Page 12

Chapter Twelve

A elia

Bathed only by the crimson glow of the runes etched into the walls and bars, I would have no concept of time if it wasn’t for the daily meal that appeared. But still, day blurred into night, night into day once again. Today, my meager rations of stale bread and icy water had yet to materialize.

Staring up at the murky ceiling of my cell, I wrapped and re-wrapped a thread from my old tunic around my finger. The repetition was oddly soothing. After my meeting with the king, my gorgeous gown had disappeared, leaving me in the scraps of threadbare cloth once again.

An instant later, Kaelith’s ominous form coalesced from the pit of eternal night, as if being summoned by my thoughts, and it was unfair how much hope his mere presence elicited. How my heart jumped at the sight of my jailer, how words just spilled free the moment those eerie eyes found mine.

“Finally, you’re here.”

An ominous smile twisted his lips, drawing my attention to an angry scar across his chin. “Are you starting to favor me already, Light Fae?”

I nearly choked on a laugh. “You’re kind of my only friend in here, Kae.” Glancing over my shoulder, I confirmed neither Ruhl nor Lucian occupied my cell today. I almost missed them, too.

“I am not your friend.” His dark brows furrowed, the crimson hue bathing his skin in that russet color once again. I was nearly certain it only illuminated his natural ruddy complexion, but I would never be certain until I saw the male in the light of day. If that even existed here…

“Fine,” I snapped. “I’ll just go back to arguing with Ruhl…” I allowed my words to fall away. The last thing I needed was for Kaelith to report to the king that I was losing my wits. If I had any hope of surviving this, he must believe me to be strong.

“The Shadow Fae prince?”

“No…”

His dark brow rose, curving to nearly comical proportions.

“Surely, he’s not the only male Fae in all of Aetheria with that name.”

“No, I am sure he is not, but I thought I saw him that day…” Now it was his words to fall away.

“You were there when I was taken at the boundary with the Wilds?”

His head slowly dipped.

In addition to Reign, Sol, Aidan, and Rue, my thoughts had been plagued by one other. “Do you know anything of the Light Fae student stationed along the border? Heaton Liteschild?”

“It is not my job to keep track of wayward students of the Conservatory.”

“But you would tell me if he was here? Held prisoner, perhaps?”

His teeth clenched, highlighting the sharp outline of his jaw. “Who may or may not remain imprisoned in Helspire Keep should be of little importance to you, Light Fae.”

“Why do you call me that? The king said I have no Light blood running through my veins, and yet, you continue to refer to me as one.”

“You bear her mark, do you not?”

My hand moved to the glittering tattoo just beneath the tattered remains of my tunic. Gods, what I wouldn’t give to go back to that day…

“Anyway, none of that matters.” His thick fingers curled around the glowing bars and the crimson hued runes extinguished. “I was sent by the king to fetch you.”

“You couldn’t have started the conversation with that?”

“Your constant yapping makes me lose focus.” A frown carved into his jaw and yet the annoyance didn’t quite reach his eyes. Could it be that my ill-tempered jailer had actually grown fond of me?

“Wait a minute… You’re finally letting me out of my cell?”

His head slowly dipped. “If you can keep that mouth closed for long enough.”

A jolt of excitement pummeled me in the chest, the blow so powerful I staggered back. Thank Raysa, after over a month of eternal darkness, I would finally be free—or, free-ish. Who knew what sorts of terror Helspire Keep would hold, but anything would be better than this, surely.

I squeezed my lips into a hard line before pressing my fingers to them. Gods, I couldn’t believe this was really happening. I bounced on my tiptoes as visions of a grand chamber with a massive bed and an exquisite bathing room raced across my mind. In a second, I would explode from the excitement. Not even the blood manacles encircling my wrists could dampen my mood now.

The sharp squeal of the door hinges sent my heart leaping up my throat. For the first time in nearly forty days, when the enormous door opened, it remained that way. Hot tears pricked my eyes, but I urged them back. There was no way I would ever cry in front of this male or any members of the Night Fae Court. How many were there, anyway? Did they all live in the keep? And where in the realms were we right now?

An onslaught of questions peppered my mind as I hesitantly stepped through the opening—still somewhat fearful this was all a cruel trick—my chest bloated with a tangle of emotions too powerful to unravel. Before the cell slammed closed behind me, I cast a final glance at the cot in the corner.

I’ll be here waiting for you, duskling . Ruhl waggled his brows as he splayed his lithe form across the makeshift bed.

“Then you’ll be waiting for a long time because I don’t plan on ever returning.” The inane words slithered out before I could stop them.

Kaelith spun around, eyes wide as he regarded me. “Do you often make it a habit to speak to yourself?”

“No,” I blurted. “I was simply saying goodbye to my friend… the rat.”

Ouch, Aelia, that was low even for you .

Ignoring the irritating figment of my imagination, I followed my jailer down the murky hall, the eerie crimson glow dissipating with each step farther down the narrow corridor. An electric hum of zar buzzed over my skin as the passageway ended at a set of twisting stone stairs. I glanced up, my head spinning from the never-ending spiral.

“How far below the ground are we?” I hissed.

Kaelith rolled his eyes, or at least I believed he did, judging by his frustrated expression. Since there was no white, only citrine orbs and a slash of a black pupil, it was impossible to say for certain. “I cannot say.”

“You can’t, or you won’t?”

Shaking his head, he motioned for me to go ahead, and we began our ascent.

What seemed like hours later, I was now fully aware of how weak I’d become during my captivity. My head was spinning from the endless circling when an arched stone doorway led us into yet another corridor. I blinked quickly, my pupils adjusting to the dim light of lanterns hung along the obsidian walls. The pungent scent of sulfur pervaded the air, the now familiar prickle of zar skimming over my skin.

“Follow me.” Kaelith led the way, the endless darkness diminishing more with each step. I kept my mouth closed as promised, despite the dozens of questions that popped up at every turn. From the corner of my eye, I stole a glance at the harsh lines of Kae’s profile. I was right, his skin did have a naturally russet color, which had only been magnified by the deep red hue of the runes in my cell.

Another long minute later, the corridor finally opened into a vast, echoing expanse of a hall. Its obsidian floor was polished to a mirror-like sheen that reflected the dim, ghostly lights flickering above. Towering columns carved from shadowy onyx rose to vaulted ceilings, their surfaces etched with swirling runes that pulsed faintly, similar to the ones that lined my cage. Between the columns, ethereal blue flames burned in suspended sconces, their light casting eerie, dancing patterns across the walls.

Much like Arcanum Citadel, the keep held a sort of ominous beauty. I found myself entranced by the play of shadow and light spilling across the enormous chamber.

Kaelith’s boots slapped against the onyx stone, the harsh clap vibrating across the sprawling space. In the intense silence surrounding us, it suddenly occurred to me we had yet to encounter another soul. By the size of the entry hall, the keep must be sizable, so where were all its inhabitants?

Once we crossed the length of the grand entry hall, we turned down yet another corridor. It wound around the corner, walls lined with tapestries of fearsome Night Fae in battle. I passed by one, running my fingers over the ornate embroidery on the bottom. The words were in Faerish yet again, and somehow, I was certain the images depicted were those of the Two Hundred Years’ War.

“Where are we going?” I finally whispered.

“To the throne room. The king awaits.”

A pang of fear iced my veins, slowing my eager footsteps. Would the king make good on his word today? Would my powers finally be unbound?

“Must I see the king with these?” I lifted my still-manacled hands.

“If anyone is to remove those, it will be His Infernal Highness.”

Of course, it would be.

“What about that gown you whipped up last time?”

He slowly shook his head. “No illusions today. Your spirit must remain clear and unpolluted for the?—”

“For the what?”

“You will find out soon enough.”

I opened my mouth, a retort poised at the tip of my tongue, but my warden threw me a narrowed glare before pressing his thick finger to his lips once more, reminding me of the promise I now regretted. I heaved out a frustrated breath but continued to follow him, nonetheless.

A few more steps across the winding, disorienting passageways, and Kaelith stopped in front of a set of doors fashioned of the darkest wood I’d ever seen. He closed a hand around each knob and with a grunt, hauled the massive barrier open.

The cavernous chamber beyond appeared, light and shadow warring for dominance. The walls were formed of jagged black crystal, each shard shimmering faintly with a silvery glow, as if absorbing and reflecting the faintest starlight. A massive obsidian throne stood atop a dais veined with glowing lines of infernal red, seemingly alive with the king's power. His dark gaze chased to mine, and a sinister smile curled his lips.

Diverting my attention from that wicked grin, I focused on the ominous throne room. The throne itself was adorned with spikes and intricate carvings of nightmarish creatures, the seat draped in furs so black they absorbed the surrounding light. Behind it, a massive window of stained glass displayed a distorted view of the endless starry sky. Shadowglass… I’d studied it at the Conservatory. The same substance was said to make up the windows of the Fortress of Umbral Shadows.

“So lovely to see you, princess.”