Crown of Fire (The Forbidden Fae Book 1)

by Linsey Hall

  “Okay. We’ll be waiting for you.”

  They’d be well hidden, I was sure, but they’d be there. “Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.”

  “Any time.”

  I hung up, then gave Connor’s hand one more squeeze. There was no time left to spare, so I hurried from the room and found Iain waiting outside for me.

  When I stepped out into the hall, something had changed about him. He’d never been warm and cuddly, but somehow, he was so stiff and cold that I almost thought the curse had taken him.

  “We need to go.” His voice was stiff.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Fear shivered across my spine. Did he sense the love potion in his system? He’d been different with me in the Dolmen—maybe he’d noticed the change and suspected me?

  No way.

  “It’s time.” He gripped my arm as if to make sure I would not run.

  “I’m going! I told you I want to do this.”

  His jaw tightened.

  Or maybe he was steeling himself against what was to come. Whatever it was, it scared me.

  I jerked my arm, but couldn’t break his hold. So I ignored him, staring ahead as we walked down the hall. My voice was hard when I spoke. “We need to bring Connor to the ceremony site.”

  Iain nodded sharply. “We’ll be bringing all of the frozen ones. They’ll wait with the rest of the Court on the higher viewing hill. Only you and I will go down to the stone circle.”

  “So you really don’t know what’s going to happen when we arrive?”

  “I do not. We’ll perform the ceremony, and from there…what will happen will happen.”

  The unknown was driving me crazy. We were going into it with as many tools as the Rowan Seer had indicated would help us. But how the hell did we use them?

  Iain led me to the same war room that we’d visited before. This time, it was full to the brim with council members and armed guard. All were dressed in their war gear, with weapons strapped to their backs and thighs. Silver swords and long, delicate bows with quivers of arrows.

  It was a stark reminder of the fact that we really didn’t know what we’d be facing—but Iain thought there would be a fight.

  I had a feeling he was going to be right.

  The next hours passed in a blur. The solstice was coming, hurtling toward me like a train. The Fae mobilized quickly, and I realized that they’d started planning for this long before Iain had found me. Because no one knew what to expect at the ceremony site, they’d decided it was safest to bring all of the frozen ones to the site. Just in case I magically manifested a cure or something.

  The pressure was enough to cripple me. I’d been going on adrenaline and desperation until now, hoping that the mystery would unfold and reveal itself by the end.

  But I was nearly to the end and I still didn’t know what the hell to do. Iain and I had led the procession through the castle toward the courtyard, where we now waited for the carriages.

  From what I could tell, the whole thing had all the bones of a traditional mating ceremony, but without the finer details like flowers and music. Which was good, because that would have been weird as hell. The entire Court waited behind us, silent and tense.

  “This is the strangest farce,” I whispered to Iain.

  His expression was still cold and hard, but he nodded. My gaze darted to the right, where the wagons full of the frozen Fae waited. Connor was there. There were dozens of the Fae who had already woken from their comas and shifted into the strange, wingless creatures.

  A shiver raced over me. “You had the wagons custom built, didn’t you?”

  He nodded. “We’ve been planning for this for a long time.”

  Fates, this was a nightmare.

  A team of four perfect white stags trotted into the courtyard pulling a carriage. The vehicle itself was built entirely of pale gleaming wood with silver inlay meant to look like waves. It was beautiful. The driver was a young Fae man with a tense, stressed-out face. He stopped the carriage in front of us, and Iain opened the door for me.

  I climbed in, my black boots looking stark and intense against the fine pale wood.

  I hadn’t spent much time as a girl imagining my mating ceremony—and certainly no time at all after I’d learned the prophecy about my future mate—but it definitely hadn’t been like this.

  Who the heck could imagine something like this?

  Iain climbed in behind me and shut the door, and the carriage rumbled down the drive. We sat in tense silence. Any camaraderie we’d built earlier was totally gone. Tension had driven it away like a pack of wild dogs chasing a hare.

  Before I knew it, we were passing through the stone arch to the human realm. I felt the pull of the ether, then we were on the other side.

  “Why isn't the sacred circle in the Fae realm?” I asked.

  “The first king of the Sea Court married a human woman. It is tradition to have the ceremony on neutral territory.” His gaze flicked out the window. “Guards have been positioned to keep humans away.”

  For their own safety, I had to imagine.

  Before long, the carriage was rolling to a stop. Iain climbed out and held open the door. I joined him, and he stuck close to me as I inspected the surroundings.

  “Afraid I’m going to run?” I asked.

  “No.” His voice was stiff, his eyes conflicted.

  It was still dark out, but the moon was bright enough to show that on one side of the carriage, the craggy green hills rose high into the sky. On the other side, they sloped down to the crashing sea. I could feel the presence of my friends, but couldn’t see them. They’d be well hidden, of course. The FireSouls were experts at that.

  I glanced at Iain. He was watching me, something unreadable on his face.

  I swallowed hard. If we went through with this mating ceremony, which definitely seemed like it was going to happen, he’d be bound to me. Compelled to come for me.

  Even if I saved all of his people, this wasn’t over for me. Not by a long shot.

  A chill morning wind blew off the ocean as more and more of his people joined us. Within minutes, the hillside was full of Fae. The carriages carrying the frozen Fae were positioned on the pathway where the land was flat, and I spotted Connor.

  “I’m going to see him one more time,” I said.

  “Be quick,” Iain said. “The sun rises.”

  I nodded and walked to him, partially because I wanted to see him again, but also because I wanted to point out where he was located for the FireSouls. We’d have to make a quick run for it when all of this was over, and it would help if they knew where he was.

  I could feel their eyes on me as I squeezed Connor’s hand, then whispered, “I’ll figure this out. I promise.”

  The SoulStone burned against my chest where it was tucked into an inner pocket in my jacket, and I pressed my hand to it.

  Together, Iain and I strode down to the sea. The path became narrower and rocky and the waves crashed more loudly. The moon shined brightly as we walked, and faerie lights crept out from the bushes. They flitted along the path, lighting the way.

  The tips of the waves began to glow with similar sparkles.

  Iain stiffened. “I haven’t seen that in years.”

  “Does the sea approve of this, then?”

  “I think it does.” There was something torn in his voice.

  My heart thundered as we neared the stone circle. Thirteen slabs of granite rose tall against the dark morning sky. Faerie lights flitted around them, moving toward the center to float around an altar made of sparkling water. The water stood upright on its own, the liquid supported by nothing I could see.

  “That should be impossible,” I said.

  “In most places, yes.” He stopped at the edge of the stone circle and looked at me. “Ready?”

  I swallowed hard as my heart beat a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

  No.

  No, I was definitely not ready.

  I straightened my spine. “Y
es.”

  He held out his hand, and I took it. Icy heat raced up my arm as I looked toward the liquid altar.

  Together, we stepped through the stones. Magic sparked against my skin, and the world went silent. The crash of waves dimmed, and the presence of the other Fae people faded. They were a good fifty yards back, but it felt like miles now.

  “The sun nears the horizon,” Iain said.

  I could feel it, warm against my skin. It was a Fae talent I hadn’t lost when I’d left Dartmoor.

  Ice chilled my skin as I stopped in front of the altar. The unknown was killing me.

  All around, the sky was beginning to lighten as the sun approached the horizon.

  Iain drew in an unsteady breath, his hand tight around mine. I could feel the tension wafting off of him and looked up to meet his gaze.

  His face was pale and his eyes unnaturally dark. He didn’t look at me as he spoke, but his voice was rough. “If I have to sacrifice you…”

  Fear spiked through me.

  “I—I just can’t.” The words were torn from him. “It’s my duty to my people, but…”

  The love potion had worked. And fates, when he figured out what I’d done to him…

  He was going to be so pissed.

  When I spoke, my throat was tight. “You won’t have to.” Because I would fix this. I had to fix this. “What next?”

  “We wait for the sun.”

  As if it had heard his words, the brilliant orb began to crest the horizon. A beam of light shot toward us, illuminating the altar and making the water glow with light from within.

  When was I supposed to use the SoulStone? Shouldn’t there be some kind of sign?

  “Raise your hand.” Iain raised his own hand, hovering it palm down over the altar.

  I mimicked his movement, and magic swirled around our palms. The water rippled beneath our hands, and a beautiful silver dagger appeared on the surface, lying on it as if it were a solid table.

  An image flashed in my head of the nightmare I’d had—Iain, stabbing me in the heart while I lay on an altar like this. Except that altar had been ice.

  This was water.

  I swallowed hard, but it was impossible to relax my tensed muscles. Iain reached for the knife, and I flinched.

  He made a small noise in his throat that sounded a hell of a lot like pain.

  Carefully, he picked up the knife and sliced his palm, then handed me the dagger. I cut my own palm, feeling the bite of pain.

  “Submerge your hand.”

  My heart thundered as I followed his lead, dipping my bloody hand into the liquid of the altar. Magic flowed up my arm, leaving an intense sparking sensation in its wake.

  It arced between Iain and me, connecting us with a powerful thread of magic that seemed to illuminate my soul. His too, in fact. It almost felt as if our souls were touching. Desire sliced through me, sharp and strong. I leaned toward Iain, unable to help myself.

  Water began to arc around us, forming a cage as the sun’s rays shined through it. It sparkled like diamonds, but the entire effect made me feel claustrophobic.

  “Is this normal?” I asked.

  “It is.” His voice vibrated with a low intensity.

  The ice began to freeze, turning a glittering blue.

  “That is not, however.” Worry tinged his voice.

  My gaze darted around, taking in the jagged edges of the ice that formed a cage around us.

  Iain withdrew his hand from the water altar, which had begun to freeze. I yanked mine out. “Is the ceremony over?”

  “It is now. Something is wrong.”

  My heart thundered as I tried to figure out what the hell was happening. I could feel a greater connection with him, but threat tightened the air until it felt like Iain was disappearing. The only thing I could focus on was the sight of the ocean, which was rising up beyond our cage of ice.

  Iain threw his hands out and a blast of magic exploded from his palms. The sound of a roaring ocean filled my head as a powerful gale ripped through the air. The ice that had caged us in shattered outward, sending thousands of frozen daggers flying through the sky.

  The altar in front of me had frozen solid, but it wasn’t the only thing. The ocean itself was turning from liquid blue to a hard, sharp white.

  I gasped. “The ocean is freezing.”

  About fifty yards off shore, the ocean turned to bright white ice. The white spread outward as the water froze. Waves rushed toward us, then froze. They piled up on top of each other, growing taller and taller as they reached the rock outcropping upon which we stood.

  “The ceremony triggered something.” Iain strode toward the edge of the stone circle closest to the sea.

  “Did you expect that?” I shouted after him.

  “No.”

  I looked up toward the people gathered on the cliffs around us, looking down with horrified faces. The warriors among them launched themselves into the air, weapons drawn and wings glinting.

  I turned away, looking past Iain toward the sea. The waves continued to pile up on top of each other, freezing and growing, freezing and growing.

  Soon, the ice was moving. It broke off to form figures—long legs and arms, a solid torso, and a head with no face. They began to climb the cliffs toward us.

  The sea was attacking.

  16

  “Ice demons!” Iain shouted, drawing a sword from the ether.

  I called on a huge bronze ax and sprinted toward him.

  All around, the monsters formed. They were at least ten feet tall, climbing swiftly out of the sea and heading for the people on the cliffs.

  Iain turned, his command carrying across the wind. “Get the wagons out of here!”

  But they couldn’t.

  The ice was already rising up from the sea to the level of the cliffs, blocking off their escape to their realm.

  Whatever was attacking meant business, and it was headed for the most vulnerable of the Sea Fae. Those with wings dive bombed the ice demons who were climbing toward the wagons. They fired arrows and shot blasts of magic. Some wielded swords with fierce precision, lunging to slice at the necks of the attackers. They shattered, ice flying.

  I spun back toward the frozen ocean. There was a sliminess to the air, as if the curse were going out of control. The stone circle seemed to be protected for some reason. The monsters were avoiding it, making it safe. But there was no way in hell I would hide out here.

  Iain sprinted toward me, gripping my arms hard. His gaze was intense on mine. “I have to protect my people. You need to hide.”

  Shock lanced me. “Hide??”

  “Get somewhere safe.” The command in his voice was hard as steel. “Hide.”

  “You have to be kidding. I’m here to fight. That is literally the whole reason you kidnapped me!”

  “I—can’t.” His voice broke. “I can’t risk you.”

  “Well, that’s fine. Because I can risk myself.”

  A tortured look flashed on his face, and I broke away from him. Time was running out. The love potion was definitely influencing him, and he was definitely going to notice the effects when the spell broke. But I’d deal with that later. For now, I knew what I had to do.

  I had to fight.

  It was like the ice curse had gone into overdrive, and only I could do something about it. I had no idea how to use the SoulStone, but I’d figure it the hell out.

  Iain gave me a frustrated look, then pressed a hard, fast kiss to my lips.

  His wings flared from his back and he shot into the sky, heading toward the battle. He flew with a power and grace that astounded me, then hovered over the solidified water. He raised his hands, his magic surging as he commanded the sea to force its way up through the ice. The water surged upward, cracking the ice into huge sheets as it sucked dozens of the monsters back into its grip.

  They disappeared into the dark water, clawing at the ice floes to try to stay afloat. But Iain was too strong. He forced them down into the depths.<
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  But there were still so many.

  All around, the ice monsters charged up the hillside. They were coming from deeper out to sea, forming from the frozen water and striding across the solid surface.

  Fear iced me to the bone.

  A shriek sounded in the air above. I looked up, spotting Cass flying overhead in her griffon form. Her sleek brown feathers glinted in the morning sun and her eagle head swiveled, searching for ice men to attack.

  I should have known she wouldn’t be able to sit the fight out once it got going. The Fae turned their attack to her briefly, confused by her appearance. When she dive bombed a series of ice monsters headed for the wagons, they realized she was on their side and halted their attack.

  Nix and Del sprinted down the hillside toward the ice monsters that clambered up over the cliffside. Del was in her Phantom form—transparent blue and deadly, swinging her sword with fierce delight. Nix had conjured a massive mallet and was slamming it into the heads of any monster who got too close.

  Ice shattered all around, but there were still too many.

  I could join them, taking out monster after monster.

  But they kept forming. Iain managed to force the sea water up through the ice and suck dozens of the creatures back into the depths, but it appeared that they were endless.

  Magic called to me from the ocean, pulling hard at my soul. I needed to get to the edge of the headlands, to the cliff right out over the sea. I could feel it.

  I sprinted to the stone circle, gripping my largest bronze ax in my hands. I sucked in a deep breath and stepped out into the crush of ice monsters that were flowing around the edges of the protected place.

  The ice monsters converged on me, reaching out with icy claws. I slammed my ax into their heads, smashing them like piñatas. Their icy claws cut into my coat, slicing at my skin beneath.

  They were going for the SoulStone.

  It burned warm against my chest, the antidote to all of this freezing ice.

  I just had to use it the right way.

  But they were trying to take it. The threat gave me renewed energy, and I swung my ax like a mad woman, breaking my way toward the edge of the green cliff where the ice had risen up all the way to the grass.