Queen of Light (The Forbidden Fae Book 3) Read online

  “Then maybe you’ll have better control of your magic,” Nix added.

  “You need to go back to our court for that?” Connor asked.

  I nodded. “Yes, according to Aethelred. But as long as the king and queen are possessed by the darkness like I am, it’ll be dangerous. They won’t let me use the Crown of Truth.”

  “They can’t be allowed to stay that way,” Iain said. “You’re meant to start the Great Burning, but they could cause an incredible amount of damage if left alone to fight the darkness.”

  “We need to get some of this potion to them,” I said. “I already feel so much better. If they could take some of this, the Court would be in so much less danger.”

  “Do you have any idea how far under the influence they are?” Iain asked.

  “No.” I shook my head. “When I saw them at the ceremony after the battle at the Tor of the Ancients, I could tell that they were possessed, but not how far gone they were.”

  “We need to sneak in and get them to take some of this potion, then,” Connor said.

  “Want help?” Cass asked.

  “If we can disguise you as Fae, then, yes,” Iain said. “Otherwise, the grove that acts as a portal to their realm won’t allow you to pass through. Not without explicit permission from the king and queen, at least.”

  “And there’s no way we can get that,” I said.

  “I think we have something in our shop that can help with that,” Cass said. “Aidan and I just recovered an artifact that could turn one of us into another species for a short while.”

  Nix nodded. “It’s ready to be used, too. I just moved the magic over from the original artifact into the replica.”

  The three FireSouls ran a business saving valuable archaeological artifacts from destruction due to enchantment. Magic had a shelf life, and as it decayed, it became unstable. Once it reached a certain point, it would explode, destroying the artifact and possibly even the entire archaeological site. Cass and Del searched the earth for threatened artifacts, then Nix removed the magic and placed it in a replica. Once that was done, they returned the artifact to its original archaeological site, thereby keeping themselves on the right side of the law and ethics.

  As a result, they had a shop full of amazing magical replicas that could do just about everything.

  “Excellent.” I drew in an unsteady breath. “Meet back here when you’re ready to go?”

  The FireSouls nodded.

  “I’m going to pack a few potions bags,” Connor said.

  “Some for me too, bro.” I pulled my empty potion bag from the ether and handed it to him. “My new magic is a mess, my control totally off. I think I’m going to need the fire power.”

  “You can’t expect to get new magic and be an expert right away,” Connor said.

  “It’s more than that.” I frowned. “I think the darkness has something to do with it.”

  “We’ll figure it out.” Connor gave me an encouraging smile, then turned and headed for the door to the back of the bar. It led to our apartments on the floors above.

  The FireSouls departed as well, leaving us in the empty bar.

  Suddenly, the air closed in around me. It was just Iain and me, and tension tightened between us. The darkness inside me rumbled, as if sensing a threat. The potion Connor had given me did help suppress it, but it was still there. Lurking. Waiting.

  It pushed me, finding the strength to make me speak. “Why are you helping, anyway?”

  His eyes flashed with surprise. “Of course I’m helping.”

  “But why? There’s nothing between us. No reason to.” The darkness made the words seep from my lips.

  Sure, a teeny tiny part of me wondered if that was true—but this was mostly the evil that was trying to control me. It didn’t have the strength to control my thoughts or motions anymore. At least not when it came to defeating it and saving the world.

  That I was perfectly clear on. My determination was unwavering in that respect.

  But with Iain? I was unsure of him, and the darkness knew it. It poked at my weaknesses, loosening my tongue to say the things that would drive us apart.

  Iain’s eyes flashed with hurt and anger. “Why? Nothing between us?”

  “Yeah. We were going to break the mating bond, and it didn’t work. I still consider it broken.” I don’t. Not really. Damaged, yes. But it was still there.

  He gripped my arms, pulling me up to stand in front of him. “That’s bullshit and you know it.”

  I shivered at his touch, enjoying it despite myself. “I don’t know anything of the sort.”

  “You do.”

  I shrugged, knowing I was being difficult but unable to help myself. All of my worst weaknesses and fears were egged on by the evil that now lurked within my soul. “You might as well just head back to your Court.”

  “I’m staying to help because this is my problem, too. The Sea Fae have a stake in this. The darkness attacked us as well. And if the darkness succeeds and burns Dartmoor, it won’t stop there.”

  He was right, and I was logical enough to be able to admit it. I did my best to force my emotions to calm. We didn’t need to be fighting like this. I didn’t even want to be.

  Damn it, I wasn’t going to let the evil control me and prey on my weaknesses. Despite the difficulties between us, Iain was one of my most powerful allies. I needed his help. The Fire Fae needed his help.

  And I liked him. A lot.

  He still gripped my upper arms, though his touch had gentled. He stood so close that I could feel the heat from his chest, and I looked up to meet his gaze.

  “And I suppose I’m helping you because I can’t stop myself,” he said. “Even if the Sea Fae had no stake in this, I’d be here.”

  “Because I’m your mate.”

  He gave me a look that suggested that went without saying, then added, “And because I care for you.”

  I pursed my lips, unable to get a handle on my feelings about that. I wasn’t sure I could trust this fated mate thing—that his feelings for me were real—but I didn’t say anything. The last thing I wanted to talk about right now was feelings. That seemed to make the darkness inside me even more irritated.

  “Are you all right?” Iain asked.

  “No. But I’m good enough.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “Confused.” My mind flashed back to earlier today. “Aethelred said that I must become more. Just like the Oracle said. But I don’t understand what it means.”

  Iain frowned. He hadn’t let go of my arms yet, and I didn’t remind him to. “That’s bloody confusing.”

  “I know. I’m hoping that this Crown of Truth will drive the darkness from me and allow me to figure it out.” Aethelred had actually been unclear about what the crown would do, but that was what I was going to hope for. That’s what I needed, after all, and I trusted him to lead me in the right direction.

  He nodded. “Sounds reasonable. How’s your flying? You have your wings back, don’t you?”

  “I do, but they are different. More powerful. I managed to fly at the Tor of the Ancients, but that was simple flying. Up and down. Since then, I haven’t been able to master it.”

  “Because they’re so powerful?”

  “I think so.”

  “I’ll help you.”

  “Now?”

  He looked around. “No one here. We have time to kill. Might as well.”

  I nodded and drew in a steady breath, calling upon my wings. Magic sparked along my back, bright and tingling. I shivered as my wings burst to life, then looked behind.

  They were a deep black, shot through with flickering gold that was nearly impossible to see unless you looked closely. It looked like there were stars within my wings—whole worlds and galaxies.

  “They’re beautiful.” Iain’s voice was rough.

  I stepped back from him, unable to touch him anymore without wanting to throw my arms around him and kiss him.

  “Try to fly upward,” I
ain said.

  I called upon my magic and moved my wings.

  It was too much.

  I launched myself toward the ceiling so fast that I nearly got vertigo.

  Iain grabbed my leg and yanked me back down. “Whoa there.”

  I landed with a thud, stumbling against his chest. He gripped me to him, steadying me.

  “Those are some powerful wings,” he said.

  “Seriously. I felt like I gave it only the tiniest bit of juice, yet I was hurtling toward the ceiling.” Their power had worked well for me back at the Tor of the Ancients. I’d needed to move fast then, and there’d been no ceiling above me.

  Here, there were open rafters and a wooden ceiling that would hurt like hell if I hit it.

  “Did you feel the darkness inside you, impacting your flight?”

  I shook my head. “Only a little, if at all. They’re just so strong. It’s like learning to drive a car and not knowing how hard to press the gas. There’s just so much more power than I’m used to.”

  “Let me help.” Gently, he moved me back from him. I blushed, realizing that I’d still been clinging to his broad shoulders. He reached down and gripped my hand, and my palm sparked from his touch.

  I shivered as I met his eyes. “How is this supposed to help? I could just drag you up with me.”

  “I can feel your power. I’ll try to help you control it.”

  “Your funeral.”

  “We’d hardly die if we got stuck in the rafters.”

  “Speak for yourself. I’d die of embarrassment.”

  He cracked a smile, and I felt his magic flow into my hand and up my arm. He was right, though. It did make my own magic feel more settled inside me. “Now try.”

  I called upon my magic again, flying upward. This time, I went a bit slower. My ascent was still erratic, but Iain’s magic definitely helped calm my own, allowing me to use only what I needed.

  He pulled me back down, and I landed right in front of him, so close that I could see the swirls of blue in his eyes. My gaze dropped to his full lips, and I swallowed hard.

  What would it feel like to kiss him?

  I knew the answer to that.

  Amazing.

  I leaned toward him, unable to think of anything else. His strength drew me, and I reveled in the size of him.

  His gaze darkened, as deep a blue as the darkest parts of the ocean, and dropped to my lips. A low rumble drifted from his throat. “Caera.”

  I shivered as he pulled me toward him, his strong arms wrapping around my waist and pulling me into the shadow of his shoulders.

  I tilted my head back, the tension between us tightening until my skin buzzed with pleasure. His scent wrapped around me, fresh as an ocean breeze but darker with something that was intrinsically him. When he dropped his head, his lips brushing against mine, pleasure spiked inside me.

  The door to the street swung open, allowing a blast of cool air to flow inside.

  4

  Heart thundering, I jerked away from Iain, leaving the intoxicating strength of his embrace behind. Parts of me rebelled, but I forced a smiled at the FireSouls, pretending that I hadn’t been just about to kiss Iain.

  “Good timing.” I could hear the thudding of my heartbeat in my ears, and from the skeptical gaze that Cass gave me, so could she. At the very least, she could read the tension in the air, which was still so thick I could barely breathe.

  Her gaze moved between Iain and me. “Yeah. Sure.”

  Nix and Del each cracked a wide smile. Nix leaned over to whisper, “Told you so.”

  The door to the back of the bar opened, and Connor stepped through, saving me from having to respond to them. He wore the rugged leather jacket that was his preferred attire for fighting, and carried two potion sacks over his shoulder.

  He handed one to me. “Filled with all your favorites.”

  I took the bag and stashed it back in the ether. “Thanks.”

  He nodded, his expression serious.

  I looked at the FireSouls. “Well? Are you Fae now? Did your spell work?”

  Cass cracked a smile. “Close enough. But just one of us. The artifact didn’t have enough magic to do all three.”

  “Which one?” I looked between them.

  Cass pulled her red hair back from her ear, revealing the pointed tip. A half second later, brilliant blue wings flared from her back. The scent of meadow grass and Rowan berries wafted toward me—a distinct Fae signature.

  “Well done, you’ll pass even the most intense scrutiny,” Iain said.

  She nodded. “I thought so.”

  Nix grinned. “We had to rock, paper, scissors for it.”

  “I almost had it, too,” Del said.

  “But we can play backup here, if you need anything done,” Nix said.

  “Thanks. I… do.” I hated the thought of what I was about to ask them to do, but it had to be done. “Aethelred said there will be a great battle. One of the biggest I’ve ever faced. And we’d all be in it.”

  Nix grinned, gesturing between her besties and herself. “All, as in us?”

  I nodded.

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” Her smile widened. “So do you need us to find more fighters? Is that what you’re hesitating to ask?”

  “Yeah. I just hate the idea of asking friends to fight—and maybe die—for me.”

  “Not just for you,” Nix said. “Though we’d do that, too. But it’s for your people and ourselves as well. The darkness will just keep spreading. We’re all at risk.”

  “And mine,” Iain frowned. “I’ll be back. I need to alert my Court.”

  I watched him walk toward the corner of the bar, where he raised his comms charm to his mouth. He spoke quietly, but I got the gist of it. Everyone would be called to fight. Because if they didn’t, the darkness would win and they would die.

  “I’ll try to keep it from happening,” I said. “Maybe we don’t need to fight at all, but…”

  “Better to be prepared if we do,” Cass said. “We’ll hit it with everything we’ve got and minimize casualties that way.”

  Casualties.

  I swallowed hard, the word making the situation feel so real.

  Please don’t let my friends die.

  I didn’t know who I was praying to, but I hoped they were listening.

  “We’ll work on getting reinforcements,” Del said. “We’ll head to the Undercover Protectorate first.”

  We had a lot of friends at the institution in Scotland, and I knew they could be counted on in a fight. “Thanks.”

  Finished with his call, Iain returned to our sides. “Are we ready? It will be dusk in England soon and we’d be wise to time our approach with when the portal is open.”

  Everyone nodded, and I shrugged. “Ready as we’ll ever be. Let’s get out of here.”

  “Hang on,” Connor said. “Once we reach the realm of the Fire Fae, we need to sneak into the castle. We can’t just stroll right in.”

  “I can use illusion to hide us,” Cass said.

  “Save your magic for the fight.” He cracked a smile. “If it comes to that.” Quickly, he dug into his potion pack and withdrew four tiny glass vials. “Invisibility potions for each of us. We’ll take them right before we enter the Fae realm.”

  “Thanks.” I accepted my vial and shoved it in my pocket. The others did the same. “Ready?”

  “I can teleport us,” Iain said.

  “Me too,” Cass said.

  I stiffened, remembering the tearing feeling from when he’d tried to take me through the ether before.

  “Will you be all right?” he asked.

  “Let’s try it. Maybe it’ll be better because of Connor’s potion.”

  “I’ll stop immediately if you give the word.” He held out his hand and I took it. Warmth rushed up my arm, and I met his gaze.

  How could such a little thing make me feel so much?

  Because we’re fated mates.

  He felt it, too. I could see it in
the blue depths of his eyes.

  I dragged my gaze from his and looked at Connor. “Let’s meet at the Clapper Bridge.”

  He nodded, then took Cass’s hand.

  “I’ll transport, you lead,” she said to him.

  “On it.” Connor looked toward me. “You guys go first.”

  Iain pulled me toward him, then called upon his magic. It flared briefly, bringing with it the intoxicating scent of the sea. A moment later, the ether began to pull gently at me. It felt fine, so I nodded encouragingly at him.

  The ether pulled harder, sucking us in and spinning us around, finally spitting us out in the middle of Dartmoor. My insides churned and I stumbled, but Iain righted me.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “It was tougher than normal, but Connor’s potion is keeping the darkness at bay, so I’m fine.” I turned to inspect our surroundings. The cool English breeze rushed over my skin and hair, and I drew it deeply into my lungs. It smelled of grass and water and home, and I loved it.

  In the distance, the sun was setting behind the tall hill in front of us, painting the sky with splashes of brilliant pink and orange. The tor itself was silhouetted by the sun, looking ominous and dark.

  I shivered. “Is it a sign?”

  “No. We already know the darkness is there,” Iain said. “And we’ll fix it.”

  “Damn right we will.” Belatedly, I realized that I hadn’t let go of his hand yet. I withdrew my hand from his, missing the connection.

  Cass and Connor appeared a moment later, standing right next to us.

  Cass whistled low. “This is beautiful.”

  I looked around with fresh eyes, trying to see it as she did. I’d always loved Dartmoor with an intensity that scared me. It pulled at something within me, as if it were as much a person as a place. But the last few days, it had been primarily a place of terror and pain for me.

  But now, looking at it with her eyes, I could see what she was saying. Sweeping valleys rose into tall hills topped with piles of granite. The river in front of us glittered under the last rays of the sun, with the huge stone bridge looking ancient and strong. Across the river, the darkened grove of twisted old oaks waited for us, beckoning.

  I pointed to them. “We approach the oaks, then stand amongst the branches, thinking only of our intentions toward the Court of Flames. If the trees deem us worthy, we may pass.”