have wandered that far from home.”

  I didn’t really have a good excuse for this, so I had to use the first thought that popped into my brain.

  “She found out that she’s an Autumn fae last week,” I said. “She was curious about this place, so she decided to go off and explore. It’s been a couple of days since she left, so I thought I’d come looking for her.”

  The fae didn’t look convinced. “Then, why haven’t the instructors sent a search party out for her? These woods are dangerous for a lone changeling female to be wandering around, especially at night. A new one, at that. There are creatures out here who could devour her whole.”

  “You’re right,” I said, biting my tongue. “I thought I could find her myself, but clearly I was wrong. I’ll tell my instructors as soon as I get back to the Academy.”

  “What does your friend look like?” a female fae asked from where she stood clustered with the others. Her bow had slightly lowered, but the intensity of her stare kept my fear firmly in place.

  “Long, dark hair,” I said. “Really blue eyes. She’s about my height, but she’s a little thinner.”

  The fae male in front turned sharply to face the others behind him. They all exchanged measured glances, and my palms began to sweat. They knew something, though the expressions on their faces didn’t make me think it was anything good. Had they seen Bree? Or had they seen the monstrous version of her?

  After a long, torturous moment, he turned back to face me with a cruel mask painting his sharp and pointed features. “You made a mistake in coming here, changeling.”

  My heart galloped hard in my chest. If only I hadn’t left my horse behind, I could get the hell out of here before the situation turned worse. They must have seen Bree, and they must have known she was a wolf. Had they hurt her? Had she managed to get away?

  But as terrified as I was by their arrows aimed at my chest, I couldn’t back down. Not now. Bree needed me. I wouldn’t let her down again.

  Taking a deep breath, I lifted my chin and met the fae male’s gaze head on. “Listen, I’m not lying. My friend is lost in these woods, and I’m trying to find her. Do you know where she is?”

  The fae male’s gaze flicked to my mother’s necklace dangling from my neck. His eyes widened slightly, and his voice was softer when he asked, “Where did you get that necklace?”

  “This?” I traced my finger along the edges of the pendant, my heart pulsing at the memory of my mom and what I’d left behind. “It was a gift from my mother.”

  The fae male was quiet for a moment. “Your friend is no longer here. She was chased out of here by Hunters.”

  “Where did she go?”

  “Your friend is no longer your friend,” he said as if I hadn’t said a word. “You would be wise to cease your search for her. And the next time you trespass on another Court’s lands, you should be careful not to lie. The next group you meet might not be as forgiving as we are.”

  I opened my mouth to argue, but he held up a hand to stop me.

  “Leave now, changeling. Return to the safety of your Academy.” He took one last glance at my necklace. “These woods are not safe for you.”

  I didn’t waste any time getting the hell out of there. As soon as I found my horse, I gripped tight on the reins while he galloped back to the Academy. My plan for saving Bree was beginning to unravel, and I didn’t know how to tie the strings back together again.

  She’d been in the Autumn woods, but they’d forced her to go somewhere else. Had she returned to the free territory? Or had she tried to take sanctuary in one of the other seasons? If so, how would I ever find her? Kael had said she might not have much time. I needed to get this flower to her before it was too late to save her from the beast within.

  When I returned to the stables on the Academy grounds, Liam was waiting for me beside the empty stall. His arms were crossed over his chest, and fire danced in his eyes. He was a picture of pure masculinity, but that fire and fury was aimed right at me. And I knew exactly why.

  “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” The words exploded from his throat with an intensity that made me jump. The horse neighed beside me and pawed at the ground before backing up a few steps.

  “You’re scaring your horse,” I said.

  He snorted. “Of course Sapling’s scared. You took her from the stables without asking me, when there are Redcaps roaming the forest every night.”

  “Oh, stop being so bossy. I’m not an idiot, even though you seem to think I am.” I rolled my eyes. “I left at dawn. No Redcaps.”

  “It’s still dangerous.” He stalked toward me and wrapped his hand around my neck, forcing me to look into his orange eyes. My breath caught. “Don’t you know what could have happened to you out there?”

  My heart lurched in my chest, both at his words and at the look in his eyes. His hand was tight against me, but it was strangely gentle, almost as if he were afraid I would break. “You said it was safe during the day. You said I could go for a swim in the river if I wanted. Why is going for a horse ride any different?”

  “And you just went for a horse ride?” he asked as he took a step closer, keeping a tight hold on my neck. “You didn’t go searching for someone? Or something?”

  My heart beat harder. Had Kael told Liam and the others about Bree? He’d said he wouldn’t, but Liam, Finn, and Rourke had been in a state when we’d gotten back from our trip to the Winter Court. Maybe he’d ended up telling them everything.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I tried.

  “Nope. I can tell by the flicker in your eyes that you’re lying.” He leaned down so that our eyes were in line, and a storm of summer rain and wildflowers filled my head. “Kael told me about Bree. I know you went to find her. You should have asked one of us to go with you. Don’t you understand how worried I’ve been all day? It’s been driving me out of my damn mind. There’s a hole in the wall over there. Want to know what it’s from? Me. Driven crazy thinking something had killed you.”

  “Liam,” I whispered, shaking my head as I flicked my eyes to the wall. There was in fact a massive hole, and the wood had splintered all over the floor.

  “If something happened to you,” he growled, “I don’t know how I could handle it. It would destroy me, Norah. Don’t you get that?”

  His grip tightened on my neck, and he yanked me closer. Hungry lips pressed against mine, and his tongue dove into my mouth. Excitement and desire sparked through me. Heat spread through my gut. I pressed up onto my toes and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

  He growled and hooked his arms underneath my legs, hoisting me from the ground. I almost moaned from how good it felt to have his lips on my skin. It was every bit as passionate and fiery as I’d imagined. Maybe even more so.

  My back hit the wall when he slammed me into it. He braced his hands on either side of my head, pinning me in place. Growling, he leaned down nicked my neck with his teeth. I gasped, shuddering beneath him. Had he bitten me? And why had it felt so damn good?

  “You shouldn’t have run off without telling me, Norah,” he growled into my ear, and then he nipped me again.

  I moaned, eyes rolling into the back of my head. He grabbed my wrists in one hand and held them above my head, his fingernails digging into my skin. His fiery eyes flashed as he leaned in with a glimmering smile.

  “What are you doing?” I whispered.

  “I’m doing what I should have done several days ago. I’m claiming you as mine.”

  Chills s
wept down my spine just as need coiled tight in my core. I arched my back, tugging him closer with my thighs, which was about all I could do with the way he had me pinned so securely against the wall. My movement must have driven him as wild as he was driving me because a moan of need escaped from his throat.

  He kept my wrists pinned in place as he shoved his trousers down to the floor. A moment later, he’d ripped mine off me in one fluid motion. I couldn’t help but notice he was pretty fond of tearing clothing in half.

  “I’m not going to have any clothes left by the time you’re done with them,” I whispered to him.

  “Good.” A delicious smile curved his lips as he angled closer, pressing his hard length against my core. “Frankly, I’d rather you never wear an ounce of clothing again.”

  “I don’t think the Academy would approve.”

  “Fuck the Academy.” He leaned closer and dragged his teeth along the delicate skin of my neck. I shuddered beneath him, warm wetness pooling between my thighs. His length still pressed against my leg, growing harder with every passing beat.

  His lips trailed hot kisses up my neck and against my ear. I dug my fingernails into my palms, my arms trembling with the need to wrap myself around him. Squirming, I rubbed my core against his length, desperate for him to take that final step, to pierce my need, to fill me up until nothing else existed but the space where our bodies entertwined.

  He tensed, his breath hot on my neck. “You really do like playing with fire. Don’t you, darling?”

  I nodded, unable to speak out loud.

  “I want to fuck you, Norah.” He pulled back then, gazing into my eyes. “But I know what that means. I know I’ll be the first, and I know there’s some confusion about whose mate you’ll truly be. So, I will stop this. Right here, right now, and I’ll walk away. If you tell me that’s what you want.”

  “I don’t want that,” I breathed without a moment’s hesitation. “I want you.”

  With a satisfied growl, he released his hold on my wrists and cupped my ass. My arms twisted around his neck, instinctively. I held on tight as he slowly pushed inside of me. Liam trembled with chaotic energy, but he took his time. He paused when I winced, waiting until I gave him a nod. When he pushed in deeper, it felt as thought I might be ripped wide open. Pain lanced through me, and I whimpered. Liam paused once again, his eyes locked on mine.

  “Are you okay?” he whispered.

  I bit my lip, and then nodded. “Please don’t stop.”

  After a pause, he pushed in further until his shaft was fully inside of me. A delicious heat spread through me, building when he slowly rocked back, and then plunged inside me once more. It was a pleasure unlike any I’d ever felt. Our bodies collided, coming together until it felt as though we were one.

  Timidly, I ground against him as his pace began to quicken. A low moan rumbled from his throat in response, and a thrill went through me at the sound. It made my own pace quicken until we were clinging on to each other, desperation and need pounding us together.

  Pleasure built up like a storm desperate to break. Tension mounted. My ears rang with the sound of my own moans. For once, I didn’t care who saw or who heard. All I cared about was Liam.

  His breath was hot on my skin as my pleasure broke, hurtling through me like a bullet train. I shook in his arms, my core convulsing with a million quakes. Breathless, I clung on tight, feeling his shaft throb between my thighs. He shuddered and dropped his forehead against mine. Our gazes locked as we came together, and I swore I could see his soul in his eyes.

  Liam dragged his thumb against my cheek. “Norah, I—”

  A throat cleared from behind us, and Liam stiffened. I pulled away from him, breath heaving, stars dancing in my eyes. Someone had walked in on us, like this, and I had the sneaking suspicion that it might be one of my other instructors. Heat flooded my entire body. I wished the earth would swallow me whole.

  “Liam, I thought you knew better than to get involved with a changeling student before her graduation.” The Head Instructor’s voice was sharp and cold, and dread slipped down my spine. Slowly, Liam eased me onto the ground. My knees were shaky underneath me, especially when I turned to face Alwyn. Her face reflected everything in her voice.

  “Apologies.” He gave her a curt nod, one that held none of the warmth he’d just been showering on me. “But I have reason to believe that Norah is my mate.”

  “As far as I’m aware, Kael has much more reason to believe she’s a Winter fae.” She tsked, shaking her head. “There are reasons these rules exist, Liam. Go to my office. I’ll be there shortly, and we’ll have a chat about this situation.”

  “It was my fault,” I blurted out. I had no idea why I said it. The words just popped out before I could stop them.

  She raised her eyebrows. “I don’t doubt you were involved in this, but I have something else I need to speak with you about. Bree Paine. I’ve received word from the Autumn Court that her wounds infected her, and she’s quickly transforming into a full Redcap. And they believe you know where she is.”

  My heart hammered hard as I hastily gathered my pants into my arms. What was left of them. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “You know exactly what I mean.” A pause. “Where is she, Norah?”

  “Honestly, I have no idea,” I said, hoping she could see the truth in my eyes. Because I didn’t know where Bree was. She’d been run out of the Autumn Court, and there was no telling where she’d gone.

  Alwyn narrowed her eyes and sniffed. “For your sake, I hope you’re telling the truth. Because if she shows her Redcap face anywhere near this Academy, we won’t hesitate to shoot her on the spot.”

  Chapter Twenty

  “Where have you been?” Sophia hissed when I took my seat next to her in our History of Fae class. “You keep disappearing all the time, and people keep asking me where you are. I don’t want to get you in trouble, but there’s only so long I can make up excuses.”

  “Sorry,” I said with a wince. “There’s been a lot going on. Kael and Liam have been giving me some extra training since I pretty much suck at everything. Guess they think I’ll be useless if I don’t get any help.”

  I hated lying to Sophia. She’d been nothing but kind to me since we’d met. She was always there to listen to me complain about my sleepless nights, she’d never judged me once for my terrible skills, and she didn’t laugh when I fell flat on my face when I tried something new. And now I was repaying her by keeping secrets and lying to her. Truth was, I was just too scared to tell anyone what was going on. The entire Academy hated the Redcaps, and half the new changelings were hoping to join the Hunters when they graduated. If any of them knew I was trying to help one of the ‘monsters’...well, I didn’t think it would go down very well.

  She frowned. “That’s strange, since Liam was one of the people who was asking me where you’d gone.”

  “Right.” A pause. “Well, he and Kael aren’t great at letting each other know what’s going on.”

  What a lame excuse. If I were her, I’d see straight through it.

  Luckily, Finn saved me from having to come up with more nonsense to throw at her.

  He strode to the front of the class, and his eyes met mine for a long moment. They sparked with something....dangerous almost. Frowning, I made a question-mark with my eyes, but his gaze merely intensified. What was going on?

  When he reached the front of the class, he dropped a heavy book on the table where it fell with a thump so loud that it made the entire class fall into an eerie hush. And then he smiled that devilish smile of his before shoving the book straight into the wooden trash bin beside his desk.

  “If you look at your syllabus, you’ll see that we were scheduled to discuss the lineage of Gregor the Giant, but that’s pure nonsense. We don’t need to talk about that today.” He flicked his eyes toward me, and then away again. “Instead, we’re going to cover a topic that I believe many of you are very interested in. Marin, the Queen of Fae who w
as assassinated by the Autumn Court.”

  Every single changeling in the room sat up straighter, including me. I’d been begging to hear this story. I’d even searched the library for information on her. If there’d ever been any books about her reign, they’d been removed.

  He smiled, and his perfect teeth sparkled beneath the candlelit glow of the chandelier. “That’s what I thought. You see, Marin is cloaked in a bit of mystery here at the Academy. And elsewhere in Otherworld, if you’re too young to have been there yourself. Luckily for all of you, I was alive during those times. I was even present at the event where she was assassinated.”

  I glanced at Sophia and raised my eyebrows. She looked just as intrigued as I felt.

  Finn continued. “You see, each year there is a Royals Ball to celebrate the new political structure of Otherworld. Before Marin died, there were four Courts, but each of them was ruled by a Lord and a Lady. These Royals were able to make small decisions for their fae, but at the end of the day, Marin had the last word. The Autumn Court yearned for sovereignty. So, they took it.”

  I shook my head and leaned forward on my elbows just as Sophia raised her hand with a question. “Why did that give the Courts sovereignty? Surely if she died, her son or her daughter would take over instead? Or another family member? At least that’s how it works in the human world.”

  “Indeed it does,” Finn said with a nod. “But Marin had no sons or daughters. She had no brothers or sisters or nieces or nephews. She only had her harem, and they were assassinated as well. That left no living heir, which meant there was a vacuum of power. Something had to fill it, and the Autumn Court took the opportunity to present their version of what the Courts should look like instead. The highest ranking Lords and Ladies became Queens and Kings, and here we are.”

  Griff’s hand shot up in the air. “Did you say harem? Like, as in an actual harem?”

  Finn’s eyes twinkled as he laughed. “Oh yes. Marin, the Queen of Fae had four husbands, one from each of the seasons. She was blessed with powers from Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, and so she decided that she would never be happy without all of her men by her side.”