Crown of Fire (The Forbidden Fae Book 1)

by Linsey Hall

  His scent surrounded me as we flew, and I couldn’t help but get the strongest sense of him. Sacrifice and honor and anger and even a little despair.

  He didn’t like his role. Not in this, at least.

  That was good for me. If the Rowan Seer couldn’t help us and I couldn’t attack him, at least he might care enough about me not to kill me. His Court would succumb to the Ice curse, but I shoved away the guilt. No matter what, Fae lives would be lost. I couldn’t let it be the lives of my people.

  “Don’t go too high into the air. We’re more likely to be spotted,” I said.

  He nodded sharply, and we burst through the entrance to the mines. He landed immediately and set me down almost reluctantly. I stepped away, catching my breath and brushing my hands off on my pants.

  He spun in a circle, and I followed suit, taking in our surroundings. The scenery was so familiar and beloved that grief stabbed me hard enough to make me gasp.

  We were in the middle of the moor, where the land stretched forever in rolling hills topped with tors, great piles of granite that looked like tumbled down towers. The tors were entrances to the Fae realm, each accessing a different part. Yellow gorse stretched across as a gorgeous carpet, interspersed with wet bogs and tumbling rivers. Here and there, ancient stone ruins dotted the landscape—stone circles, rows, cairns, kistvaens.

  Wind whipped my hair back from my head, and I searched for the tor that would mark the entrance to the realm of the Rowan Seer. It was located on Fae turf, but it was also its own realm. If we were lucky, we’d avoid my people entirely. They were here, of course, just in the other realm. As long as we didn’t catch them while they were entering or exiting the human realm, we’d be fine.

  I spotted the Nun’s Cross in the distance—a small stone cross that acted as a location marker. I pointed to it. “We need to head toward that cross. Fox Tor is past it.”

  Iain nodded and we set off, following a track for a while. I couldn’t keep my gaze off the tors that surrounded us. I hadn’t been so close to my homeland in so long, but the feelings all rushed back to me immediately—a sense of belonging that clashed with the pain of being evicted for the greater good.

  I shoved the thought away and kept walking.

  When we reached the cross, I pointed to the small abandoned farmhouse. “We need to go past there and through Fox Tor Mire.”

  “Mire?”

  I nodded, a frown on my face. Fox Tor Mire was one of the most dangerous bogs on the moor. Some of the locals knew how to get through, and I remembered a bit of the path, but not all of it. “Just watch your footing.”

  We left the track and cut past the old farm. A shiver of cold drifted out from it, as if it were haunted, and a low fog began to gather over the ground.

  Iain moved closer to me. “We can’t be separated.”

  I nodded sharply, though that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. My vow still bound me, but I could work within that. All the same, I stuck close to his side as the ground became more uneven and wetter. Water began to gleam in huge puddles, and tufts of grasses provided high points to step on.

  Soon, the fog was so thick that it was impossible to see any of the surrounding tors. Without them, I had to go on memory alone.

  “Are we still headed in the right direction?” Iain asked.

  “I think so.” I jumped across a particularly large puddle, aiming for a higher tuft of grass that would provide a little island to keep my foot dry.

  Except the island didn’t exist. My foot hit it, then kept going, splashing down through some water. I fell and landed on my hands and knees, my leg caught in the water all the way up to the thigh.

  An illusion.

  My heart thundered.

  Iain lunged for me, grabbing me around the waist and yanking me out of the water. Something tight wound around my ankle, and I jerked, trying to pull away from it.

  Whatever the creature was, its grip was strong.

  “Something’s got me,” I grunted as I drew a dagger from the ether. I reached into the cold water and sliced at the grip.

  For a moment, it tightened, and fear pierced me, making my heart thunder. I hated not seeing what I was fighting.

  The knife found its mark, and the creature loosened its grip. I yanked my leg free, panting. Iain pulled me up, dragging me straight into his arms so my feet were entirely off the ground.

  “That’s the problem with this bog.” My breath came quickly. “It’s sneaky.”

  “I’ll carry you.”

  I arched a brow at him. “Do I look like the sort who wants to be carried?”

  “I don’t much care.”

  “Well, I walk on my own.” I pushed at his shoulders. “I know you just want to protect your sacrifice victim, but I’m not feeling it, okay? I take care of myself.”

  His jaw hardened, and I could almost feel that it was the sacrifice victim bit he didn’t like.

  But it was the truth, wasn’t it?

  He set me down carefully, and I made sure not to move my feet off the sturdy ground beneath them. I searched the ground around me. “Test everything before stepping on it.”

  “No kidding.”

  I started forward again, pressing on each lump of ground carefully. After a few feet, it became apparent that wasn’t going to work. A patch of ground could appear to be solid, then it would disappear as soon as I put any real weight on it, sending me into the water up to my waist.

  “Shit!” I tried to drag myself out.

  Iain was next to me, up to his thighs in a puddle. A frown creased his brow, and he drew his wings. The magnificent things flared behind his back, and he surged upright, breaking himself free of the water and whatever held him.

  Heart pounding, water surrounding me, I reached down and sliced at the creature gripping my leg. A strong, wiry hand clutched at my wrist, and I hissed, jerking away from it.

  I sliced at the creature that gripped my ankle, nicking it at the same time Iain’s strong hands gripped my arms. He yanked me free and pulled me up into the air. I clutched at him, wrapping my legs around his waist as he flew us up into the thick clouds.

  Fog surrounded us on all sides, protecting us from the sight of any Fae who might be around.

  “I’m just going to fly us.” He spoke quietly into my ear, his warm breath making me shiver.

  The connection between us was undeniable. Despite the danger that surrounded us, I was so aware of him. I couldn’t help it.

  I clutched him tightly as his strong wings carried us into the air. Fog filled the air, continuing to conceal our presence.

  Soon, powerful gusts buffeted us. Iain resisted, his huge wings beating hard against the air. But the wind picked up speed, the gale shrieking across the moor and driving us back toward the ground.

  We hurtled toward the bog, and Iain twisted at the right moment, taking the brunt of the fall. I slammed against him, water splashing up around us as we skidded through the bog.

  Soaking, we scrambled to our feet, panting.

  “The wind came out of nowhere.” Iain stared up at the sky. “Yet it didn’t blow away the fog.”

  “It’s meant to make us cross the bog on foot.” I spun in a circle, inspecting the deep puddles and tufts of grass that rose above, providing stepping stones. “Yet this is enchanted, too.”

  He raised his hands. “I’m going to try something.”

  Iain’s magic swelled on the air, and the water surrounding us began to shimmer. The scent of the sea combined with the sound of crashing waves, and the bog water began to rush away from us, revealing all of the solid ground.

  “Without the water, there can be no illusion,” he said.

  “Excellent.” I got my bearings and pointed west. “We need to head that way. Fox Tor Mire is up there.”

  Iain kept his magic flowing as we walked. I still stuck to the high ground, jumping from grass tuft to grass tuft, but this time, no sneaky water waited under an illusion to grab me. Whatever monsters had been lurking
underneath had fled with the water.

  “Where is the water going?” I asked.

  “To the rivers. When we leave, I’ll return it to this place.”

  “Thanks.” As much as I didn’t want to deal with it right now, we couldn’t leave a wetland devoid of water. This was a protected ecosystem. Full of monsters, but protected all the same.

  Ahead of us, white wisps formed in the air, pulling at me. I winced, looking away. “Don’t follow the wisps.”

  “They’ll lead us off course?”

  “Yeah.”

  I tried to avoid looking at them, but they tugged at my vision all the same. Damned things. “Human locals say that if you get lost here, you can turn your coat inside out and you’ll be able to find your way out.”

  “I’m fairly certain they say to follow the rivers downstream.”

  A grin tugged at my lips. “The more practical ones say that, yes.”

  The white lights continued to flicker in front of us, pulling so strongly at me that I felt my feet diverge off course. I hissed and jerked my gaze away, trying to head back the right direction.

  But I was hopelessly turned around. The white wisps were everywhere, distracting me desperately.

  “Do you know which way we were headed?” I asked.

  “I’m losing track of it.” Frustration echoed in his voice. “These damned wisps.”

  They floated everywhere, each one yanking hard at my consciousness, insisting that it was taking me the right way. I couldn’t decide which one to follow. Maybe they all led to the right place?

  I turned to follow one, thinking subconsciously that maybe this wasn’t a good idea.

  Nah—these wisps were just helping. I picked one and trailed after it, ignoring the warning bells going off at the back of my mind. Iain was here somewhere, but I could no longer see him out of the corner of my vision. All I had to do was follow that wisp…

  Hey! What are you doing?

  I blinked and looked down, spotting the small russet fox. He looked up at me, curiosity gleaming in his black eyes.

  “I’m going to the Rowan Seer.”

  No, you’re not. You’re following the wisps like a dummy. He jerked his head to the right. So is he.

  I looked to where he’d pointed and spotted Iain only a few feet away. He blinked at the little fox, as if coming out of a trance, then met my gaze. “We’ve been led astray.”

  “No kidding.” Embarrassment burned. I should have expected this.

  I can lead you.

  I looked down at the fox. “Really?”

  Really? Duh, of course. This is Fox Tor Mire. You’re headed to Fox Tor. I am a fox. Do the math. This is my turf, lady.

  “Good point. I should have realized that.”

  “You’re speaking to it?” Iain asked.

  “Of course. You can’t hear him?”

  You’re the only one who can hear me.

  “You must be a Fae fox,” I said.

  Of course I am. Fae Fox of Dartmoor, at your service.

  “Thanks, Puka.” I looked up at Iain. “He’s going to lead us.”

  “You trust him?”

  Puka growled at Iain.

  “Of course. And it’s not like you have a better idea.”

  He grimaced. “I hate to admit it, but true.”

  Come on, I haven’t got all day. Puka trotted off, then looked behind, catching my eye. I’m going to trust you to pay me back in beef snacks.”

  “Of course. You can count on me.”

  He nodded, then turned back and continued to trot across the bog, hopping from grass tuft to grass tuft. We followed him, going in a single file line with Iain bringing up the rear. It was easier to ignore the wisps while following Puka, especially since he ran so low to the ground.

  After a while, the bog began to dry out and the land slanted upward.

  I looked at Iain. “We’re climbing the hill to the tor, now.”

  “Good thing the fog hasn’t dissipated.”

  That was the truth. We’d brought invisibility potions just in case, but this fog concealed us enough that we didn’t need them. Puka ran all the way to the top of the hill, never slowing his pace. As we neared the tor, boulders began to litter the ground. When the huge granite towers appeared, my heart swelled.

  I hadn’t stood amongst the tors in years. Up here, wind whipped my hair back from my face and the air smelled so fresh I could have cried. Fog still surrounded us, but if it weren’t here, I’d be able to see for miles.

  “You’ve missed this.” Iain’s voice was quiet.

  I nodded, my throat tight. “It’s my home.”

  His jaw tightened, and it looked like he wanted to speak.

  I imagined he wanted to apologize for his role in driving me from my home, but that was probably crazy. I shook my head and turned from him, searching for the entrance to the hidden realm that protected the Rowan Seer.

  Puka yipped to catch my eye. I’m out of here. Something tells me you don’t have an invitation, and I don’t want to be here when the Wise One finds out.

  Damn. He was right. “Yeah. Scram, pal. I’ll see you later.”

  Maybe.

  “I still owe you some snacks, so I’ll see you.”

  Good point. You better pay up.

  “I will.”

  He trotted off down the hill, disappearing quickly into the fog.

  “Come on.” I turned to enter the piles of granite and slipped between two stone towers. “We need to find the entrance.”

  Iain followed me, and it didn’t take long to find the spot that vibrated with magic. It was roughly in the middle of the collection of granite towers, a narrow crevice between two pillars that was smeared on either side with a dark substance.

  Quickly, I drew a dagger from the ether and sliced my hand, then glanced at Iain. “You’re going to want to follow suit.”

  He mimicked my gestures, and we each smeared blood on the rock.

  “Think of your intentions toward this place. Toward the seer.”

  He nodded, and went silent.

  I come in peace, to ask questions that will save my life and those of many others. Please admit me. The last few words were more of a plea than a statement, and I prayed the seer would have mercy on me.

  Nothing happened for a moment, and my skin chilled as my heart raced.

  Please.

  Magic sparked on the air, and the space in front of me shimmered.

  “Come on!” I lunged through it before the seer changed her mind.

  Iain followed, and we spilled out onto a sloping hillside. It was like the moor, but a bit different, with softer emerald grass instead of the heartier moorland grasses. The sky was brilliant blue here, a backdrop for the incredible tree that rose in front of us, blackened and weathered.

  The tree looked like a fierce wind had blown until it was bent permanently at an angle. It was far bigger than any other Rowan I’d ever seen, and magic sparked around it, though, bright and fierce.

  The limbs shook, then lashed out, their movement so fast I could barely process it. They smacked into Iain and me, throwing us off our feet.

  10

  The blow from the branch was fierce. We flew through the air, crashing against each other and tumbling to the ground. Once again, Iain somehow managed to roll to protect me, landing underneath me. Quickly, he flipped over to shield me from the lashing branches, taking the hits to his back.

  “What’s going on?” he growled.

  “We, ah—we didn’t have an invitation.”

  He winced as a branch struck him again.

  Why was he protecting me so aggressively? Was it to keep me alive until the ceremony? Or something more?

  I couldn’t help but think it was partially the second option. I was his mate. He couldn’t help himself. And I honestly couldn’t see how he was going to manage to sacrifice me when the time came. But if he didn’t, everyone in his kingdom would freeze. Including him.

  But the alternative was me dying, alo
ng with all of my people.

  We were both trapped. Terribly trapped. There was no way out of this without one of us dying along with our entire Courts.

  I pushed at his shoulders. “Get up. We need to sweet talk our way out of this.”

  “Sweet talk?”

  “Convince her that our request is worthy.”

  He took the hint and climbed off me, then turned to face the tree, putting himself between me and the attacking branches. I scrambled upright and darted around him, drawing a shield from the ether.

  I caught his exasperated look and said, “I hide behind no man.”

  When I turned back to the tree, a particularly large branch slammed into my shield. I braced myself and skidded backward, but didn’t fall.

  “It is Caera, Fae of Fire,” I shouted. “And Iain, Fae of Ice.”

  “Fae of the Sea,” he corrected.

  I glanced at him and nodded. “Fae of the Sea. We are here to ask questions about the fate of our Courts.”

  The tree’s branches shuddered and went still, returning to their original position. My shoulders relaxed slightly, but my breathing still came quickly. Nothing happened for a moment, and Iain stepped toward me.

  He leaned close and whispered against my ear, “What’s going on?”

  “We’re waiting to see if she appears.”

  “The tree doesn’t talk?”

  I arched a brow and looked at him. “What, like with a mouth made of bark?”

  He shrugged. “You Fire Fae of Dartmoor are strange. How am I to know?”

  I scowled at him. “No stranger than you.”

  His brows lowered. “We need to stop bickering.”

  He was right, damn it. I turned from him and faced the tree, my throat tight with hope. Everything was riding on this.

  Despite the blackened bark—or probably because of it—the twisted tree was magnificent. Dark mist formed around the trunk, swirling on the breeze. It coalesced to form a figure, and my heart leapt.

  The seer had lived in the massive Rowan tree for as long as my people had been on Dartmoor. Thousands of years, even before the Great Burning. The figure was nearly solid by the time the mist finished swirling, but her features were indistinct because she was made of a thick dark mist that represented the spirit of the tree.