Ella's Masquerade: A Midnight Fae Academy Prequel

by Lexi C. Foss

  Because that definitely wasn’t normal.

  Eyes didn’t… flame.

  But a fire danced in his irises now, lighting up his features and lending an unearthly appeal to his handsome face.

  And is that smoke billowing around him?

  I blinked, trying to dismiss the black tendrils rolling off his suit. Only, they intensified the longer I stared.

  “I wanted to do this another way, to ease you into your birthright, but tonight proved that’s not going to happen. Any and all foundations of trust have been long bullied out of you. So we’ll go about this the hard way.” He relaxed his hold, but not enough for me to escape. Not that I could. No, after that proclamation, my feet refused to budge.

  I ignored the bully crap and focused on the part that cemented me to the ground before him. “What are you talking about? What birthright?”

  “The one bestowed upon you by your mother’s bloodline,” he replied, releasing me as a limo came to a stop beside us. “Get in and I’ll explain.”

  My eyebrows inched upward. “Yeah, hard pass. You’ll explain here. Right now.”

  Annoyance flickered in his features. “I’m really starting to regret my approach to this entire situation. If you knew who I was from the beginning, you wouldn’t dare question an order.”

  “Yeah? Well, I’m pretty sure I’d be questioning you regardless.” I folded my arms. “Start talking.”

  He opened the door and faced me, his eyes swirling a hypnotic shade of black and orange. “Step forward, Isabella,” he murmured, the words seeming to wrap around me and tug at my spirit to comply.

  How… strange…

  I yelped as my feet moved, my mind rebelling even as my body followed his command.

  “Good girl,” he said softly. “Now settle yourself in the car and don’t scream. I already have a headache.”

  I opened my mouth to protest, but the world fell into a haze around me.

  Is this a dream? I wondered, pinching my side. Did Charlie or Dash knock me out?

  Because this couldn’t be happening.

  There was no way I’d just get into the limo without putting up a fight. Yet I felt the leather seat beneath me, sensed Tray’s warmth as he slid in beside me, and heard the door slam.

  How is he doing this? I blinked in an attempt to clear the fog from my mind. My head lolled, sleep seeming to override my senses.

  “What are you doing to me?” I whispered, fighting the cloud suffocating my thoughts. Did he drug me? No. I didn’t drink anything.

  “Relax, Isabella.”

  Ella, I thought at him.

  “You’ll understand soon.” His fingers combed through my hair, the pins releasing from the top of my head as he helped dismantle my updo. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  Some of the haze lifted, bringing the limo back into focus. A flurry of trees lined the roads outside, the palatial grounds long gone.

  Wait…

  I peered through the glass, frowning at the unfamiliar ivy twining along the ground.

  We couldn’t be that far from the Homecoming dance. But I recognized nothing outside.

  “Where are we?” I demanded, pleased to hear my voice sounding somewhat normal.

  “On our way to my home,” he replied. “My real home.”

  “You’re taking me back to your place?” I nearly laughed. “Wow. No. I refuse.”

  “It’s too late for that, Isabella.” He removed the final pin from my hair, allowing it to clink into a cup holder.

  “Ella,” I snapped at him. “Only my parents are permitted to call me Isabella, and they’re dead.”

  He flinched at my words, clearly not expecting the venom in my tone.

  The nerve of this guy.

  “Take me home, Trayton.”

  “I am,” he replied. “Well, sort of.”

  “You just said we’re going to your house.”

  “No, I said we’re going to my home.” He relaxed into his seat, appearing far too regal in his suit. “You wanted to know who I am, and I’m about to show you.”

  I opened my mouth to argue, when an odd flicker of light caught my attention, distracting me. A moon, I realized, staring out into the night. No. Not a moon. Two moons.

  “What the…?” I gaped outside at the myriad of stars twinkling in the sky between the gold globes. “That’s not possible.”

  And neither was all this ivy.

  It seemed to be moving, reminding me of slithering green snakes traveling up and around the branches.

  Red pinpoints stared back at me, watching the limousine wind down the unending road.

  No other cars.

  No houses.

  Just endless forest with the startling night sky overhead.

  My earlier thoughts about this being a dream settled over me once more.

  “It’s real, Ella.” Tray reached for my hand, giving it a squeeze before I ripped it from his grip.

  “Start talking,” I demanded, chills sweeping up and down my body. “Right now, Tray. I mean it. I need you to tell me what the hell is going on.”

  Chapter Nine

  Tray

  Well, tonight’s gone to shit, I thought, running my fingers through my hair and blowing out a breath.

  I’d underestimated the pettiness of the humans at Darlington Academy. Particularly, Ryan.

  The envy in that chick had nearly spoiled all my plans. When I heard her begin to rip Ella’s dress, I’d reacted in the only way I could—by retraining Ryan’s focus on me and away from her stepsister. Only, Charlie and Dash had jumped at the chance to harass beautiful Ella, their interaction bordering on sexual assault.

  There was no doubt in my mind that tonight they would have taken it further than ever before. All because I’d dressed her up and provided her with a space to shine, thinking it would serve as gleeful retribution against her classmates.

  Except it all backfired.

  Those jackasses had been raised without principles, and my actions painted an even larger target on her back, essentially provoking the bastards into coming out to play.

  I meant what I said to her in the car park. If she wanted to kill them, I’d gladly help.

  And that included her bitchy stepsisters.

  Shit. I should have known Ryan wouldn’t go along with our agreed-upon charade, choosing to take the moment into her own hands to try to ruin her stepsister thoroughly. Instead, it ended in me pushing Ella away and giving everyone the impression I’d chosen Ryan over her.

  I wanted to slam my fist through the glass, to rage at the stupidity of these human nuances, but I had a very shaken female beside me who had just realized we weren’t in her realm anymore.

  And that was a completely different bucket of problems to work through. Not only had I compelled her tonight to follow my orders, but I’d also taken her into the Midnight Fae world without her permission.

  She had every right to hate me, and I had no doubt that she would by the time the night was through.

  “Tray,” she said, the emotion in her voice piercing my heart. Isabella Cinder was incredibly strong, her courage one I admired more than she knew. But tonight had done a number on her, and I wasn’t going to make it any better.

  No, I was about to make it a hell of a lot worse.

  With a resigned sigh, I met her gaze. “We met once, several years ago in an alley. You were soaking wet and freezing to death and ran right into me while wearing a dress and matching blue slippers.” The color of which wasn’t much different from the one she wore now, suggesting it might be her favorite shade.

  I bent to pick up her silver stilettos that she’d shucked off near the doors tonight and handed them to her. “You have a penchant for losing your shoes, Isabella Cinder.”

  Her face paled. “It was you that night?”

  I nodded.

  “And you’re just now telling me?” She snatched the heels from my hands and dropped them unceremoniously onto the floor. “No, forget that. I want to know where the hell
we are and why the ivy outside keeps moving.”

  “It’s not ivy. They’re magicked vines that protect our grounds from intruders.” I looked over her shoulder at the trees. “I believe humans would liken them to snakes, but our version is far more deadly. They won’t just bite and squeeze; they’ll enchant and drain energy. Terrifying, really, if you’re an unwanted guest.”

  Her eyes closed, opened, closed, and opened once more. “What?”

  “You asked; I answered.” I shrugged. “You’re about to see a lot of things that are hard to believe, Ella.” I snapped my fingers, drawing a flame to the surface and flicking it into the air. A parlor trick for a Dark Fae my age, but it elicited the requisite gasp from my companion.

  “H-how did you do that?”

  “Magic, sweetheart.” I waved my hand while muttering a spell under my breath and smiled as a black rose appeared in my palm. Seemed appropriate considering our date.

  I held it out for her and she scooted away, her eyes wide. “What. The. Fuck?”

  “I’m a fae, Ella. Well, formally known as a Midnight Fae due to my darker heritage. A royal by blood. Just like you, only we come from different familial lines.” Which was a good thing or this attraction I felt for her would be wrong on several levels.

  More blinking, her mouth opening and closing without sound.

  However, disbelief practically poured from her exterior. Which was precisely why I brought her here. The only way she’d believe me would be to see.

  I took advantage of her silence and continued my explanation. “Your mother was a fae, but she fell in love with a human—your father. It’s not common among our kind, particularly among the royal sect, but it’s not unheard of. I mean, Midnight Fae interact with mortality to sate our blood thirst. It’s what sets us apart from other fae. Well, that and our favor with the dark arts, necromancy, and other—”

  “Hold on,” she said, lifting her hand. “Blood thirst?”

  I smirked. “Of all the things I said, that’s what you chose to hear?” Typical human. “Yeah, we drink human blood. And before you freak out, it’s not often. Just enough to keep our darker elements alive. That’s how I know about Darlington and the surrounding suburbs. It’s my preferred feeding ground.” I met her gaze. “And you were my target the night we met.” Only, I’d been so startled by her Halfling nature that I’d been unable to perform, let alone bite her.

  Her eyes were as wide as saucers. “You’re a vampire?”

  I snorted. “Hardly. You’ve seen me eat, Ella. And you’ve seen me in sunlight. Also? Vampires don’t exist. They’re a myth contrived by humans, likely because of a few idiot Midnight Fae who didn’t compel their prey correctly.”

  “Compel?” she repeated, understanding brightening her features. “You compelled me tonight.”

  “Yeah, I did,” I admitted, running my fingers through my hair. “Not that it’s a great excuse, but you wouldn’t have gotten in the car without it.” I’d seen the fight written all over her body, and I wasn’t in the mood to persuade via my usual charms. They were all burned out, thanks to Ryan and her damn shenanigans.

  “And the dancing,” she added.

  My eyebrow lifted. “What about the dancing?”

  “You compelled me then, too.”

  It took me a moment to realize what she really meant—the seduction and subsequent kiss. Amusement tilted my lips. “Oh, no, sweetheart. That was real. No compulsion involved.”

  “You made me kiss you.”

  “I assure you, I did no such thing.” I leaned forward, crowding her against the door. “I’ve never compelled a woman to touch me, Ella. There’s never been a need, nor would I desire it. Besides, part of the fun is the foreplay. Why would I belittle such a thing by adding compulsion to the mix?” I wasn’t Dash or Charlie. When I craved a female, I worked for it. And tonight was no different.

  “You expect me to believe you?”

  “No,” I replied without missing a beat. “In fact, I fully anticipated you not believing me, which is why I brought you here.”

  “I’m talking about the compulsion, Trayton.”

  I tongued my teeth, considering how I wanted to reply to that. “If it makes you feel better to believe I’m lying, then I’ll allow it.” Because my conscience in this regard was clear. “However, deep down, you know the truth already, Ella. Because you have real compulsion to compare it to.”

  Her gaze narrowed and she glanced out the window, only to shudder and face forward. Because yeah, the vines were growing agitated. They sensed her discontent and likely ill thoughts toward me. As a royal of these grounds, the enchantment would do what was required to protect me against any and all threats.

  Interesting that it considered Ella a threat when she clearly didn’t have access to her powers yet. Which was an oddity in and of itself. Midnight Fae were born with their gifts. Halflings came into them over time, but she should have access to her inner strengths by her eighteenth birthday—an event that had come and gone.

  “Your mother was powerful,” I said, thinking out loud. “Renowned, actually.” It was entirely possible she’d enchanted her daughter in some capacity, but I hadn’t picked up on any dark-magic notes from Ella. In fact, I hadn’t detected a single note of power inside her. Just a very strong resolve and a courage that would put most fae to shame.

  “My mother,” she whispered, her attention shifting to her hands. “Did you know my mother?”

  “No, but my parents did. They all grew up together in the royal circuit and attended Midnight Fae Academy around the same time.”

  “Midnight Fae Academy?” she repeated.

  I nodded. “It’s where our kind go to perfect our access to the dark arts. Our scores and knowledge then determine where we end up in the society sects. It’s sort of like your version of college, only for Midnight Fae.”

  “So why are you in Darlington?” she asked.

  “Because I’ve been assigned to recruit you, Ella.”

  And you’re my intended mate, I added mentally. Welcome to the family.

  We’d cover that aspect later.

  After she understood everything else.

  “You’re part Midnight Fae,” I continued. “The Council expects you to attend the Academy next year.” And they wouldn’t be taking no for an answer. Another item to explain later. After I had a chance to thaw her a little to the Midnight Fae life.

  The limo slowed as we approached the estate’s main gates. Stone gargoyles guarded the walls, their eyes alert and scanning for danger just like the vines.

  Ella gaped up at them, goose bumps filing down her arms and disappearing into the gloves she still wore. “They’re moving,” she whispered.

  “Yes. They’re gargoyles.” And unlike the ones humans enjoyed as ornaments or decorations, these were very much real.

  “Do they fly?”

  “Only when going on the attack.” Which never happened. A fae would have to be suicidal to approach these grounds with negative intent. My father was the Midnight Fae King. He took his security very seriously.

  We continued down another winding path after being permitted through the gates, Ella’s undivided attention on the changing surroundings.

  Black water lakes reflecting the light.

  Acres of stones and trees intertwined.

  Walking paths.

  “Is that a phoenix?” she breathed, eyeing a firebird in the distance.

  “Similar,” I replied. “Not as big as the ones from your legends. The firebirds only grow as large as your standard eagle.”

  “Right.” She visibly shuddered. “This…”

  “Is real,” I finished for her.

  “Uh-huh,” she replied, eyeing a horde of water sparks dancing over the lake. “Fairies?”

  I grunted. “More like gnats, only larger and they sting. I definitely don’t recommend touching one.” Unfortunately, they were an infestation that couldn’t be eradicated even with magic.

  “And you’re a fae,” she sa
id slowly.

  “As are you,” I returned.

  She glanced at my head, frowning. “Your ears are round.”

  I gave her a look. “As are yours, Ella.”

  “I thought fae had pointed ears.”

  “Some do,” I agreed. “Midnight Fae do not.”

  “So there are other types of fae?”

  I nodded. “Many, yes. This is just one realm of several.”

  “Oh.” She went back to staring out the window, her shoulders stiff. “Do they all drink blood?”

  “Only Midnight Fae because of our access to the dark arts.”

  “Why?” she pressed. “Why only Midnight Fae?”

  “Because it fuels our access to the dark arts,” I explained patiently. This was a lot for her to take in, so there would be some necessary repetition in responses. “Some see it as a moral punishment to satiate the harsher side of our existence. Others embrace it as a sustenance to fuel our energy reserves.”

  “And how do you view it?” she glanced at me. “And how often do you… you know?”

  “It’s a natural part of our existence that I accepted long ago, and I feed once a month or so. It’s not often and it doesn’t require much. And before you ask, no, we don’t kill humans. We just borrow some of their life energy every now and then. Most of them live to enjoy it.” Blood exchange tended to result in heightened sexual sensations. Something I would eventually need to explain. Or maybe I’d show her, if she let me.

  “I see.” She bit her lip, her brow drawing down. “I don’t drink blood.”

  “Because you’re a Halfling without access to your powers.” But that did bring up a potential explanation for why she hadn’t shown signs of her gifts yet. Perhaps it was a result of her not drinking blood. I’d have to ask my father or maybe my brother, Kols, later for an opinion.

  Ella stiffened as the official Nacht Estate appeared, the lights shining starkly against the night and illuminating the vast columns and granite exterior.

  Her jaw dropped a little. “It’s like a gothic palace.”