Page 37

“ W elcome to Finlandia.” Quinn’s eyes glowed brighter taking in his city.

I watched the bustling fae around me, some starring openly at the small bundle I held in my arms only to quickly glance away at the violence they saw on my face from their open stare.

“You have protected it well. It appears untouched by the corruption of our world.” I observed, draping more shadow to shield Riella from the rooftops above.

Quinn grunted. “Finlandia wasn’t always our central home.

Shifters used to live within the Red Cap Mountains but we were forced to leave during the blood wars.

Our king has done a fine job building the city for the needs of our people.

” He gave me a sideways glance. “And keeping it out of the hands of the Faerie Queen.”

My lips thinned. “Indeed. Your kings have been cunning, yet fae blood was still spilled to make it so. ”

Quinn shook his head. “It would have never been that way had the Faerie queen not executed Queen Skyler.”

I hummed. The day Queen Skyler Strider of The West Isles and soulmate of the former king, was murdered, was the day of no return for both our courts.

“Your queen had a beautiful soul, her death was a great loss.” I gave Quinn a hard look.

“One your previous king made up for ten fold with his relentless thirst for vengeance. Innocent fae ripped to pieces, their heads placed on pikes to cull his unabating bloodlust. A grieving vengeance that turned into a thirsty desire for more and more slaughter of my people. Peaceful fae that had nothing to do with their queen’s schemes. ”

Quinn looked away. “Those were dark days for the shifters too. I can promise you that.”

Surveying the city, I sighed. “As they were for all of us. I remember the day I was called from the southern lands of Faerie. The carnage I witnessed on my way to the front lines.” I shook my head, clearing the images from the forefront of my mind.

“Despite his madness, King Asher was the most formidable foe I ever had the honor of battling against. Faerie was our chess board and we controlled the pieces.”

Quinn sighed. “And how is that any different than your queen playing her games?”

“It isn’t. Life is a game, healer. Play or be played.

You’re looking at a fae who has unfortunately survived both.

” I waved my hand at the richness of the city.

“Your own prince played his own game too. Killing his own father to selfishly take over the shifter throne. To rule over the city you’re so proud of with blood staining his hands. ”

Quinn looked away from me, sadness flooding his eyes. “It is not what you think.” He whispered.

“No?” I quirked a brow at him.“Look, healer. My point is, we thrive on the sacrifices made by others. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I was marked a traitor by the very queen I served and then destroyed the lands I loved. Your king took advantage of a vulnerable throne by killing his father and remade the shifter kingdom. And the pawns…they either pay or benefit from the games of power. Your kind benefitted. Mine paid.”

Swallowing, I looked away before I betrayed the pain that honest confession had cost me. I stared at a winged sign reading Griffin Gateau, a lovely building with delicious looking pastries displayed in the window.

The healer’s hand gently touched my shoulder and then waved towards one of the many white stone shops lining the street we walked down. “Look further, Mistress Dark.” He said softly.

I frowned at the white stucco building again where colorful fabrics covered the breezeways, blocking out the sun where shadows hid in waiting. They beckoned to me. I had already analyzed every exit and escape route, this shop in particular had a courtyard in the back.

I shifted my gaze to the golden haired fae standing just outside its doorway, harnessing a soft glow of light that lit up her exotic features. She fed it into an energy reservoir that powered light in the interior of the building.

Something only an elemental fae could do!

Quickly, I searched across the cobblestone streets for the lively music being played. Amongst the flower gardens that flanked the path, rich with green moss and sparkling pixie dust, fae danced in front of a smiling elemental fae weaving air to play his rich melodies.

Bright yellow hair and a matching pair of eyes caught my attention within the foray.

Silently, I watched as he weaved water into aquifers that drained into the many pipes lining the buildings.

As we passed, he spun mini clouds of rain showers for baby water nymphs that ventured from the river banks to roll around in the soft green grasses of the city.

My dark brows drew together while my thoughts raced.

Quinn gave a friendly wave to another fae elemental blasting pixies out of his shop with balls of fire shooting from his fingertips. Distracted by the greeting, one fireball missed its target and shot straight for Riella’s bundled form.

With quick ease, I snuffed out the blaze with a snap of inky shadow. As their darkness dispersed, the surprised look of a fire elemental came to view.

My eyes narrowed with recognition. “Lieutenant Onette?”

The elemental’s face immediately turned white, his eyes bugging even further out of his head.

“Gen–General Dark. I am…my apologies!” He sputtered, bowing and running back into his shop. The door slammed behind him before I could even speak .

Whispers broke out all around us. My name escaping their lips like a fearful prayer.

I turned towards the healer who was watching me with keen interest. “That fae’s name is Caval Anu Onette, he was a lieutenant that served in the queen’s armies. He is a fire elemental that unfortunately set one of our camps on fire during the war.”

Quinn’s grin widened and his eyes sparkled. “Did he now? Caval does, at times, still set things on fire, but now his talent serves a much better purpose.” He nodded to the sign above the shop.

“Stone fire bread.” I read it aloud and then gave the healer a hard stare. “You offered fae sent here mercy, didn't you? To lay down their weapons and join you." I pointed to the others I had noticed. "That one there is a water fae, an air elemental, another fire elemental…living among shifters."

Quinn’s chest puffed out, his blue eyes shining with pride. “Not I…our king. He despised seeing good fae die as pawns…when there are so little of us now as it is. A chance to live a new life in prosperity…to lay down hate and to turn to a new way of living.”

“A bold move. Hate doesn’t die so easily.” I said dryly. I gave the shop one final glance before moving onward, winking at the impatient Eshe who had been leading the way.

She rolled her eyes and turned quickly to march forward.

The quick shuffle of the healer’s feet told me he had caught up with us. “The fae courts were never meant to live in segregation.” He continued with his boastful pride. “We need each other, like the lands need the rain and the plants need the sun.”

I pursed my lips, shifting Riella away from a group of fae bustling by. “And the sun? What does the sun need?”

The healer hummed next to me. “Easy. Darkness. So its brightness can be seen.”

I smiled sadly. “A novel thought but it ends there healer. Darkness does not need the light, it is infinite and undying. It needs nothing.”

He stumbled next to me. “Surely, darkness relies on something.”

“It does not.” I murmured while looking down at Riella's ashen and feverish face. I pursed my lips and tightened my grip on her tiny body, hearing my words and realizing I wasn’t so sure if that was exactly true anymore.