“Is someone going to tell me what is–”
“DOWN!” Jai shoved Gwen sideways, sending her into Aeron. The pair tumbled to the floor. Gwen barely heard Jai unsheathe the sword he always wore at his hip.
She tried to turn to see what was going on, but Aeron rolled her over him, and to his other side, as something whizzed by their backs.
Gwen saw a crude looking dagger land on the floor above her head. She gasped as she realized its sharp end had been intended for her.
“Get her out of here,” Jai shouted to Aeron.
“I can’t faze in here!” Aeron shouted back, taking two knives out of his boots and throwing them behind her. Gwen heard a male grunt in pain a moment later.
“Get out!” Jai’s voice reverberated against the hallway walls.
Gwen stood, stumbling over her dress. Aeron rose at the same time, positioning his body in front of hers with two more knives in his hand. Gwen took a moment to wonder where the duke had stashed all his weapons when she noticed another attacker materialize from around the corner.
Gwen gulped as she noticed the fae’s dark hair. They were being attacked by Winter Fae.
Gwen shot her palm over Aeron’s shoulder and sent a bolt of heat to the enemy fae’s chest. The instrument he aimed at Jai fell with him to the ground. It looked like a sharp rock. She didn’t have to wonder what it was tipped with.
“Gwen, back up.”
Gwen staggered back while sending another flare of Summer power at one of the three fae attacking Jai. She took a second to mentally thank Ian for insisting she practice her abilities in an offensive manner. It was not normal to use Fae abilities when fighting, but Ian wanted Gwen to have any and all means of protecting herself if she needed to.
“How are you doing that?” Aeron asked as he threw a weapon. Now, Jai only had one opponent.
Before Gwen could ask what he meant, Jai boomed, “LEAVE!”
Keeping Gwen behind him, Aeron forced them back as Jai continued to fight. Aeron looked all around, trying to figure out the best way to get them out of the dangerous hallway.
“Gwen,” Aeron said over his shoulder. “We have to jump through that window. Can you break it?”
“What?” Gwen sent a bolt down the hallway.
“I can’t faze inside the palace walls. We have to get outside.”
“Shit,” Gwen mumbled, staring out the closed window. With great concentration, she condensed some of the moisture in the air and froze it into a shard. She sent the ice flying towards the window with all the force she could manage. It created a crack with lines radiating out from the point of contact.
Using the handle of one of his knives, Aeron slammed into the cracks and shattered the window. Gwen froze as she watched a group of Winter Fae round the corner and advance towards them.
Where are they coming from?
Aeron grabbed her elbow. “We have to jump. Now!”
Gwen’s mind registered his urgency. She nodded and moved back from the window.
Aeron locked eyes with her and gave her a reassuring squeeze before pulling her forward towards the window. Gwen shielded her eyes as they broke through the remaining glass. Her stomach rolled as they began to fall from the third story.
Just as Gwen felt the signs of Aeron’s fazing, she frantically looked back to check on Jai.
The guard was pressed against the wall by the broken window, a dull weapon protruding from his shoulder.
Gwen let out an agonized cry as she and Aeron faded from Summer Court.
Chapter 23
“TANYA!” Kalan heard his father’s voice from two flights below his parent’s quarters. Without hesitating, he stood and rushed towards the source of the noise. He found his father seething outside his mother’s door.
“Open this door or, so help me, I will break it down.”
“What is going on?” King Kheelen turned to his son with wild eyes, full of fury. Kalan took an involuntary step back.
Without a word to Kalan, the king turned back to the door. “TANYA!”
The door opened slowly and revealed a composed queen on the other side. “Kheelen,” she greeted the fuming male with eerie calmness. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
The king shoved into the room and shouted for the room’s attendants and guards to leave. Kalan stepped around the departing fae. No one even balked at the obvious anger emanating off of their king.
“What have you done?” His father asked once they were alone.
“Please elaborate, Kheelen. I do not wish to guess your meaning.”
“You know perfectly well what I am speaking of. What have you done, Tanya?”
The queen shrugged and lowered herself onto a chair. She gave her husband a passive look, which only angered him further.
“Damnit, Tanya. Did you do it? Did you order the invasion of Summer Palace?”
Kalan’s blood froze in his veins. “What?” He cried out, completely taken aback with his father’s questions.
The queen ignored her son and answered her husband with one word. “Yes.”
“What?” Kalan yelled again.
At the same time, his father matched his volume, “How?”
The queen smirked as she looked at the two males standing in front of her. “Simple. The soldiers walked into Summer Court.
“I know. I know,” Queen Tanya held her hand to stop the king’s pending question. “How did we walk in when the Summer Monarchs warded their Court against Winter Fae? It was simply, really. My sources in Eirie managed to discover which spells and incantations the Wise Ones utilized to protect the court. Once we had the information at hand, it was only a matter of time before we figured out how to negate it. We managed to walk right in.”
“But the palace?” Kalan choked out. Please don’t say you gained access to Gwen’s safe haven.
“King Cai and Queen Orla made that rather easy, as well. They are hosting an introductory celebration for the girl. They invited numerous Summer Fae. As a result, they removed the protection spell limiting the palace’s occupants to specific individuals. Our soldiers anticipated entering the palace with little to no hindrance.”
King Kheelen growled at his wife and her seemingly indifferent manner. “Have you completely lost your mind? What did you do?”
The queen stared, distractedly, at her nails. “Hopefully, eliminated the threat you were too scared to take care of.”
Kalan saw red. He lunged at his mother without thought. His father’s hand snapped out and grabbed ahold of him. He pulled Kalan back before the prince could reach his target.
Queen Tanya was speechless as she observed her son’s crazed state. Her posture was no longer relaxed in her chair.
“Enough, Kalan,” his father said firmly as the prince attempted to wrestle out of his hold. The prince stilled, but shot visual daggers at his mother. He could feel the effects of Wrath threatening to make him lose control.
“Tanya, do you know what you’ve done? You’ve guaranteed this court will be dragged into another war. And it will not be the passive-aggressive war of the last two decades. This will be a war of physical destruction!”
“It’s nothing we can’t handle.” She continued to observe Kalan as he tried to calm his Wrath.
“You are mad if you think Winter Court will not suffer, if you think Kalan won’t suffer.”
Queen Tanya turned to face her husband. “Nothing will happen to Kalan.” The prince wanted to laugh in his mother’s face. He could think of nothing more painful to him than for something to happen to Gwen.
“You sent assassins to kill their heir!” The king exclaimed in response. He seemed as troubled with his wife’s nonchalance as his son.
“I sent assassins to kill the threat to our realm,” she corrected, as if her clarification lessened the evil of her actions.
Kalan had not believed his mother was capable of the actions she took. The prince heard all her talk, but never in his wildest imagination did he consider she would order such
an act without the approval of the Winter Council.
“You have no evidence the girl is responsible for the conditions in the Human Realm,” his father pointed out.
“I have sufficient evidence, and you know it.”
“Gwen is my lifemate!” Kalan shouted, trying anything to get his mother to stop whatever plan she had. He refused to entertain the thought that he might be too late.
The prince ignored the disapproving look his father sent his way; the king did not know of the Elder’s words in Eirie.
The queen ignored him. “Once Summer Court learns the truth of their so-called ‘princess’, they will understand Winter Court’s actions.”
“Do not claim these actions belong to Winter Court,” King Kheelen demanded sternly. “You are the source of this evil, no one else.”
“With time,” she continued, undaunted by her husband’s declaration. “Reasoning will prevail and no war will come to pass.”
“You’re delusional,” Kalan told his mother, unable to understand how she believed her own words. Her claims were nothing short of absurd.
“The natural disasters in the Human Realm are increasing in rate and severity at a steady pace. It is clear the girl’s powers must be rising at an equally steady manner. I could no longer stand by as I watched our realm’s doom continue to thrive and obtain abilities none should have.”
The queen narrowed her eyes at the two males before her. “Surely, my husband and son, you realize I know the truth regarding the girl’s visit to Eirie.”
Kalan clenched his jaw.
“That I know,” she elaborated, “of her ability to faze from within Eirie. A feat which is supposed to be impossible, even to the most powerful fae. Not even Wise Ones are able to faze in and out of Eirie.”
Kalan did not know if his father was familiar with Gwen’s newly realized ability, but Kalan suspected he did. If the queen had spies informing her of occurrences in the neutral territory, the king must as well.
When neither Kalan nor his father responded to her statement, the queen added, “I’m doing what needs to be done.”
A heavy silence fell. Kalan desperately tried to come up with any way to convince his mother she was wrong, but he knew she was beyond seeing reason. Queen Tanya’s character flaw was her overprotective nature, and she would bring down anyone and everyone who stood in the way of her son’s success. Kalan’s stomach filled with disgust and guilt.
“Was it you?” King Kheelen asked in a dangerous whisper, breaking the quiet.
Queen Tanya lifted a brow, confused with the king’s change in demeanor. “What?”
Kalan was just as curious as to what the king was asking.
His father’s voice grew stronger. “Was if you who killed Princess Gwendolyn all those years ago? Did you arrange the death of the mother in the same way you are arranging the death of the daughter?”
Queen Tanya’s mouth opened with a cry of shock. “How dare you,” she spat to her husband. She stood from her chair.
“Answer the question, Tanya.”
“Of course not,” the queen’s cheek twitched with frustration. “I would have never harmed the princess. Why would I? How could you even think that?” His mother sounded hurt by the accusation and Kalan could not stop his responding scoff. The king stood still as he debated whether or not to believe his wife.
Kalan decided to answer the question for his father. “Perhaps, Mother,” Kalan began with contempt. “It is not a far leap to make, considering you are casually discussing the murder of another Summer Princess.”
“A dual-court fae,” his mother corrected with a point of her finger. “And this is different. I had no motive to murder the late Summer Princess.”
Kalan forced himself to not direct a pointed look in his father’s direction. Though the prince did not like to think his mother capable of orchestrating a murder, she indicated she was. Kalan couldn’t help but wonder if his father’s affair would bring out his mother’s lethal side.
“You had nothing to do with Princess Gwendolyn’s death?” The king asked, making sure to prevent any misleading deception from his wife.
“I had nothing to do with it.” Queen Tanya ground out, sounding beyond irritated. “Not one thing.”
Based on his expression, Kalan knew the king believed her. The prince realized he did, as well. Kalan drew the conclusion that his father’s affair remained a secret from his wife… for now.
The prince took the opportunity to move the conversation back to the original topic. “Gwen is my lifemate,” Kalan repeated his earlier argument, hoping to, once again, discourage her.
“Not now, Kalan,” King Kheelen dismissed his son’s statement and addressed his wife. “Tanya, have you heard from the fae you sent? Is the princess hurt?”
His mother tossed her long braid over her shoulder. “No. She got away.”
Kalan and his father both sagged in relief. Kalan, having learned all he needed to at the moment, left his parent’s presence. He sought out Ronan and found him in the armory. Kalan couldn’t remember the last time he had a good workout in the room.
“Prince,” Ronan greeted with a quick head bow. His friend dismissed the other guards in the armory with a wave.
“Do you know what has happened?” Kalan asked with tension, he did not want to entertain the thought Ronan knew of his mother’s plans and did not warn him.
“No,” Ronan sounded sincere. “What do you mean?”
The prince proceeded to tell the guard of the queen’s unsanctioned actions, revealing her assassination plan to a loyal subject.
Ronan’s face grew paler with every word Kalan spoke.
“I need you to do something for me,” Kalan revealed once he reached the end of his story.
“Anything.”
“I need you to go to the Human Realm. My mother cites events in the Human Realm as evidence Gwen is too dangerous to be left alive.”
“What would be my purpose?”
“I am not sure. Intelligence gathering? Search for any indication the queen could be mistaken. For now, Gwen is unhurt. I wish for her to remain so, and discrediting my mother’s ideas might help convince the council to denounce her actions. We need to prevent further conflict with Summer Court, and keep Winter Court from being viewed as supporting this assassination attempt.”
Ronan nodded in agreement with the prince’s plan. “Where would you like me to go?”
After a moment of thought, Kalan knew exactly where his friend should begin his task. “San Antonio. It has not been long since you were there. You remember the environment. Go to observe any changes which might have occurred, and report back your findings.”
“Will you be joining me?”
Kalan shook his head. “I am going to speak with my father. I need to know his plan to protect Gwen.”
“Of course, I’ll leave at once.” With a bow, Ronan fazed to the Human Realm.
***
Kalan attempted to meet with his father, but he could not find the king anywhere.
The prince did not know what to do with himself. Kalan’s mind played a never ending reel of images depicting the attack on the Summer Palace. His imagination was gruesome. Kalan felt his Wrath rise to nearly uncontrollable levels the longer he was left to his own thoughts.
The prince sank to floor in the last of his father’s rooms he searched. Kalan rested his elbows on his bent knees, and held his head in his hands. He could not stop the onslaught of worry for Gwen. He was relieved his mother reported the princess managed to escape the attack unharmed, but he couldn’t stop the uneasy sense something else was wrong.
Kalan could not explain the sensation in words, but it centered on Gwen’s wellbeing. He inhaled through his nose and out of his mouth to calm, what he believed to be, a side effect of his Wrath.
The feeling only grew with each passing second, threatening to smother Kalan with the brunt of emotions it brought on.
Finally, Kalan could not take it anymore.
&n
bsp; Without giving it a second thought, Kalan fazed out of Winter Palace. He aimed to arrive in Summer Palace and, hopefully, find Gwen to confirm she was alright.
Chapter 24
Sara pulled into the apartment complex with a sharp right turn. She was so exhausted, she almost drove past the familiar entrance. She parked and rested her forehead against the steering wheel and closed her heavy eyes.
Uncle Frank was taken away in the ambulance over a week ago and had yet to regain consciousness. The neurologist performed a ventriculostomy to drain her uncle’s brain fluid the day he was admitted, but no further treatment occurred since then. Initially, the doctors were optimistic that once the swelling in the man’s brain went down, it would only be a matter of days until he woke up.
Sara could detect the subtle shift in the medical staff’s optimism almost immediately.
She felt moisture gather in her brown eyes. Only when she was alone did she let the tears fall. Since Sara was always in the hospital, surrounded by staff, or in the company of her sister, the times for her to acknowledge her emotions were limited.
With a great sense of relief, Sara let the drops roll down her cheeks. Being the older, and more responsible, sister meant Sara was given the task of handling Uncle Frank’s affairs. Running the apartment complex’s necessary chores, in addition to juggling her teaching job, was overwhelming to say the least.
Kate tried her best to help, but the young nurse just started working at a new hospital and was stretched thin for time to do much else.
Sara was unsuccessfully trying to not worry over the impending day’s task when a sharp knock on the driver side window made her jump out of her seat. The tops of her thighs slammed painfully into the bottom of the steering wheel.
Sara turned to the window, and was startled to see a pair of familiar blue eyes. They belonged to one of Gwen’s distant relatives, Ronan.
The man looked alarmed with Sara’s reaction and held up his hands in a placating gesture. I’m sorry, he mouthed with a sincere expression.
With a shake of her head, Sara pulled herself together and gathered her belongings from the passenger seat. She wiped her eyes, thankful she did not put on mascara that morning, before moving to exit the car. She opened the door once Ronan stepped out of the way.
Work of Fate (Dual Court Kiss Book 2) Page 15
