Chapter 1
T he night’s shadowy darkness brushed against my sweat-slicked skin like an old friend.
Perhaps it was, seeing as there weren’t many Fae who could claim its title. At the rate I trusted others, perhaps the shadows of night could have an oh-so-honored spot on the short list of those I called friends.
I tilted my head back, rolling my neck. The thatched roofed homes on the outskirts of the city were a reminder I neared the crowded edge of town. I leaned against the alleyway wall while trying not to choke on the scent of stale beer permeating the air. The stench only increased the closer I drew to my destination.
Murmuring voices sounded, and a young couple strolled by my hiding place, none the wiser of my presence. I continued toward the end of the city limits, my soft-soled shoes silent against the cobblestone streets.
The stone wall protecting the city loomed ahead of me. Once there, I could move faster, not having to worry about slinking around guards to get to the meeting point. Guards were everywhere in this city, even outside the palace. Supposedly, they were throughout Ellevail for my benefit, but kept me caged instead, since I was prohibited from leaving the palace grounds without an escort.
My stomach churned, acid creeping up my throat, and I paused to quash down the unease. Sneaking out wasn’t something new. Wandering the streets in the dark while I moved unknown in the night, brought me comfort and a sense of freedom. But tonight seemed different.
The message I’d received for this meeting varied from those I generally entertained. Likely because it arrived from outside my normal channels and the network I’d so carefully built.
Somewhere behind me, a whisper of fluttering wings beat twice and the hairs on the back of my neck rose. I waited, stilling my entire body, except for my rapid heartbeat, which wouldn’t cooperate. This time when I paused, I grasped the hilt of my dagger. Inching closer to the wall and pulling my hood farther forward to hide my too-fair skin and recognizable, unique rose gold-tinged hair, I waited.
Two breaths.
Three breaths.
With a heavy step, the shadow following me made itself known, as a pebble skittered across the cobblestone path. I twisted, grabbing the arm of my stalker, my dagger leant gently on his throat.
“I told you I didn’t want you coming tonight,” I hissed against the man’s ear, his coarse stubble bristling against my skin.
Ian Stronholm’s laugh quieted as I held my blade against his neck. “Lana, you do know that’s a real dagger. While I’d love a scar to show off to the ladies, I don’t want to deal with blood on my shirt, or telling Lucinda I soiled it again when she only just cleaned it.”
Despite being a few inches shorter than Ian’s six-foot-tall frame, I held my ground. Lowering my blade, I shoved him forward. I didn’t care if he’d been my friend for over twenty years, I hated my request being ignored. Loathed it. “I said I didn’t need you this time.”
“And if you think I’d let you meet with a stranger, who knew how to contact us outside of Corbin and Leif, you don’t know me at all.” Ian brushed the collar of his black tunic back into place and cocked an eyebrow at me. “Besides, you’re the damn crown princess, Lana, who is forbidden from leaving the palace grounds. Sneaking out alone at night is a poor choice and one I care not to explain to the king.” A teasing smirk pulled at his lips.
The wind playfully swirled a few loose strands of blond hair, which escaped the band he used to pull it back. He studied me, knowing he had struck a nerve and daring me to bite back with another retort.
I crossed my arms, furious at him for putting himself in danger alongside me, but also glad for his company despite its dangers. I wanted—no, needed, to take this meeting alone to prove to myself that I could. A way to prove to myself I was capable of accomplishing something on my own. Capable of more than simply wearing a tiara and being the princess in our world of gifted Fae. But perhaps the desperation to feel anything other than stifled and kept in a cage made me a bit short-sighted.
“The message was addressed to the Hidden Henchman, not Princess Dresden,” I huffed as a bit of my rage dissipated.
Ian leaned in closer, backing me against the wall, as he attempted to rein in the anger in his voice. “There are two people who we thought knew how to get messages to the Hidden Henchman —Corbin and Leif. Knowing a mystery message appeared outside of our network, and to the castle no less, is worrisome. Even if they don’t know you’re the princess, they know the Hidden Henchman can be found inside its walls.”
I stepped around his large body, but not before shoving my shoulder into his stupidly hard chest. He was right. Damn him, he usually was.
“Fine. However, they learned of the Hidden Henchman, their letter said they needed aid for their village. It doesn’t seem nefarious. Yet.”
“Yet,” he agreed. A knowing silence passed between us before we pressed on.
Side by side, we slipped into a familiar pattern. As we trekked forward, Ian motioned when to move, slow down, or halt with various hand signals we’d developed over the years. After skirting through the last few cobblestone streets, we finally approached the ancient stone wall built to protect the city of Ellevail. A wall reinforced not only with magic, but with layers of rock and sand over the past two decades, as rumors of evil and darkness spread from our border towns.
Almost by second nature, Ian and I clung to the shadows, as we observed two armed guards march past. Right on time, as always. Neither of us moved immediately, waiting a few beats after the sound of their boots receded from the cobblestones before we continued toward our exit.
“Here we go.” Ian winked and ran across the back alleyway. Carefully, he lifted the grate, leading to a small tunnel outside the palace walls. We’d discovered the loosened grate years ago and never said a word about it to the guards or groundskeepers. He signaled to me as soon as he deemed it safe to move.
One quick slip through the narrow entryway and along the damp tunnel, and suddenly, I stood in another world.
Being on this side of the wall never ceased to amaze me. The starry expanse of the open sky, no longer strangled by the too-close-together stone buildings and walls of the city, stole my breath with its beauty. The earth-rich scent of the air, and the whispering sound of wind through the trees and grasses, complemented by noises of insects and animals, were nature’s serenade. Although the city and palace of Ellevail were beautiful in their own right, the surrounding stone walls meant to protect its citizens left me claustrophobic and suffocated. I so rarely had an opportunity to leave, so I savored these quick moments of freedom.
Out here, all of nature’s magic freely roamed and played. Out here, nature displayed its gifts, reminding us of the source where Fae power originated.
As I tilted my head back to breathe in the fresh air and freedom, Ian carefully replaced the grate, cautious of making any noise capable of alerting others to our location. While I appreciated his keen eye for detail and surreptitious skills, he took too long. I strode on ahead, determined to be on time for the meeting with the strangers who requested the Hidden Henchman’s services.
“You do know you’re going the wrong way,” Ian whispered loudly.
We may be on the other side of the wall, but eyes and ears were everywhere.
I jerked my head behind me, noting his playful smile as he tilted his in the opposite direction.
“I knew that…I’m not a total idiot,” I grumbled more to myself than to him. I spun around and darted through the last few remaining spruce trees, growing just on the outside of the city’s wall.
“I never said you were.” Ian threw his perfectly toned arm around my shoulder. “This isn’t one of the usual drop spots, just in case something wasn’t right,” Ian added after a few paces in silence.
“Well, I clearly would have been at the wrong meeting place and never learned what they wanted at all,” I said. “Guess you can accompany me after all, Captain. ”
“Your Highness, what an honor you bestow upon me.” Ian withdrew his arm and held his hand out toward me.
I hated conceding almost as much as I hated being ignored. Regardless, I took his peace offering as we hopped from a dead log, before standing in front of an open clearing, overlooking a beautiful wildflower field.
Tonight’s crescent moon cast little light on us, but I could see enough. The wildflower field stretched far off into the night but had a small walking trail used for harvesting along the left side. It would be nearly a mile’s walk before we entered Eomer Forest, the vast tree line appearing small in the distance.
Ian took the first steps into the field, and I followed along. We traveled in companionable silence, so accustomed to one another, we didn’t speak until we’d breached the first row of trees in the forest.
“You’re awfully quiet,” I said. “No fun tonight at the pub?”
Ian flashed me his signature grin, one which always earned him such beautiful company. “I’ll have you know I had to turn down a breathtaking barmaid for you this evening.”
“Well, maybe if we hurry, you can make it up to her.”
Ian held his hand up, halting our progress. “We’re close.” He slipped on his black eye mask. Then, he stood in front of me, checking the black hood of my cloak, along with the same kind of black mask he wore, only mine hid the upper part of my face as well. Only my mouth remained uncovered. The hood came so far forward it also concealed my hair.
The disguise I donned, regardless of the discomfort and stifling heat in the warmer months, had worked so far. No one who’d heard rumblings of the mysterious Hidden Henchman had yet to even fathom a connection to their only Princess.
I swatted at his arms when he went for a second pass. “You know, you’re more mother hen than Captain of the Guard.”
“Yes, well, I do have a duty here,” he said gruffly.
I tensed. “We’re providing goods to the people of this kingdom who need them. We’re not doing anything illegal.”
Ian chuckled. “I know what we’re doing isn’t illegal, Lan. It's me letting the sole heir to the throne sneak past city limits to be part of these meetings with Fae we don’t know that worries me.”
Before I could make a move to shoo him away, he smacked my hands down and tested the mask himself with one final tug. “Add in the fact your father, my King , has specifically told you not to get involved in the rumors of dark magic at the borders, and yes, I’m going to mother hen you about your concealment.”
“Fair point,” I grumbled.
Ian’s comment about my father not wanting me involved in the darkness in our land stirred the same questions they always did. But now wasn’t the time to let my mind wander. I pushed my issues aside, instead refocusing on the wooded forest around us.
“Ready?” I asked.
Ian rolled his wrists, cracking his knuckles, and shifting on his feet a few times, loosening up to prepare for any potential trouble. Then again, he always seemed ready for a skirmish. While lanky growing up, he’d packed on weight in the form of muscle as he trained all day, nearly every day, as a Royal Guard. Last year, he became the youngest captain in recent history, and just a few short months ago, named my personal guard as well.
Pride burst inside of me at his dedication to moving up the ranks and earning the spot. Of course I’d take Ian a thousand times over Ruppert, the miserable bastard who recently retired. Although, in reality, Ian had been single-handedly doing the job of protecting me since we were children. A part of me hated he had been ordered to protect me, no matter what. I didn’t like thinking about what it entailed, even if he claimed he would do it with or without the king’s will.
“What are friends for?” he’d always said.
We continued into the forest, moving silently through the trees. Although I may have lacked the magical abilities I should have as a Fae princess, I’d learned plenty during my own extensive training about blending in with nature.
Ian held up a fist, signaling to stop. I followed his gaze to two figures ahead of us in a small clearing of trees.
Our meet.
“The man standing must be Storm. He said he would be wearing a red broach on his cloak,” Ian murmured close to my ear as he stood at my back, his eyesight infinitely better than my own, especially at night.
Storm stood stoically, unmasked, like most of the other Fae we aided. He scanned the woods as we hung back, concealed by a thicket of brush. He dressed entirely in black, with a leather-looking tunic covering his chest, and a sword strapped to his side. On his right shoulder lay a red broach, resembling a small flame, pinned to a black cloak so dark it could blend with the darkest of nights. The wind whipped around us and wove through his hair. He wore half of it pulled back in a ponytail, while the remaining light-brown strands rested just below his shoulders.
The other Fae sharpened his blade as he leaned casually against a tree. His black cloak, woven with an intricate, subtly swirling grey gave the illusion the man wore shadows. From this angle, I couldn’t detect any discernible features, aside from ridiculously broad shoulders and massive height. Even leaning, the unknown Fae appeared taller than his counterpart.
Ian squeezed my arm and moved beside me. When I met his gaze, I noted apprehension etched into his brows. I understood his hesitation. These strangers exuded power and presence to which we weren’t accustomed. Even cloaked in shadows, Storm’s companion’s magic practically sang around him.
Only a small number of Fae in our kingdom wielded magic that could be sensed by others from any sort of distance. This stranger just so happened to be one of them.
I broke Ian’s stare, turning to study the outsiders a few moments longer, the cloaked man in particular.
As if my focus stirred his attention, the hood of his cloak shifted and now faced me. A tingling sensation crept along my arms, despite the long sleeves of the black fighting tunic staving off the cool night air. A buzz hummed through my veins, and I didn’t dare move with the stranger looking in my direction.
Ever so slightly, black wisps of hair extended from the very top of his hood. The cloak concealed his features just as well as mine, yet, somehow, it seemed as though he stared straight into my eyes, into my very soul.
I knew my reasons for hiding, but what motives did he have to not be seen?
“Are you going to stare at us like prey all night, or finally grace us with your presence?” His deep voice rumbled with authority throughout the space between us.
The comment caused Storm to jerk his gaze in our direction. Aware we could no longer quietly observe, Ian and I emerged slowly from the brush and strolled toward our potential allies.
“You must be Storm,” I said, extending a hand as I approached. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You’re a woman?” The stranger’s scoff had me instantly hating him, especially when combined with the smart-ass remark seconds before. Mister Shadow Cloak’s attitude grated on me already.
Men and their domineering bullshit. I had to deal with it at Court, but most of the time, the people of Brookmere who needed help in the past, wouldn’t have cared if I ran the streets as a bloody mythical dragon if it meant they would get the aid they required.
“Is there a problem?” I asked.
“No problem.” Storm’s gruff voice didn’t falter as he shot a glare at his partner.
A dark chuckle escaped the stranger. “At least the ridiculous nickname makes more sense.”
Storm stiffened as his associate flipped his sword, spinning it in a circle before straightening from his tree. “With a name like the Hidden Henchman, surely you must drive utter fear into the hearts of all the royals so blatantly ignoring their kingdom’s problems.”
I crossed my arms, tapping my fingers against my forearm. “I didn’t create the moniker, it just stuck.”
I wanted to argue that the royal who mattered stood right here, but I would never give away my identity so easily. A princess—no, the crown princess—wandering around commoners and thieves at night would bring more of a scandal than I wanted. Far too much attention and trouble than it was worth.
The shadow-cloaked man tossed his blade up to hold the hilt in his hand. Ian shifted, instantly sensing the change in weapon position. Casually, as though he couldn’t be bothered with the conversation, he situated himself in front of me, touching his blade. “Put the weapon down or we’re gone.”
The stranger’s hood slipped back slightly, revealing a glistening set of white teeth, a stark contrast to the blackness surrounding him.
“Enough,” Storm said, firmly outstretching his arm in front of his companion, who obediently backed away a few paces. “We need provisions and want to know if you can assist. That’s all this is. Don’t mind my incorrigible companion. He doesn’t get out much.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t bring him to future meetings when there’s something important on the line for you,” I said sharply, pausing for a moment. “Regardless, we are here to help. Next time use the system in place instead of thinking you’re above the other Fae who request our aid.”
“Other Fae? So, you are aware of how many are in need, yet you do this alone instead of petitioning the Crown for assistance?” The obnoxious sidekick’s sarcastic mouth made me want to throw a dagger at him to shut him up.
Breathe. They were people in need.
I’d survived far greater hells than an arrogant Fae thinking too highly of himself. Besides, I charmed an entire Court—without an ounce of magic in my bones. I could handle a bitter man who prattled on about things he knew nothing of.
“Unrest is growing. We’re working on it,” Ian jumped in. “Now tell us what you need so we can all be on our way. One wouldn’t want to stay in the woods too long at night.”
“Unrest” was certainly one way to describe it. The king had made me swear to stay away from gossip at Court, specifically, discussions and whispers of events happening at the border towns.
“It’s a minor threat, being handled by the guards,” he’d told me.
The way our people continued reaching out to the Hidden Henchman for aid with food, clothing, and more, exposed something more going on than just a minor threat. Something important eluded us because everything pointed to this being more than a “minor” threat.
Or worse, the threat, minor or not, had gone ignored by my father. Not handled well enough, if at all.
My determination only grew to get to the bottom of this blight, with or without my father’s assistance. When I ruled this kingdom one day, I would need to understand the threat. And fast.
A snap of a twig had knives drawn, but as the doe who caused the disturbance looked up at us, it hastily retreated into the woods. As if the animal knew trouble brewed and it shouldn’t linger. A sense of urgency to get back to the castle crawled through me. We could not get caught.
I pivoted back to the men. “What aid are you looking for?”
Storm’s gaze shifted to his partner before he proceeded. “Five hundred silver pieces, three hundred pounds of meat, and a few barrels of mead should hold people over enough.”
Ian coughed. “Would you like a Pegasus as well?”
“You promise aid, but really plan to give mere scraps?” Storm’s friend snorted his apparent disgust.
Although I refused to give our company my back, I shifted to stand closer to Ian, positioning myself so I could partly conceal what I said. I knew full well if the other men attempted any sort of trickery or backhanded maneuvers, Ian would end them. “I don’t want to haggle with men trying to help our people,” I whispered.
Ian’s gaze shifted between our guests. “We still don’t know what village they’re from, or if they can be trusted. This whole thing is off, I just don’t know how yet.”
“I agree,” I said, sensing his wariness along with my own. “But I will not barter when we know we could get the supplies easily. I think we should do it.”
“It’s your show, Hidden Henchman. I’m just here praying I get to draw my blade.” A glimmer of excitement danced in his eyes.
I rolled my own at the comment he punctuated with a wink, before facing the men ahead of us once more. “Done. You’ll find a piece of parchment with the date and time of the meet waiting for you at Dukes Pub inside the city in eight days. The drop point will be along the western edge of this forest, near the end of the riverbed. You must bring an empty carriage. You’ll say the phrase of these lands and knock twice upon your seat. You will bring no one else.”
Although quick to criticize me the entire meeting, neither of the men revealed if they were surprised at how easily I’d agreed to their request.
It didn’t matter. I would have agreed to nearly anything, because ultimately, what they were requesting helped my people.
A people who seemed to be growing more and more unwell over the last three years. The thought brought a sour taste to my mouth as my stomach churned.
The wind suddenly picked up and viciously blew through the clearing, almost whipping strands of my easily recognizable hair from beneath my hood. I peered up at the sky. A warning—if nature sent the signs I believed.
Ian gripped my shoulder just as Storm drew his sword. I didn’t fear the movement this time, because Storm’s attention focused elsewhere. He stared straight ahead into the night where the doe had disappeared only minutes before.
“Something’s here,” Ian growled.
Silently, I reached down, drawing my short dagger from its sheath on my thigh. The long pause amongst our small group allowed dread to creep into my body as though it slithered from the soil itself.
Slowly, Storm took three steps forward, gliding along the forest floor without snapping a single twig.
A hiss from the darkness served as the only warning before a ragged battle cry roared from behind the trees.
One Fae emerged, wielding an axe wildly. His eyes darted between the four of us, before making his way straight for Storm. His movements were jerky and disjointed, as though he had little control of himself. His face twitched sporadically.
He appeared like a normal Fae, except for the jerky sway to his step. That and the hunger sparkling in his eye, like that of a man gone mad.
Insane.
I flinched as the newcomer’s axe connected with Storm’s sword. The man moved fast, faster than many of the Fae in our Royal Guard. His body practically blurred with his movements. A strange hum of magic radiated from him, almost as if electrically charging the air. One I’d never encountered before, despite being around some of the most powerful Fae in our lands.
Sword in hand, Storm’s companion darted in front of his friend, battling alongside him, and the two engaged in a dance, which had me mesmerized. Mouth agape, I simply stared, frozen.
They’d fought together before. Many times, if I had to guess.
“La—” Ian almost shouted my name, and the slip had me adjusting my dagger, twisting in his direction.
I shifted too slowly. A blade came out of nowhere, slicing my leathers, but failing to penetrate my skin.
I tripped sideways, caught off guard and startled at the force of the blow.
Although Ian’s weapon had stopped this surprise second assailant, it hadn’t been enough to prevent the attack completely.
With a sharp inhale, I flipped my dagger, prepared to fight, just like we had trained.
Ian battled another Fae possessing the same erratic movements, as though there were too many things he wanted to destroy, and not enough time.
The wind whipped through the clearing inside the forest again, and this time, the warning didn’t arrive in advance of the threat.
No, this time, the wind carried three more wild-looking Fae out from the trees.
Each of them hummed with the same strange dark magic. The static in the air around us made it seem as if nature itself recoiled, shaken at their presence.
Surveying the additional Fae creeping toward us, I stared. Except there weren’t only three. There were more strange sets of eyes appearing in the darkness beyond. Additional Fae approached, and Ian still fought, battling the man who had tried to attack me.
I gripped the steel in my hand. Because suddenly, it wasn’t four on three. Instead, we were utterly outnumbered.