Page 1 of Black Hearted (Cursed Fae #4)

Zane

The moment my feet landed on the oily incline, I slipped, landing hard on my back, and began to slide. I’d leaped through the portal without a second thought, and now I was gliding feet-first down a mountain.

I kicked my heels, trying to dig into the earth for purchase and to slow my descent, but to no avail. The ground beneath me was slick, like the mountain itself was made of black cooking oil and there was nothing that I could grab onto either.

Desperately, I reached for my power, hoping to use my lightning magic to lasso a nearby tree, but I was horrified to feel a drain on my power. It was nothing like as strong as it normally was in Ethereum, so here I was struggling. I still managed to summon some lightning, but it was difficult.

My brothers and I all shared some ability to control shadows, but each of us had a unique variation of magic.

Mine was the ability to create and manipulate black lightning, which alone would do nothing to slow my descent unless I coated it in shadows so it didn’t burn through the trees I was hoping to lasso.

As quickly as possible, I created a bolt of lightning and wrapped shadows around it.

Lightning could be dangerous when I intended it to be, but when coated this way in shadows, it could be used as a rope.

Flicking my wrist, I curled the shadow whip around the base of a thick tree.

The second it pulled taut, I was yanked to a stop. I breathed out heavily with relief.

I was now halfway down the mountain, and the only thing keeping me from sliding the rest of the way was my grip on the lightning rope.

My butt was likely bruised, and I might have a few cuts on my back, but the black oil pouring around and below me was so thick it had actually cushioned some of the impact.

It was also terrible to look at. There was so much black, oily liquid rushing down the whole of this mountain like a mighty stream.

I glanced outward, and my breath caught as I gazed upon miles and miles of gloom in what must have once been a beautiful land.

Withered trees stood stark against the bleak backdrop.

Farms were submerged in what looked to be the same black substance I’d slipped on, with only the top halves of houses peeking out.

Everything, as far as the eye could see, was shrouded in shadows and blackened fields of dying vegetation. The sky was overcast, the sun completely hidden from sight, leaving me no clue as to what time of day it was.

Now I understood Dawn, Aribella, and Isolde’s anxiety about stopping the curse. It was much worse here than in our world. Well, that might not be a fair statement since it was also affecting our people in Ethereum, but this … this land was ruined. Is this what lay in store for Ethereum, too?

Panic shot through me, and I quickly checked to make sure the satchel was still slung over my shoulder.

I let out a relieved sigh when I patted it with my free hand, feeling it still bulging with its contents.

Everything I needed to end the curse was inside: a map of Faerie, the daggers and their stones, the Shadow Heart, the accompanying vial, and the note with Lorelei’s name on it.

I was determined to find her and give it to her.

The Spring Court princess who could end the curse.

My mate.

I’d waited my whole life for a love like the one my brothers had with their wives.

I was incredibly happy for them, but I was also lonely.

For a moment, I had thought Isolde was meant for me, but it was clear with just one kiss how wrong I’d been.

There weren’t any lingering doubts in my mind that Isolde was meant for Adrien, but even if there had been, they would have been shattered to pieces the second I laid eyes on Lorelei.

She’d been wearing a pretty yellow dress and singing softly to herself as she carried a basket of vegetables through the palace gardens in the Spring Court.

The attraction and protective feelings that rose up in me the moment I saw her for the first time were undeniable.

The brown-haired woman with a soft-spoken voice and a penchant for flowers was the one for me. I knew it in my soul.

Now I just had to get down this mountain and find her.

Using my free hand, I created another shadow-coated lightning whip and lassoed a nearby tree farther down the steep mountain. Releasing my hold on the higher tree, I slid downward quickly but was pulled taut once my lightning shadow rope reached the end of its length.

I repeated this process several times, slowly sliding downward and using my lightning magic to lasso nearby trees and control my descent. Finally, I neared a cliff where the black oil poured over the side like a waterfall. At the cliff’s edge sat a small, half-submerged cottage.

Lassoing a tree that butted up against the cottage, I pulled myself closer, shortening the length of the shadow-coated lightning rope until I grasped the railing of the porch and hefted myself onto the oil-slicked deck.

Glancing over the side, I began to plan my way down the cliff. Attaching my lightning rope to the railing, I could rappel down the side—

A clank from inside the house made the hairs on my arms stand on end. Was that a door closing? And footsteps?

Spinning, I peered up at the top floor of the cottage and bellowed, “Hello!”

Another clank, followed by footsteps—this time, they sounded like someone running. From inside the house, a small hand fiddled with the window latch, and then it flew open, revealing the face of a wild-eyed young girl.

“Oh, thank the stars,” she said. “I thought I was going to die here.” Her voice was so eager.

She had pointed ears, pink cheeks, and red hair wrapped into a bun at the top of her head. Across her nose was a smattering of freckles. If I had to guess, I’d say she was eleven or twelve.

“Hi,” was all I could manage. I hadn’t expected a kid to be all the way out here. “Are you alone?”

She nodded. “The oil took my nana over the cliff when she was trying to braid us a rope down. I’ve been alone for weeks.”

Weeks? How had she survived?

Her gaze fell to my shadow-coated lightning rope, and her eyes widened to the size of coins, and terror flashed across her face. She backed away from the window and disappeared out of sight.

Oh no. I’d forgotten that the fae in this world all thought my magic was evil.

“I won’t hurt you,” I called out.

Quiet footsteps moved inside the house, but she said nothing.

I didn’t need this right now. An untrusting kid slowing me down wasn’t part of the plan, but I couldn’t leave her here. This was the Fall Court. The curse had descended on this land months ago. It was a wonder she’d survived this long, but if she stayed here, she’d surely die.

Sludging through at least a foot of the oil on the porch, I went to the front door, and, with great effort, I pried it open and waded inside. The living room and kitchen were completely dark—no candles, which made sense because this oily substance might be flammable.

“I have shadow magic, but I’m not a bad person,” I yelled into the house.

“That’s exactly what a bad person would say,” she called back from somewhere upstairs, and I hated the terror I heard in her voice.

I blew out a frustrated breath. She was right.

“I’m friends with Princess Aribella of the Fall Court. I’m here on a mission to help the Spring Court princess.”

“Liar! Go away. I’d rather die here alone than trust someone from Ethereum.”

I began to walk up the steps. “How do you know where I’m from?”

“My nana told me things. Shadow magic means you’re a bad guy from Ethereum,” she called from a room off to the left.

I sighed. I couldn’t deny that I was from Ethereum. She’d seen my magic for herself, but maybe I could convince her I wasn’t bad. “I’m going to the Spring Court. Would you like a ride there? I can use my magic to get us out of this oil.”

I stood in the open doorway of the room I’d heard her voice come from and stared at the closed closet door.

Black footprints covered the upper floor, along with plates, dried food, and clothes smeared with oil in the corner.

No one should have to live like this, let alone a child without an adult to depend on.

“I have powerful magic,” she called back, her voice muffled from the closet. “And if you don’t leave right now, I’ll jump out and blast you with it.”

The little fae might have great power, but she sounded terrified. I didn’t want to scare her any more by taking her by force.

“Please don’t hurt me. And I promise I won’t hurt you,” I said. “I don’t know anything about this land, and I really need to get to the Spring Court to see Princess Lorelei.”

Silence.

“So you can kill her?” she asked.

I huffed a humorless half-laugh. So I can marry her was more like it. “No, so I can bring her a letter and help her destroy the curse.”

The door handle turned, creaking open. The little girl poked her sweaty red face out of the closet. “Destroy the curse?”

I nodded, holding my hands up in a gesture of peace. “I’m here on strict orders from Princesses Dawn, Aribella, and Isolde to help destroy the curse.”

She frowned. “But all those princesses are dead. That’s what Nana told me. Otherwise, the curse would have stopped by now.”

I shook my head. “They aren’t. They’re alive and doing everything they can to end the curse forever—not just for another hundred years.”

She looked me up and down, as if sizing me up. “What’s in the bag, huh?” she asked skeptically.

I opened my satchel and let her see the meager belongings inside. “The things I need to get to Princess Lorelei. Will you help me?”

She chewed her lip. “I have an aunt in the Spring Court. If you get me there safely, I won’t kill you.”

I had to control the smile that threatened to spread across my face. “Absolutely. I’d love to return you to your aunt.”