by Nissa Leder
Scarlett blushed, not at Natalie’s compliment, but of the memory of her and Cade together in Faerie. She’d drawn the line before sleeping together, but they’d done other things.
“We had fun, but it wasn’t serious.” It was as close to the truth as Scarlett was willing to go, but she didn’t want to lie to Natalie. She’d already done the unthinkable by asking Raith to take away Natalie’s memory of her time in Faerie. But it seemed the only option. It was a dangerous world, and one Scarlett wanted to keep her friends away from.
But what about now? She wasn’t mortal anymore. Not one bit. Scarlett had felt the change in herself the moment she swallowed the pill Kaelem had given her, but it took time for all the changes to set in. Maybe she wasn’t done with them yet. Only time would tell.
She wondered how it was possible that she was part fae in the first place. Had her mom shared the gift, plagued by otherworldly creatures instead of hallucinations? Or was it her father, who she’d never met, who had passed on the fae genes to Scarlett? She may never know.
But what sat at the pit of her stomach like spoiled fruit rotting inside her was a bigger question: where did she belong now?
Was her presence endangering everyone there? Would she be strong enough to leave the mortal world behind if it meant protecting those she loved?
“Earth to Scarlett.” Natalie’s voice snapped Scarlett back to reality.
“Sorry, I was daydreaming.”
“Thinking of Cade?” Natalie wiggled her eyebrows. “He was good in bed, huh?”
“Things didn’t go that far.”
“Wait, are you still a virgin?” Natalie scooted toward Scarlett.
“Well, no.” Crap. Scarlett wanted to lie, but didn’t.
“Who?”
“Cade’s brother.” God, it sounded awful. It was awful, really. Scarlett never planned to sleep with Raith. It just happened.
But she didn’t regret it.
“Dang, Scar. You dirty girl,” Natalie teased.
Scarlett knew she wasn’t actually judging her. Natalie was the more experienced friend, by far.
“Alcohol, as ordered.” Teddy approached them, wine cooler held out. “What are you two giggling about?”
“Nothing,” Scarlett said, too quickly. She caught Natalie’s look from the corner of her eye. “Nothing interesting, anyway.”
Teddy stared at her, but didn’t respond.
“Thank you.” Scarlett took the drink and smiled. Had he heard what she’d just told Natalie?
Scarlett reached out to his emotion. Curiosity buzzed, no anger or jealousy. He’d have surely felt one or the other if he'd heard. Right? Scarlett relaxed. She didn’t want him to know about Cade or Raith.
She hated when Kaelem pried into her mind. Was reading Teddy’s emotion any different? Most of the time she couldn’t help it, but in that moment, she had purposefully searched for it.
“I need to find Mikey before he gets so drunk he passes out,” Natalie said. “Keep Scarlett company, will you?” She hopped up and bounced away, wine glass now empty.
“She must have inherited all the bossy genes,” Teddy said as he sat next to Scarlett. “But I can think of worse things than sitting next to you.”
“Like running sprints?” Scarlett shifted her body toward Teddy.
“That's a tough one,” Teddy joked.
Scarlett hit his leg playfully. “Shut up.”
“I always did enjoy puking after coach made us run for missing free throws at basketball practice.”
“Green is your color.”
Scarlett missed this. So much. Teddy was playful and flirty, kind and thoughtful. All Scarlett had ever wanted. She stared at his familiar face, the creases next to his eyes from squinting when he laughed and the freckles sprinkled across his nose that appeared whenever he spent a lot of time in the sun.
Teddy’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Scarlett. “Did you do something new with your makeup? You look different.”
Heat rose on Scarlett’s cheeks. He'd noticed she’d changed.
“I tried a new look,” she lied, guilt settling in her stomach.
“It looks good.”
Her cheeks flamed hotter. “Thanks.”
“I miss this,” Teddy said. “You’ve always been one of my best friends.”
“Same here.”
Cheering erupted across the room. A guy hollered, “Teddy, you’re up, man.”
“Up for some beer pong?” Teddy asked her as he stood.
“Sure.”
Teddy grabbed Scarlett’s hand and helped her up.
She followed him to the dining room table, praying her glamour stayed in place as everyone stared at her.
“We’ve got a lady at the table,” one of their opponents said. “Maybe she can help you break our five-game winning streak.”
“Doubtful,” the other said. He glared at Scarlett. He looked like an ass, with a cold stare and too much hair gel.
“Guess we’ll have to see,” Teddy said.
Hair Gel threw the first shot, sinking it into the front cup. He smirked as satisfaction burst from him. His partner missed, throwing too long.
Scarlett breathed in the emotion around her, from the happiness of Hair Gel to the nervousness of a guy in the corner asking for a girl’s number. Scarlett’s power lit inside her.
Teddy sunk his first shot in the cup in the middle of the triangle.
Scarlett high-fived him. She had always been decent at beer pong, but now she had a new advantage. She tossed the ball lightly and willed it into the front cup. It landed with a small splash.
“Drink up,” Scarlett said. “Balls back.”
Since they’d both made their cups, they each got another shot. This time, Teddy missed, but Scarlett’s throw landed in the back corner.
Anger radiated from Hair Gel. His partner didn’t seem to care too much as Scarlett and Teddy kicked their asses, but Hair Gel grew livid.
“You haven’t missed,” he spat at Scarlett after she made the last cup, earning her and Teddy the win.
“Guess I’m just that good.”
Teddy held both hands high over his head. Scarlett jumped up and slapped them, their signature high five when they used to play pong together.
“Bitch,” Hair Gel said.
“Excuse me?” Teddy, irritated, turned toward him. “Apologize.”
“Make me.”
Scarlett tried to take Teddy’s hand to stop him, but he got away before she could grab it.
Within a second, Teddy was in Hair Gel’s face. “I never knew you to be such a sore loser.”
“There’s no way she’s really that good.”
“Apologize.” Teddy towered over Hair Gel by three inches.
But Hair Gel didn’t care.
Their fury seeped into Scarlett as she watched them, unsure what to do. They stared at each other until Hair Gel kneed Teddy in the groin.
Teddy buckled over and dropped to the ground.
Wrath consumed Scarlett, a spark of rage electrifying her nerves. Her heartbeat raced in her chest as she glared ahead.
Hair Gel reached for his neck as he fought for air. Everyone watching the scene take place murmured. Hair Gel’s eyes bulged out as he struggled to breathe.
Scarlett watched, revenge swimming through her. Her fingers shook and she was unable to break her vengeful stare.
When a girl ran to Hair Gel, panicked, Scarlett snapped out of her trance.
Hair Gel gasped.
It was Scarlett. She’d caused him to choke. Her anger took over and she’d lost control.
She went to Teddy and helped him up. “You okay?”
“I’ll be fine.” He walked gingerly as Scarlett helped him to the couch.
Natalie, beer in hand, giggled as she danced her way to them. “You two didn’t get far.” The smile faded from her face as she saw Teddy’s pain filled expression. “What happened?”
Scarlett explained, conveniently leaving out the part about how she caused Ha
ir Gel to choke.
“Party’s over.” Natalie yelled. Everyone stared at her. “Now.”
Natalie was normally a perky person, but when she got mad, everyone knew to watch out.
The room filled with whispers, but no one dared defy a pissed off Natalie. People trickled outside.
Scarlett inhaled her rage as Hair Gel passed by with a cocky smirk. It took every ounce of willpower for her not to send him flying into the wall like she’d done to the pen. Next to her, hate radiated from Teddy.
Instinctively, Scarlett found Teddy’s hand and squeezed, sending a burst of serenity through them both.
Within ten minutes of Natalie shooing everyone out the door, the room had cleared.
“Nothing like one asshole to ruin a party,” Natalie plopped down next to Teddy. “But maybe it was for the best. The room is spinning.”
Teddy chuckled. “Better sleep it off, sis.”
Natalie kissed Teddy’s cheek. “Good idea, bro.” She leaned over him—Teddy wincing as her knee got a little too close to him for comfort— and hugged Scarlett. “Goodnight, my loves.”
After Natalie had gone to bed, Scarlett curled next to Teddy on the couch. Maybe it was the alcohol. Or maybe the high she’d felt as she’d caused Hair Gel’s lungs to constrict. Or perhaps the fear Natalie struck in the room when she kicked everyone out. Whatever it was, all she wanted was to be close to him. Not in a romantic way, but as someone who’d always been there for her.
“Thanks for standing up for me,” Scarlett said, her head on Teddy’s shoulder.
“Always.”
Even though Scarlett had more power now than she ever knew existed, fear consumed her. She wasn’t in control of herself. Anyone around her was in danger. She could never forgive herself if she hurt someone she loved.
She thought of Teddy, Natalie, and Ashleigh. They were mortal. They were fragile. Scarlett wasn’t either of those things now, at least not physically. Her mind felt delicate as she realized the life she lived before was no longer hers. She’d have thought magic would make life easier, not more complicated.
“Wanna watch a movie?” Teddy asked.
“Sure. What are you in the mood for?” Scarlett went to the entertainment center and opened the cabinet that held all the movies.
“You pick.”
“Are you sure that’s safe?” Scarlett grinned.
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
Scarlett grabbed the girliest chick flick she could find and popped it into the DVD player.
She resumed her position next to Teddy, his warmth pressing into her side. He wrapped his arm around her and held her close, releasing a playful groan when he realized the movie she’d picked.
Halfway through, Teddy dozed off. She watched his peaceful sleep as her thoughts drifted away. Scarlett knew what she needed to do. She’d made her share of mistakes in her life, but nothing would compare to losing control and hurting someone she cared about. She would never forgive herself if she caused someone she loved pain with her fae magic.
As much as she hated the thought of taking Kaelem up on his offer, she hated feeling out of control even more. Scarlett sighed and kissed Teddy’s forehead.
Carefully, she scooted out of the comfort of his arms and propped him against pillows. Without a look back, Scarlett left before she changed her mind.
When she got home, Scarlett went straight to her room.
She opened her desk drawer and reached for the sapphire in the back.
God, she wished there was another way. But she hadn’t heard from Raith since he’d left, and, even if he was there with her, Kaelem had been the one to give her the pill. He would have to be the one to help her now.
He’d warned her there would be a price.
She stared at the jewel, warm to the touch, in her hand, searching her mind for some other option. When she came up blank, she closed her palm and thought of Kaelem. It burned hot.
With her eyes still closed, she heard him.
“Hello, darling.”
Chapter Four
Scarlett felt herself pulled through the air. She wasn’t sure how far they went, but within seconds, she and Kaelem appeared in front of a mansion.
The Unseelie Palace.
To say it was different than she expected was an understatement. It was absolutely nothing like she’d pictured. It was white from top to bottom, made mostly with square lines except for a large cylindrical turret on the front right corner.
“A bit different than the stuffy Summer Court,” Kaelem said.
Scarlett had almost forgotten he stood next to her. The white of the palace stood out against the blackness of the sky above.
Clear as could be, millions of stars shone down on them. Scarlett had never been afraid of the dark. She’d relished it. And the night sky above was more beautiful than anything she’d ever seen.
“What time is it here?” It had been early morning when Scarlett had left Natalie’s house, the sun slowly rising from the horizon.
“Noon.”
“Huh?”
“The Unseelie Court is also known as the Night Court.”
After everything she’d seen in the Summer Court, and everything inside her that had changed, she wasn’t sure why that, of all things, shocked her.
“Let’s go inside.”
Kaelem wrapped his arm around Scarlett’s waist and guided her forward.
The entryway, made entirely of glass, stood tall. Its double doors swung open in front of them.
A fae with hot pink hair greeted them at the door. She wore a short black skirt, white crop top, and high black boots. Had Scarlett seen her on the streets, she may have thought her a stripper.
The smirk on Kaelem’s face told Scarlett he’d been in her mind.
Jerk.
A bigger smirk.
“King,” the fae said.
“Hello, Lola. This is Scarlett. She is an honored guest and will be treated as such. Please prepare a suite for her.”
“Will do.” She nodded and marched up the wooden staircase in front of them.
Scarlett pictured one of Kassandra’s servants saying “will do” to her. She chuckled.
“You’ll find our court is much different than the Summer Court.”
“Obviously.”
“Lola will follow any command I give her, but we don’t waste our breath on formality. Life’s too short.”
“Can’t the fae live a long time?”
“If not killed, yes. Best to sleep with one eye open.” Kaelem’s eyes twinkled.
Whether or not she’d accepted it, Scarlett was fae now. She hadn’t thought about living longer.
“You’ll get used to the changes,” Kaelem said. “Now, it’s lunch time.”
On cue, her stomach grumbled. She hadn’t even eaten breakfast yet, but apparently it was lunchtime there.
The dining room was just as modern as the exterior of the palace—such a contrast to the Summer castle. The food, on the other hand, reminded Scarlett of the meals she’d had in Faerie. More delicious, even.
A small creature that Scarlett learned was a brownie brought her meat, which Scarlett thought was turkey, with an apple cinnamon glaze dished on top. The brownie was short and clearly not human, with long, thin limbs, large ears, and a pointy nose. Its narrow eyes avoided Scarlett’s gaze. Were they slaves?
“Brownies serve the high fae and in return are given room and board underneath the homes they work for and whatever food they desire.”
“So slaves who get to live inside the plantation mansion instead of a shack outside? How generous.”
“The fae world is different than the mortal world you come from.”
“Or maybe the two are more similar than you realize.”
She’d learned of the horrors of slavery in school. Plenty of plantation owners condoned it by claiming they kept the slaves fed and clothed. Freedom was overrated, they asserted.
Kaelem stared at her. If he was listening to her thought
s, he chose not to comment.
As a brownie placed a loaf of bread next to Scarlett’s plate, she thanked him.
He froze, eyes briefly meeting hers then darting to the ground, then exited the room.
With a guilty stomach, Scarlett savored every bite. She hadn’t eaten in hours and, though she disagreed with using any creature as a slave, she had to eat regardless and the food was delicious. Even her taste buds had become more sensitive with her transition. It was as if she could taste each individual flavor from the nutmeg in the glaze to the salt and pepper sprinkled on the turkey. After the main course came dessert.
“When do we start?” Scarlett asked after she finished her last bite of chocolate cake with a raspberry frosting spread on top. There was also cheesecake and a lemon meringue pie, but her stomach was too stuffed to even consider anything else.
“Humans, always in a rush.” Kaelem licked the frosting off his fork.
Scarlett imagined him licking every inch of her.
Ugh. Stop. Not again.
Kaelem laughed. “You’re too much fun.”
“I’m not human anymore, remember?”
“Technically, no. But you’ll have to get used to yourself as fae before you quit acting like one.”
“I’ll ask again. When do we start?”
“The Unseelie Court comes alive at night. I could show you the town.” Kaelem wiped the frosting that lingered on his lips with his index finger then stuck it in his mouth. When Scarlett put her hand on her hip and just glared at him, he said. “Tomorrow. We start tomorrow.”
Cade thought, after becoming king, his mother would stop summoning him like a child.
He thought wrong.
As king, he could refuse her, but king or not, he didn’t want to find himself on her bad side.
“Mother,” he said as he stepped into the parlor. “You wanted to see me?”
Two servants fanned Kassandra as she relaxed on the chaise by the window. Another played the piano. “Leave us.”
The servants all obliged.
“Sit.”
Cade obeyed, taking the chaise across from her. Candles in golden holders hanging on the walls lit the room as the sun set outside.
“I’m so proud of you, my son,” Kassandra said. “You’ve shown such strength in your first months as king.”
