Chapter 52

Golden and russet leaves crunched under my boots as I hiked through the woods. Months ago, if someone had told me I’d be tromping toward Unseelie lands to save a Fae, I’d have thought them insane.

Guess I was the crazy one now. Crazy for three Fae. My heart warmed at the thought of my men. I missed them already, but my mind kept drifting to Darrius’ pale form and how I had to save him.

In the distance, storm clouds gathered, and I hoped they would move further north. Last thing I needed was to get stuck out here during a thunderstorm and delayed in locating the dragonroot.

The thought of not making it back to Darrius in time made my chest hurt.

At least I was loaded up with weapons now and didn’t feel exposed and naked like before when the two shadow kin had attacked me. I patted the iron dagger slung across one hip. Another was in my boot while my other held a silver and a matching one strapped to my opposite thigh.

A snap of a twig sounded behind me, and I whirled, one of the iron daggers flashing in my hand.

Nothing stirred and no animals caught my sight. Squirrels hoped from Earthside to here. Maybe that’s why they were so quick. Being here must have granted them a touch of Fae magic.

I kept my dagger ready but turned back to the path. Whatever the noise had been was gone now. Pinpricks like someone watched me dotted along my back. I passed gnarled branched trees, my senses straining to figure out where the stalking creature was hiding. Any dark Fae after me would not take me by surprise. Not again. Not when I had weapons to fight back with.

Still, unease crept down my spine and I had to push aside the feeling to flee. The darkness that had lashed out at me in the kitchen and the figure in the weapon’s chamber came flooding back to my mind.

I hated that twice the enemy had gotten the upper hand on me. It had made me feel weak and I hadn’t felt that way since I watched helplessly as Fae had fought and killed my mom. I swallowed down the prickly ball of emotions that stung my throat.

Further into the woods, shadows hid the sun. Drops of rain splattered along the ground in front of me. Shit. Just what I needed. I ducked under an evergreen tree for shelter.

A scuffle of a shoe on rock sounded. My breaths quickened and I took out my silver dagger for my other hand. I had no idea if what was following me was harmed by iron or silver and I was tired of taking chances, so I held each knife in a hand.

“Show yourself,” I yelled. This was happening on my time. I was sick of these monsters jumping out at me. “Come on, coward.”

Varaux materialized a few feet from me in front of a flowery bush. And my shoulders relaxed some.

“What are you doing out here?” he asked with his nose crinkling.

I kept my weapons in my hands but lowered them. “I could say the same of you. Darrius is hurt.” I straightened. “I have to find dragonroot on the shadow kin border for him.”

“I know,” he snapped. “And you’re out here alone? Why not send the guards to fetch it for you?”

I sheathed my silver knife. Iron would hurt Varaux, which I didn’t want to do, but I didn’t fully trust him either. He had admitted that he had let the dark Fae into the castle. And now he had followed me out of the castle.

“Look, Varaux, I don’t have time for this. Darrius needs—”

“That’s why I’m here.” He crossed his arms and sighed. “I can’t leave you out here alone to face dark Fae when you’re trying to save him.”

“Then why do you sound grumpy about it?” I asked lightly. Truth was, I was glad I wasn’t alone right now. Which was strange. I’d been alone whenever I fought dark Fae in the past. Maggie had hung back and been my Alfred, so to speak. She was better at gadgets and analysis than battles. But every time I had put down a monster, I’d done it by myself.

“Because I never thought a Fae queen would risk her life for someone else.” He hung his head. “Much less one raised by Unseelie and humans. I’m sorry, please forgive me. I lay my life at your feet.”

“I see.” I put away my iron dagger. Though a trickle of doubt remained as to his intentions. But having him to help me navigate through unfamiliar Fae lands was a bonus, I would just keep alert to any trickery. “And I appreciate your help.”

He looked up with his big, brown eyes hopeful. “You’re not mad at what I did?”

Sure I was. Because of him, Darrius’ life hung in the balance with letting in the dark Fae assassins. He would answer for his crimes, but if he helped me save Darrius, then I would count that in his favor.

“I’ve made my share of mistakes.” I squared my shoulders. “Right now, we have bigger things to worry about than the past.”

“You really do care about Darrius—about all three princes.” He sounded bewildered.

“Of course I do.” I offered him a smile. Every day I was falling more and more in love with Darrius, Malcolm, and Simeon. I was learning that the Fae were as diverse and fractured as humans. None were perfect. My foster mom didn’t have to protect and raise me and yet she did. That alone told me that I had been wrong about my prejudices. “And I care about all Fae. Seelie and Unseelie. I thought I could change things. Bring peace and put an end to your wars, but I was wrong. Now I see that the dark Fae are evil. Why else would they create and unleash such vile creatures?”

“I’d like to help, to make up for what I did.”

Relief filled me that I may have won over this brownie that I really wanted to do right by all Fae. Though, I’d learned a long time ago not to trust words. Action was what spoke of a person’s true heart. And the only way to test Varaux motivations was to see what he would do.

A boom of thunder crashed.

“Great. Think you can figure out a way for us not to get struck by a bolt of lightning while we’re out here.” I joked even though the thunder sounded like an angry giant stomping toward us. And I’d rather have Varaux out in front instead of sneaking behind me. Keep your enemies closer… wasn’t that the line? I wasn’t sure I could trust him, but if it meant saving Darrius, I’d dance with the devil himself. “Like can you zap us somewhere else?”

“I can’t shadow step if that’s what you’re implying,” he said in a snarky tone.

“Fine.” I held up my hands. Not that I knew what the hell shadow stepping was, but I could tell from his tone that it was worse than me saying a your momma joke. “It was only a suggestion. Let’s go. The quicker we leave, the quicker we can get ahead of this storm.”

“Hold your Fae horses.” He pressed a finger to his cheek. “I said I couldn’t shadow step. I didn’t say anything about we couldn’t ask for help and safe passage.”

Warning bells rang in my head. “From whom?”

He scampered ahead and I chased after him. No way was I going to let this Fae out of my sight to plan something else that would hurt me or my men. Varaux stopped before a murky lake.

“Do you have an invisible boat?” I asked hopefully.

“Better.” He whistled and the water stirred.

Then a Kelpie rose from the middle of the lake. Its black coat gleamed in the sunlight and its eyes of smoking, glowing coals stared right at me. In a few steps, it was fully out of the water and my scream stuck in my throat. The thing must be at least twenty-hands high. I never knew water horses could get so huge. Water dripped down its flank and soaked the bank.

Varaux might have said that he was on my side, but this proved he was only out to kill me. Kelpies took their victims to the bottom of the lake or river and drowned them, and I had no intention of dying today.

I yanked out my iron dagger, cursing under my breath. The creature shrilled a cry that had all the hairs on my neck standing up. It pawed at the ground, lowering its head like a bull. Magic pulsed with its muscles and I’d have to be quick to pierce its heart before its power locked me to its back. Then it could romp back to the water and devour my body and soul at the bottom of the lake.

Not happening. I tightened my grip on the iron dagger and moved into a defense position with my knees bent.

“Put your weapon away,” Varaux hissed.

The waterhorse charged straight for me. I leapt out of the way, but not fast enough. Its shoulder clipped me on the hip. The impact chucked me backward on my back and my knife flew from my fingers. Pain shot up my side.

I moved to draw another dagger, but the horse reared. Its front hooves aimed for my face.