“Die.” I let the stake fly. It impaled Stanley straight in his heart with a sickening thud. I had practiced since Vulthus, and it was paying off. Despite their speed and strength, vampires died just as other creatures did when stabbed through the heart.
Stanley grabbed the wall for support as dark blood spurted from his chest. I smiled as Lily’s tormentor collapsed to his knees.
8
Onyx
Stanley went still, and the silence thickened in the kitchen. He twitched a few times as death gripped him. I reached into my pocket and drew out the vial. Once I collected his blood, I sent more magic into my ice dagger, ready to finish him off. Stanley’s body coated over with ice and then it shattered into a thousand pieces.
Lily rushed to the sink and gagged. She threw up once, twice, thrice before running the water and washing out her mouth. “You killed him,” she stammered, staring at the ice pieces that used to be Stanley and were now melting and creating a puddle on the ground.
“You’re welcome,” I replied coolly. This had been easy, almost too easy. I needed to get out before the guards realized their employer was dead.
Lily straightened up slowly. “You didn’t need to go that far.”
“Yes, I did.” I took a step toward Lily, and she shrank back, grabbing the counter. “He was a monster, and now you’re free of him.” I pocketed the vial of blood I had collected for Olwen. I wasn’t sure how Olwen would test this blood, but maybe the scent would be enough.
I stared at the huge puddle on the ground that had been Stanley only a minute ago. Gritting my teeth, I reminded myself that the vamp had deserved it and that I had killed. I’d be fine as long as I got out of here soon.
“Why did you take his blood?” Lily asked, but I didn’t respond. I had to hurry. I pocketed the vial and searched Stanley’s belt, smiling when I found the keyring on his hip. I grabbed it and advanced toward Lily. This time, she didn’t retreat, but broke out into tremors. “The guards will think I did it,” she half-whispered, half-sobbed.
As if a switch had been flipped within me, I reverted back to the old days where I had comforted Lily. “They won’t, and even if they do, it won’t matter, because you’ll be long gone by then.” Not meeting her gaze, I undid the shackles around her wrists and ankles. I knew I should leave, but my feet were rooted to the ground. Guilt nearly suffocated me. I had left her behind at the academy. Everything that Stanley McGregor had done to her, could’ve been prevented.
Lily stepped out of the cuffs. Both bare ankles had blisters from the iron exposure. “I’m not like you Onyx. I won’t survive out there.”
I gritted my teeth. She was right. She was not like me. If I left her to her own devices, she’d be captured again, and then she’d be tortured for information. I couldn’t let her blab. I had to take her with me. Are you sure that’s the only reason? I shushed the nasty voice in my head and motioned to the window. Guilt would not win. “Try to keep up and don’t let the guards outside see you.”
I climbed out of the kitchen window, not bothering to turn around to see if Lily was following, but knowing that she was since grunting and sliding noises sounded behind me. Lily sobbed quietly as she jumped from the window, but I ignored it. Yes, I was planning to take her back, but not if she acted like a wimp.
I glanced around the dark yard and motioned her through the shadows, back to the rear gate I had frozen open. It had closed by itself, but the lock hadn’t engaged so I pushed it open as Lily watched with an open mouth.
Somewhere, a guard laughed. They were oblivious and would be until they found the puddle in the kitchen. Once they realized that Stanley had been killed by a Winter fae, they would blame Lily. Having her speak about me would only put me in danger.
“What about the others? There are more fae in the building,” she said as we walked around the front of the property and onto the main street.
I shook my head and shushed her. I couldn’t take a whole parade of fae with me. “We can’t do a Q and A now.” I felt my pocket to ensure I still had the blood vial and the cell phone to call Atticus.
Not wanting to be a standing target by waiting for Atticus close to Stanley’s manor, I hiked uphill. Lily trailed behind me, thankfully, staying silent. Fifteen minutes later, I dared to retrieve my cell and call Atticus. So far, no sirens had gone off, but vamps didn’t call the human authorities. They had their own.
“I’m done,” I said when he answered. “Can you pick me up ASAP? I’m on the corner of Twiggly Elm and Pine Street.”
“On my way.”
“My location—”
“I have it.” He hung up, and I pressed my mouth into a firm line. Good to know that the phone acted like a tracker.
“Who did you call?” Lily hugged her thin arms around her ballerina top, shivering as her teeth chattered. Even in the summer, the night air cooled and she wasn’t dressed for the elements. I focused on her ankles, still red and raw from the iron. That was better than staring her in the eye.
“A friend.” Was that what Atticus was to me? “He’ll be here soon.”
Lily looked me up and down. “You’re looking good. Took me a moment to recognize you back in the kitchen.” At least she had stopped crying.
I nodded but didn’t provide an explanation. I had chosen to take Lily with me, but that didn’t mean that we could go back to being besties. Relief swept through me as the generic silver sedan pulled up a minute later, Atticus in the driver’s seat.
“Who is this?” Lily asked.
I opened the door and pushed Lily in, not in the mood to deal with her hesitation. Then I got into the front passenger seat and slammed the door shut.
Atticus’s brows drew together at the sight of Lily, but he didn’t demand I kick her out. Good. He was a guard, and I was royalty. Not wasting any time, he started driving. However, as soon as we were on the highway, he said, “Olwen won’t be happy. Why did you pick up a stray fae? That wasn’t part of the job description.”
Knowing that saying that she used to be my roomie wouldn’t be an acceptable explanation, I simply stated, “She’s a witness. I climbed through the kitchen window. She was there. I killed Stanley MacGregor in front of her and if I had left her, they would have made her talk.”
Lily breathed out and deflated behind me.
Atticus nodded. “Fair point. Leaving witnesses behind is never good.”
“You’re not going to get rid of me, are you?” Lily’s tone rose, bordering on hysterical.
“No,” I replied coldly as Atticus said at the same time, “King Olwen will make the final decision.”
“King O-Olwen?” Lily leaned forward to look between me and Atticus, her eyes wide. “The King of the Winter Court?”
“Yup.” So she’d heard of him since going into Stanley’s service. This conversation wouldn’t be fun. I sighed. Even worse, Vulthus might know Stanley and figure out that the person who had finished off Stanley was the same one that had attacked him.
“Why are we going to King Olwen?” Lily voice trembled.
“Because that’s where I’m staying.” I looked out of the window, hoping that Lily would get the message.
“Princess Onyx is King Olwen’s daughter,” Atticus said.
I groaned. “Thanks, dude.”
He chuckled. “It’s the truth.”
“This can’t be happening.” Lily collapsed into her seat and hugged herself, muttering indecipherably underneath her breath. This last morsel of information had put her over the edge. She was going into shock. Better now than later. Hopefully, she’d be okay by the time we got to the mansion. Olwen didn’t seem like a patient man. Convincing him to keep Lily as a servant would be much harder if she was a hot mess.
I was thinking of that? Great. But then what was the alternative? She couldn’t go onto the streets to be captured by the vamps.
Lily continued to be in her own world as the car drove up the steep mountain. It was only when she got out of the car and stared at the simple cab
in that she seemed to return to the normal world.
“Was this a trick?” Her voice turned squeaky as she eyed the desolate cabin. “Are you going to kill me here?”
“Shh. It’s just an illusion.” I took her elbow and led her to the front door of the mansion, which Atticus held open. Light poured outside and revealed the white marble floor. Lily’s jaw dropped, but once again I didn’t explain.
I released Lily as soon as we were inside.
“Oh, wow, this is beautiful.” Her jaw almost hit the floor as she eyed the corridor and the frosty chandeliers hanging overhead.
Atticus motioned for both of us to follow him down the corridor. “His Majesty wants to see you immediately.”
I squared my shoulders, prepared for the battle ahead. I entered the dining room, holding my chin high. Olwen waited at the end of the long ice table. Like the breakfast room, the main dining room had ice furniture.
“Who is this, Onyx?” Olwen’s jaw tightened as he fixed his gaze on Lily.
I told him the story of how Lily ended up being a witness in my assassination, but the more I spoke, the deeper Olwen’s frown became. Even presenting the vial of vampire blood did nothing to ease his stony expression.
“This was very careless of you. You should’ve checked the room for anyone before entering it,” he snapped. “I’m glad you had at least the presence of mind to bring her here.”
I had done my mission, but I still wasn’t good enough. Instead of being proud, Olwen was disgusted with me. Tears brimmed in my eyes, but I quickly blinked them away. I would not cry. I had done well, I knew it. I crossed the dining room until I was in front of Olwen’s seat and slammed the glass vile down on the table, glad it didn’t break. “Here’s your blood sample.”
He watched me for a beat. “You know I can’t keep your friend.”
“She’s not my friend.” I was glad my back was to Lily and I didn’t have to see her reaction.
Olwen’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t lie. I remember seeing the two of you together at the outings.”
I balled my fists. “She was my friend. I don’t have friends anymore.”
“You don’t need friends. You have a court.”
I exhaled. Despite his disgust, I had passed. Olwen extended his hand, and I shook it, fear darting through me. What would he expect of me now that I was officially part of his court?
“Welcome to the Winter Court.” Olwen’s voice boomed with authority. I glanced down at the vial of blood. “I’ll still test it,” he answered my silent question, “but I’m confident I’ll be satisfied with the results. As for your friend—”
“We can’t throw her out, or the vamps will capture her and torture her for information. She can organize. She’ll be a loyal servant. You won’t find anyone more dedicated than her.”
Footsteps sounded behind me, and then Lily appeared next to me, curtsying deeply. “Your Majesty, I beg you to give me a chance.”
I exhaled, relieved that Lily had pulled herself together, but Olwen shook his head. “She’s a descendant of the Summer Court.”
“She has no ties to them, and she’s not loyal to them,” I said. “They abandoned her and allowed the vampires to buy her.”
“Please, my whole loyalty will be to you only.” Lily deepened her curtsy. “I have no affinity for the Summer Court. Their royals look the other way as the vampires use us as slaves. Some of them are even friends with the vampires. They despise us earthbound fae because our ancestors fled the faeland when the war started.”
Olwen’s face hardened, and I pinched the flesh on my hand. Lily had made a good point and even thrown the Summer Court under the bus, but he was going to say no.
“Fine. She may stay, because I’m generous, very generous.”
Lily dropped to the ground. “Thank you so much. I won’t let you down, Your Majesty.”
Olwen ignored her, his gaze drilling into me.
“Thank you.” I forced the words out of my dry mouth. He’d make me pay for this. At Nocturnal Academy, I would’ve been whipped or bitten. What punishments would Olwen concoct for going against him?
Olwen studied me for a long moment. “You completed your mission, but you’re still weak, Onyx. You’ll need to prove yourself again before I can entrust sensitive information to you.”
I swallowed hard. This was the catch, the cost for bringing Lily back, for ever having friends. And there was nothing I could do about it. I inclined my head respectfully. “I understand.”
9
Onyx
Lily stayed true to her promise. In between trainings, I found her carrying food trays, dutifully scrubbing the marble floors, and delivering mountains of laundry to the guards’ quarters. She seemed determined to prove herself and remain here. Clever girl. While the Winter fae guards and servants pretended that this mousy Summer fae didn’t exist, I didn’t see them acting cruel toward her. Staying here was much safer for her than being around the vamps. And with time, I hoped that the Winter fae would warm up to her after realizing she held no love for the Summer Court. Maybe Olwen would even allow her to swear loyalty to him, cementing her place here.
For Lily’s safety as well as mine, I had to pretend she didn’t exist. The last thing I needed was to have Olwen use her against me. The moment he caught us being friendly with each other, he would.
I watched Lily from afar, dedicating myself to my training. She never came down into the basement, and I suspected that Olwen had forbidden it since it wasn’t like Lily to leave me alone even when I was hostile. With Olwen being her last chance to survive, she couldn’t risk to piss him off.
I was in a similar position, so I followed his rules and did my best while training with Atticus, trying not to think what Stanley MacGregor had done to Lily before I had freed her.
During dinner while Lily served my father and I, I tried my best to stare at nothing in particular. I was too afraid that if I held her gaze, the questions would burst out of me. I couldn’t have a friendship with her. I couldn’t jeopardize her life.
As the days passed, I got used to seeing her as another servant, not a friend. The walls around my heart were getting stronger. I kept piling up the bricks, knowing the weak would not survive in the Winter Court.
“Has Vulthus reappeared?” I asked Atticus about a week or so into Lily’s stay. Olwen was often absent and had made it clear he would not share sensitive information with me until I proved myself a second time. Not that I blamed him. After witnessing his conversation with Vulthus in the library, it was clear that the vamps would turn on Olwen at the first sign of his betrayal. He might’ve infiltrated them for the last eighteen years, but they still didn’t fully trust him.
“Not yet,” Atticus told me, hanging up sandbags for me to practice on. “I have not been able to get much information from Olwen.”
He stepped aside, and I shot my ice daggers at the sandbags. The impact turned the sandbags into ice and shattered them, just like Stanley’s body had shattered from my ice dagger. I needed to cultivate this ability and grow it like a muscle until I was as deadly to Vulthus as the rising sun. As an ancient vampire, he’d be well versed in avoiding blows to the heart. It would also take more time and effort to turn his body to ice and shatter, but it was possible, and one day soon, I’d do it.
“Your abilities are improving.” Atticus smiled as he studied my handiwork. “It’s safe for us to return to training in the woods.”
I nodded in agreement. I was ready to go back out into the plaza by the forest. I had been using swords, daggers, spikes, was comfortable with a crossbow, and could summon ice bolts almost as fast as I could fire them. Also, I had killed Stanley. Sure, he had been lazy and unsuspecting, but he had still been a vampire. If a vamp was lurking outside Olwen’s property, it would be my pleasure to take him on.
Slinging my crossbow over my shoulder, which had become an integral part of me, I followed Atticus out of the basement and up the marble stairs. He sheathed a long dagger and led me toward the
back door.
Lily, perhaps by coincidence, but most likely not, was on her knees, scrubbing the floor right in front of the back doors. She looked up at me, and hope sparked in her gray eyes.
Tension crept between my shoulder blades as I noticed out of the corner of my vision a shadow moved quickly around the corner, as if someone was there. I froze, eyeing the end of the hall, but no other motion followed.
A prickle crept up my spine as I understood why Lily was here, scrubbing the floor in my path. I was being watched and judged for my loyalty. Lily continued staring at me again, oblivious, as I followed Atticus to the door.
“Move,” I ordered, projecting my voice across the hall.
Lily hesitated before scrambling out of the way. I hadn’t been this close to her without Olwen being present since I got back from Stanley’s house. Keeping my gaze on a pine tree, I swept past her, leg barely missing the bucket of soapy water, and stepped out into the cobblestone courtyard.
I had passed the test.
My heart screamed at me to turn around and make sure Lily was all right, but I didn’t.
“What training are we doing today?” I asked Atticus, desperate for a distraction.
“Shield work. I’ll have a shield and move through the trees while you fire at me. Forest combat is common in the faeland, but when it comes to fighting vamps, the same skills will be of help. Like us, they can move quickly and use stealth.”
Didn’t I know it. Vamps had better vision, moved quicker, and had better stamina than fae. The only reason I had such an easy time killing Stanley was because he was a lazy fart, relying on his guards.
I spent the afternoon shooting at the brown shield that Atticus held between him and my crossbow. One by one, ice bolts impaled the shield. As we trained, he increased his pace through the trees, going faster and faster until I could barely keep up. By the end of our session, I was drenched in sweat, my whole body ached, and I could no longer summon ice spikes.
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