Page 60 of A Promise of Lies (Shadows of the Tenebris Court #3)

59

Bastian

T enebris was quiet and dark, locked up for the new moon. We passed through the city with ease and clattered across the bridge in single file. My heart was in my throat. Where was Kat?

But I could see nothing through the fog.

“She hides what she does,” the Wild Hunt’s leader intoned as we dismounted.

We left the stags and horses at the main entrance, and I ordered the Wild Hunt to stay their hands against any fae we might encounter. If any guards tried to block our way, I wouldn’t have them killed. I would find a way to explain and get them to stand down.

But inside, there were no guards. There was… no one.

The Wild Hunt followed me into Dusk’s side of the palace, as a shriek pierced my ears.

Scything claws cut through the air from both sides. I barely rolled out of the way as the spot where I’d been standing was assaulted by a pair of Horrors.

Shit. Two together. If I could evade them, the Wild Hunt should be enough of a distraction to let me pass.

But a low sound of anguish came from both the Wild Hunt and the Horrors, the noises almost identical.

Ears ringing, I blocked strike after strike from the Horrors. Yet something wrong scratched at me, and not only because they were inside the palace, standing in the place of guards.

It took long moments of me ducking and searching for an opening before I realised. Their movements. They were always scuttling and strange, but this was different. They twitched and strained as though trying to fight against every action.

The Wild Hunt blocked them easily but didn’t strike back.

“What’s going on? What’s wrong with them? Why don’t you fight back?”

The veiled woman drew the attention of one, while her leader closed in. The perfect opening.

But instead of driving their blade between the monster’s shell, they placed their hand upon its chest. “ Ivunhalem .”

It was a language I didn’t understand, but at once, the Horror stilled. Its scything limbs lowered, a warrior relieved to set down their weapon.

Too distracted, I barely blocked the other Horror. Its strike jarred my arm and rattled my teeth.

The veiled woman darted in, touching the creature’s chest. “ Ivunhalem .”

Again, it stilled, and this one lowered its head, pressing into her touch, so like a stag with its rider, it stole my breath.

“They are ours,” she said, stroking the black carapace.

“Your… pets?”

“ Our people .”

My mouth opened and closed several times before any sound would come out. “Your… what ?”

“What you call Horrors were once unseelie fae. Dark rituals dragged them from the Underworld and turned them into… this.” Her voice broke.

“The wards surface dwellers use to contain them—they are based on our language.” The leader bowed their head. “Your queen has dug up spells that use our words to control them tonight. And they understand. We hope this means they are still there inside.”

“No.” Her voice shook as her hood snapped in his direction. “That would be a worse torture. Knowing they had been through all this and were inside, aware all that time.”

“We might be able to get them back.”

My mind reeled. Not monsters. People. People . Stolen away from their homes. Bodies turned against their will. Used to wage a war they had no part in.

I could think of no violation more complete.

Did Braea know?

“Come, my prince, you said time was short. I saw an image in this one’s mind”—they gestured to the creature that had once been a fae—“your beloved is with the Great Trees.” They motioned for one of their followers to remain.

The darkened corridors flew past me, dizzying, horrible, haunted by the terrible truth. The Wild Hunt subdued more of their kin with a touch and a word, one staying to keep them soothed. How many had I killed without knowing what they really were?

It was all I could do to keep moving. One foot in front of the other. One parry after another. I had to get to Kat. Had to.

The cool night air was a relief to my burning thoughts when I burst outside with the last remaining member of the Wild Hunt—their leader. “There are more of my kin out here. I will subdue them.”

I needed no more encouragement and sprinted for the Great Trees, knowing the path well despite the fog.

Braea spun as I emerged from the mist, her eyes round. “What are you doing here?”

I panted out the only question I gave a damn about: “Where’s Kat?”

Her gaze dropped, but her back straightened, like she was trying to block the way to the centre of the Great Trees. “I can explain. Just give me a moment to?—”

I pushed past.

Red hair merged into red blood. Tree limbs and human limbs. Bark and skin.

The world fractured.

I fractured.

There was nothing, because everything lay at my feet, broken.

I was on my knees, veins, heart, mind frozen as I gathered into my arms the only thing that mattered.

Kat’s broken body.