by Nissa Leder
“I suppose we should try to get a good night’s sleep before tomorrow,” Raith said. “You can have the bed.”
He opened a chest near the fireplace and pulled out a few extra blankets and a pillow. The only other person he’d ever had in his tree house was Scarlett, first when he’d saved her from the banshee before the Battle of Heirs, then again, when they’d slept together. Since his brother was a different kind of guest, sleeping on the floor seemed more fitting.
With his magic, he blew out the candles around the room but lit the fireplace. He’d only been awake for a few hours, so he wasn’t all that tired. But he curled underneath the blankets to relax until he could finally doze off.
Sage gripped the wooden bars of the cell so tightly, her knuckles were turning white.
She and Jade had been trapped there for over a day now, which meant that time was running out.
The prison cage had been moved since the last time Sage had been there. It used to sit on the outside of camp, somewhat inconspicuously. But now it stood in the middle of the camp, right next to the bonfire where the sisters gathered every night.
The night before, Tamara had strutted out, headdress resting on her head and a sly grin on her mouth, as she took her official spot as Woodland Queen and opened the bonfire. Although burning a fire was an ordinary thing for the tribe, the ones during mourning were ritual. Last night’s ceremony was spent burning all of Vienna’s things.
It was a sign of respect. A chance for her spirit to detach from her worldly possessions for a freer life on the other side. But every time an item was tossed into the flames, a tip of hot steel scorched Sage’s heart.
Somehow, it made it all too real.
Now, the sun was high in the sky, which meant the day was already halfway over.
Every so often, Sage saw a bird soar high across the sky. From the size of it, it had to be large. Was it Garnet? If Sage called to her, could she come down and steal the key to the cell so they could escape? She didn’t doubt that Garnet was smart enough. But even so, if Tamara caught the creature, she might torture it just to further dig into Sage.
Jade sat on the ground, her back leaning into the bars. “You should sit down.”
Sage sighed, releasing her grip on the bars. “I can’t just sit here while my chance to say goodbye is ticking away.”
“The angrier you get, the more Tamara will enjoy it.” Jade still wore the ripped clothing she’d had on when she arrived at the Unseelie Court. Dirt covered her forehead, likely from sleeping face-first on the ground last night.
Sage hadn’t slept. Instead, she let her anger fuel her. For now, at least.
“You need to rest.” Jade lowered her voice. “If you challenge Tamara, you need to be alert.”
Sage let out a long breath as she leaned against the bars and slid down to the ground. Jade was right. Although Sage still wasn’t sure challenging Tamara was the best plan, if she needed to fight for any reason, her fury could only energize her for so long.
A coughing fit attacked Jade.
Sage crawled to her, dirt pressing into her knees. She patted Jade’s back until the coughing stopped. “Are you okay?”
“Just hungry, I think.” She looked at Sage with glossy eyes.
“When was the last time you ate?”
Jade stared at her hands as she thought. “Before it happened.”
“That’s been over two days now.”
No wonder Jade looked so pale. But Sage couldn’t blame her. Since she found out about Vienna, she hadn’t been hungry either. And even if she had, they’d been presented with no food since being locked up.
Sage groaned. She’d tried to do the civil thing for once, letting herself be tied up and dragged to a cell to face some supposed trial with the hope she’d find Tamara generous. Who was she kidding? Tamara didn’t have a benevolent bone in her body. Sage should have known that the moment she smacked her in Vienna’s tent the first day she arrived at the Woodland Tribe.
For years, all Sage wanted was to return that assault with at least double the force. But during her years with the Woodland Tribe, Tamara had always outranked her, and Sage respected Vienna too much to show disrespect to the ways of the tribe. But with Vienna gone, nothing would hold Sage back now.
Wenda, one of the sisters Sage had always been fond of, approached them with a cloth wrapped in her hands.
“Hurry, take this.” She slid the cloth between the bars.
Sage pushed her self up and grabbed it. When she pulled it toward her body, the cloth shifted and she saw the bread inside.
“Tamara will toss me in here with you if she catches me, but you two need to eat. We have never starved prisoners. Vienna wouldn't have stood for such a thing. And you are our sisters.” Wenda smiled.
“Thank you,” Sage said as she returned to Jade.
“I’ll sneak back later to take the cloth back.” Wenda winked before turning and hurrying away.
Sage split the small loaf of bread in two and gave half to Jade.
Jade took it slowly but when she brought it to her mouth, she chewed frantically until it was gone.
Sage ate hers slower, chewing more thoroughly than Jade had. Although her body was weak, a telltale sign of hunger, the bread tasted like dirt in her mouth. The idea of any food repulsed her, but she needed to regain her strength.
An hour or so after Wenda had brought them the bread, she came by and took the cloth. “You both already look a little better.”
“I owe you,” Sage said and meant it. Defying Tamara was risky, and only someone truly caring would take the chance.
Wenda’s lips slid into a frown. “She will never give you what you want. She will ruin us.” Without another word, she turned and walked away.
“She’s right,” Jade said.
Sage couldn’t disagree with them. Tamara would be the last of the sisters she would have picked to become queen even if she hadn’t killed Vienna. But would challenging her really help matters?
Sage returned next to Jade, resting against the bars, and let her eyes close. She didn’t know if, with so many thoughts swirling around in her head, she could sleep, but soon enough, she dozed off.
“Up,” Tamara said.
Sage blinked her eyes as her mind awoke.
Tamara stood outside the gate, the glow of a bonfire spreading behind her. “I’ve made my decision.”
Two guards stood behind her, each holding a staff in front of their chests as if ready for an attack, which seemed ridiculous since they were all protected by the bars of the cell.
Sage and Jade both stood, eyeing each other before giving their attention back to Tamara.
“Your trial will be held in three days.” Tamara turned as if that was all she had to say.
“But Vienna will be burned tonight,” Jade blurted.
Sage was thankful for her outburst because, in that moment, she herself could find no words to speak.
Tamara turned back, her eyes narrowed in satisfaction. “Yes.”
Sage’s body began to shake. The vision of Vienna’s body going up in flames flickered in her mind. “I need to see her.”
Maybe if she bargained. She could swear an oath to never return again. With Vienna gone, that wouldn’t be so bad. But she looked at Jade, dirt pressed into her skin. She’d risked so much to come to get Sage because she believed she could do something to save the tribe. If Sage vowed to leave and never return, would Tamara destroy everything the Woodland Tribe had stood for?
She remembered Wenda’s words. She will ruin us.
Could Sage turn her back on those whom she’d called sisters for so long?
She thought of Vienna’s smile. Of the love in her eyes when she looked at each and every one of her sisters, even Tamara. She wasn’t ready to be queen when Tamara’s mother had challenged her own. But she’d stepped up and become the greatest queen the Woodland Tribe had ever had.
Then Tamara killed her.
“I invoke a challenge,” Sage said, the v
oice escaping her lips sounding unfamiliar.
Tamara’s arrogant stare tightened. “You are not our sister.”
“Yes, she is,” Jade said, stepping forward to meet Tamara’s glare. “She was sworn in and never banished.”
Tamara clenched her teeth, grinding them together as she took in Jade’s words.
Jade was right. Unless a sister was formally banished, she remained as one of the tribe. It was Woodland law. Maybe someday, if given the chance, Tamara would change it, but for now, denying the challenge would make her seem like a coward.
“You think you can defeat me?” Tamara laughed. “I killed her easily enough. A slice to her pretty throat. I won’t deny your request to do the same to you.”
Every muscle in Sage’s body tightened at Tamara’s words. She was a horrible person. How could anyone brag about killing someone as kind as Vienna?
Sage had always wanted to slap the arrogance off of Tamara’s face, but now, she wanted more.
She wanted to drive a sword through her heart.
Chapter Nine
Scarlett awoke next to Ashleigh, who was still curled under the blankets and sound asleep.
Ashleigh lay on her stomach, with her face toward Scarlett. Her eyes moved behind their lids. What did her dream world hold?
The urge to peek into her mind and see what Ashleigh saw tempted Scarlett, but with a sigh, she pushed it away. Her sister’s mind wasn’t hers to see. No matter how good her intentions were.
Scarlett reached her hand out over the top of Ashleigh’s pajamas. The wound still pulsed.
If she was quiet, she could lift Ashleigh’s shirt and heal the wound with her dark magic without waking her. Her sister would know, of course. Without magic, the wound would never heal that quickly. But what could Ashleigh do about it? Was Scarlett better to ask forgiveness afterward than permission beforehand if it meant sparing Ashleigh the pain?
No. She wanted her sister’s trust. And going against her wishes, even if it was in Ashleigh’s best interest, wasn’t going to win her confidence.
Scarlett lay there, glancing at her sister every few minutes until she finally stirred.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Scarlett said as Ashleigh’s eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room.
“Hey.” Ashleigh’s voice was scratchy.
Was she okay? Had the wound gotten infected overnight?
“Scarlett, calm down.” Ashleigh sat up. “I don’t need any special aura reading ability to see that you’re stressing. I’m okay.”
Scarlett laughed. “Right. Sorry.”
“But I should go have Galena check out the wound just to be safe. It doesn’t feel any worse than last night, but it doesn’t feel any better, either.” Ashleigh got out of bed and went into the bathroom.
When she came back out, she was dressed in jeans and a long-sleeve, black shirt.
“I’ll go with,” Scarlett said.
Ashleigh shook her head. “I’ll be fine. You should get dressed and meet with your council. I’m sure they have plenty to talk to you about.”
Scarlett couldn’t disagree that getting an update from her council was important. But the thought of being away from Ashleigh was unbearable, especially since she had no idea if more edimmu or redcaps, or worse, Morta, would show up at any moment.
Ashleigh stared at Scarlett, eyebrows raised.
“Okay,” Scarlett replied.
“No guards. I can walk to the healing wing like a big girl.”
“But…” Scarlett started. She knew she couldn’t protect Ashleigh from everything, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to at least try to take precautions.
Ashleigh didn’t blink as she waited for Scarlett’s reply.
Scarlett groaned. “Fine.”
She didn’t like the idea, but she would do her best to let Ashleigh make her own decisions.
After Ashleigh left to see Galena, Scarlett went to her own room and dressed for the day. She wasn’t sure she’d have time for any training, but she wore her fighting leathers anyway.
When she arrived in the throne room, she found the council already waiting. A table had been placed in front of the throne, with chairs around every side but the one in front of the throne itself.
“Hello, my queen.” Vida stood and bowed. “I was just about to come and find you.”
“I have good timing.” Scarlett grinned, hoping she seemed confident.
She was anything but after the night before. Knowing that Morta had already found a way to break through their barriers terrified her. What else was she able to do?
Scarlett took her spot in the rose-gold throne and folded her hands in her lap, resisting the urge to fidget.
“The protection team met last night after the ball,” Param said. “It took a few hours, but we analyzed each and every boundary spell. They were all tight, but we found a loophole in one that might be to blame for the attack. I’m sorry we didn’t notice it sooner.” Param rose and bowed, waiting for Scarlett’s response.
She wondered what Morta would do if she were in Scarlett’s position. Would she behead him for one mistake? Scarlett didn’t doubt it. But Param was loyal and worked countless hours to secure the castle and plan for the upcoming war.
The darkness in Scarlett itched at the thought of punishing him. It would delight in his pain. In vengeance. The black tattoos on her arms tingled. She closed her eyes and breathed in the sunshine around her, pushing the darkness back into the depths of her soul.
“I’m glad you found it now,” Scarlett said.
Param rose, a flash of relief showing in his aura. “We have fixed the crack and added double the protections. I have one more protection spell I can add as a failsafe.”
“Do it,” Scarlett said, wanting to take no chances.
“It will require a drop of your blood. Then, you’ll have full control of everything inside the palace grounds. At your whim, you can evanesce anyone outside the barriers and lock them out, if you wish.”
That was a brilliant idea. If somehow they found a way inside again, Scarlett could wish them away.
But only if she was here. What if she wasn’t?
“Can anyone else have the same control?” she asked.
“If I include their blood in the spell,” Param replied.
“Then use Vida’s as well,” Scarlett said. Vida had been Dana’s best friend, and there was no one from the Otherworld whom Scarlett trusted more.
Vida’s mouth gaped as her eyes widened. “What an honor, my queen.”
Param pulled out a vial from his pocket and needle from the cloth of his pants. He approached Scarlett. “I only need one drop.”
Scarlett extended her hand, her index finger pointing toward him.
Param placed the vial underneath her finger and carefully pricked its tip.
A quick sting and the pain was gone before a single drop of red blood oozed from her skin and into the vial. Next, he did the same to Vida.
“I will create the spell immediately after the meeting.” Param pushed the lid into the vial and stuck it in his pocket.
The rest of the meeting consisted of the normal updates. Ailani claimed that despite the unforeseen attack, the ball was a success. It had done what they’d hoped, uniting the soldiers from the other courts in their support of Scarlett’s rule.
The Otherworld army grew in numbers every day as word spread of Scarlett taking over Dana’s throne.
Overall, things were looking up. So, why did nerves pool in the pit of Scarlett’s stomach?
After the meeting, she returned to Ashleigh’s room and found her lying in bed, reading a mortal book.
“Where did you get that?” Scarlett asked.
“Aria brought it to me last night. She stole it from the New York Library for me.” Ashleigh grinned.
Somehow, that didn’t surprise Scarlett. Aria was both thoughtful and thoughtless. But she was glad Ashleigh had something to keep her entertained while she rested and healed.
“
What did Galena say?” Scarlett asked, hoping it was good news.
“Your magic did a good job starting the healing process. But she thinks the Darkland magic from the redcap’s claws will make the wound continue to heal slowly.” Ashleigh used the inside flap of the book as a bookmark and shut the cover.
Scarlett wanted to try again to convince Ashleigh to just let her heal her, but she didn’t. Ashleigh would let her know if she changed her mind. Until then, Scarlett would do her best to let it go.
“I’m going to go visit Kaelem,” Scarlett said. “I want to visit the mortal realm and contact Maeron to see if he has made contact with any of Dana’s other protectors.”
“Okay,” Ashleigh said as she slowly pushed herself from the bed. “I’ll go with. Aria said she would get me the second book in the series.”
Scarlett resisted a grin of relief. She had wanted Ashleigh to come along but feared if she outright asked her, she’d decline. “Perfect.”
After Scarlett found Vida and let her know that she and Ashleigh would be leaving, the sisters walked through the portal door from the Otherworld to the Unseelie Court.
Once inside the palace, Ashleigh said, “I’ll go find Aria while you talk to Kaelem. You can find me when you’re ready to go back.” Then, without waiting long enough for Scarlett to stop her, she turned and headed toward Aria’s room.
She would be okay, Scarlett reminded herself. Aria could keep her safe, and no one would even know Ashleigh was here in the Unseelie Court. Maybe this was the safest place for her.
Scarlett found Kaelem in the first spot she looked: plopped on the couch of his bedroom, watching a soap opera.
“You’re so predictable,” she said as she stepped in front of the TV.
He tried to look around her, but couldn’t. “Hey, Carol is about to tell her boss that she’s in love with him.”
Scarlett placed her hands on her hips, unmoving.
Kaelem reached for the remote and clicked pause. “Very well. I’ll finish the episode later.” He sat up. “You can distract me however you see fit.” He winked.
