Chapter 8
MAIZE
“A carriage can’t cross through the mountains that border the Dark Fae lands, so we’ll go on horseback.” Charm’s words filled the crisp morning air as I pulled on my brown leather gloves, the rest of me wrapped in travel wear that would stand against the February chill.
Despite knowing my brothers were secure and safe at the castle, I still felt uneasy about leaving.
What if Oberon decided to strike the Horde?
Gray had promised to search the Pixie Circle and the second focal point of magic that Raziel had mentioned, so the chances of being caught off guard were limited—but not impossible.
“You’re with me, baby.” Valerio pressed a hand to my back and led me toward a dark horse that waited in line with the others.
“No horse of my own?” I scoffed, not minding in the least. To be honest, the last thing I wanted was to be on horseback for hours on end, but it would be far better with my arms wrapped around Valerio’s muscular torso.
“I don’t know, little rose,” Philip drew out. “Feels like he’s trying to hog you.”
“I agree,” Chait chuckled. “This wasn’t even open for discussion.”
“Correct,” Valerio mused, swinging himself up onto the horse before reaching out a hand. I grabbed it, securing my foot into the stirrup before swinging the rest of my body up.
“After a bit we can switch.” I let out a laugh as Valerio nearly pouted.
Charm walked up to the horse, looking amused as he handed me a blanket. “Wrap it around your shoulders. It’s too cold to only be wearing a coat.”
I narrowed my eyes playfully at his coat. “Don’t you need it then?”
“Never been cold in my life, birdy.” He winked, stepping back and heading toward his own horse. Maddox and Zed were talking farther down the line, and Cannon tossed each of them a pair of gloves before approaching his horse next to us. When he got close, I noticed the horse tense up.
“Because of your wolf?” I wagered.
Cannon hummed in agreement, smoothing his hand over her mane. “It’s like this with most animals and shifters. I’ve considered it a blessing most of my life, especially because people will usually leave you the hell alone. But in moments like this it can also be annoying.”
The horse calmed as he mounted, and Valerio looked over the group as a whole.
“Is everyone good to go?” The chorus of nods and agreement had me looking toward the mountain path we’d be taking.
I didn’t know where exactly we were going, but Raziel had given a map to Valerio, so we were trusting the ancient fae on this.
“This would be a hell of a lot easier if we could portal,” Maddox called out, his tone filled with disapproval. “Also way easier to keep Maize warm.”
Valerio let out a rumble of agreement. “I understand the point that Rhodes made though. If Oberon is as powerful and in tune with the land as we assume, there would be no chance to surprise him if we portaled—he would feel the power surge.”
And as Gray mentioned, there would be no way to disguise it outside of her territory. I suppose we could have asked Bandit, my half brother—
My mind stopped at that, and I made a thoughtful sound.
“What?” Valerio asked. It bothered me that I couldn’t see his expression, but his large, muscular back was comfortable to rest my cheek against.
“Well, I just realized that Bandit isn’t actually my half brother. It also explains why I wasn’t the True Heir to the Dark Fae kingdom.”
Valerio chuckled. “I suppose you’re right. I wonder if Mario knew the entire time—if your magic manifesting was the reason he locked you up.”
“Yeah,” I murmured. “I’m not sure. I guess that’s another question for Cethlenn.” The concept frustrated the hell out of me because, for once, I’d been getting answers before she disappeared again.
When I’d explained the dreamscape situation to my mates, they had rightly pointed out that if those two were my parents, why had I been raised in the Dark Fae kingdom? Had it been a safety precaution? Had she handed me off to keep me protected? Why had it taken until now for her to reveal herself?
What about all the torture I’d endured? Frustration and anger began to build through our bond, and after a few minutes Valerio squeezed one of the hands I’d wrapped around him. “What’s going on, baby?”
“Just thinking about how easily she revealed she was my mother and didn’t explain anything else. How she didn’t explain or justify why she just let me…suffer.”
Valerio was quiet for a long moment before settling on a statement that had my lips twerking up into a smile. “I wish we had been the ones to save you that day.”
“I would have probably poisoned you right there and then.”
“All that means to me is even more time together.” Valerio’s words were serious despite my attempt to tease him.
“I need to talk to her more. Maybe after this Oberon shit,” I said.
“For now, I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt, especially considering the nature of my birth and my brother’s.
Maybe people are watching, and us interacting puts all of us in danger…
or maybe she just doesn’t want to explain herself past what she needs to for me to fulfill my destiny. ”
“Maize. I don’t care what ‘destiny’ she claims you have. If you don’t want to do this, we can walk away. You’re not a weapon for them to use.”
Valerio’s statement made my chest squeeze happily, because I knew he absolutely meant that. He may have had loyalty to the Horde, but he would put it aside if I didn’t want to embark on this journey.
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” I murmured, the trees growing denser as our horses continued to climb the mountains.
“What do you mean?” Valerio asked, bracing himself for what I was about to say.
“My father…Mario drained my power often,” I explained slowly.
“Usually for himself, but sometimes he used it for other things. There was a time when he siphoned my magic into a weapon—a prod to use on other prisoners. Because it was charged with my power, it poisoned them with a touch. Obviously, I couldn’t draw the power out of them…
so they died. Feet away from me. And I just had to watch, unable to help. ”
The sound of the forest faded beneath the weight of my words. Branches creaked. Snow shifted. Even the horses seemed to sense the tension radiating from Valerio.
He reined in our horse, stopping in the dim stretch of trees as the others pulled their horses to a stop in response.
I could feel the fury coiling beneath his skin, restrained yet terrifying, the kind of anger that vibrated the air around us.
I didn’t need to see his expression to know exactly how he was feeling.
His jaw flexed, and he reached for my hand, his fingers curling around mine with a carefulness that had my heart squeezing.
“If I could kill him again, I would, Maize.”
“Then let’s kill what remains of him,” I whispered against his back. “Every being that holds a trace of his corruption—Zagan, Oberon, anyone or anything else we come across. Whatever pieces of him still rot in this realm, we end them.”
Valerio’s hand tightened over mine, and as one of my mates called out to ask if everything was okay, he urged the horse forward once more. My mate didn’t need to say anything more; I knew he would do everything in his power to ensure that Oberon didn’t survive our next interaction.
Hours later, after we had crossed the border into the Dark Fae lands, we reached a military outpost. Much to my surprise, Valerio had let me switch horses so that by the end of the journey I had ridden with both Charm and Zed—equally fun to tease and mess with—making the time pass quickly.
It also lifted my spirits as we rode through the poisoned lands I’d never wanted or planned to return to.
The war Queen Gray had waged with Mario had reduced the population drastically, so much so that we didn’t come across anyone until we arrived at the base, which flew the banner of the True Heir.
I smiled as we pulled our horses to a stop and dismounted easily, a familiar face stepping out from the entrance.
“Maize?”
“Laura!” I smiled, the sincere reaction catching her off guard as I greeted her with a hug. Laura had been an Obsidian Butterfly—one of those who had trained beside me until I was imprisoned.
“I never thought I would see you again,” she said, her dark eyes large as she peeked over my shoulder. “And with so many men. Is this your new team?”
“No, my mates,” I explained simply before stepping back. “We’re on a search for something. We’ve been riding from the Horde all day; probably going to need to set up camp soon.”
“Oh.” Laura smiled in understanding. “Well, Pixie and I were just cleaning up before we set out. We actually had to retrieve some supplies here. Just stay in the barracks—everything is set up for emergencies.”
“Really?” I asked, surprised by the considerate offer, and she nodded toward the building. Out of all the Obsidian Butterflies, Laura and I had been the closest to being ‘friends,’ but it still surprised me.
“It’s way too damn cold to sleep out here. Plus, there’s shit in these forests that’s dangerous. Not as dangerous as you,” she teased, “but dangerous.”
“You act as if you aren’t dangerous,” I mused.
“Yes, yes, we’re all so dangerous,” Pixie, a more veteran OB, stepped out with a bag over her shoulder. “But this dangerous badass needs a cup of tea and to sleep for the next few days. I’m getting too old for this shit.”
“It’s good to see you too, Pixie,” I said sincerely as she offered me a warm smile.
“You come by the castle when you’re done, okay? We need to catch up. Promise me, Maize.”
I let out a small, shaky breath before nodding. “Yeah, we can do that.”
As they departed, I wondered if I would regret that promise…but I couldn’t bring myself to truly feel that way. Maybe going there would make me feel better.
Maybe.
“Come on,” I called out to my men, who were securing the horses in a closed stable attached to the barracks. “This is as good a place as any.”