A Cage of Moonlight

by Jenna Wolfhart

  “It’s nice to see you, too,” he said with a flicker of a smile.

  “Sorry. I just...well, I thought you were Rafferty. He has usually come to get me for training by now. I would have gone to the training room myself, but...” Bree gestured at the two guards that stood tall and silent in the hallway on either side of the door. “After last night, I’m just a bit worried that something has happened. Do you know where he is?”

  A strange expression flickered across Lord Dagen’s face. “He is fine. May I come inside? There is something I would like to speak with you about.”

  Bree hesitated. Was that really a good idea? Prince Taveon was already suspicious about Dagen’s gift to her. How would he react when he knew the Lord had come to visit her in her quarters? Plus, there was that whole thing last night that she couldn’t get out of her head. Her whole face warmed at the thought of it.

  “It isn’t a request,” Lord Dagen said with a hint of a warning in his voice.

  Great. It looked like her deal with the devil was coming back to bite her in the ass already.

  With a faux polite smile pasted onto her face, Bree widened the door and gestured for him to come inside. The guards didn’t even blink when he strode in and shut the door behind him, but she knew it wouldn’t take long for Prince Taveon to find out he’d been here.

  “What’s going on?” she asked, propping her fists on her waist. “Don’t you think it’s a bad idea to come here? Prince Taveon has already given me a hell of a smackdown for accepting these new living quarters from you.”

  He furrowed his eyebrows. “You humans have a strange vocabulary.”

  “I’m not a human,” she said, sharply. “Not anymore.”

  “Indeed.” Dagen paced to the window and gazed out at the rolling hills, just as Bree had done only moments before his arrival. “How do you like your new view? I assume you noticed we have a full moon this day.”

  “Yes.” A pause. “Is it always that big?”

  “Only once a year.” He turned to her then, eyeing her with a strange curiosity. “I did assume that Prince Taveon would have mentioned this to you, though I have a suspicion I know why he didn’t. He thought you would insist on going to the ball tonight.”

  “There’s a ball tonight?” Bree’s heart lifted a little, even though she desperately wanted to show nothing but complete indifference to Lord Dagen’s words. She loved parties and dancing and merriment. And it had been a long-ass time since she’d done anything remotely close to letting down her hair and having fun. She could let off some steam. She could dance her worries away. But...

  Bree frowned. Prince Taveon hadn’t mentioned it to her at all. And neither had Rafe.

  “I assume that is why your friend, Rafferty, has not come for your daily training,” Dagen continued. “They are all very busy preparing for tonight. I believe the Prince intends on making the formal announcement to the Court about the fate of his father and his intentions to take the throne after the Battle for the Crown.”

  “Right.” Bree gave a nod, her heart sinking. “And he doesn’t want me there.”

  “That would appear to be the case.” Dagen crossed the room to stand just before her. “However, I very much want you there. I shall send a gown for you to wear, and you can accompany me. You will be my companion for the evening, which means he will not be able to turn you away. You can be my eyes and ears. See what you can discover. There will be many royals at the castle this night, and drink can often get lips moving. I shall see you at dusk.”

  Lord Dagen hadn’t been joking around when he’d told Bree he would send her a gown. In fact, it only took a short while for another knock to sound on her door. A small, quaint female stood just on the other side, bowing her head as she handed Bree a dress made from a cascade of stars. It was almost blinding in its brilliance.

  She took the dress over to the bed and slowly unwrapped it, gasping when she found a small dagger hidden inside the folds, as well as a small leather strap she assumed was meant for one of her thighs. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared down at the glittering steel. Surely he didn’t intend for her to use this blade this night.

  Still, she strapped it to her thigh, taking comfort in the knowledge that she wasn’t going to this ball unarmed. There would be a lot of Dark Fae in attendance. Most of them would have no idea who she was or that she was a Light Fae, much less that she had ever been human. But if they somehow discovered her identity, she knew it wouldn’t go down well. It was part of the reason that Prince Taveon hadn’t announced what she truly was to most of his Court. He’d only told the council and those closest to him, and even then, Bree knew he was worried the wrong fae would find out.

  The apparent danger didn’t stop her from wanting to go to the ball though. Bree wasn’t one to back down from a challenge so easily. This room was still a cage, though one that was much nicer than her previous cell. She wanted out, if only for one night. And she’d be Dagen’s spy if that was what it took to breathe.

  Lord Dagen widened his eyes when Bree opened the doorway. He was right on time. The moon had begun to disappear behind the trees in the distant forest, casting a strange orange-grey glow across the horizon. He let out a low whistle, and a roguish smile crossed his face.

  “You are certainly looking quite breathtaking, my dear spy.”

  At his words, Bree sucked in a sharp breath and steeled herself for the guards’ reaction. But then none came. When she turned to them with a bumbling explanation on her tongue, she discovered that they were no longer standing beside her door. They were gone.

  “Where are the guards?” she asked.

  “I thought it was best not to have any complications,” he said, his eyes still flickering across her dress. Or her body. She wasn’t entirely sure she was right, but it almost seemed like he was checking her out. “Prince Taveon would never risk making a scene in front of the entire Court, but he might secretly allow his guards to stop you from coming with me. So, I made sure they were busy elsewhere.”

  He flashed her a brilliant smile, one that made her breath catch in her throat. He’d just called her breathtaking, and she would be lying if she didn’t admit that he wasn’t looking so bad himself. He wore midnight finery, the edges detail with embroidered silver stags. Around his waist, he wore a belt that held a sword, one that seemed more ornamental than anything else. On the end of the silver hilt, a large stag had been carved with gold that matched his hair.

  Dagen caught her staring, and her entire face and neck flushed.

  “We need to come up with a cover story for you,” he said, without taking an eye off her face. “When I make your introductions, I cannot very well call you Bree Paine of the human realm, but everyone will know you are not a Lady.”

  Bree raised her eyebrows. “Are you saying I can’t pull off the Lady thing? I look far too much like a peasant for your liking?”

  His lips quirked. “Nothing of the sort, but there are no unknown Lords or Ladies in these lands. It would be unheard of for there to be a member of royalty that has never met anyone else. No, I will introduce you as my new aide instead. You have been studying to become a scholar, one who has focused on learning more about the humans.”

  “Hmm.” She lifted her eyebrows. “Not a bad idea. But won’t they all know I’m Prince Taveon’s slave after what happened at the feast?”

  Dagen gave a quick shake of his head. “Most of the fae here tonight have only just arrived at the castle. A few will recognize you but only that. If anyone starts talking to you about Dark Fae issues that you have no knowledge of, just politely excuse yourself from the conversation. Whatever you do, do not get caught out being ignorant of something that most fae would know. You will stand out, regardless, but we want to make sure you do not stand out in the wrong sort of way.”

  He flicked his eyes across the dress again, though this time, she was certain his gaze lingered just a moment too long on the curve of her hips. She swallowed hard, and her blood pounded hard in her che
st. There was something about Lord Dagen, something that caused a thrill to sweep down her spine. She shouldn’t trust him. She shouldn’t trust any of them. But she still couldn’t stop herself from being drawn to him in a way that made her pulse race.

  It must be some sort of Dark Fae magic. Which meant it was dangerous.

  She needed to watch herself.

  “Come.” He held out an elbow. “We should get moving before the guards return.”

  Swallowing hard, she slid her hand into the crook of his arm, her fingertips brushing against the edge of his jacket. Through the material, she could feel the curve of his biceps. They were large and firm, a signal that the power he radiated was far more than just magic.

  He gave her a crooked smile, almost as though he could read every word that ran through her mind. But no matter what kind of dark powers he had, she knew he couldn’t do that. Otherwise, he’d have no need for her to spy.

  She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her thoughts written all over her face. So, she kept her expression blank, and she kept her gaze locked on the door before her instead of risking a glance his way. But everything within her yearned to see exactly what was hidden in the depths of those golden eyes.

  Chapter 23

  Dagen

  Bree was breathtaking. He had already been aware of her beauty—it would have been impossible not to notice it, even when she’d been in those grungy fighting leathers with the dirt of the cell caked on her skin. And he’d seen her in those standard gowns that Taveon kept making her wear on her daily walks.

  But this...this was something else. She was almost too pretty now. He would find it impossible to focus on much of anything else once they reached the ball, and this little trip was not for enjoyment purposes. Oh yes, he could spend the entire evening with this female on his arm, sweeping her across the dance floor, clinking goblets of wine, and showing her off to every envious male in the room.

  Because they would be envious. She would be impossible not to notice. He had known she would attract a certain amount of attention, being an outsider that nobody knew, but he now worried that she would stand out so much that she would be the only thing the entire Court spoke about all night.

  That is, until Taveon made his announcement about the King.

  He needed eyes and ears on Taveon by someone he did not consider a threat. Dagen knew the Prince would not be happy to see Bree arrive, but he also knew he would not turn her away. He couldn’t risk Dagen’s wrath at being denied any companion he desired. He needed the council on his side if he were going to take the throne. He needed the support of the entire Court. And, if he made a scene, they would cause more than a few problems for him.

  Dagen also knew that despite his stony exterior, the Prince had a soft spot for the shapeshifting girl. He could see it in his eyes when they made their daily walks. He would never admit it to anyone, least of all himself, but he would be just as dazzled by her beauty as every other fae at the ball.

  Bree slid her hand just a slight bit deeper into the crook of Dagen’s arm as they strode down the corridor together. He fought back a smile and kept his gaze focused on the path ahead. He was afraid that if he looked at her, she would see exactly how taken by her beauty he was.

  “So,” she said in a soft voice, “I have to admit I don’t quite understand what you’re hoping I’ll find out at a ball. And what you think I’d be able to discover that you wouldn’t. I’m the outsider here.”

  “Ah.” He smiled. “Whispered conversations always happen at these events, particularly after the ale and the wine begin to flow freely. These conversations usually do not involve me, as I am who I am. But you are not. They are much more likely to be curious of you rather than afraid. You are my aide, not my lover or my friend. Therefore, you are in the perfect position to hear many things, hopefully about that attack last night. We still do not know the culprit behind all those deaths.”

  He stumbled over his last few words. He shouldn’t have said the word lover. It conjured far too many desires in him, ones he must cast aside. Bree did look beautiful, and she had a fierceness of spirit he couldn’t help but admire, but she was still Prince Taveon’s little prize, one he wanted to use as his own personal assassin.

  She might be spying for Dagen now but only so she could be set free. And then she would return back to Otherworld, never to be seen again. He couldn’t entertain any thoughts of anything more with her, as much as he was drawn to her, and as much as he’d started their relationship as a way to get close. Getting any closer now was a dangerous thought.

  Still, he couldn’t help but cast a glance her way, letting his admiring gaze linger on the flush of her cheeks, the long dip of her neck, and the luscious dark hair that trailed down her back.

  By the forest, she truly was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

  Chapter 24

  Bree

  Bree heard the sounds of the ball far before they ever reached it. While the feast had been full of a constant murmur, the ball was a far more lively affair. Music drifted down the hallway, shot through with shouts and sounds of pure glee. Bree pressed her hands against her dress, trying to push away the nerves. She’d gone as someone else when she’d gone to the feast, but now, she was going as all Bree.

  “Do not be nervous,” Dagen said with a smile. “No one will take a shot at you while you are with me.”

  Bree raised an eyebrow. “Except for the Prince.”

  “He would not dare.”

  When they strode through the tall towering archway, Bree gasped and tightened her hand on Dagen’s arm. The ball was a nightmare. Every fae in the room wore twisted, gruesome masks that resembled monsters from the depths of hell. Horns protruded from their heads, curling and menacing. And their eyes...so many of them had red eyes.

  Bree swallowed hard.

  “Ah.” Dagen flashed her a smile. “I should have warned you. This is one of our many masked balls. There is a prize for the fae who wears the most terrifying ensemble. The horns, however, are real.”

  Bree blinked, her gut churning. The fae before her were terrifying to behold. It had been easy to forget exactly what they were, seeing only the gentler side of their forms. In their daily lives, these fae did not wear their horns, and their eyes did not glow red. But they were the Dark Fae. The demons of the three realms that were inexplicably linked together. And Bree was living among them.

  “I’m having second thoughts...” Bree said, trailing off as a tall fae strode by with bloodstained horns. She shuddered to think about what that might mean.

  “There is no need to be frightened,” Dagen said. “They have all seen you arrive with me. They will leave you alone unless you do something to provoke them. Now, go on. Mingle. Find out what you can. They are far too involved in the drink and the dance to pay you any mind. Well, except for him.”

  Bree followed Dagen’s gaze. Indeed, the Prince’s eyes were locked on Bree with a tense strange kind of smile pasted on his face. He wasn’t wearing a mask, but a silver pair of horns protruded from his skull. Bree stared at them, mesmerized by the way they twisted and turned, locking together at the very ends.

  “It seems he is taken by your beauty as much as I am.” Dagen gave Bree a tight smile. “In fact, I am tempted to keep you by my side. Go on before I change my mind.”

  Bree slid her hand out from the crook of Dagen’s arm and felt lost and adrift immediately. He took a step back, giving her a strange smile before turning and disappearing into the crowd. Her heart hammered. She was truly alone in the midst of all these Dark Fae with only her wits to keep her grounded in reality.

  Someone passed by and pressed a drink into her hands, something she was immensely grateful for. She dropped back her head and tipped the sweet liquid down her throat. Immediately, a new boldness took over her body.

  Time to spy for all she was worth.

  But suddenly, he was there. Prince Taveon caught her arm, his grip going tight around her wrist. Her footsteps paused,
and her heart trembled in her chest. He looked...angry. Not that she was surprised. She knew the risk she’d taken in coming here, even as Lord Dagen’s guest.

  “What are you doing here, Bree?” he asked in a low growl. All around them, the ball continued on like nothing strange at all was happening, though she swore their exchange had caught a few curious glances.

  Would he try to punish her for this? No, he couldn’t. It would be sending the wrong message to the previous Hand of the King. Any move made against her would be a move made against Lord Dagen.

  She gave him a pleasant smile, though she pulled against his grip on her arm. He didn’t let go. “Lord Dagen invited me to come as his companion. Don’t worry. I’m not going around and blabbing to everyone about who I am and why I’m here. I know you like to keep your secrets.”

  “You should not be here, Bree.”

  “He came up with a clever story,” she continued as if he hadn’t said a word. “I am his aide, a scholar whose speciality lies in knowledge about the human realm.”

  The scowl on his face didn’t lessen even the slightest. “And you should certainly not be here with Lord Dagen.”

  Bree swallowed hard, but she refused to back down. “Maybe I wouldn’t have had to come with him if someone else had invited me to attend.”

  “There is a reason I did not invite you. It is dangerous for you to be here.” With a heavy sigh, he finally dropped her arm, but the intensity of his gaze didn’t waver. “I will allow you to stay. For now. But stay out of trouble and keep your mouth shut. I will not hesitate to throw you over my shoulder and toss you right back into your quarters if need be.”

  And with that, he spun away to speak to his next guest, though the electricity of his presence remained with her. At times like these, Bree could see past his calm exterior to the angry Dark Fae beneath. He liked to pretend he was not like his father, but there were elements of him there. He wouldn’t have lied in order to get her to be his slave if there wasn’t. He wouldn’t have had her shot in the chest. And these were all facts she needed to remember. She couldn’t let herself forget what he was. She couldn’t let her guard down, not with him.