Page 14 of Courting the Fae Captain (Romancing the Realms #4)

‘Never turn your back on a Fae. They have centuries to imagine stabbing you in the back. Don’t allow them the opportunity to make it a reality.’

The Trials and Traditions of a Mithrian Fae

R aithe’s blade pressed against my throat as he shifted his free hand up to lean on the bark beside my head. I swallowed, all too aware of the close proximity of the enemy before me.

“Your father won’t be pleased if you kill one of his playthings without an audience to witness it,” I said with more confidence than I felt. It was only too typical I’d found myself in this position on the first damned day at this goddess forsaken place.

“My father would probably be proud,” Raithe said, flashing his teeth. The tip of the blade pressed firmer, drawing a drop of blood that trickled down my neck. “Try again.”

I glared up at deep blue eyes as I squirmed beneath the cool tip of metal. He seemed to be giving me the opportunity to talk my way out of the situation. “Okay, fine. You’re looking for your mother, right? And other females? I can help you.”

The pressure of the blade on my skin softened ever so slightly. “Go on,” he allowed.

My mind worked quickly, scrounging for something, anything, to keep me alive and convince him I was an asset.

“Maybe you’re looking for your mother in the wrong places.

People talk, Captain. Servants certainly have a lot to say when they think no one is watching.

Before my arrival, I already heard whispers of what rumours your help is entertaining, so imagine what I’ll learn now that I’ll be working alongside them during my stay.

I can report any useful gossip back to you.

” I took his silence as contemplation and hurriedly continued.

“Who better to feed information on what truly happens during and after the Rite than someone participating in it? The females from prior years must have stayed here. Maybe they left clues behind, Captain. A bread trail leading to your answers.”

“And how do I know I can trust you not to spill my secrets to the Pentad? Perhaps it is in my best interest to remove you now. I could, you know. I would be well within my rights.”

I lowered the tip of his blade and stepped forward, reclaiming my space and placing us on even ground. “And whyever would I do that? I am here for your hand, after all. It wouldn’t be the most promising start to an amicable marriage.”

He shoved me back against the tree effortlessly, his hand curling around my neck.

“If you were really here to court me, you would be back at the ball, charming your way into the inner circle of the Pentad. But here you are, alone, hiding in a tree at the first sound of a male to come upon you.” His eyes drifted to the wall beyond the tree, as if keenly aware of what I’d really been doing out here.

“I wouldn’t recommend scaling it, little lark.

The guards would surely clip your wings before you could take flight. ”

“Then this little bird will peck out their eyes before they dare try,” I hissed. “But one way or another, I am getting out of here, lord. Try and stop me.”

He laughed at my challenge, but to my surprise, he released me and stepped back.

His arms folded as he looked down at me, the picture of male arrogance.

“You’d better get back to the ball if you plan on surviving long enough to try.

They won’t accept your extended absence as an innocent loss of time. ”

My brows knitted together. “You’re letting me go?”

He adjusted the buckle looped over his navy coat, then smoothed out his tunic before gesturing towards the ball. “For now.”

“You knew I was here all that time, yet you didn’t stop your company from continuing your conversation. Why?”

His brow rose. “Maybe I require a little bird to spill the castle secrets. Maybe I was curious why a female would be out here in the first place. Or maybe I was just bored. I guess we’ll see now, won’t we?”

I glared at him once more, then started back toward the ballroom with as much grace as I could muster. Before I could escape him entirely, though, he called out.

“Oh, and little lark? Tread lightly. I may be a fair male, but I can also be unforgiving. Do not give me reason to regret letting you live.”

I looked over my shoulder to find shadows misting along the ground towards me.

His entire aura seemed to darken, and my heart raced as I felt the weight of his power.

The age of it. I wasn’t able to see his face behind his mask, beyond a chiselled jawline and those deep blue eyes, but he couldn’t have appeared much older than 30 by the lunar year.

In truth? He must have been hundreds of years old, if this sheer power was anything to go by.

Fuck. And here I was, a mere 24 lunar years old, yet to discover what my power even was.

I turned my head and willed my feet to take one step, then another, until I was walking rather rigidly back to the castle.

When he was well and truly behind me, I took a shuddering breath, the plume clouding before my face.

It was only then that I realised I was shivering, whether from the threat of his existence or the cold, I didn’t know. What in hells had I gotten myself into?

It took a while, but with the aid of a few glasses of wine and the distracting chatter of Sherai and Akira, I was able to gather my wits once more …

until the captain appeared in the ballroom.

The obscene doors of the great hall once again groaned open to announce his entrance.

My head snapped to the far end, where the hosts now stood, their glasses in hand. Time for the Pentad’s big reveal.

A herald preceded him and bowed, announcing loudly, “Captain Raithe Windaire, Lord of Cliffscote Castle and Soldier of the Shadow Court.”

I almost rolled my eyes. They certainly liked to inflate their egos here. But it seemed effective on the others. A few gasps echoed around the room as the captain entered, one of them coming from Akira of all people. I glared at her, and she shrugged.

“What? Just because I was forced to be here doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the merchandise. We’re fighting for it, after all.”

I snorted. It did help to think of the captain as a shiny object to fawn over, rather than the commanding and somewhat intimidating male I’d met earlier. Without a blade at my throat, I could actually take a moment to drink in the sight of him. And this time, he was maskless.

The captain was tall and broad, with short, tousled black hair.

A scar cut through his left eyebrow, which somehow only enhanced his handsome features.

The jawline was sharp as a blade, the lips full, the nose straight.

But the eyes … they were the blue of storms and angry ocean swells.

Those eyes had seen murder and malice and had weathered it.

They were hard. I hadn’t yet decided if they housed the soul of a cruel male or simply a stoic one.

Though given his acceptance of this entire charade, even if somehow coerced or forced into it, I’d have to hazard a guess that he was not the kind of male one would want to wed.

He was a captain of the court, for goodness' sake.

Not a thing easily achieved by those with any moral compass.

As I considered it, I realised it was odd that his father still held his seat.

Captain Raithe strode through the hall with ease, taking his place up on the dais beside the leader of the Pentad.

His father, presumably, though there was no way to tell.

The lord of this castle hadn’t officially revealed himself, mask or not.

“Welcome, ladies, to Cliffscote Castle. It is my pleasure to host you, alongside these great leaders, and I look forward to becoming acquainted with each and every one of you.” He smiled, flashing white teeth, and I bristled at the sigh some of the females uttered throughout the room.

Were they really so vapid as to fall for his false charm at a first glance?

It seemed to come so easily to him, as if he weren’t standing among monsters.

The only reason to doubt he was wholly one of those cruel males was the fact that he was searching for his mother, and I presumed the other lost females.

It proved he cared for the well-being of at least one female, which was more than I had yet to witness from any lord.

Maybe the captain was a good male, as Roslin had said.

I slumped in my seat and blew out a breath as his grandiose speech continued. When his piercing gaze passed over me, I smiled like a good little girl, but I knew he’d see it for the mockery it was. I paid no attention to his sugar-coated words. I didn’t buy into any of it anyway.

When he finished speaking, the tables were cleared and we were ushered onto the dance floor, waiting like sitting ducks while a score of male nobles, presumably invited as guests, picked which females they would like to dance with.

My skin prickled as the Pentad member wearing a lion mask crossed the hall and took my hand.

I smiled, but my insides writhed with disgust. It felt like a thousand bugs skittered over my skin where he touched me.

His other hand moved to my back, skirting lower than was courteous, and all the while, I smiled and batted my lashes.

His dark eyes raked over me as we danced. My stomach somersaulted with fear, my instincts on alert as we moved. He was a good dancer. Precise and near perfect in every step. I didn’t dare allow myself to make a single error. Everything we did was surely measured. Calculated.

“Beautiful,” he whispered as he dipped me, taking a moment to lift his mask ever so slightly to kiss the tender hollow at the base of my throat. I almost flinched, the primal creature within me wanting to roar and lash out at the indignity of it.

These males … they thought they owned us.

Thought they could use our bodies as they saw fit.

Would he try to claim me for the night? Surely the captain wouldn’t be too impressed if his future bride was touched by any other first..

. Or maybe all the males present would have their pick of the losing females once the Rite was over.

I forced my lips to curl into an embarrassed smile.

As he lifted me again, I found Raithe at our side.

“Such a pretty one, Lion,” he said in that husky tone of his.

“I might have to steal such beauty away from you.” The only acknowledgement the male gave was a stiff nod before he let me go and stalked off the dancefloor.

“Making friends, I see,” Raithe said as he took my hand in the lion’s place.

It was calloused and warm, not at all like the cold and controlling grasp from the gardens.

“Is that a hint of jealousy, I detect?” I responded sweetly.

His laugh was dark and low. “Sweetheart, it would take a lot more than that to make me jealous. You are pretty, but you are just a tool to me.”

“And yet here you are, the hero rescuing a damsel in distress.”

“You have no idea how your night would have gone, do you?” His grip tightened on my hand to the point of pain. “I just saved you from spending a long night wishing you were dead. The lion always picks a favourite, and if the tests don’t kill his pick, the females end up killing themselves.”

Bile rose in my throat, but I didn’t give the satisfaction of thanking him. “You seem to know enough about the extra-curricular activities of our hosts.”

“I wouldn’t be captain of this court if I didn’t pay attention.”

I smiled. “Well, feel free to commandeer your ship of male murderers and rapists and ram yourselves onto some rocks in the middle of the ocean for us.”

“Such sweet words out of that pretty little mouth. I’ll remember them the next time I consider stepping in to save you. Remember our deal, lark. You are only worthwhile so long as you hold up your end of the bargain.”

I hated the way he spoke to me. I hated that I wasn’t even a person to him or any other male here. I hated all of them. “I swear to Ryvia, Captain, if I survive this place I’ll kill the Pentad and I’ll damn well kill you.”

“I’m shivering in my boots,” he said drily. “What’s your name, girl?”

I made sure to step on one of said boots as I pirouetted. “Aeris, not that you deserve to know.”

“Aeris,” he almost purred. “I’ll be sure to remember it.”

“See that you do,” I said softly. “It’ll be the last name on your lips before you die.”

He opened his mouth to reply when a scream rang out from a corridor adjoining the hall. I shared a glance with him before he yanked me none too gently by the arm and shoved me behind him. I snorted, then pushed past him to run to the door alongside several other females.

“Aeris,” he snapped.

“Yeah, yeah, curiosity kills and all that. Go choke on a big fat?—”

I stopped speaking as I pushed to the front of the crowd and found the source of the commotion.

A female with long blonde hair much like my own lay sprawled on the ground, her eyes wide and glassy as she stared at the ceiling.

A doe mask lay discarded beside her, broken and torn, as if it had been ripped off in frustration.

Blood spread the floor around her in a giant pool, growing larger by the second.

And where her throat should have been was a gaping hole of torn sinew and raw pink flesh.

I glanced across the half circle to find Sherai, who made a pointed look to the side of the hall, where the female we’d fought in the crypt stood.

Our eyes met, and she grinned with her sharp fangs, which were coated dark red.

She took a sip of her wine, and the next minute they were back to sparkling white.

I glanced back at the dead girl—at the golden hair fanning out and the build much like my own.

When I looked back at the fanged female, she nodded subtly, as if confirming what I’d concluded.

The female on the ground was not the intended target of this attack. I was.