by Hannah West
‘I do feel deeply for him,’ I agree. ‘Deep-seated anger for what he’s done.’
‘It’s more than that,’ she argues.
I stare at her. ‘Thank you for explaining all of this stuff to me,’ I say. ‘I’ll consider your words.’
The girl sighs at my flat tone and leads me from the bathroom. She must realise there’s nothing she can say that will endear me to Zephyr. I glance at the bed as we pass through the pink bedroom. The huge male is sleeping there and I look away fast when I realise he’s as naked as the girl. I catch sight of the mirror I broke the last time I was here and see it’s mended. A shiver zips down my spine at the sight and I hurry away from it. It’s only a matter of time before Zephyr figures out where I am, and I expect him to step through it any second.
The girl leads me to another bedroom with a large mirror fastened to the wall. I breathe a sigh of relief at the sight and press my palms to the surface. A doorway opens to Aric’s chamber and tears fill my eyes. I’m trading one prison for another.
The girl squeaks when I turn and pull her into a hug. ‘Thank you for helping me.’
She wraps me in a comforting hug. ‘You’re welcome, Primrose.’
I chuckle. ‘I’m hugging a naked stranger and don’t even know your name.’
‘Anima,’ she laughs, offering a smile as I let her go.
‘It’s a pretty name,’ I whisper.
I wipe my eyes and step through the mirror, waving at Anima once I’m through. She waves back, before the doorway closes between us, and the mirror turns back into a wall. I take a deep breath and try getting myself together.
‘Primrose,’ Aric says from behind me.
I turn to see him standing in his bedroom doorway and run into his arms. He catches me and gathers me close, his earthy scent an instant comfort.
‘You’re safe now,’ he murmurs.
‘They didn’t hurt me,’ I answer, feeling a strong need to defend Zephyr.
‘There are only a few hours left until the equinox,’ he says looking down at me. ‘Once it has passed you’ll be free.’
My lip wobbles as I try to smile. I should be happy that I managed to escape, but all I feel is empty. I’ve made my decision and we’ll both suffer the consequences. Then there’s Drew.
‘Happy tears?’ Aric asks, wiping a pearl of moisture from my cheek.
I shake my head. ‘I found out Drew is a Halfling like me.’
‘Your friend?’
‘Yes.’
‘That makes you sad?’
‘Zephyr activated Drew’s fae genes and now he’s dying.’ More tears spill from my eyes and bead my lashes. ‘He went through a portal to a place I don’t recognise and I broke the mirror before I could trace the doorway.’ I wipe at my eyes to clear my vision. ‘Is there a way I can find him?’
Aric nods. ‘If he survives the transition and we know which fae line he heralds from.’
‘But he probably won’t make it, right?’ I sniff. ‘Most Halflings don’t, and by then it will be too late. Drew’s going to die out in the woods somewhere, and I won’t be there to comfort him.’
‘My Primrose,’ Aric murmurs and uses his thumbs to wipe my tears. ‘You have your mother’s generous heart, and deserve a devoted mate.’
‘Zephyr’s Mating Mark has stolen my chances of mating anyone other than him. He’ll be alone and so will I.’
Aric’s eyes go completely black. ‘There’s still time for you, Primrose.’
‘But they said-’
‘You’re a royal fae,’ he cuts in. ‘Like Zephyr, you have until you ascend the throne to find a mate.’
‘I don’t get it.’
‘What you say is true for common fae, but I’m guessing the light fae that told you the laws didn’t know you are my daughter,’ Aric answers.
Oh hell, this is getting too complicated. I don’t tell Aric it was a mermaid, not a fae who told me. I don’t think my brain can handle the resulting questions.
‘But Zephyr’s put his Mate Mark on me, and you said there’s no way of reversing that,’ I say.
‘No,’ he agrees. ‘You and Zephyr will be connected until the day he dies, but your royal status means there are other avenues open to you.’
A chill rakes my spine at the way Aric said, until the day Zephyr dies, like it’s a given he will die before I do. The hairs on my nape stand up but I shake the feeling away.
‘What other avenues,’ I ask.
Aric smiles and tucks a length of hair behind my ear. ‘We’ll discuss this after you’ve rested,’ he tells me.
‘But-’
‘I feel your exhaustion, Primrose.’
I sigh and sag against him, admitting I’m running on empty. ‘Okay,’ I murmur.
Aric takes my hand and leads me from the room. I glance back at the mirror disguised as a wall on my way out, wondering what this means for Zephyr. I worry I’ve sentenced us both to a life of loneliness.
CHAPTER 13
I sense the moment Zephyr enters the Dark Realm. I wonder at what point I grew so attuned to him. The first few times I met him he seemed to be able to control whether I felt his presence or not. Then he turned me fae, and the more time I spend around him the more I’ve been able to sense him. It used to be I could sense when he was near, but in such a short time it has grown to knowing when we’re occupying the same realm.
Our connection is getting stronger and I don’t know why. I’m too afraid to ask my father, for fear he’ll ask how I know. If I tell him Zephyr is here, Aric will murder him for sure. I was certain Zephyr would never dare to follow me here, but it seems I was wrong.
I look up when Aric reaches over and takes my hand. It’s then I realise the tall, elegant glass I was holding is in pieces on the floor, the contents a blue puddle at my feet. I must’ve dropped it when I felt Zephyr’s presence curl around me in warm bands. I open my mouth to tell Aric as such then force an apology out instead.
‘It’s just a glass,’ Aric smiles. ‘Don’t be so nervous, you have nothing to fear,’ he tells me, thinking it’s the reason I dropped my drink.
I force a smile, something akin to panic flooding my insides. My eyes scan the room, skipping over groups of entitled Dark Fae in search of Zephyr. I wonder why he’d risk coming here in the midst of so many powerful Dark Fae, here to meet me, the lost Dark Fae princess, who found her way home. But I know the answer already. Zephyr doesn’t want to be alone and part of me can’t blame him. I’m just surprised he thinks mating me is worth the risk of dying.
I cringe at the amount of Dark Fae here. They all assume I want to be their princess, including my father, when all I really want is to go home to my cottage. I want to curl up in my bed and pretend the last few weeks never happened. Instead, I find myself sitting in a throne beside Aric’s, dressed in a backless amber gown to showcase my wing marking, a crown banding my forehead.
Elegant, Dark Fae circle the room before us, reminding me of sharks, each taking a turn to approach the throne for introductions. It’s boring and sinister in the same instance. My eyes bled to black during the first introduction, when a Lord questioned my legitimacy, and have stayed black ever since. My darkness senses the challenge in the room and has remained visibly present in warning. The swirling cloud of onyx around me has stopped any further questions regarding my claim to the Dark Fae throne, while putting a smirk on Aric’s face. He seems to be enjoying the stinging sensation my darkness is pulsing through the air around me, despite the grimace it causes any other fae that nears me.
Aric tilts his head toward me when I lean closer to him. ‘I don’t think I can do this,’ I say.
‘Do what?’
‘I’m not princess material,’ I whisper. ‘I don’t know the first thing about how to behave in a fae court.’
Aric gives me an indulgent smile and brushes his knuckles over my cheek. ‘You’re behaving perfectly,’ he says. ‘Your instincts are sharper than I’d hoped, reacting to every challenge issued without any effort on your part.’
>
‘Challenges?’
Aric booms a laugh, making me jump. ‘You didn’t even realise they were challenging you?’ he asks.
‘No,’ I mutter. ‘Except for the first guy who asked if you were sure I’m your daughter.’
Aric laughs again, like my admission is the best thing he’s heard in a long time. His laughter dies and his face grows serious.
‘You’re better at this than you think, Primrose. There are fae in this room powerful enough to rule, should my line die out.’
‘They were hoping for it,’ I say reading his meaning. ‘Then I came along.’
‘You needed to prove yourself able to withstand a challenge from them,’ he says then smirks. ‘I think you surpassed their expectations.’
‘How do you know?’ I murmur, staring out at the sharks before me.
‘Because you surpassed mine.’
I meet his gaze, the panic I feel that Zephyr’s in this realm notching higher. Aric hasn’t said it, but everything he’s told me hints at the fact he has plans for me. They involve me inheriting the throne from him. A throne I don’t want. He refused to let me leave when I asked to go searching for Drew, claiming I have to wait for the equinox to pass. When I insisted on not giving up on Drew, he placated me by sending a team of Tracker fae to locate him instead. The most Aric let me contribute was to open a doorway for the Trackers, leading to Drew’s student bedroom. I understand Aric’s reasoning, but I get the impression he’s not going to let me leave once the equinox is over. He looks at me like I’m precious, and I’m starting to feel as much a prisoner in the Dark Realm as I felt in the light.
I stifle a sigh. ‘Can I return to my room yet?’ I ask. ‘I’m tired.’
‘You don’t need permission, Primrose,’ he answers. ‘You’re Princess of the Dark Realm and are free to roam it.’
As long as I don’t try to leave it, goes unsaid.
‘Thank you,’ I murmur and push to my feet.
‘But remember the Welcome Ball later,’ Aric reminds me. ‘Many have travelled from distant realms to greet you.’
To challenge me.
‘I remember,’ I tell him, forcing a smile onto my lips as I leave the throne room.
I smirk as I traverse the hallways, sensing at least six guards behind me. I can’t see them but know they’re there. I’m the fae version of being grounded and I’d laugh if the thought didn’t freak me out so much.
‘You look beautiful in that gown,’ a familiar voice whispers by my ear, making me scream.
Lord Darrack shimmers into view as if from thin air. He’s laughing, a deep, rich sound and his eyes glow amber with mirth.
‘Bloody hell,’ I hiss at him. ‘What the hell are you doing, sneaking up on me like that?’
My heart is racing from thinking he was Zephyr, until I registered the amber glow. I remember the amber dust Zephyr removed from my skin and anger flares hot inside me. My fingers curl into my palms and I resist the urge to punch Darrack in his smirking face. He tried to claim me while removing Zephyr’s claim and thought I wouldn’t know. But Zephyr knew his claim had been removed, so I’m assuming Darrack does too. Yet, he seems okay with it. My anger abates and I wonder if I was wrong about him trying to claim me. Punching him seems a little harsh when I’m not certain of his intent.
He tucks a length of his blond hair behind one pointy ear. ‘I apologise for startling you, Princess,’ he says looking anything but apologetic.
Darrack’s looks are on a par with Zephyr’s, which puts me on edge. He already has the advantage of me finding him attractive, and I trust my instincts even less because of it. He doesn’t cause my stomach to flip-flop, like Zephyr though, so it’s easier to keep my focus around him.
‘Don’t pretend you weren’t out to scare the crap out of me,’ I say, some of the venom leaking from my tone.
I suck in a breath when he takes my hand and presses a kiss to my palm. ‘Forgive me,’ he murmurs, gold eyes fixed on mine. They give him a leonine appearance from this angle. ‘I simply wished to convey your beauty in the gown I selected for you.’
I look down at the amber silk hugging my frame. ‘You picked this dress for me?’
‘It was my honour,’ he answers.
Something about his demeanour makes me uneasy, and I tug harder on my hand until he lets go. He’s being familiar with me in a way no other has dared, and surely the guards shadowing me will report it back to my father.
‘It’s very pretty,’ I offer, not knowing what else to say.
The dress is beautiful, backless but tasteful. My back might be bare, but it has a high neck and long sleeves. The amber silk drapes to the floor, in elegant folds that make me seem taller, which is a bonus when surrounded by tall fae. Black lace overlays the silk, giving it an opulent appearance.
‘It’s a combination of our combined lights,’ he says.
I stare at the black and amber material and realise he’s right. The amber is an exact match to the amber hue of his light.
‘You were in my room?’ I say thinking of how I found the dress laid out for me after I’d finished bathing.
‘I had one of your attendants take it to your room,’ he counters.
‘You shouldn’t have,’ I grit out, meeting his gaze.
Hurt flashes through his features. ‘You don’t like it?’
I’ve offended him, and I wonder if I’m reading too much into the gesture. Maybe this is some weird fae custom, and I’m taking it too personally.
‘I already said it was pretty. You just-’ I stop and sigh. ‘Thank you.’
‘You honour me by wearing it, Princess.’
I refrain from telling him that I wore it because it was laid out on the bed for me, and I assumed I was supposed to.
‘Please just call me Primrose,’ I mutter.
The constant reminder of being a princess is freaking me out, adding to the long list of things that are doing that right now.
‘Primrose,’ he breathes, like I’ve gifted him the moon.
‘And don’t pop in on me like that again,’ I order. ‘I’m still getting used to the teleporting thing.’
‘I didn’t teleport,’ he says.
‘But, you appeared from nowhere,’ I argue.
‘I was using glamour to disguise my presence,’ he says. ‘It can be quite entertaining.’
‘Entertainment for bored immortals,’ I mutter.
Darrack laughs. ‘I’m not immortal, Primrose.’
‘Close enough, though.’
‘Perhaps it seems that way to you,’ he agrees. ‘You’ll learn that time is short, even to those of us who are considered long lived.’
‘So that’s what you were doing, using glamour to sneak around for your own entertainment?’ I say.
His smile fades. ‘Your father requested I watch over you.’
‘Spy on me, you mean.’
‘No-’
‘So how do you explain the other five fae with you?’ I cut in.
I hadn’t known how they’d been shadowing me without being seen, but Darrack did me a favour by putting a name on it. Glamour was something I hadn’t been aware of, until now. I just assumed when fae popped in and out of rooms they were teleporting. Saying that, Darrack appeared in the hallway in a shimmering cloud of light, rather than just popping in to existence in the usual flash teleporting creates, so I should’ve noticed the difference.
Darrack sighs and signals to the space behind him. Five fae shimmer into the hallway, filling me with a smugness that I guessed the correct amount based on the emotions I sense. That I can do, since I’ve been fine-tuning the skill for years.
‘If Aric wants me to have a guard then he should ask me, not ask you to sneak around after me,’ I snap.
‘You don’t want me as your guard?’ Darrack asks, the hurt back in his tone. ‘You don’t like me,’ he says flatly.
‘What?’
How did the conversation turn from me being spied on to whether I like Darrack?
; He grasps my hand again. ‘You don’t like spending time with me?’
‘It’s not that,’ I argue. ‘It’s-’
‘Will you come with me now?’ he cuts in.
I glance over my shoulder in the direction of my room. ‘I don’t think-’
‘I’ll teach you how to glamour,’ he says.
My gaze snaps back to his. ‘Really?’
Darrack smiles. ‘Of course.’
‘Can you teach me how to teleport?’
He grins. ‘I can teach you all you wish, my flower.’
‘I’m not your flower,’ I tell him. I glance again in the direction of my room then at the males standing behind Darrack in the hallway. ‘I’ll go with you, but they’re not invited.’
Darrack glances at the other fae. ‘Dismissed,’ he tells them.
They bow to him then pop from the hallway, until I’m standing alone with Darrack. He turns to face me, and grins. Being alone with him makes me nervous. He’s in my personal space more than is comfortable, almost like he has a right to be there, and it’s triggering an internal alarm.
Darrack takes me to a beautiful room, filled with light. The walls look made from wicker, white branches woven into pretty patterns as they reach up to form high, arched ceilings. White fairy lights peek from tiny spaces within the weaving, creating a starry effect.
‘It’s beautiful in here,’ I murmur, taking in the enormous space.
‘Come, we’ll practice up there,’ he says, pointing to one of many woven platforms jutting out from the walls. They look like balconies but with no safety rail, like the one in my room in the Light Realm.
‘How are we supposed to get up there?’ I ask, not seeing any steps.
‘We’ll fly, of course,’ he answers, like it’s a silly question.
I suppose it is a stupid thing to ask a fae.
‘I can’t,’ I murmur.
He stares down at me. ‘Why not?’
‘I can’t, um-’ I feel my face heat with embarrassment then huff and look away. ‘I don’t know how to fly.’
I gasp when Darrack wraps his arms around me and pulls me close. My gaze snaps back to his to find him smiling down at me.
‘What are you doing?’
