Soul of Thorns (Wicked Fae Book 3)

by Stacey Trombley

  There’s a rustling and the mumbling of voices, but I twist into him, face hidden in his neck. He holds me tightly. “We need to rest. Tell my mother of my arrival when she wakes.”

  My breaths become more labored as he carries me into the building and up the steps. Then, he lays me on the softest bed I’ve ever felt in my whole life.

  I gasp as his arms release me, taking his warmth with him. But then, all at once, he’s back, his chest and legs against me. His arm curls around my waist, and all I can think is, this is perfect, just before I fall asleep.

  Rev

  I jerk when the door slams open.

  Rusty dagger in hand, I blink rapidly. My mother stands in the doorway, her hand over her mouth.

  “You’re home,” she breathes. Her eyes flicker to Caelynn lying peacefully beside me.

  “Yes,” I whisper.

  She frowns as Caelynn stirs, then groans, her expression crumpled in confusion and discomfort. My muscles are stiff and aching, my limbs weak. I can only imagine what she’s feeling now.

  “Rev?”

  “Shh,” I tell her and brush the hair from her face.

  Her eyes crack open, then her sight flashes to my mother in the doorway and she jerks up, holding the covers over her chest like she’s hiding something intimate. She’s fully dressed in the ragged clothing she entered the Schorchedlands in. Or perhaps she’s hiding the tiny prick where I’d almost stabbed her.

  Caelynn sits, panting, expression covered in confusion.

  “Mother,” I say. “Will you call in a maid? Caelynn could use a bath.”

  “She...” My mother’s mouth gapes open. I have to remember that Caelynn is not an ally or friend or anything else to my mother. She’s an enemy.

  She’s the assassin that murdered my brother in the room across the hall.

  Heaving in a long breath, I pull myself out of bed. “Wait here,” I tell Caelynn. “I’ll send someone to draw you a bath in a moment.”

  Caelynn frowns and doesn’t respond. I suppose it is a lot for her to take in.

  “I don’t understand,” she mutters.

  I lean over her. “I promised I wouldn’t leave you there.”

  Her eyes widen then dart past me to my mother still watching us slack-jawed. I have a lot to explain. To everyone.

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” I tell her and then head out into the hall to speak with my shocked-silent mother.

  She stumbles back into the bright hall, and I shut the door behind us.

  “That’s...”

  “Caelynn. Yes,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck.

  “You... she...” My mother is a lovely, eloquent woman usually. Poised and calm. Good with words. Not so much today. Her eyes flicker dark, the bright silver flashing. Her dark hair is braided down her back.

  “She is my mate, mother.”

  What little color was left on her face drains entirely. “No,” she breathes.

  “It’s taken me a while to come to grips with it too.”

  She shakes her head rapidly. “No. Even if it’s true. Even if...”

  “She saved me,” I say simply. The story is so much more complicated than that. She’s saved me time and time again. I’ve only just returned the favor. I still owe her everything.

  “I—that... that doesn’t matter. Mate-ship doesn’t matter.” Her cheeks turn blood red. “You do not have to choose her, Reveln. You...”

  “I know that,” I say.

  I pull my flustered mother into my arms, holding her tightly. I don’t expect her to understand. Not now. Not so quickly.

  “But I do anyway.”

  She knew Caelynn and I had worked together in the trials. She knew Caelynn was helping me with my quest after, and though she wasn’t particularly pleased, she’d never commented on it. That was my father’s job.

  But now, things are different.

  I don’t know how things will change. I don’t know what it means between us. But Caelynn is my mate. And I will fight for her.

  Rev

  When I walk back into my room, Caelynn’s big eyes meet mine. I pause, taking it the sight.

  She’s still a wreck—her hair disheveled, muck covering her body, bruises line her arms and bags are under her eyes.

  But she’s here. Safe.

  Home. In my bed.

  “Rev.” Her voice is hoarse. Her eyebrows furrow. “What the hell happened?” she whispers.

  I slowly approach the bed and sit beside her. She doesn’t meet my eye now.

  “A lot,” I say. Because I’m not sure how to explain it. How to even find the words.

  “I’m so confused.”

  I take in a long breath. “I told you I wouldn’t leave you there.”

  Her lips part. “But... at what cost?”

  I swallow. Only time will tell. I ignore her question because I can’t bear to dwell on that now. She’s here. We’re both safe and alive and free. What happens in our world now that those monsters are free—well that’s a problem for tomorrow.

  “We’re home and safe. Let’s focus on that, okay?”

  She shakes her head, still staring at the soiled sheets. Blood and dirt streak across the once shiny material. “Why?” she whispers. “I’m not worth it.”

  I suck in a long breath. “In that, Caelynn, I can promise, you are wrong.”

  A gentle knock sounds on the door. “The bath is prepared, Prince Reveln.” The squeaky voice comes through the door.

  “Thank you,” I call. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up and we can talk through some more of this over a decent meal.”

  Caelynn blinks rapidly and then nods. She scoots out of bed slowly and walks around to meet me. Her eyes are distant like she’s only half here with me. “Are you okay?”

  She shivers but nods. She glances out the window. “What happened to the wraiths?”

  “Most of them were set free, I think.”

  She meets my eye. “Where is Darren, then?”

  “Who?”

  “My wraith... my...”

  “Oh,” I mutter. “He... I’m not sure exactly what happened but I don’t think he’s—with us anymore.” I’m not entirely certain he died, it was more like he ceased to be.

  She grimaces.

  “He... did he help us? It’s all such a blur.” She runs her fingers through her hair.

  “He did. And he told me to tell you, that you saved him. I don’t know what that means but...”

  Her lips part. “Did he die?”

  I shrug. “He began to glow and then disintegrated into dust, I think. I assume it was some kind of spell by the Night Terror.”

  A short laugh escapes her lips. “No,” she says. “He was redeemed.”

  Caelynn

  My mind is slow to move, stuck on small matters, unable to force my way to the biggest issues.

  All I keep thinking is that I’m here, in the luminescent court palace, as a guest. I’m currently sitting in a porcelain tub filled with warm, pleasant-smelling water, in a massive bathroom with glistening white tiles. The sun, bright and cheery, streams through the skylights in the ceiling.

  I don’t think about the details, about why it’s a ludicrous notion, for me to be here at all. I only know that it’s strange.

  Like a dream.

  I sink deeper in the tub, the water a dark brown from my disgusting state. It will take three or more baths to rid myself of the grime of that place. Maybe it will be with me forever.

  I think about Darren. My wraith ancestor is gone.

  I think it’s good that he’s gone. He healed his soul. He... overcame his biggest weakness by choosing to help me instead of further his own desires.

  He was a wraith. And somehow, he loved me like a daughter.

  I’ll miss him. Another strange notion.

  Part of me wonders if I died, and this is the afterlife. Because none of this can be real.

  Except, it’s also hard for me to imagine that my afterlife could be this pleasant.

/>   After a very long while, someone knocks gently on the door. When I don’t respond, the door swings open slowly. Rev peeps his head through the crack.

  “Everything okay?” he asks.

  “Fine,” I mutter. I sink a little deeper into the mucky water, hiding. I’m not sure why I’m hiding. But this—this isn’t our relationship. Rev and I.

  Is it?

  I suppose I’ll have time to figure all of that out too. Time. Another luxury I have a hard time wrapping my mind around.

  “I don’t mean to rush you but... we have visitors.”

  My eyebrows pull down. “Visitors?” I know my mind isn’t working at full capacity right now but—who would ever visit me?

  “The High Queen just arrived on property. She’s—going to have some questions for both of us.”

  Author Note

  Thank you so much for reading another one of my books! I’ve come to adore this story so deeply it’s a little insane. Just know that I’m dying to give Caelynn and Rev the happy moments they deserve as much as you are. They just... have to work things out in their own time.

  I hope you’ve enjoyed the adventure and I’ve got more coming in this series. You can pre-order Prince of Thorns (more on that below!) now!

  ALSO, I’M GETTING NEW covers done in the next couple of months that I think fit the story a bit better so keep an eye out for those! I’ll still have the original covers in paperback form for a while at least so you don’t have to worry about having a matching set.

  If you’ve enjoyed this story, I’d love to hear about it. Please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads or Bookbub. They help us authors out more than you realize! And post about it on social media. The more I hear positive feedback from fans, the more it pushes me to keep writing!

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  Prince of Thorns

  To the world, Rev is a hero. To those who know better—he's doomed the fae realm to destruction.

  Rev succeeded in the most important mission of his life: he came home with the spell book that can save the realm from a terrible plague.

  Except, in order to save his mate, he used that book to destroy fae hell and free all of the beings inside. Including an ancient and evil being with a plan to rule over the fae realm. He doesn’t know when or how, but the Night Bringer will be back, now at full power.

  So between parades in his honor, and the queen declaring him the new High Heir, Prince Reveln must secretly work with the convicted shadow fae the rest of the fae realm continues to hate, to stop the Night Terror before it's too late.

  Preorder now

  About the Author

  STACEY TROMBLEY IS a casino pit boss by night, YA author by day. She lives in Ohio with her husband, son, and GSD Riley. When she’s not writing or reading her husband is probably dragging her along on one of his crazy adventures for this travel vlog or competing against him about who can pick the most Survivor winners in the first episode (hint: she’s winning). But mostly, she’s probably reading.