Heir of the Fae Read online

  Knock.

  “Can’t.” Slowly, he drew himself away from me.

  Cool air rushed over my skin, making my head clear again. I sat up and shook my head. Fates, he was right. Of course he couldn’t tell them to go away. We were on a deadline, trying to stop a tragedy.

  My heart rate still thundered as I watched him walk to the door.

  How the hell had I let that happen? I had no control where he was concerned. All I knew for certain about him was that he didn’t hate me and he believed I didn’t actively try to sabotage his kingdom.

  That wasn’t a great reason to fall into bed with someone.

  It had to be the Fated Mate bond. It was a problem.

  Except…

  I wanted him more than I’d ever wanted anyone. The chemistry was off the charts.

  That was a pretty good reason to fall into bed with someone.

  I straightened my hair and stood, relieved to find that there was no pain at all in my leg. As subtly as I could, I moved toward the mirror to make sure I didn’t look like I felt—hot as hell and ready to get down.

  My bare face stared back at me, and I twitched in surprise.

  I’d forgotten that I wasn’t wearing my usual mask of black paint. And my hair was flat. No bouffant, no lift. Nothing.

  Ugh.

  I waved a hand over my face, and the black sweep of makeup appeared around my eyes. My hair got a little lift, too, and I suddenly looked like the badass I usually was.

  Better.

  I turned back to the door to see Tarron welcome Cass into the room. He’d gotten rid of any trace of his fae shift.

  “Cass! How did you get here?”

  She pointed to Tarron. “He called me while you were unconscious. Del dropped me off. She’s waiting for me at a pub back in Scotland.”

  Her sister Del had transport magic like me. “Thank you for coming.”

  “Tarron said you might have the information I needed to locate the entrance to the Unseelie Court.”

  “I hope so. My aunt said that the entrance is within the Circle of Night,” I said. “It’s supposed to be in the central Highlands.”

  She nodded. “Okay, that might help.” She reached out her hand. “Give me your hand anyway. You’re technically from there, so it might help as well.”

  I gripped her hand and waited, my breath held. If this worked, I’d take great satisfaction in knowing that Aunt had given me the name that had helped me find the place where I could fix my magic. She’d hate knowing that.

  Her magic surged on the air as she worked. Finally, her eyes popped open. “It’s located at the peak of Mount Schiehallion.”

  “That’s a mouthful.”

  “It sure is.” A musical voice sounded from behind Cass.

  I dropped her hands and looked over her shoulder to see Arrowen, the old Fae seer, walk into the room. She was beautiful in an ageless way, her pale white hair shining in the light. Her silver dress made her sparkle as she glided into the room.

  Her gaze fell on me. “I thought you’d be back.”

  “I am. My friend here was just helping us.”

  Cass turned to meet her.

  “Oh, I know your friend.” Arrowen’s eyes gleamed with knowledge. “Very powerful, that one. Messy past, though.”

  “You’re telling me,” Cass said. She turned to me. “If you don’t need any more help, I’ll get out of here and have a drink with Del.”

  “Thanks, Cass. You’re a lifesaver.”

  “It’s amazing how even a little clue can jumpstart my gift. I know it wasn’t easy to go back there. Good job finding it. And good luck.”

  “Thanks.”

  She left, and I turned to Tarron and Arrowen.

  “I invited her to see if she could scry for any information about the Circle of Night.”

  “He says that’s the name of the entrance to the Unseelie Court,” Arrowen said. “I’ve looked for them before with no luck. Perhaps this information will give my gift enough help that I can see a bit more. Names are powerful, you see.”

  “Anything you can tell us would be helpful,” I said.

  “Give me a moment.” She drifted to Tarron’s huge chair. It sat in front of the window, a massive throne that overlooked his domain.

  He said nothing as she sat on the chair, but then, he really didn’t seem like the sort to be bothered by an old woman sitting on his throne. He wore his power on his person, not in symbols.

  Arrowen’s magic filled the air, delicate and bright. She closed her eyes, and her skin glowed with radiance.

  The thought drifted away as I watched her work, tension filling the air. A few minutes later, her blue eyes popped open.

  “Well?” Tarron asked.

  “Great danger resides there.”

  Of course that would be the first thing she’d say. It was just how my luck was running lately. Also, it was pretty obvious. Not that I was going to say it.

  “It’s located at the top of one of the highest peaks.”

  “Mount Schiehallion,” Tarron said.

  “Yes, the peak closest to the moon and the lightning.”

  That was a very Fae thing to say, but we needed more precise directions. “What else can you tell us about it?”

  “You must approach the circle at dawn or dusk, as the day fades or rises,” Arrowen said.

  Yeah, that sounded about right for the Fae.

  “However, it will always be slightly dark there,” she continued. “Fraught with dangerous magic that you cannot navigate on your own. You will need help.”

  “From who?” Tarron asked.

  “I saw four stags in my vision. The noble stags of the Four Rivers. They are the only ones who can navigate the dangerous terrain. They live at the base of the mountain and will come to your aid if you bring them rowan berries.”

  “We’ll bring them a wagon full,” Tarron said.

  The seer nodded. “Ride the stags to the circle. Once you’ve arrived, you’ll have to find a way to enter.” Her face turned serious. “Unfortunately, that is the bit I cannot see.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” I said. “What do we do once we’re there?”

  “You must find the Evil Eye.”

  “Is that a person or a thing?” I asked.

  “An Unseelie Fae with a seer’s gift.”

  “She sounds like a peach,” I said.

  “Is there anything else?” Tarron asked.

  “You’ll want to appear as an Unseelie Fae when you enter their realm. Fortunately, you’re both dark-haired and pale-skinned. A bit of potion should help you blend better. I will send Luna up with it in a few hours.”

  “No sooner?” Tarron asked.

  “It will take some time to brew. But trust me, you will want it. Blending with their kind will make your task far easier.”

  “Thank you, Arrowen.” Tarron nodded.

  She rose and moved to depart. After she’d left, Tarron turned to me. “You should practice your wings. If you can use them in the Unseelie realm, you’ll have an advantage.”

  I frowned. I wanted to practice. I’d nearly gotten them to work back at Aunt’s horrible little hovel. But I didn’t know how.

  “They only come out when I’m in danger or need help.”

  “That won’t do. You need to be able to control their appearance. Going to the Unseelie Court will help you get your magic under control, but you may need your wings before then.”

  “And they’d help me blend in among their kind.” Not to mention, I needed to learn sooner rather than later how to control my gifts.

  “Let me help you.” Tarron approached to stand in front of me.

  “How?”

  “I’ll need to touch you.” He raised his hands and hovered them over my shoulders.

  Memories of our kiss flashed in my mind, and his scent wrapped around me. My breath grew short.

  “Okay.” The word barely escaped my lips.

  He rested his strong hands on my shoulders, and heat shot throug
h me. I looked up, meeting his green gaze. Desire flashed in his eyes, then disappeared as if he were wrestling it under control.

  He frowned. “Are you afraid?”

  “No.”

  “You sure? Feels a bit like you’re afraid of this new magic.”

  “I’m afraid of my lack of control.” I scoffed. “You’ve seen what I did. Wouldn’t you be scared?”

  “You’ve used your other magic since then and been fine.”

  “Mostly. I’ve stuck to magic I’m pretty familiar with, so that helps. But this new stuff is scary.”

  He nodded as if he got it. “You’ll get better. But you need to stop being afraid.”

  “Just tell me what to do. I want to try.”

  “Feel my magic. I’m going to call upon my wings. Feel what my magic does, and try to replicate it.”

  Magic was a resource that existed inside all supernaturals. We had it in different quantities and styles, but we all used it in basically the same ways. We called it up from inside our souls, from deep within our bodies. Then we manipulated it and used it, creating the skills and powers that each of us was known for.

  By touching Tarron, I could more easily feel the magic inside him. It was powerful, bucking like a wild stallion. He had amazing control of it as he called it to his uses. I could almost feel my back tingle as he directed his magic toward his wings. They flared back behind him, like silver lightning. Magnificent.

  I gasped. “I can feel it.”

  He nodded. “You try.”

  It was so strange how touching him made it easier for me to mimic what he did with his magic. I tried it with my own, calling upon the power that shimmered restlessly inside me. At first, it resisted. The Fae power that was so new was used to doing what it wanted. But I needed to control it.

  I imagined my silvery, ephemeral wings growing from my back. I pictured the magic flowing through my soul and going to my shoulder blades, creating my new gift and letting it flare to life behind me.

  As if following my command, it burst from me. My wings sparkled, magic and power glowing bright.

  My gaze flashed up to Tarron’s. “It worked.”

  Pride gleamed in his gaze, along with more heat than I’d ever seen. “You’re magnificent.”

  Warmth filled me. No one had ever called me magnificent before. I agreed, truth be told. But I liked hearing it from him.

  My gaze dropped to his lips, and heat surged between us. I could see in his eyes that he was thinking the same thing I was.

  Then he shook his head, fighting it. “Now send them away.”

  I cleared my throat, forcing my mind away from kisses. We didn’t have time for that. No matter how drawn to each other we were—there was clearly no fighting this fated mate bond—we were trying to save Magic’s Bend.

  From my fuck-up.

  I drew in a steadying breath and tried to force the magic down inside me. Tried to retract my wings. I’d need full control in the Unseelie Court. If not of all my magic, then at least of my wings.

  Lack of control was my nemesis these days, and I’d fight it.

  After a bit of effort, my wings retracted back inside my body.

  “Good.” Tarron withdrew his hands, and I nearly swayed toward him to keep his touch on me.

  I mentally cursed myself for my extreme lack of chill.

  “Now try it without my touch.”

  I nodded, and gave it my best effort.

  No doubt about it, this was a hell of a lot harder. Without having his magic to mirror, it was far more difficult. My wings flickered at my back, coming out only a bit.

  Frustration spiked within me. If I couldn’t do a little thing like call upon my wings, there was no way I could get a handle on the rest of the Unseelie magic that was inside me. “I need to visit the Unseelie realm. I can feel how broken the magic is inside me.”

  Tarron frowned and nodded. “But you’re getting better. Try again.”

  I did. It took too long, but this time, the wings came out in full.

  “Good,” he said. “In an emergency, your wings will probably come to you faster.”

  I sure hoped so.

  “You need to rest,” he said. “We don’t have long, but you need to recoup some of your magic after what we just went through. We have a few hours before we need to set out for the stone circle if we’re going to make it at dusk when it opens.”

  I didn’t know how I could possibly rest, but he had a point. I’d used quite a lot of power in Grimrealm, and I was totally beat.

  “You can have my bed,” he said.

  I was about to point out that it was a big bed—we could both surely sleep in it—but kept my mouth shut. If we were both on that bed, we wouldn’t be sleeping. And the last thing I needed to be doing was having sex instead of saving Magic’s Bend.

  That would be a bad look.

  And also damn me to hell.

  “Thanks.” I strode to the bed and kicked off my boots. As I climbed beneath the covers, he went to the huge chair in front of the window and slouched low, clearly intending to fall asleep.

  He waved his hand, and the fairy lights in the ceiling dimmed. I struggled to rest, listening instead for the slightest movement from Tarron.

  Finally, darkness sucked me in, and I slept hard.

  Until the comms charm around my neck flared to life, and Aeri’s voice came out. “Mari? You need to get over here. To the chasm. Quick.”

  I jerked upright in bed. “Shit, what’s wrong?”

  “The chasm is changing. Faster.” Panic sounded in her voice.

  “Be there soon.” My gaze flashed to Tarron, who had surged to his feet. “How long till you’re ready?”

  “Let me check on that serum that Arrowen was making.”

  As if she’d heard him speak, there was a knock at the door. He strode over and swung it open.

  Luna stood on the other side, her blue hair pulled into a high ponytail. Her pink eyes flashed between me in the bed and Tarron at the door, then she winked. “Special delivery.”

  “Thank you.” Tarron took something from her and shut the door in her face.

  “Rude!” Her voice filtered through the door, and I would have smiled if I weren’t so stressed.

  I climbed out of bed and grabbed a butterscotch candy from my pocket, then shoved it into my mouth. As I chomped down on the hard candy, I pushed my feet into my boots.

  Tarron walked toward me and handed me a small vial, along with an obsidian dagger. “They’re the signature weapon of the Unseelie Fae. It will help to have one.”

  “Great.”

  “Give me a moment.” He disappeared through a small door, then returned two minutes later, dressed entirely in black like an Unseelie.

  “Come this way.” He led me to an alcove off the large room, where a glowing portal shimmered in the air. “This leads directly to earth.”

  “So we can bypass the damned guard in the forest?” I was still pissed about her knocking me unconscious. He was the one to blame, but I wasn’t keen on seeing her anyhow.

  “Precisely.”

  “Good.”

  “Just imagine where you want to go.”

  “Same place as before, a few streets over from the edge of the chasm.”

  He nodded and stepped in. I followed, picturing the quiet city street. The ether sucked me in and spat me out right next to Tarron. The air prickled with magic, dark and foreboding. From a few streets over, I could hear the faint hum of activity. I shivered, horrified by what I’d caused.

  Then I shoved the thought aside and focused on the job at hand. “Let’s go.”

  We strode down the street, headed toward the chaos on the west side. When we reached the end of the alley that led to the chasm, I hesitated, inspecting the scene.

  There were dozens of Order of the Magica members there, all working to keep the chasm contained. They stood positioned at the edges, their robes flapping in the wind as they directed their magic toward the deep pit that stretched all the wa
y down the street. Dark magic pulsed from it, almost familiar.

  I looked down the street in either direction. As if she sensed my arrival, Aeri looked up from her position about twenty yards down the street. Her pale blond hair glinted in the light of the street lamps. She hurried toward me, tapping a tall, robed woman on the shoulder as she ran.

  They appeared in front of us a moment later.

  I drew in a steadying breath at the sight of Rose, one of the members of the Council of Demon Slayers. Her cloak covered her face—it always did—but her magical signature and voice were distinct. All of the council members were concealed by cloaks, but their magic spoke for itself. They had the signatures of those whose life mission was to help the world. They inspired feelings of kindness, respect, comfort, and compassion.

  Normally, standing in front of her would make me feel better.

  Not today.

  Council members almost never left their headquarters, but here she was.

  Which meant this was bad.

  I’d already known it was bad, but this was like a big neon sign saying Mordaca, you’ve fucked up totally.

  Got it, thanks.

  “Rose.” I inclined my head.

  “Mordaca.” Her voice resonated with power. And disappointment.

  “I’m sorry about this.” I gestured to the chasm.

  “It’s…not good.” She turned to look at the Order members trying to keep control of the chasm. “We’re keeping things under control here. We’ve had to pull some serious strings, but the Order of the Magica isn’t asking questions. At our request. It’s the only time we can pull that string, and we’re using it for you.”

  I swallowed hard, both grateful for the fact that they were covering for me and honored. And also guilty as hell.

  “But we need you to fix this,” Rose said. “Soon. You’re the only one who can.”

  I nodded.

  “What’s the problem now?” Tarron asked, clearly not here to waste time hearing me get a lecture from my boss. “Why did you call us?”

  Rose gestured to the chasm. “The magical energy has changed. Become clearer. There’s demonic energy there, but also something different. We want to see if Mordaca recognizes it. If there’s anything she can do with her magic to stabilize it.” Her gaze sharpened on Tarron. “And you as well, King of the Seelie Fae. It’s really going out of control now, and we need all the help we can get.”