Page 51 of Courting the Fae Captain (Romancing the Realms #4)
‘Cinnamon, vanilla, or clove are perfect components to cover the scent of poisonous potions. (And they’re downright delicious for a spot of freshly baked banana bread.)
An Alchemist’s Guide to Herbal Remedies
R aithe and I raced through the corridors of the castle, skirting panicked servants at every turn.“We need to get those vials,” I shouted over the booms and battle cries of the chaos outside. “Without my power, I won’t stand a chance.”
“Lead on,” Raithe said as we ran. “I’ve got you, baby.”
I grinned, wild and feral. I’d never felt so free. Never felt so empowered as the moment those females rose up and fought back. We just had to secure the castle and round up the Pentad. Once they were dead, the battle would be over.
The way was relatively clear of danger, with an odd soldier popping up along the way.
One rounded a corner and faced us with a weapon drawn and a face of contempt.
I threw my dagger, which landed directly in his heart.
We continued, plucking the dagger up without ceremony as the soldier bled out on the floor.
Raithe destroyed another soldier who tried to bar our way with a clean sweep of his sword, so fast I barely saw it happen.
At last, we arrived at the apothecary, and I trudged downstairs into the small basement, while Raithe took watch above.
I ran to the wall, removing the chunk of stone I’d gauged out and stuffed the vials in several days prior.
I blew out a breath at finding them still there, grateful, then shifted as a floorboard creaked behind me.
I palmed my dagger, gripping the hilt tightly as I spun to see the healer poking her head out from behind a stack of crates.
“Margaery?”
“Kill them, Aeris,” she said firmly. Her eyes gleamed with fear, but there was resolve in them, too. Pain. “Offer no mercy.” I nodded and placed a hand over my heart. No words were needed, but I did appreciate the quiet “Good luck” she added as I stormed back upstairs.
“Bottoms up,” I said to Raithe as I unstopped the cork from one vial and took a small sip of the contents. Earthy, yet slightly sweet, thanks to the cinnamon I’d added.
His narrowed blue eyes raked over me expectantly. “Anything?”
I slipped my fingers between his and waited. We’d planned on testing the vials ahead of the trial, but this was it. The first test of my alchemy skills—one that could very well decide our fate today.
“Perhaps I need a bigger dose?” I whispered, thoughtfully. “Unless I got the mixture wrong. Oh gods, please work.”
Raithe squeezed my hand at the same moment I squeezed my eyes shut. It felt like eternity passed me by until a soft warmth began to disperse in my stomach, slowly filtering out through my veins until the steady flow of power thrummed to the discordant thumping of my heart.
“Aeris,” Raithe said softly in my mind. “ Look .”
I opened my eyes to see shadows spiralling across the room, licking up the walls in a plume of fluid black. I grinned, a sense of pride fuelling me. “It worked,” I said aloud, a little bewildered. “It really worked.”
“Of course it did,” Raithe said with a laugh. “As if you’d allow any other outcome.”
I laughed, still a little shocked, then sent a silent prayer of thanks to Sherai.
Without her research, I’d never have figured out the compounds needed to make this happen.
My boots thudded as I ran to the top of the stairs and called down to Margaery.
She trundled up shortly after, her face wary and her steps hesitant.
“These vials contain a cure to the power-blocking magic the Pentad gave to the Rite participants. I need you to get this to them. Can you do that for me?”
Margaery’s brown eyes widened. “You want me to go out there?!” She gestured at the battle unfolding beyond the walls with trembling hands.
“I know it’s scary," I admitted. “But they need you now. We all do.”
Her chin wobbled as she nodded slowly, still processing.
Then she took the vials in my outstretched hand, her fist tightening around the tinctures.
The floorboards creaked again as she turned and found a belt to stuff the precious bottles into, then she clipped it over her hips.
“I won’t fail you,” she said, her voice steady.
I nodded and offered a grateful smile. “Stay safe and avoid any direct conflicts. Just get the vials distributed, then get out of there, okay? You can do this.”
“I know,” she huffed. “I’ve never let a few males stop me before.”
I grinned. “One small sip, Margaery. That’s all they need. Get it to Sherai and Akira if you can.”
She ran out the door and didn’t spare us a second look. A battle axe, that one. Even the kindest of souls could make the most formidable of opponents.
“Where to now?” I asked Raithe as we took off down the hallway.
“There’s an underground bunker built for emergencies,” Raithe answered. “They’ll be there; I guarantee it.”
He led me through the castle and down to a secret door that was hidden behind a giant tapestry hanging in the main foyer.
I’d never noticed it before. We stepped through, and then we were twisting and turning in the bowels of the castle until we stopped before a large door.
My breath shuddered out of me from both the running and the excitement snaking through me.
Fear lined my stomach, trying to lock up my bones, until a tendril of Raithe’s shadows caressed me, wrapping around my legs, even slipping up between them.
I jerked at that delicious touch, then threw him an exasperated look.
He grinned at me with pure mischief in his eyes, his white teeth gleaming in the low light.
All the while, those shadows crept higher, stroking, encouraging.
We arrived at the end of a corridor, standing before a large, bolted metal door.
“Together?” he asked as I took his hand and we faced the bolted door.
I scoffed and repeated his words from earlier. “As if I’d allow any other outcome. But how do we get through? The door must be at least two feet thick, and I don’t suppose you have a key.”
His grin turned a little evil, like he was enjoying the thought of shredding the males on the other side. And to be honest, so was I. They deserved nothing less.
“Spread your wings, little lark,” Raithe purred as he threw the torch down the hall, and we were plunged into darkness.
My stomach dropped as he whirled me off my feet in a wave of shadow and smoke.
I couldn’t see what was happening. One moment I was standing on solid ground, the next we were floating through the fabric of the world.
My heart lodged in my throat as Raithe wielded his power to send us through the metal door and out the other side.
What. The. Fuck. Raithe could turn us into shadows, too?
! Oh, I had to learn that one . We rematerialised from the darkness into a low cave.
Fire-lit sconces revealed we were now standing in a chamber.
And inside that chamber were the Pentad.
“Boo,” Raithe said as we solidified.
The males turned and tumbled out of their seats, their wine glasses tipping over in their rush. All but one, who simply leaned his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers. “You found us,” the sea serpent said. “And now you’re trapped, two against six.”
Raithe grinned. “True. But I’ll take my chances.”
“I suppose you think you’re clever,” the Pentad leader responded. “Forming a coup and freeing the females. But even if you take this castle, you will never stop the Rite. We aren’t the only males who celebrate traditions.”
“Maybe not,” I said as I unsheathed my blade. “But we’ll make damn sure they die with you.”
The sea serpent swivelled that golden mask my way, as if assessing my worth. “You can certainly try.”
My power sizzled under my skin, begging to be released. I wielded my shadows with ease, the tendrils leeching out towards the males.
“You’re not the only one with shadows, little girl,” the bear said as he stepped forward. He turned his palms and … nothing happened. He tried again. “What?”
“Aw, can’t get it up?” I asked with a pout.
“That’s the thing about you power-hungry males.
You think you’re invincible, so you forget to take note of the little things, like the slightest hint of vanilla and clove in your wine, or the fact it’s a shade darker.
That drowsiness you feel? It’s the slow sap of power while your magic drains from your system.
Wyrmwood, for stunting magic, and Faebane, for ensuring your immortal blood didn’t work too hard to remove the effect.
Nothing so obvious and primitive as that crap you shoved down our throats earlier. ”
“We didn’t know which wines you’d drink tonight,” Raithe said with a shrug. “So we poisoned them all ahead of time—including the batch you had served to your esteemed guests. It helps to have friends in low places. Lesser Fae, as father likes to call the servants.”
The bear threw his cup with a roar. “If we can’t wield, we’ll just have to finish you off the old-fashioned way. My favourite kind.”
I rolled my eyes and looked at Raithe. “So emotional.”
“So dead,” he answered with a smirk. Then he lifted a damning finger at the lion, who had made a show of moving toward a weapon, but had used the opportunity to cower behind the others at the rear of the cave.
Raithe didn’t miss the coward’s act, though, singling the lion out.
“ You . I’m going to enjoy killing you.”