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Chapter Four

ARABELLA

A rabella rolled her eyes at the fae prince. “Oh really? I hadn’t noticed.”

The body of the ogre she’d killed lay lifeless on the ground a few feet away from them, minus half its head. Dark blood pooled in the grass. The strange blue dust that had been the other two ogres hovered in the air before being swept away over the lake in a gust of wind.

Hadeon raised a brow, studying her with his midnight-blue eyes.

The fae prince had olive skin, short black hair, and his face was clean shaven. He was taller than Arabella, and his wingspan was wider than his height. His physical presence was nearly overwhelming at the size of him, let alone the assault on her senses as she felt the sheer power of his magic.

“What are you doing here?” she asked as she spared a glance toward the castle where she’d last seen the other enchantresses.

They were nowhere in sight.

Please be okay, she thought.

“I’ve come for my favor,” Hadeon said, interrupting her thoughts.

A second tugging in her chest thrummed to life at the mention of their deal. It was quite unlike the one she felt from the mating bond with Elias.

When she and Elias had gone to the Twilight Court for the ball celebrating the queen’s birthday, they had asked the queen for an amplifier.

She had refused when Elias had declined to turn her into an erox.

To their surprise, Hadeon—the fifth son of the queen—had sought them out and offered an amplifier in exchange for a favor.

Unfortunately, Arabella had lost that amplifier to Magnus when she’d been captured by his ogres.

“It’s kind of a bad time,” she managed over the incessant tugging in her chest. She didn’t have time to be fulfilling a favor right now. “In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re a bit… occupied.”

Frowning, he sniffed the air, his chin lifting as a look of confusion crossed his handsome features. His eyes closed for a brief moment before saying, “That’s a scent I haven’t come across in some time. You’ve changed, Enchantress.”

“Yes, yes,” she said, waving a hand. “I’m mated now.”

“That isn’t what I meant.”

For reasons she couldn’t explain, her heartbeat picked up. “What?”

“Your human scent has faded from when I saw you in the court,” he said. “I thought I’d detected something unique about you then. But now, your scent is fae.”

She couldn’t help it. A laugh burst out of her.

For a moment, she thought she might have misplaced her sanity.

Ever since her memories returned, she’d felt different than before. Was this why she felt so filled with fury, like she was a breath away from unleashing herself on the world?

“You’re mistaken,” she said, though she sounded more confident than she felt. “Humans don’t just become fae.”

Despite her words, she couldn’t help but wonder… Was it possible?

Shadow magic was rare. Most who wielded it tapped into dark magic, corrupting both the magic and their connection to it.

Then realization struck.

There was only one fae court with power over the shadows. It was the very same court that had been wiped from existence during the fae wars hundreds of years ago.

“Shadow fae.” The words slipped out in a mere whisper, so soft as to be nearly inaudible. “You think I’m from the lost fae court.”

Something twinkled in Hadeon’s gaze, but he merely shrugged. “Perhaps.”

Shaking her head, she tried to clear the thousands of questions from the front of her mind.

“I don’t have time for this,” she said. “I need to find my friends. They’re battling an ogre. They may be hurt?—”

“Of course,” the fae said as he spread his large black wings once more. “Ogre first. Then my bargain.”

Without another word, he launched into the air.

Arabella tugged on her braid as she watched Hadeon fly toward the castle, glaring at his back.

Until the prince called in the favor she owed him, there was every chance he could ask something that could cost her everything. If he told her she couldn’t be in the same room as Elias or could never use her magic again, she would be forced to obey him.

She recalled the words she’d spoken when she’d made the bargain.

I’ll be amenable to helping you at a future date within my lifetime so long as it doesn’t harm those I love, doesn’t require killing or endangering any humans, and doesn’t violate any bargains I’ve already made.

Even though she’d chosen each word with care, the fae were clever and could find a way around anything if it benefited them.

I need to find a way to delay this bargain, she thought.

There was no way out of it, but maybe she could postpone it long enough to rescue Elias and get him to safety before dealing with Hadeon.

“His timing sucks,” she groaned.

“From where I’m standing, that was excellent timing,” Breckett said.

She leveled a flat look on Breckett before running toward where she’d last seen her friends.

“Says the male who doesn’t have a bargain hanging over his head,” she called over her shoulder.

Covered in ogre blood like a goddess of war, Jessamine strode across the clearing before the main entrance to the castle. Arabella ran over, wrapping her arms around her friend and feeling the press of Jessamine’s blonde hair against her chest.

A few feet away, Cora and Brynne spoke in low tones.

Arabella didn’t miss the worry in Brynne’s eyes as she reached out and inspected a gash on Cora’s arm. Brynne’s touch was painfully gentle.

Like Arabella, Brynne wasn’t gifted in healing magic.

Most enchantresses could perform the basic healing weaves they’d all been taught during their training.

But for those lacking in the skill, the weaves were often a sloppy patch job at best that could barely knit the skin back together.

Still, Brynne formed the golden healing weaves, which she placed atop the wound.

It scabbed over instantly, but she didn’t let go of Cora’s hand.

Arabella smiled, relief flooding through her.

“There are more ogres in the forest,” Hadeon said as he landed in the grass near them. “If they found this place once, it won’t be long until they find it again. My guess is we have an hour at best.”

How had the ogres found the castle to begin with? Was Elias’ ward already weakening? Or did Magnus have some spell that could penetrate the ward and its cloaking abilities? Unfortunately, there wasn’t time to learn more now.

Sighing, Arabella nodded to Hadeon before turning to her friends. “Allow me to introduce Prince Hadeon of the Twilight Court.”

Cora’s brows shot up so high that Arabella thought they’d leap clear off her face.

“You’d told us about the ball you’d attended with Elias,” Cora said carefully. “But I didn’t realize you’d made… friends.”

The way she spoke was almost musical. Each word was infused with a quiet gentleness. Everyone who met Cora liked her instantly, often spilling their life stories. She was the opposite of Brynne—who was as friendly as a hungry sailor with a hangover. And equally as prone to violence.

With a snort, Jessamine wiped her bloodied sword in the grass before sheathing it. “And just what do you want, Princeling? I doubt you’re here for charity.”

Hadeon’s gaze shifted to Jessamine, his sharp eyes taking her in.

“He’s here for the favor I promised him,” Arabella said.

Jessamine waved a hand in the air like a magical bargain was a trivial matter. “He’s fae. Fae lack for nothing.” Then her gaze swiveled to Hadeon, her eyes locking with his. “Forcing favors out of humans is beneath you. Don’t you think?”

Magical bargains were binding. As far as Arabella knew, those bound to a bargain had no choice but to comply once the terms were set.

In some ways, it was like the syphen’s control over erox.

While she loved Jessamine for trying to get her out of this mess, this was one she’d have to wade through.

There was no way Arabella could refuse, and if she tried to kill Hadeon to prevent having to fulfill the bargain, the magic would rebound and kill her.

Turning to Hadeon, Arabella said, “What is it you want?”

Rather than answering, the prince tapped his chin with a forefinger as though deep in thought. This male’s mind was sharper than the blades he wore at his sides. Whatever he was about to say wasn’t something he’d just come up with.

“Given that I’ve assisted you with your little… ogre problem, I daresay another favor is in order,” he began.

“I didn’t make a second bargain with you,” she said, her voice dangerously low.

“Perhaps not,” he allowed with a shrug of his shoulders. “But you’re indebted to me all the same.”

Jessamine’s lips thinned beside her, and Arabella resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose in frustration.

To make one magical bargain had been foolhardy at best. To bargain with the fae twice would be downright foolish.

But she knew not all bargains with fae were bound by magic.

Would it be possible to form an… informal agreement with this male?

Did she even want to? She couldn’t think of an upside to interlocking their fates more than they already were.

Unless he helped her rescue Elias.

Fae weren’t known for their helpful nature or doing things out of the goodness of their heart. For now, she needed to find a way to fulfill her bargain later .

As she considered her options, she focused on three things. First, she needed to get her friends to safety. Then she needed to rescue Elias. Last, she needed to gain control over her unwieldy shadows, which seemed to feed on her darker emotions.

Arabella crossed her arms. “I didn’t ask you to kill the ogres or repair the ward. You chose to do that of your own volition. So, there’s no debt between us, and you can’t force me into another magical bargain. That said, give me a reason to consider helping you.”

The prince raised a brow, seeming to consider her for a long moment. Then he gestured to the castle with a jerk of his chin. “My sources informed me that Elias had a certain map in his possession.”