Page 27

My sudden topic change confused the Dark Prince.

He stared blankly at me, before exhaling a laugh and shaking his head.

“I do not drink blood. If you’re referring to the goblet at dinner, it was just a simple magic trick.

I turned the blood to dust. I’m gifted at making things disappear.

I can turn myself into shadow, if I so desire. It’s convenient in a pinch.”

I’d read about each of the elements in one of the books I’d borrowed from the library, but I still had a lot to learn.

I knew that shadow wielders made excellent spies.

They also had the most versatility in their magic—they could turn into mist, cover themselves in darkness, or solidify their shadows and use them as a weapon.

The man before me was absolutely lethal, but I’d known that since I’d first laid eyes on him. And here I was… alone with him. “Louis tells me you’re the most powerful faerie in Nymera,” I remarked casually.

“I was—until you came along, world walker. ”

Without warning, black mist exploded from Raf, settling over me like a thick blanket. I shifted in the saddle, preparing to run as the smoke twisted and stretched. It was reshaping itself into a semi-opaque bubble, with us at the center of it. A shield, I realized—so we could talk privately.

Raf’s eyes darkened as they met mine. “My father used to say that the most powerful faeries were chosen for a higher purpose—that it’s our duty to protect the vulnerable.”

I scoffed. “A nice sentiment, but there seem to be plenty of powerful faeries that disagree with it.”

“Yes. But their magic is stolen from human blood. Ours beats within us. Whether you believe it or not, you’re very powerful. You owe us nothing, but—”

“But… you need my help overthrowing your evil stepmother and her council?”

Raf huffed a laugh. “Yes. I’ll cut to the chase. We need your help. You’re the best chance we have.”

“Then your chances aren’t great,” I sighed. “Tell me what it is that you want, then I’ll decide if I can help. I do want to help, for what that’s worth.”

“It’s worth everything ,” he said with complete sincerity. “Louis and I have been spying on the Elders since my father died, but it was a brothel worker that proved to be the most proficient spy, she—”

I interjected haughtily. “Why am I not surprised that you’ve found a way to utilize prostitutes in your attempt to overthrow the Kingdom?” I’d only meant to tease, but it had come out sounding judgmental.

His eyes sparked with heat. “Here I am, trying to save the world… and you cut me down before I’ve even begun. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous of my friends at the Siren Inn.”

I scowled. “They can have you. You’re just like every other strutting peacock I’ve ever met. All cock and tail feathers—zero substance. That is to say… you’re not my type—which I believe I’ve already told you.”

Raf’s gaze darkened. “All cock, am I? I suppose you’re not the first to tell me that.”

“ Of course that’s what you took from that. Point proven.” I rolled my eyes.

“You proved nothing, except that you think about my… assets in your spare time. So tell me, freckles… Why can’t I spend my spare time at a brothel? Does the Princess think herself above the common folk? Some women have to work to survive, you know.”

He thought I was a spoiled brat. Let him think what he wanted. When I learned how to throw a punch, he was going to be my first target.

“It’s not the workers I find vile,” I said frostily.

Raf gave a low laugh and rolled his shoulders once… twice… like I’d gotten under his skin. Good .

“As I was saying…” He glared. “I was tipped off by one of the workers at the Siren Inn. She learned from a reputable source that the Elders are behind the systematic kidnappings that have been happening across our lands. Hundreds of humans have gone missing over the last year. It has caused widespread panic, resulting in an increase in violence… murder. While the Elders have made it abundantly clear that they don’t respect human life, it’s still a new low for them—taking magic from their own people.

The faeries need humans. The shortage is causing hysteria—famine in some areas, infertility, feuds between families… ”

“Why would they try to create civil unrest? How would that benefit them?” I asked.

“Power and control, I assume. It’s easier to control people who are scared.”

The missing humans that Lusha had mentioned… the Elders were responsible? The Kingdom was responsible? The irritation I’d been feeling for Raf disappeared as overwhelming fury took hold.

My lip curled as I said, “Sylvia has to go.”

“That she does. As do her henchmen.”

“Do you think the people they kidnapped are still alive somewhere?”

“We’re hopeful that they’re being held captive. Most likely, they're being bled and kept for the Kingdom’s personal magic supply. We’ve been searching all over the continent for them, but so far we’ve had no luck.”

“But how can I help?”

“We need you to open a portal to Erador, when you’re ready… and let a select few of us through. If the Elders manage to hoard all of the magic, then faeries will be completely at their mercy. We have to break the blood curse—it’s the only way we can take back power.”

My heart skipped. They had too much faith in me. I could barely wield magic. I’d just let them down. “I-I don’t know that I’ll ever be capable of opening a portal...” I choked out. “What if I can’t? ”

“You won’t know until you try. You aren’t in this alone. You have me… and Louis.”

My stomach twisted. I was alone. I had been for a long while. “We have to find and rescue the abducted humans, then take them back with us. I won’t leave them to be drained and discarded.”

Raf’s smile grew so large, I could see both of his dimples beneath dark stubble. “Of course. We need to bring you back to the spot where you arrived. Sooner rather than later. We need answers. You need answers.”

I couldn’t allow myself to think about everything that was at stake. Raf was right; I had to try .

“What of Galen?” I asked. He deserved an opportunity to prove himself—to come with us and help break the curse.

A shadow crossed over Rafael’s face. “Galen is too unpredictable to count on. He’s the Elder’s puppet. They’ve been training him for too long. He’s, more or less, one of them at this point.”

My body temperature dropped as ice flowed into my fingertips. Anger . Anger was what most effectively channeled my magic. They were going to leave their brother behind, because he was a liability ? Without even giving him a chance?

“You would leave him here… to defend his people against the Elders—by himself? You’d betray your own blood?” I didn’t hold back my disdain.

If they wouldn’t tell Galen, then I would . He deserved the opportunity to pick a side before things got too ugly. I wouldn’t let them abandon their brother— their future King —like my father had abandoned me.

The rage he’d provoked had me squeezing Hibiscus’s sides too tightly. Her trot transitioned into a gentle canter as she responded to my cues, surging ahead of Raf.

An onyx cloud momentarily blacked out the sun.

Apparently, I’d hit a nerve. He caught up to me easily, as if my horse had willingly slowed at his command.

“I’ve known him for one-hundred years. Don’t pretend to understand the complexities of my brother.

He’s proven himself unworthy time and time again.

He’s the Elder’s executioner… did you know that? ”

I sneered while Raf continued his rant. “He turns human sympathizers to ashes . He’s a royal hit man. Don’t be so quick to assume that he’d be on our side if he knew what the Elders were up to—maybe he already knows. Are you willing to put every human here at risk for him ? ”

“So who takes the throne? You?” I eyed him with every ounce of loathing I could muster. He was going to let Galen fall on his sword for the Crown and then take it from him?

His gaze burned into me. “I don’t want it. You’re getting ahead of yourself. First, we need to break the curse, then we can worry about Galen.”

“Don’t you think it’s worth trying to get him on your side now, if that’s how you feel?”

“No. He’s a control freak. He’ll either turn against us and get us killed, or get in the way and get us killed.”

Raf’s stubbornness was what was going to get him killed. He was blinded by his rivalry with his brother. Galen had goodness in him. I’d seen it—I’d felt it. They’d be stronger together.

“ Fine . For now, I won’t say anything to him. But this isn’t over,” I hissed. We rode in silence the rest of the way, the air between us, once again, thick with hostility.