Page 14 of Manor of Wind and Nightmares (Fae of Brytwilde #3)

Across the room, more women screamed as the lady who had been glamoured to cut herself collapsed, laughing in eerie ecstasy as she bled from multiple self-inflicted wounds. Blood glistened in a growing puddle around her.

Callista stopped, gagging and covering her mouth. I grasped her arm, wondering if we would be forced to linger, or if we were free to leave now that we’d both been “tested” with fae glamour in some way.

I turned toward the open doors, only to see Molly already running toward them, her body shuddering with terrified sobs. She nearly tripped on her hem, her slippers skidding through shards of glass, discarded food, spilled wine, and blood. More blood.

More and more of the fae’s tricks had gone from mischievous or slightly cruel to downright murderous. Contestants were falling, dying. Others were weeping, screaming, or getting sick.

Just before Molly reached the doors, they slammed shut on their own. The manor had closed us in. “Let me out!” she screamed, banging her fists against the wood. “I want to go home!”

A sword sang as it was drawn from its sheath, and one of the guards pulled away from the wall. Without ceremony, he swung his blade and severed Molly’s head from her neck in one clean strike. Blood sprayed in a sickening arc, sullying the doors, the floor...

This time, Callista pulled away from me to vomit, her sick splattering across the floor. I choked on my own bile, tears burning my eyes.

Molly hadn’t even chosen to be here. She’d been sent to make a future for herself, only to meet a gruesome end.

Someone collided with me, and I whirled, my body ready to flee or defend.

It was only Laura, with Hattie close behind her, both staring at me with blanched faces and tear-stained cheeks.

“I think we were glamoured,” Laura whispered. ‘But the fae...they were distracted with other women. They forgot us and released us. For now.”

Hattie’s lip wobbled. “We’re trapped here. They’ll glamour us again. K-kill us all.”

“If we stay out of sight, maybe we can go forgotten until they’ve had their fill.” I seized her arm, urging Callista and Laura to follow.

I led the way to an alcove near one of the fireplaces, pressing myself against the wall and instructing them to do the same.

“Th—this is awful.” Hattie’s teeth chattered despite our proximity to one of the fireplaces.

Callista was hunched over and motionless, staring as if lost in another world.

“This was a mistake,” Laura whispered, wiping at her face and sniffling.

I tried to avoid looking out at the ballroom, its grandness swiftly transforming into a nightmare. It felt like we’d been left to die in a gilded prison.

“Listen to me,” I said, instilling confidence into my tone to encourage my companions.

Closing my eyes, I ordered myself to keep my head. Losing myself to panic or hysteria could prove deadly. I tried to think of anything else to block out the sounds and chaos around us.

Somewhere, a clock struck the hour, and everything changed.

The floor seemed to drop out from beneath me, startling me so much that I didn’t even have time to scream.

Nearby, Callista and the twins cried out in terror.

And then, the sounds cut off. I opened my eyes just as Callista and I landed with a thud on the four-poster bed in our assigned quarters.

For a moment, we lay there, dazed. Then I stood from the bed, darting to the doorway and peering out into the hall. The door next to ours opened, revealing a pale-faced Hattie.

“Are you both all right?” I asked.

She nodded, glancing around in confusion.

“The test must be over. The manor is magical...maybe when the clock struck the hour, it took us away from there.” I drew a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “Lock the door and any windows. Try to rest tonight.”

Laura peeked over her sister’s shoulder. “And then we will be forced to continue competing in these so-called tests for the prince’s hand?” She shuddered. “I hoped for adventure—this is like suicide!”

I swallowed thickly and shook my head, at a loss for words. “Just do everything you can to stay safe.”

Closing the door, I followed my own advice and bolted it before going to the windows to inspect each and ensure they were all locked.

“So,” Callista began, throwing open the wardrobe doors to select a nightgown. She turned her back to me, gesturing vaguely to the laces of her corset. I began tugging on them, helping her out of her frothy white gown. “You resent me.” She sniffled.

“Callista, you know I love you. It’s only sometimes...sometimes it is difficult that, ever since Mother died, I must always be strong and level-headed. Always the one protecting you.”

“And you don’t think it’s hard for me?” she snapped.

As her dress fell to the floor, she turned on me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“I had to grow up without a mother, and then, at your bidding, I sacrificed to keep our way of life acceptable among high society. I endured gossip and being shunned by my own friends when I wore last season’s fashions.

And now to hear my older sister resents me.

.. As the elder, it is your responsibility to protect me.

” Glancing away, she dashed her hand beneath her eyes.

“I know, and I’m sorry,” I said hurriedly, stepping forward to take her hands in mine. She refused to meet my gaze. “It’s hard sometimes when you don’t want to listen to me as I try to protect you.”

Callista looked at me, wrinkling her nose. “Because you are so careful, you would prevent me from ever living.”

“But in this instance, I was right,” I said sternly. “And now is not the time to quarrel. We need to help each other in order to survive this contest and return home. You know I’m here to protect you.”

Sighing, Callista nodded.

“Let’s try to get some rest,” I continued.

Unlike Callista’s gown, mine didn’t include any sort of laces, and I was able to undress myself.

The wardrobe contained a whole host of nightgowns, dresses, tunics, and leggings—all in sizes that would suit either Callista or myself.

Though the manor didn’t seem to like me, if it had feelings about its residents, it at least had provided me with practical garments for whatever was to come.

Meanwhile, Callista settled into bed, falling asleep surprisingly swiftly.

It took me a while to join her. Instead, I went to the washroom to scrub my face, as if the act could wash away the day’s events.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the body of the woman on the floor as she cradled the fruit that had been meant to be my own death.

Or Molly’s head falling in an arc of blood.

Or the coldness in Kaede’s eyes as he made it clear he knew who I was.

At last, I removed my boots, tucking the knife I’d stolen beneath my pillow, and crawled into bed.

I wasn’t sure it would be possible to sleep with my turbulent thoughts. Had Prince Kaede chosen these challenges? The man I’d once known had been gentle and kind, but the one I’d danced with seemed different.

Sighing, I rolled over, trying to find a more comfortable position. My mind continued to go over Ji’s words, trying to guess what the next challenges might be and how Callista and I could survive them.

Though I feared it wouldn’t matter if we lived through the contest. Once Kaede had fulfilled his vow not to interfere in the competition, he would be free to exact his revenge on me.

Whatever happens to me, I’ll make sure Callista survives to go home.

It was the only promise that I had any hope of possibly being able to keep.