Page 25

CHAPTER 25

YVETTE

Nestled in Lucas’s arms, I listen to the sounds of the summer night. Never mind that it’s technically winter in this orc territory, just like it is in the human territory I once called home. But it would seem it’s always summer wherever Lucas is, and I certainly don’t mind. I soak up his warmth, and I turn over to face him, hoping to catch sight of him sleeping peacefully.

But not only is he wide awake, he’s staring at the window with a fierce scowl that succeeds in putting the chill of winter into me. I follow his gaze but don’t see anything amiss. I don’t hear anything either. Nothing but the locusts and crickets and frogs.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise, and I hold my breath as I listen for any odd sound that might indicate imminent danger.

Lucas finally looks at me, and he places a finger to his lips. I nod my assent and remain silent, even though I want to ask what’s wrong. But I trust he’ll tell me when the time is right.

He slowly rises from the bed and puts clothes on, and he motions for me to do the same. I dress quickly in the gown I wore yesterday, and I also put stockings and boots on. I fasten the straps of the boots tight, just in case I have to make a run for it.

The building shudders, the windows rattle, and the sounds of summer fade.

Lucas grasps my hand and leads me to the door, but before he can touch the knob, everything goes dark and wind roars in my ears. Disoriented, I stumble and reach into the blackness, trying to find Lucas. I cry out and call his name, but he doesn’t respond.

Gradually, my senses return, and I spin in a circle as I take in my new surroundings. A glittering ussha-blessed forest.

I think I’m alone, until dark laughter rings out behind me. A chill skitters down my spine, and I turn to face the stranger. It’s a human man with cold, glowing eyes. Maybe not fully human. He’s part… other. Fae? I’m not certain.

I clear my throat and try to summon bravery. “Who are you?”

He smiles, and his teeth are just as pointed as Lucas’s, making me suspect he’s indeed part-fae, despite his curved ears. “I’m Bartonnus.”

“What do you want?”

“A life for a life.” He chuckles and crooks a long, sharp fingernail at me. “Come here and I’ll make it quick. You won’t feel a thing.”

I take a step back and scan the forest, wishing Lucas would emerge from the trees. But I don’t see him or anyone else. “How did you bring me here?” Maybe if I keep him talking, it’ll allow me to stall long enough for help to arrive. I can only hope. Lucas. Where is he? My heart clenches with worry. I pray he’s all right. I pray no harm has come to him.

Bartonnus sneers. “Who are you? What do you want? How did you bring me here? So many fucking questions. Does it really matter when you’re about to die?” He approaches me, but I take a few more steps back.

“Actually, it does matter when I’m about to die,” I say, still going with my plan to keep him talking. I study the dark-haired stranger with deeply wrinkled skin and ponder his identity. Yes, he told me his name, but who is he really? “Do you know Prince Lucas?”

He sneers again. “Of course I know Prince Lucas.” He pauses and a frown creases his face, then he displays a look of profound confusion. “Well, I don’t know him personally, but I know who he is well enough. I know that he’ll come looking for you, and once he’s here and learns your blood has been spilled in a blood warning pool, the grief will weaken him long enough to allow me to kill him. And if I don’t manage to kill him, the dark creatures that slither toward the blood warning will.”

“Why do you want Prince Lucas dead when you’ve never actually met him before?” I think of the Summer Court army and can’t help but wonder if perhaps Lucas ordered an attack on this man’s home city. Perhaps he lost someone he cares about and wants revenge.

His breath hisses inward, and he rolls his eyes. His hands clench and he makes a noise of frustration. Blue light flashes over his body, seeming to come from within. I take several more steps back as I watch him struggle.

“Prince Lucas’s father killed my father.” More blue light flashes over his body. He brushes his hands up and down his arms, as though it might help soothe the surges of magic he can’t seem to control. “I’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to seek my vengeance. Watching and waiting all these years. Well, watching and waiting during the last decade, anyway. Before that, I’m afraid I was imprisoned for a few centuries, or perhaps longer, I’m not certain. One loses track of time in an orc dungeon.” He barks a strange laugh. “Orcs! Accidentally create the wrong war spell for them and see how fast they lock you up and throw away the key. Praise the gods I finally managed to escape.”

“Who was your father?” I ask.

Bartonnus blinks fast and continues rubbing his arms, but the blue light keeps flashing over him. He winces, making me suspect it’s causing him pain. I don’t feel sorry for him, however, because he kidnapped me. Somehow, he brought me from the inn to this dark but ussha glowing forest.

“My father was the greatest, most powerful mage in the history of the realm.”

Ice fills my veins. The mage. The mage who wielded dark magic. The very same mage who cursed Lucas and his brothers so they would never have fated mates.

“But… how?” I ask. “You’re part-fae. At least I think you are. The mage you’re speaking about was a human, and?—”

“He tricked my fae mother into sleeping with him. Using dark magic, of course, he tricked my fae mother into bed, and after she gave birth to me, he stole me away and raised me all by himself. I adored my father, and he was taken from me too soon.”

I gape at the deranged male. “Your father was killed a few thousand years ago.” How long does a part-fae, part-human who’s also a mage normally live? My head spins as I think about it, and my fear also deepens. Because Bartonnus is hurting and grieving, and he also holds a lot of hate in his heart. Hate for King Haratt.

“Yes, yes, he was killed a few thousand years ago, yet it still fucking feels like yesterday.” He draws in a huge breath, and when he next speaks, his voice takes on a raspy tone, and his red eyes glow brighter. “He died before he could teach me all he knows and now look at me. I’m shriveled and slowly dying. The human half of me, anyway. I can’t penetrate the Summer Court to reach the king, but I can kill his sons when they venture into the human and orcs lands. And so I will.”

Keep him talking , I remind myself. Keep the fucker talking. I take a careful step back and say, “The magic you used to bring me to this forest must be powerful. Why, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

He snorts. “Of course it’s powerful. It’s magic my father taught me, though it’s a pity it won’t work on highborn fae. Still, it might be better this way. The first blood warning I left at the tower didn’t kill Prince Lucas as I’d hoped, but perhaps the second one will.” His eyes glimmer with sheer evil. “He’s in love with you, and I imagine your death will bring him to his knees.”

My heart nearly stops. I stare at Bartonnus, unsure of what to say. Is the prince truly in love with me, and if so, how does this horrible male know? Grief swells in my chest. What if I never see Lucas again? What if this is the end? I’ve been in this strange forest for a while now and I’ve glimpsed no sign of him. I have no idea how far Giarrla is from this place.

“Ah, you didn’t know, then?” Bartonnus clasps his hands and grins. “I watched your wedding ceremony from afar, and it was obvious to me by the way he looked at you. I suspect it was obvious to everyone in attendance. In any case, it’s time for me to create the blood warning. He’ll probably be here soon, and I must be ready.” He lunges for me.

I spin and bolt through the trees. “Lucas!” I scream into the night. “Lucas, I’m here!”