Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)

by Nissa Leder

  “I’m so proud of you, my son,” Kassandra said. “You’ve shown such strength in your first months as king.”

  He hadn’t done anything, really. He’d thrown a ball to celebrate his victory and made an effort to make public appearances to his people. There had been no threat to face or treaty to negotiate. So far, his time as king had been quiet.

  Kassandra flicked her hand, lighting the fireplace across the room. “Now that you’ve settled into your new role, I think it’s time to discuss your future.” She resumed her perfect posture, stiff in body and expression. Her green eyes pierced Cade as if waiting for a response.

  Did she want him to find a wife? Already?

  Kassandra folded her hands in her lap as she glanced at the vase full of red Ranunculuses sitting on the end table next to the chaise. “Your father was a wonderful king. He always had the best of intentions. But he was an idealist and never understood our place as fae in the world.”

  “What do you mean?” Everyone loved Cade’s father as king. He won the war against Winter and kept peace with the other courts until his death.

  “He always took pity on the humans—their frailty and emotional weakness—but it cost our court. We defeated the Winter court as a fluke. Had the general not accidentally killed the Winter King, they would have taken us down. And now, I fear his daughter, the Winter Queen, will retaliate.”

  “But it’s been fifty years.”

  “She needed time to learn how to rule, and what is a half century to us fae? We need to prepare for any possibility. You’re a new king. Our court is vulnerable.”

  “What are you suggesting?” Cade stared out the window behind his mother, the sun now hidden behind the forest. His court was peaceful, his people safe. What if someone tried to ruin it?

  “We are at our strongest when feeding off of human emotion. Your father’s policy to never take humans against their will was admirable, but not practical.”

  “You want me to allow Summer fae to kidnap humans?”

  Cade’s mind drifted to Scarlett. She’d come into Faerie willingly, but not without coaxing. Cade preyed on her, a predator luring its prey to its death.

  Kassandra moved from her chaise to Cade’s and placed a hand on his. The gesture felt odd. Cade couldn’t remember the last time his mother had embraced him in any way.

  Her hand remained on his. “It’s a necessary evil. I know you’ll do what you must to keep your people safe.”

  “I’ll take it under consideration.”

  Kassandra nodded. “May I make one more suggestion?”

  Cade held back a groan. But his mother had been queen of the Summer Court for longer than he’d been alive. It would be wise to hear her out. “Please do.”

  “You should visit the Seelie and Unseelie Courts, introducing yourself as Summer King,” Kassandra said. “It is tradition.”

  This time Cade let himself groan. He’d only met the Seelie Queen once, when he was only five years old. He didn’t remember much about her.

  But the Unseelie King—Cade had had more than enough of Kaelem in his lifetime. Better to get that visit over with first.

  What choice did he have?

  Scarlett’s mouth dropped open when she entered the room she’d be staying in. A large window covered the far wall, peering out at the city.

  The palace stood atop a cliff. Below, city lights sparkled like stars in the sky.

  Her room was sleek, with exposed beams and a slate fireplace. It reminded her of a New York penthouse she’d only ever seen on TV.

  “Ah, the penthouse belongs to me,” Kaelem said.

  Get out of my head, Scarlett thought.

  “Not until you learn how to keep me out.”

  Scarlett turned back to him, a grimace on her face.

  They’d spent the rest of the day after lunch on a tour of the Unseelie palace and then watched a movie in the theater room, which surprised Scarlett more than anything she’d seen in the world of the fae so far. The Unseelie Court might sit in the mortal realm, but it had magic buzzing through it and was certainly not the human world Scarlett knew. Nevertheless, it had a theater.

  Kaelem picked the newest super hero movie, which he informed her were his favorite type of mortal shows followed closely by soap operas. A brownie served them dinner as they watched the ginormous screen, and, at times, Scarlett seriously wondered if someone had slipped her some shrooms and this was all in her head. She made sure to thank the brownie again. This one was different than the one she’d thanked before, with higher cheekbones and wider-set eyes, and had given Scarlett a small nod before leaving the room.

  Kaelem stood a foot away from her now. Scarlett gazed into his steel eyes. Her stare travelled downward, past his chest to his stomach, then further.

  Scarlett shook her head. “Ugh.”

  Kaelem was a ganacanagh, a sexual fae who brought out lust in those around him. He’d told her as much when he’d stolen her from The Hunt. Scarlett had hoped she’d quit thinking such dirty thoughts about him the more she was around him, but that wasn’t happening.

  “It usually only gets worse,” Kaelem said. “Unless you learn to control it.”

  He stretched his hand around her, placing it on her lower back. “Or maybe if we just fucked, you’d get it out of your system.”

  His body was so close to hers. If she leaned forward even an inch, their chests would touch. It would feel so good…

  “No.” Scarlett stepped back, pulling herself from his hold.

  “You’re learning already.” He turned and headed to the door. Before he left, he said, “You’ll find we have a lot more fun here at the Unseelie Court than what you experienced with the Summer boys.”

  “Good night,” Scarlett said, desperate to be alone before she changed her mind about his offer. Whatever his ganacanagh gifts did, she couldn’t ignore his effect on her.

  After he was gone, Scarlett fell back onto the bed. The perfectly straight silver comforter crinkled under her body. The bed was heaven.

  She wanted out of her clothes and into something more comfortable. She’d forgotten to pack anything. Maybe there were clothes in the closet.

  She’d expected a couple of nightgowns, but was shocked to find an entire wardrobe inside the gigantic walk-in closet. Bright colors filled one side, dark colors the other. In the back was a row of nightgowns. Scarlett grabbed one, light pink and short. It would do.

  Tomorrow, her training would begin. She wondered if time moved differently here like it did in Faerie? Yet again, Scarlett had just up and left. Ashleigh was back at her college apartment, but she’d still expect Scarlett to text her now and again. Was there cell service in the Unseelie Court?

  A million questions raced through her mind, but she’d have to wait to ask Kaelem for answers and didn’t dare summon him again that night. Spending time with him felt like a rope dangling over a fire. The longer it burned, the sooner it would snap, and she could imagine what might happen if it did.

  She’d learn how to control her powers and go home soon, before she did anything stupid or got herself into any more trouble.

  But for now, she’d sleep.

  Raith had spent the night in a willow tree and now his back hurt. It was the most uncomfortable night of sleep he’d ever had. His feet hurt from walking and time seemed to drag as he passed tree after tree.

  He was in the Autumn Court, but that was all he knew. Sunlight snuck through the gaps in the trees above, but the heavy shade and fall-like temperature kept the Autumn Court cooler than the Summer Court, and Raith was still in the t-shirt and jeans he’d borrowed from the Unseelie Court. He ran his fingers up and down his arms to stay warm.

  Kaelem had offered to give him a few of his suits, but Raith had no desire to wear anything that had touched the Unseelie King’s body, washed or not. As a ganacanagh, Kaelem’s sexual appeal was potent to anyone who didn’t block it out, men and women alike.

  The first time Raith had met him, he didn’t know about Kaelem
’s special ability. As soon as he registered the vulgarity of his thoughts, he threw up a mental shield and his attraction toward him vanished. But the memory of the rotten taste of lusting after Kaelem, of all people, still lingered.

  The Unseelie King had offered Raith refuge after the battle, but that didn’t make Raith trust him. Besides, fancy mortal suits weren’t his style.

  Lack of sleep drained Raith. Daylight was the safest time in the forest. Maybe if he rested for a bit, traveling by foot wouldn’t be so bad. As Raith continued, he searched for a spot to sleep. A few fallen trees provided enough cover for Raith to lie in between them.

  The ground beneath him was hard and sent a chill through him, but soon, Raith fell fast asleep.

  A sniffing sound startled him. Raith’s eyes shot open. The bright forest he’d fallen asleep in had turned dark as he slept, lit only by the full moon above. Fuck. He’d only meant to nap, not sleep through the day.

  He scanned the area around him. He was still alone, but he could feel the presence of something close by.

  Before he could decide what to do, a giant, black wolf leapt over one of the fallen trees. Raith pushed himself to his feet as the wolf lifted its snout to the sky and howled.

  It lowered its nose, rust colored eyes staring into Raith’s.

  It was no ordinary wolf; it was a shifter. Raith had heard of the shape shifting creatures of the Autumn Court, but he’d never met one, at least not in animal form.

  The wolf snarled as it stepped toward Raith. Its black fur swayed as it jumped, teeth bared.

  Instinct took hold of Raith. He used his nature magic to yank one of the smaller trees from its roots and throw it at the creature. The tree collided with the wolf and it yelped.

  Raith hadn’t expected a fight. He’d been walking by foot for so long then sleeping, he’d let his magic run low. The smallest tree had been the only one he felt confident lifting.

  He must have hit he wolf hard enough, though. Raith could feel its pain. He breathed it in, feeding the power inside of himself.

  He needed to get away. When he turned to run—the best plan he could think of—three wolves blocked his way.

  Two had chocolate brown fur, the other a shiny silver coat that almost sparkled in the moonlight.

  “I don’t want to fight,” Raith said. He didn’t want to fight when it was just one wolf, but now he really, really didn’t want to.

  What had he been thinking, wandering through the forest alone in unknown territory? And falling asleep on the ground, knowing how exhausted he was. What kind of dumbass idea was that? Raith swallowed his panic. Freaking out would do no good. He was a Summer fae of royal blood, for fuck’s sake, with both Summer magic and nature magic. He could get away if he was smart.

  The pack stood still as they watched Raith. Were they communicating with each other? Maybe they’d just let him leave. No harm done.

  Raith soaked in the area around him, absorbing power from the trees.

  When the silver wolf growled, Raith knew he wouldn’t just be walking away.

  The chocolate wolves lunged in unison. Raith threw a murder of magic ravens at one—one of his most powerful gifts—and sent one of the biggest trees at the other. The one hit with the ravens—which had burst into dust on contact— stayed on the ground, but the other leapt out of the tree’s way.

  Raith tugged at what little magic remained inside him and sent the branches of the tree at the chocolate wolf as he rolled back onto his feet. The branches twisted around its feet, holding it in place.

  Three down, one to go.

  The silver wolf snarled. Something told Raith the pack had saved the best for last, and, after using most of his magic for the ravens, he had used the last bit to trap the second chocolate wolf.

  He had no weapons and no power.

  The silver wolf hurled itself at Raith.

  Raith tried to run, but the creature was too quick. He spun around before the wolf pinned him, his face inches from the creature’s. Drool dripped onto Raith’s forehead. Gross. With all the strength Raith could muster, he pushed the creature. As royal-born, high fae, Raith was strong. The wolf gnashed its teeth, but Raith kept his head out of its reach.

  The wolf jumped off of Raith. Using his chance, Raith tried to run again, but it was what the wolf had wanted. It bit down on Raith’s ankle, sending a scream bursting from his lungs as pain shot up his leg.

  The creature pinned Raith to the ground again and snapped down into Raith’s side, its teeth piercing his flesh.

  A howl sang through the forest, but it was too far away to be the silver wolf’s. It was a warning, causing the silver wolf to retreat. Raith tried to push himself up, but he was too weak.

  This was it. Raith was dying.

  As he drifted into darkness, the last thing he heard was a wolf’s whimper.

  Chapter Five

  When Scarlett first awoke, she was disoriented. Darkness spread through the room. Surely it had to be morning. She felt like she’d slept for days, not waking even once in the middle of the night.

  She looked around the room and found an alarm clock sitting on the bedside table next to her. Its presence struck her as odd. The Summer Court had had no electronics. But she shouldn’t have been so surprised. The Unseelie Court existed in the mortal realm, and if Scarlett had stumbled upon the castle, she may have thought it a celebrity mansion instead of a fae palace.

  The clock read eight o’ clock.

  It really was dark there all the time.

  Scarlett stretched her arms out, resting her head on the pillow again. With no sunshine, she was tempted to go back to sleep. But Kaelem had said she could start her training today, and she didn’t want to waste any time. The sooner she mastered her powers, the sooner she could go home.

  Her suite contained a bed, a sitting area with fuchsia leather couches, a slate fireplace, and a walnut desk, as well as a bathroom that was twice as large as her bedroom back home, with a large walk-in shower, deep jetted tub, and double sink.

  The tub was heaven, with jets placed in all the right spots. At the Summer Court, Scarlett had felt like a fairytale princess as she’d soaked in the claw foot tub. Here she felt like a Fortune 500 CEO relaxing after a long day at work.

  After she was thoroughly clean and smelled like lavender body wash from head to toe, she searched for an outfit in her closet. There was so much to choose from, but she settled on a pair of black skinny jeans, a hot pink tank top, and the silver sandals she’d worn to the Unseelie Court—as practical an outfit as she could find.

  She’d learned to fight with a staff in the Summer Court, but she didn’t think her training here would be as physical. Then again, she wasn’t sure what to expect.

  She’s already learned how to glamour herself—sort of, at least—and how to heal injuries. Moving things with her mind was a work in progress. She’d accidentally choked Hair Gel at the party. Before she learned how to use her powers, she needed to master how not to.

  Scarlett pulled her cell phone out of the pocket of her pants from the day before. Dead. She would have to ask Kaelem for a charger—and if the cell would even work—when she saw him.

  She plopped on the couch to wait for him. She couldn’t help but wonder why he’d sought her out and offered to help her now. But she’d never found out why he gave her the pill in the first place or what exactly the pill had done. Perhaps she could coax the information from him.

  She’d learned from her time in Faerie not to trust the fae, although she’d be lying to herself to say she didn’t trust Raith. But all she knew about Kaelem was that he was manipulative. If she’d felt she had another choice, she wouldn’t have come to the Unseelie Court.

  By eleven o’clock, Scarlett grew impatient. She’d come here to learn, not to sit there bored out of her mind, so she ventured out of her room.

  She walked down the long hallway outside of her suite to the elevator they’d come out of the night before. But instead of taking it downstairs where they’d
come from, she hit the button with a four on it, the top floor.

  Kaelem said his room was the penthouse, so she’d look for him there.

  The elevator door opened to a small sitting room. Two black, leather chairs sat against the wall to her left with a glass table in between them. Ahead, a set of white French doors with frosted glass stood ajar.

  “Hello?” Scarlett said.

  No answer.

  She walked to the doors and tried again. More silence.

  Scarlett pushed one open and peeked in. A large projector screen lined the wall across from her, a large white sectional facing it. She continued into the room. Empty. Another set of French doors led her to the bedroom.

  This time she barged in without warning and found Kaelem, sprawled naked, face down across a gray-wash wooden four-poster bed. His body rested on the plum comforter beneath him.

  “Oh my god,” Scarlett said.

  She wanted to look away, but she couldn’t. And not because he had a nice ass, which he so did, but something else had taken hold.

  Kaelem didn’t startle at her entrance. He groaned, looked at the clock on his nightstand, and groaned again. “It’s not even noon.”

  Scarlett told herself to think. She’d come there for a reason, not to stare at the roundness of his perfect…

  Stop. Training. That was it.

  “I thought we were training today,” Scarlett managed to get out.

  Kaelem rolled around and stood up, half asleep and blinking as his eyes adjusted to the light, the entire front of his body on display. “Today, yes. I said nothing about morning.”

  Scarlett could go to him. He was so close. A few steps, and she could reach him. She could take off her shirt on the way. No, he could take it off of her when she got there.

  Ugh. No.

  Scarlett reached inside her mind. She pulled up at an imaginary wall, blocking out a part of her brain she had no control over. Something pushed against the barrier, but for now, she could think clearly again. She raised her gaze to his face.

  “Look at my pupil, learning already.” Kaelem continued testing her.