Dark Fae Freed (Broken Court Book 2)

by Heather Renee

  I turned back to Neva and Finn, unsure what to do with Maddox’s information. It hadn’t made my anxiety any better. “Is he okay?”

  The paleness of her normally umber face was only making matters worse. “I don’t know. Without knowing what struck him, I’m not sure what to do. I think it was a form of octopus from Maddox’s description, but the dark ooze coming from the wound makes me think squid.”

  “What’s the difference? How do we heal him?” I demanded.

  “There’s a huge difference. If it’s an octopus, we probably have to cut off his arm before the poison gets into his blood stream, if it’s not already too late. If it’s squid, then one of us could suck the poison out, but risk infecting ourselves, or you could pee on him. Urine has the best chance at neutralizing the toxins before they spread, but only if we hurry.”

  “Crazy little elf, come again? Those are literally the worst options ever.” My jeans were literally glued to me from the saltwater. I could get them off if I wanted to with magic, but really? Peeing on him? I wasn’t a dog. I would not mark him, but if I had to, I’d go all vampire on Finn to save him.

  “There were two longer, skinnier tentacles, so I think you’re right with the squid thought, Neva,” Maddox said as he crawled closer to his friend.

  I moved through the sand, getting near enough to grab hold of Finn’s arm. My hands warmed as I touched him, and more ooze dumped out of the wound. “What the hell was that?” I screeched as I tossed his arm back down, afraid I’d made things worse.

  Finn’s body began to shake, and his eyes opened wide as he turned toward me. “Help,” he croaked, then he passed out again.

  What in the actual hell was happening?

  “Grab on to him again, Lucinda,” Neva demanded.

  “Not happening. Did you see what just happened?” I replied, inching back even further.

  Her arm moved faster than I expected, and she latched on to me. “I think your bond can help him. I don’t actually think the pee suggestion will work at this point, and we can’t risk both of you dying if you swallow the poison. So, hold his arm for another minute. At this point, it can’t hurt.”

  “Fine, but if he dies, I can’t promise you won’t be next.”

  She nodded as both she and Maddox held Finn down so he couldn’t hit himself or one of us if his body began convulsing again. Once they were in place, I put one hand on his chest and the other wrapped around his arm just above the wound.

  Like before, more ooze came out. Then, he began screaming. His pain was becoming mine, and I wanted to cry for the first time since I was a child, which pissed me right the hell off. I didn’t cry. I didn’t ever care this much. Gods, I so did not like this bond.

  “Come on, Finn. Fight whatever is in you,” I snarled, holding on tight enough that I was certain my fingers would leave marks when I released him.

  Another half-minute later, the dark ooze turned into blood, and Neva moved to cover the gash with a scrap piece of her shirt she’d torn off at the bottom. Once the wound was bandaged, I let go and sat in the sand, still not convinced Finn was okay.

  “I don’t know how you did it, but it worked,” Neva said as she stood.

  I scoffed. “How do you know?”

  “If he was stung by some kind of squid, that liquid seeping into the sand would have traveled through his bloodstream and went for his heart. It would have killed him, but somehow, you were able to reverse its direction. You saved his life.”

  Maddox fell back into the sand and groaned. “We can’t go back in those waters. I won’t do that again.”

  Well, at least he wasn’t pissed off at the world for the moment.

  Finn began coughing, and I rolled him over, making sure to keep clear of the crap that had already nearly disappeared into the ground. “Come on, Finnegan. Just breathe. Like you always tell me.”

  My hand slammed into his back, probably harder than was helpful, but I was furious with him for scaring me so much. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t his fault he got hurt. It was his fault I was starting to care so damn much.

  Finn finally sat up on his own. “I thought I was dead.” His eyes met mine, the charcoal coloring prominent.

  “You weren’t dead, but I would have killed you again myself if you had been,” I replied, standing up and then giving him a hand to do the same.

  When I pulled him up, he didn’t let go of my hold and brought me closer instead. I thought he was going to kiss me, and I went into panic mode. My hand itched to hit him, and I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I more than enjoyed kissing Finn, but in front of other people and right after he almost died, it was too much for me. I was on bond overload.

  Thankfully, he seemed to sense that and gave me some space but didn’t let go of me.

  “We can’t go back in there. We’ll die and then who is going to save Ivy? There’s a reason that bitch didn’t get the siren blood herself. This is a suicide mission,” Maddox said, his hate for the world back where it had been before he dived into the ocean.

  “We just need to stay in open waters as much as possible and avoid the sea floor. You must have been close to the rocks. Nothing good lives in the rocks,” Neva said.

  “Well, where do the sirens live?” I asked.

  “In caves,” she replied.

  I laughed. “Isn’t that the same thing?”

  She shrugged. “Depends on what the caves are made from.”

  “I don’t like it. It’s too dangerous, and if I’m going to die, it’s going to be saving Ivy, not helping some unknown fae who hides in the forest like a coward while other people fight her battles,” Maddox said, making a very valid point.

  “I hate to say it, but I agree with fairy boy. But I also know unless we get help in the form of an army, we won’t all make it through those castle walls. It’s a shit situation,” I added.

  Finn was the only one who hadn’t said anything yet, and we all looked at him. He stared off into the ocean, giving no inclination as to what he was thinking until he spoke.

  “Maddox, Ivy is my sister. She is my flesh and blood. I would die for her. You might be angry, but you know those things to be true. I was at the castle with Lucinda the day she tried to get in. They almost killed her then, and they’ve only had more time to prepare since. We need Maeve’s help. We have to find the sirens. There is no other choice.”

  “What about Mosi and his warriors? They helped before, can’t they do so again?” Neva asked.

  Finn shook his head. “Mosi is very particular about when his help will come. His path doesn’t cross with ours right now.”

  “Are you sure about that? Or is he just choosing to wait until it’s convenient for him?” Maddox protested, but Finn ignored him, taking the handful of reeds I hadn’t noticed sticking out of the side pocket of Maddox’s pants.

  “I’m going in that water. Anyone is welcome to join me, but I won’t hold it against you if you don’t,” Finn said as he stuck one of the reeds into his mouth and handed the rest to Neva.

  Well, I wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.

  Chapter 16

  Maddox and Neva joined us. Though, I would have been okay if they stayed behind. It would probably be better if there were less of us in the water. Then again, sticking together could also be safer in case the guards happened to find them on the beach.

  “So, how do these reeds work?” I asked Neva, remembering we’d never finished our earlier conversation about what might exist in the open seas.

  “When you’re in the water, you should just have to blow in them like a snorkel,” she answered.

  Well, that seemed too easy. The reeds were about half an inch thick and open at both ends like a straw. I wasn’t sure how that was going to prevent water from going into our lungs, but I was game to see how it played out.

  Finn moved into the ocean first, and I followed with Neva and Maddox right behind us. I kept the reed in my hand until we were several yards out and the sand was no longer at our feet. Th
e water was crystal clear, something I hadn’t noticed before when I was more concerned with Finn possibly being dead.

  Small white fish in large schools swam around us at the surface. They reminded me of puppies, so I reached out, surprised when they let me touch them. We continued until it was time to use the reeds. I stuck mine in first and turned to face the others.

  Each of them had the sticks in their mouths when we ducked all the way underneath the surface, but nobody seemed like they were breathing. Since Neva had said they could be used like snorkels, I pinched my nose and breathed deep, in and out. Nothing but air came back in. Then, I noticed a bubble forming at the tip of the reed.

  Deciding to do it again, this time I focused more on the breathing out. With three big pushes, I created a bubble large enough that it formed all the way around my face.

  The others had already begun to follow my lead and, within another minute, we all looked like idiots with bubbles around our heads, but I no longer had to hold my nose while I inhaled.

  “Can you guys breathe?” I asked, keeping the reed in my mouth like a cigarette.

  Finn’s eyes pinched together as he swam closer. “What?”

  It looked like he was yelling, and the word was barely audible. Apparently, talking wasn’t something this sort of magic reed was made for.

  Finn pulled the reed from his mouth, and his bubble started to dissipate. He recovered and had it back in place quickly.

  “Keep the reeds in your mouth and just follow me,” I yelled and continued swimming. I decided to take the lead. I needed to do something productive before I killed someone.

  Using my arms and legs, I swam until I realized I was making this harder on myself. My wings extended, and I hardened the feathers, using the solid surface to help propel me forward like flippers. My speed was faster than the others, so I slowed and waited for them to catch up.

  Finn had his wings out, but Maddox’s weren’t as solid as ours and Neva didn’t have any, so it wasn’t going to work while trying to stay together.

  “I’m going to take Neva, and Finn can take Maddox,” I yelled, while using my hands to signal my plan, hoping they understood as I latched on to the elf.

  She didn’t fight me, so I assumed they’d at least understood what I was doing. The waters stayed clear as we circled around to face the islands. The sun cut through and allowed decent visibility, but I assumed that would only last until we were forced to head deeper under the water.

  Neva had mentioned the creatures she read about. The probability that we’d come upon something sinister like Finn and Maddox already had seemed high, making me extra cautious. I might be a badass on land, but I wasn’t an idiot. Being down here was an entirely different scenario, and something told me that a siren wasn’t just going to pop out and willingly offer up her blood.

  I continued forward, ignoring the chill along my arms as we swam deeper and the water cooled. We followed around the outer edge of the island during our descent, passing colorful coral, starfish, and even a sea turtle. None of that held my attention as we came closer to massive groupings of seaweed.

  Beyond that were massive rock formations, but visibility was shit beyond another twenty or so feet as the sun’s light didn’t reach under the island’s shelf.

  Bringing my attention back to the seaweed, I knew anything could be hiding within the floating vines and we would likely have no idea until it was too late. I called on my magic as I slowed, not wanting to make any sudden movements. My hold on Neva tightened as a shimmer caught my attention. I tried to focus on it, but the water started to swirl and whipped around us, making visibility nearly impossible.

  I lashed out, but my magic didn’t travel the same under water. Instead of going where I wanted, the waves pushed it around, and we ended up surrounded by bubbles that began to spin until I felt like we were in a cyclone.

  Neva stayed within my grasp, but I couldn’t see her, and I had no idea where Finn and Maddox were. Best case, they were right below us or somewhere that they could keep an eye on us and figure out what the hell was happening.

  The pull became severe, and the reed ripped from my mouth. Before I closed my lips, I sucked in a shit-ton of saltwater and began choking. Neva was clawing her way up my body, and I saw her reed was also gone. Her face was already turning red, and she was beginning to panic.

  The only thing I could think to do was practically kiss her and give her my breath. Before I could really freak her out, we were pulled apart and yanked into the murky waters I’d been trying to avoid. My head hit something hard, making me nearly lose consciousness as my vision wavered. When I opened my eyes again, I was staring up at a rock ceiling, breathing normally and with no water around us.

  What the hell?

  Neva, Finn, and Maddox were next to me, just coming to as well. When I sat up, another flash of silver caught my eye and I tensed. We definitely hadn’t ended up here on our own, and we weren’t alone.

  “Who are you?” I asked, staring into the shadows where I saw the flicker.

  “The better question is what are you doing in my home?” a woman’s voice replied.

  I rolled my eyes. “I can’t answer that. We certainly didn’t come here willingly.”

  She stepped from the shadows. Sleek white hair trailed down her chest and back, ending at her waist. Bright aqua eyes glared at me, and her skin was nearly translucent. Whoever she was, she clearly didn’t get out of her hidey-hole very often. Even so, she was stunning in her own way.

  “Are you telling me someone dropped you in the waters and forced you to swim closer to the rocks instead of back to shore?” she asked, taking another step closer and revealing a skintight black dress with two slits going all the way up her thighs.

  “No, but someone did force us into this cave, which I assume is your home,” I replied as I stood up, not willing to show any fear of the unknown supernatural.

  She got in my face. “Everything within the water is my home. Now, tell me. Who are you, and why should I not kill you for disrupting my day?”

  I glanced back at Neva. “Did your books happen to mention anything about this psycho?”

  Before the elf could answer, I was smacked in the face. The hit had a bite to it that made my jaw rattle. I moved to retaliate, but Neva was suddenly standing between me and the other woman.

  “I believe this is the sea queen, Lucinda. Please, be careful,” she begged.

  The woman withdrew from my personal space and narrowed her eyes at me. “Lucinda? Lucinda Morrow?”

  I rubbed my cheek, really wanting to ignore Neva’s advice. “The one and only.”

  “You killed my Edgar,” she said without emotion.

  Her Edgar? Oh gods, the rumors Finn had mentioned before about how Edgar kept coming back to life were true. Just the details were slightly off. Mermaids and witches had nothing to do with it.

  “In all fairness, he tried to kill me first. Well, at least the second time around,” I replied.

  She nodded and relaxed even more, completely confusing me. “I am Alana, Queen of the Sea. Edgar is my mate. While he has strayed in his purpose, he meant well with his intentions.”

  “You were mated to him?” I gaped. I was having a hard time picturing the gruff fae being the perfect match for the flawless queen. Then again, me and Finn were complete opposites in our beliefs, so I had no room to judge.

  “Yes, he has been mine for only a decade and was supposed to have joined me long ago to live in the sea, but my Edgar is easily distracted.”

  “Why didn’t you just go get his ass and make him stay in the water? Sure would have made things easier on us,” I said.

  She bristled at my words. “Going above leaves my people vulnerable and lessens my power. I have only been on land twice during my ruling. The first time was when Edgar’s soul called to me, and the second was when you killed him seven years ago.” Alana glared at me, clearly not amused with my past actions.

  “How did you save him?” Neva asked.
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br />   “When he died, his soul came to me. All of those who belong to the ocean come to me when their time has ended. I didn’t expect Edgar’s soul, because he is not of the sea, but our bonding must have given us the connection to make sure I didn’t lose him before his time. I kept his soul contained, found his body, and shoved him back inside once I healed his wounds.”

  My face scrunched. “Shoved him inside, huh? I bet that was a pleasant experience for both of you.”

  “Love does not come without sacrifice, Lucinda,” she replied with a huff.

  “Did you bring him back again this last time?” Finn asked, moving to join us with Maddox right behind him.

  Alana shook her head. “I have his soul, but he’s in a timeout for not listening to me.”

  I laughed and she glared at me. “Come on. He’s a grown-ass man and you have him in a timeout that includes keeping him dead. That is hilarious.”

  “Nothing about death is funny,” she said solemnly.

  “Well, the last time I saw him, he wasn’t exactly whole. How are you going to shove his soul back inside without a body?” I asked, because it certainly sounded like she was going to try.

  She shrugged. “I didn’t say I was going to bring him back as a fae this time. He’s had his time above ground. It’s time for him to be by my side where he belongs. Well, one day it will be. Now, enough about that. I need to know something.” She reached for my hand, but I yanked it back.

  “I don’t think so, lady. I don’t care what you’re the queen of. There’s nothing you need to know about me. We didn’t come here to see you.”

  “That doesn’t very much matter now. I have you here, and I’m not going to let you leave until I’m ready,” Alana snarled, showing off pointed teeth I hadn’t noticed yet, or she’d just made them appear. Likely the latter.

  Maddox stormed forward and bumped me out of the way. “Listen, lady. My fiancée needs us to get to her, and I’m not in the mood to waste time. Put us back in the water. We will get what we need and leave. We are not a threat to you or your ocean.”