Peony pressed on for what felt like another hour. The night air grew colder and drier as we reached terracotta peaks that were cracked from the lack of moisture. Peony landed on one of them, a plateau only fifty feet wide, and I did the same. Panting hard, she put her hand on her side and bent into it.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
“For now. Let’s get this over with.” Peony forced a smile at me. “The corrupt magic here is hitting me hard. We can’t wait.”
I looked back. We had left the mountain library far behind. I could see the peak, a dark shape against the starless sky, but I could no longer make out the library. Even though neither of us knew what exactly we had to do, we instinctively reached out with our hands and pressed our palms together. The motion felt right.
“You lead,” I said, afraid I’d use too much magic on Peony and hurt her.
She nodded, and vines sprouted from her fingers, entangling our hands and pressing them together. These vines were soft. They didn’t bite into my skin and didn’t poison me, but thrummed with power. I released my ice, willing it to form a protective capsule around the vines. They did, just as they had earlier on the stone book. Peony allowed her vines to grow, and they spread to the ground where they circled us several times. I sent more ice magic into the circle around us. An orb formed around us. With us cocooned, I felt like we were in a metamorphosis. Everything was so peaceful and safe, but then I noticed Peony’s tense face.
Sweat ran down her forehead in fat drops, and her hand trembled against mine. She was shaking. Her temperature was rising, and her palms broke out in sweat.
“Let’s finish this now!” The desert might not be affecting me, but it was hurting her. We had to hurry.
Allowing her to lead once more, I waited until her tingling magic slammed into me. Everything around me exploded in a green glow, and while it hadn’t been Peony’s intention, she almost knocked me off my feet. I matched her plant magic with the essence of winter. Blue light exploded. The two magics circled each other like opponents, filling our orb.
“Unite!” I screamed.
“Unite!” Peony echoed, blond curls rising.
The plant and ice magic clashed together, turning white, and then a boom reverberated through the air. The vine and frost orb broke apart, exploding outward. The ground vanished under my feet as the force threw me up and away from Peony. She screamed. The desert swam below. I opened my wings, but it was too late. Gravity smashed me against a hard stone, another peak. My back and legs burned and screamed. My crown trickled magic through my body as stars exploded in my vision, and a sharp pain stabbed in my spine. Darkness tugged at the edges. I tried to fight it, stay conscious, but lost the fight and was swallowed whole.
12
Virgie
Nerissa stood aside as Nathan, Caleb, and I studied the three guards under the globe of floating golden light, preparing to take their forms.
I memorized Zeeba’s Asian features. Unlike my Japanese heritage, I guessed her ancestors to be Chinese. Her dark hair was tied back with a brown twine, highlighting her narrow eyes full of cynicism and a pointy jaw. Just looking at her told me Zeeba was a determined fae woman, the type who did whatever was necessary to accomplish her goals. I tuned into what her thoughts must be. Although she was no nobility, a strong mental shield lived around her mind. She didn’t let it down. Zeeba was a realist who believed the world was cruel and that there was no room to be soft. Failure was not an option.
A tingle swept over me as Zeeba’s jaw dropped. “Excellent,” she said, quickly regaining her composure.
I looked down to see that I was wearing a green guard’s uniform with a leather chest plate, shoulder pads, and matching boots. My posture had changed. My knees were more bent than usual and my hips wider. I was standing at attention.
Zeeba removed her quiver, the one detail I’d forgotten, and handed it to me. I slung it on and turned to find a pair of red-headed Christophs near the door. They were indistinguishable, even though I knew one was Caleb. Nathan, meanwhile, took on Kalvin’s form, his white hair shortening and turning pitch-black. Once he was done, our group split, the original guards standing aside while Caleb pushed at the secret brick door.
In her Blythe glamour, Nerissa nodded to us. “I’ll guide you through the palace on the pretense of giving you a much-needed lecture.”
“What about the vampires?” I asked.
“The vampires still respect the scholars and Blythe’s high standing,” Nerissa chirped in Blythe’s annoyingly superior voice.
“Right. Since the scholars can tell them how to use the other fae.” I eyed the empty, wide corridor as we emerged from the tunnel. The palace had darkened, and not just because perpetual night had fallen. The main courtyard came into view. Lanterns hung everywhere, illuminating the river that cut through the courtyard. Two vampire guards, both men in black uniforms, patrolled side by side along the water. “Blythe” snapped her fingers at us, fluttered her peach wings, and silently waved at us to follow her. I stood up tall as I marched behind her.
“All fae have been informed and will be reminded that any attempt to flee the Summer lands is a poor choice,” she said. “They are far safer here as long as they follow our simple rules.”
We entered the main courtyard. Four weaponless vampires were patrolling, their speed, strength, and sharp fangs making up for the lack of their numbers. No nobles gathered on the balconies, though a few fae guards stood at nervous attention. Nerissa raised her voice to a singsong tone I’d heard many times from Blythe and stopped at the river. “The perpetual night is necessary for our new alliance, and King Peter will ensure that it does not harm the plants and animals of the Summer realm. His great power will keep everything alive. But many fae are choosing to believe that somehow, the master of the Summer realm can lie.” She lifted her eyebrow at us as if she were telling a joke. “Some are deserting and forgetting their place here.” Nerissa stressed the word deserting.
“That’s not good,” Nathan said in Kalvin’s bass voice.
“It is a tragedy,” Blythe chirped, “especially now that we have found the cure to the infertility plague caused by the Winter Court. With King Peter having the Shield and bringing our numbers back up, we have nothing to fear.” She snapped her fingers and motioned for us to follow her. The way she was speaking made it clear that she’d given this lecture to many guards before us.
We marched behind Blythe like good soldiers, keeping our shoulders back. Two vampires patrolled past us, and neither acted as if we existed. The two men had no red in their eyes. They were not hungry. One had a trace of blood on the corner of his lip, letting me know that they’d just fed.
I did my best not to ball my fists at the bloodsuckers and forced myself to focus on Blythe, who was taking us to the throne room.
“King Peter, being ever so merciful, is stopping fae from leaving their rightful home,” Blythe continued. “Our new allies now guard the points between our home and the borderlands. They return deserters to the castle where they’re given a second and final chance to make the right choice.”
I exchanged loaded looks with Nathan and Caleb. It seemed that they too could barely contain their anger. Good. Anger was what we needed to propel us forward.
“What choice is that?” Caleb asked, sounding nervous like Christoph.
“I would explain, but it seems that there’s no need.” Nerissa stopped at the open doors of King Peter’s throne room. “We are fortunate to witness an active trial.” She stood aside with a phony smile and motioned for us to step forward.
King Peter’s throne room was different from the last time I’d seen it. The cactus that had been Thorsten was gone. The tree alley had healed from Blair’s fire magic, though their leaves had darkened to a greenish-black. The stars still winked overhead. King Peter sat on his throne underneath the stars. A sickly yellow tinge invaded the gold of his wings. The golden leaves of his crown were a dull brown now. King Peter’s eyes had darkened and appea
red lifeless. The changes were obvious, even from the opposite side of the room and with his throne almost a hundred feet away.
Prince Percival sat in his smaller throne beside his father, grasping the branch armrests as if his life depended on them. On the opposite side of Percival stood Lady Cardinal, hands folded over the front of her black, gothic dress that hit the ground. Even from this distance she made my skin crawl.
We didn’t enter the throne room, and I was glad since two vampires stood in the doorway and several others were along the periphery of the room. No fae guards patrolled the throne room anymore. All of the vampires besides Lady Cardinal were guards, and I guessed she was the only high-ranking vampire in on this operation. She’d want the glory of taking down the faelands for herself. Then she could hold that over the other vampires’ heads.
King Peter sneered at the kneeling forms in front of him. Two fae, a man and woman with hunter green wings, trembled, their heads hung low. Common fae, who had tried to escape the monstrosity the Summer Court had become.
Behind them, several other common fae and even an earth fae with terracotta wings—an elemental—kneeled and waited their turn before the king. The vampires had been capturing everyone trying to get out.
“Desertion is a high crime,” King Peter boomed. “Especially after our Court has been decimated by the Barren Plague. But as I’m merciful, I’ll offer you a choice. Rise.” He motioned for the couple to stand.
Percival, instead of leaning forward and smiling, simply tightened his grip on his throne. It was saying a lot that even the brat prince had lost his sharp tongue and wasn’t amused by this display.
“Your trust in me has wavered,” King Peter continued. “Our new alliance is an odd one, I’ll admit, but sometimes unusual choices must be made to forge a path forward. I have found the solution to the Barren Plague. A cure. Swear your loyalty, and I shall give you the cure and allow you to bear children for the Summer Court.”
I balled my fists as next to me, Nathan stiffened. All those trying to escape were going to be used as breeders, right along with the Vasara students.
“You shall be taken care of and be safe as long as you produce children,” King Peter continued. “You’ll be allowed to live the dream many fae had believed to be lost forever.”
The woman snarled. “You want us to take the potion that forces us to breed?”
King Peter’s face darkened, and Percival stiffened. “Are you rejecting my generous gift to the Summer realm?”
The woman’s hackles rose. Nerissa frowned. “Oh, dear. This one is about to make the wrong choice.”
Two vampire guards near the edge of the room, the two closest to Lady Cardinal, shifted leg to leg. Lady Cardinal made eye contact with them.
“We reject slavery,” the male fae said, his voice ringing out loud and clear despite his predicament.
“As you wish,” King Peter said. Lady Cardinal snapped her fingers, and her guards descended on the fae. The two fae took it like warriors. The woman gasped only once as the vampire sunk his fangs into her neck, and the man made no sound at all. The two guards drained them dry as the fae slumped, then they dragged their lifeless forms into the shadows. The waiting prisoners paled and eyed the exit, which was blocked by more bloodsuckers.
“Oh, dear,” Nerissa said, turning to us and motioning for us to step away from the open doors. “Those two could’ve lived and been given children. Why anyone would choose death over something most fae have been dreaming about for centuries is beyond me.”
I forced my expression to stay neutral despite my pounding heart and the sweat breaking out on the back of my neck. I could barely focus as “Blythe” waved us into the gardens. Nathan walked beside me, his gait shuffling. He lifted a hand like he was about to place it on my back, but I shook my head. We couldn’t get sloppy and blow our cover.
We followed Nerissa into the hedge maze. The tension was thicker than molasses, and no one dared to voice a word or make a move to give away our disgust.
Only when we were shielded by the maze did Nathan grab Nerissa’s hand. “You need to get out of here.”
“I am needed here,” she insisted. “I am able to stay close to those in power. Blythe isn’t in danger.”
“Yet.” Nathan shook his head.
Knowing they wouldn’t come to an agreement, I took charge of the situation. “We can’t get into the throne room like this.” I spoke in Zeeba’s stern voice and motioned to my armor. “Only vampire guards are allowed inside. Even if we take on their appearance, they’ll be able to smell our fae blood.”
Caleb nodded. “The scent of our blood is intoxicating to them, like catnip. Also, there’s too many vamp guards for us to take on in the throne room.”
I took a deep breath, knowing the others wouldn’t like what I was about to propose. “Yes, it’s unwise to steal the crown in the throne room, especially since I highly doubt the king will take it of in there. One of us will need to go to the king’s chambers and take it when he’s asleep or resting.” I turned to Nerissa. “Does Blythe have access to the king’s chambers?”
She frowned. “No. All of my meetings with King Peter have taken place outside of the throne room. I’m not sure if anyone is allowed inside his chambers besides the maids.”
“What about Percival?” I didn’t have the time to learn the maid’s routine. Also, it wouldn’t make sense that they were in the room when the king was there.
“Percival? The king’s chambers?” Nathan grabbed my shoulder. “Are you suicidal, Virgie?”
“No,” I replied calmly. “I’m being realistic. Going to the king’s chambers is much better than attacking in the throne room.”
Caleb stepped closer, nodding grimly. “Virgie is right. My father will never expect an attack in his chambers. My brother is allowed upstairs any time of the day. He won’t be questioned. Turning into him is the right choice, our only choice.”
13
Onyx
I blinked my heavy eyes open. My vision was a bit blurry, and my head felt as if someone was pounding at my skull from the inside. My limbs were heavy and leaden. I forced myself to move, glad to discover I could use my arms and abs to sit up, then use my legs to push up into standing. Everything hurt, but nothing seemed to be broken or twisted, no doubt thanks to the heavy crown that had stayed on my head.
I glanced around. I had landed on a large outcrop of a terracotta cliff. The night sky still stretched overhead, featureless and dark blue. A sheer drop waited just a few feet from me. Had I been catapulted just a bit further, even my crown might not have protected me.
My stomach turned as I remembered.
Peony. Shit.
She had no crown to protect her, and she’d also said that this part of the desert would drain her the most. Where was she? I rubbed at my eyes and turned in a circle, ignoring my protesting muscles. I didn’t see her. But she had to be here.
Then a weak green glow, like that of a dying firefly, near the edge of my long outcrop caught my attention.
I darted toward it, my feet pounding the uneven, rocky ground. The closer I got, the more worried I became. This was definitely Peony’s green wing coming into view. Her body was bruised with several lacerations and dried blood spread across it. She lay at an unnatural angle on her side, one leg hiked up too high and her arm resting behind her. Did she have internal bleeding? What if her neck or spine was broken? Normally, fae healed pretty well, faster than humans, yet not as fast as vampires. However, all bets were off in the wastelands.
“Peony!” I kneeled beside her, ignoring my aches, and pushed the hair from her face. She was pale, too pale, but she was breathing. I choked back the tears, surprised by the strength of my emotion for my former nemesis. “Please don’t die on me,” I whispered. She remained unmoving. I needed to get her out of here, but I was afraid that lifting her would just injure her further. What could I do?
The crown. It had healed me, and earlier I had used my ice not to attack but to protect Peon
y’s magic. What if I could help her now? I bit my lip. If my magic healed her that would be great, but what if it caused a reaction? She was a Summer fae, after all. Combining my ice magic with her plant magic was one thing, but sending it into her body…it was beyond risky, and yet, I had to try.
I took Peony’s heavy hand into mine. “It’s going to be all right. I’ll use only a tiny bit.” If she got worse, I’d stop immediately.
I breathed in and out and summoned the familiar cold into my chest. It washed over me through my crown, funneled straight from the Winter realm. Heal her, I begged my power, and let it drip from my hand into hers, willing it to work like an IV. Nothing happened. Peony remained still and unresponsive. Was I doing it wrong? Was I doing too little? Did my ice magic have no effect on Peony? After a long, tense moment, her hand jerked in mine, and her hazel eyes flew open.
“Onyx,” she rasped, and I paused the stream of my power.
“Peony, how do you feel? You were unconscious, and I used some of my magic to heal you.”
She scowled. “That would explain the iciness in my veins.”
“Do you want me to stop?”
She tried to move her leg and arm, and let out a yowl. Tears shot in her eyes. “I can’t move anything.”
She had definitely broken something, maybe even dislocated a vertebra in her spine. I tried not to let the horror consume me. I needed to be strong for both of us. We were fae. We would heal. Peony just needed a bit of help. “Are you okay with me giving you more of my power?”
“Do it.” She gritted her teeth. Even though the cold wasn’t hurting her, it sure seemed to be unpleasant.
This time I kept my eyes open, monitoring Peony for any signs of distress as I let more of my ice magic trickle into her. She sniffed, and her mouth contorted, but the discomfort seemed manageable. After a minute, I stopped. “What about now?” Her lips had turned blue, and goose bumps had exploded on her skin. She was close to hypothermia. I couldn’t give her any more of my magic.
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