Chapter 40
The sun rises cruel and golden, spilling light across the bloodless clearing, as if to mock what lies ahead.
The Gods should split the sky with lightning. A storm that mirrors the turmoil in my heart should soak the world around me. I’d take anything but this indifferent brightness. This fake peace.
Ferria’s hand brushes mine. We stand outside the opulent tent, watching Anton, who lingers on the other side of the clearing. I meet my twin’s gaze and slip my hand into hers, squeezing tight, a whisper of last night’s vows.
We’d sworn, through bleary eyes and stifled tears, that this wasn’t the end. That no matter what the Fae demand of us, we would find our way to each other. We’d leave this continent and find a better life.
We even joked about finding Lochvara, the mythical land where human magic is said to have originated. Rumors say clans still roam those plains.
By the time the sun began to crest over the trees, casting light onto the tent, most of my sadness had been replaced with determination.
Determination to destroy the curse in Darius’s chest. Determination to reunite with Ferria. Determination to start a new life, away from Verdanthia and Fae. A life where I can be myself. A gifted healer who is blessed with magic.
The dream of no longer hiding who I am and what I can do carries all my hopes and gives me the strength to walk with Ferria toward Anton.
He holds two reins in one hand, wearing a black tunic and trousers with matching knee-length boots. A traveling cloak hangs over his shoulder. A brown satchel sits at his feet.
Anton is a copy of the other Fae we’ve come to know. I understand he used magic to conceal his nature, but I still kick myself for being ignorant that a Fae lived among us for years without us knowing.
He watches our approach, apprehension in every line of his face as he surveys my sister. He’s nervous. He should be. Ferria is going to make him pay for his deception. I don’t know how, but it's sure to be creative.
“Where’s Juniper?” Ferria asks, stopping a foot away, crossing her arms as she scans the empty area around Anton.
He was supposed to retrieve her so she could join Ferria on her upcoming journey.
He shifts his weight between his dark boots. “She said she’s going to stay in Verdanthia.”
“What?” Ferria and I shout at the same time.
Anton winces, swiftly picks up the satchel from the ground, and extends his arm. “She asked me to give this to you.”
Ferria leans forward to snatch it before settling back at my side. She opens the bag, and we both peer inside.
The familiar spines of the Fae text and the diary greet me. Relief flows throughout my entire body. I don’t know how Juniper got her hands on the Fae book, but I am thankful that the knowledge within isn’t lost in the hands of General Ironheart.
Poking out between the books is a folded piece of parchment. Ferria slips the paper free and unfolds it, holding it where we both can read.
My beloved daughters,
The day has come when Verdanthia is no longer safe for you. I knew it was inevitable, but I must admit, I lament the loss of your presence.
There are so many things to explain, and I vow to share all I know one day soon, but for now, I must stay in Verdanthia. There are things to be finished. Once they are, I will come find you.
Until then, stay safe. Stay with the Fae.
With the love of The Mother,
Juniper
I snort. Stay with the Fae and stay safe are two contradictory statements. If Juniper were here, I’d tell her as much. But she’s not. She’s chosen to stay behind despite the risk.
I want to demand Anton go back and drag her here if he has to. But as much as I loathe the idea of leaving Juniper behind, traveling through Gods know what terrain and sleeping in tents would be hard on her aging body.
I just pray to Olyra that she holds my adoptive mother’s fate close and keeps her safe.
Anton shifts his feet once more then clears his throat. “We should get going if we wish to reach our destination by nightfall.”
Ferria doesn’t move. “You haven’t told me where we’re going.”
“I’m sorry…I can’t.” Anton looks at the dark forest over his shoulder.
Who is he worried will hear? The monsters?
I almost dismiss the idea, but then the intelligence in the natchling’s eyes flashes in my memory. It lured me into the burning house and set up the perfect conditions for an attack.
Maybe I should take care with what I say around those dark trees, too…
“What about Verdanthia?” I ask Anton. “Are there enough soldiers left to protect them from the beasts in the forest?”
Or are we leaving hundreds of innocents unprotected from the sharp claws and fangs of the monsters roaming the woods?
Anton’s eyes shift to the clearing for a split second before returning to mine. “Verdanthia is warded against the beasts. For now, they won’t be able to cross the town’s borders.”
Unbidden, Rian’s offer to protect the town replays in my mind.
He’s honoring his promise.
I quickly squash any positive thought that tries to form about the Shadow Fae. I won’t fall for his antics. Not again.
Relief for Verdanthia is swiftly replaced by the gnawing dread of journeying through these same woods for Gods know how long.
I seize Ferria, dragging her into a fierce embrace.
“You better be safe,” I demand, resting my chin on her shoulder, holding tight.
I don’t know what I’m going to do when we are separated. We’ve never been apart for more than a few days.
Ferria rests her head against mine. “You, too.”
We stand like that for several long seconds, clinging to each other as if we can will the world to stay still. I pour every ounce of love I have into my sister. I hope she feels it in her bones. My magic slips free and threads through her veins before I can stop it.
Ferria’s power greets mine at once—vast, blazing, unyielding. The sheer strength of it makes me stagger.
Relief softens my shoulders. She is strong. She will endure. We both will.
The clank of armor and the muted rustle of canvas shatter the fragile moment. We turn toward the clearing where shadow soldiers move in silence.
Rian summoned the eerie army back at dawn, his onyx shadows somehow solid enough to enable them to break down the remnants of the Fae camp with synchronicity and precision.
Metal glints in the pale light as the conjured figures pack supplies into three dark trunks. Horses snort and stamp beside a waiting wagon, their breaths misting in the cool air.
Off to the side, their maker stands before the collapsed black fabric of his smaller tent. Shadows curl lazily around Rian’s boots as he watches the emotionless soldiers work.
Ferria’s throat clears. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing with that one?”
I glance at her. Her pointed look twists my heart. I bite the inside of my cheek, unwilling to answer.
After a beat, she sighs. “Fine. Just…be careful. And don’t make any more deals.”
A humorless huff escapes me. “Trust me, I won’t.”
Dark markings slither across my arms in smug defiance. I refuse to look at them. I once thought they were beautiful. Now all I see are the ghosts of my shredded flesh.
“Ferria…” Anton’s voice is soft but heavy with insistence. “We have to go.”
Moisture glimmers in her eyes as she clasps my hands. “I love you, Lara.”
A tear slides down my cheek. “I love you, too.”
With one last squeeze, she releases my hands and turns away.
Anton hands her a set of reins and begins to explain how to mount the horse, when Ferria plants her boot in the stirrup and swings into the saddle in one fluid motion, her red braid whipping over her shoulder. His jaw drops.
Despite myself, a small laugh bubbles up. Ferria’s never ridden before, but she’s watched soldiers all her life. With her strength and agility, of course she makes mounting the majestic creature look effortless.
Anton recovers quickly, securing her saddle bags before mounting his own horse.
I hug myself, my arms aching with the need to pull Ferria back down, to keep her with me. My nose burns and my throat tightens as I watch as my twin—my other half—rides into the Forbidden Forest with her apprentice at her side.
Just before the trees claim her, she twists in the saddle. She raises a hand, and the fractured light cutting through the canopy glistens on her damp cheeks.
I raise a hand back.
Then she’s gone.
And it feels as though something vital has been torn from my chest, leaving me hollow. As though my very heart has been split in two.
I don’t know how long I stand there, staring at the tree line. My thoughts twist darker with every passing heartbeat, darting from one imagined danger to the next, each ending grimmer than the last. The tears dried some time ago, leaving the skin on my cheeks tight and salt-stained.
The determination I summoned last night with Ferria at my side has drained from my veins, along with all other emotions. I’m numb. Resigned. I’ll pull myself together soon. I always do. But for now…I relish the lack of feeling. The lack of sadness and pain.
“Elara?”
Slowly, I meet Jaxon’s wary eyes.
He looks over his shoulder then back to me. “It’s time to go.”
A glance reveals the entire camp is packed up and stacked on the wagon. Darius, Draven, and Rian sit atop midnight-black steeds. Two smaller, but no less stunning horses, stand nearby. The reins of one are tied to the saddle of the other. No shadow soldiers are in sight.
My leg muscles protest the thought of riding my own horse, but I keep it to myself. I don’t think I’ll be able to hold myself together if I have to ride with one of the Fae.
Without a word, I walk past Jaxon. He picks up his pace and stays at my side. We join the others.
Rian’s eyes burn the side of my face, but I keep my gaze forward.
I stop in front of the horses. Their eyes are dark gray, but not the smoky gray I’ve come to associate with Rian’s shadow puppets.
I take a deep breath. Rian’s power is incredible. Scary, but incredible. It’s a shame he uses it to hold me accountable to the deal I made in haste. Because now I hate it. I hate him. I want nothing to do with the Fae and their evil magic.
Jaxon moves to the mare whose bridle is attached to the other horse and squats, cupping his hands together.
Rolling my shoulders back, I walk over and place my boot in his palms, ignoring how the shoe serves as another reminder of the Fae’s deceptive kindness.
With much less grace than Ferria displayed, I fumble my way onto the horse. My cheeks warm, and I keep my head down as Jaxon walks to his horse and climbs on top. Then he grabs his reins and urges his horse forward.
My mare follows.
“Ready?” Rian’s deep voice floats through the air.
When no one responds, I surmise he’s speaking to me, but I grit my teeth and keep my eyes on the mare’s smooth, straight mane.
A sigh reaches my ears, then he says, “Let’s go. We’re losing daylight.”
His stallion whinnies as he tugs on his reins, turning him around so they face the Forbidden Forest. The absence of his powerful stare is a weight off my shoulders. I finally lift my eyes.
Darius clicks his tongue and turns his steed, but not before shooting me a wink that makes my stomach tighten and the burn in my cheeks grow hotter.
I still don’t have an explanation for his mate comment, and I’m not sure I want one. Nothing he says will be anything I want to hear. But given the fact that the only reason I’m here is to treat his curse, I can’t avoid him forever.
A groan passes my lips. Gods help me, I need to cure him soon.
Draven’s steed trots after his prince without so much as looking my way. Jaxon and I follow.
The forest is quiet as we wind through the gnarled, ominous trees. Rian and Darius ride at the front, leading the riderless horses pulling the wagon. Draven’s horse trots behind the supplies with Jaxon and me not too far behind.
When we approach a tight copse of trees, I wonder how the broad wagon is going to make it through.
Rian lifts a hand, and shadows fly from his palm, casting the dozens of trees before us in darkness. Then, with a pulse of power, the trees just…disappear.
My blood runs cold.
No one speaks as we move through the newly cleared space while my heart races at the formidable display of power.
“There’s no need to look so frightened,” Jaxon says, disrupting the silence that settled over me like an uncomfortable wool blanket. “You are safe with us.”
“Safe?” I snort before I can think better of it. “With you?”
His features shutter, and he pinches his lips together.
I think he’s going to let the conversation drop, but seconds later, he mutters, “We are not your enemies, Elara.”
“No, you’re my captors,” I retort, channeling my inner Ferria even while my hands tremble where they grip the reins. “Which is pretty much the same thing.”
He frowns. “It’s not like that—”
“There you bastards are!” The shout crashes through the trees.
I jolt, breath catching, but freeze when none of the Fae tense for battle.
A heartbeat later, Silas bursts from the tree line, chest heaving, grin wild. “Take that, Draven! I told you I’d catch up before nightfall.”
Draven doesn’t even blink. “Still an hour slower than I would have been.”
Silas scoffs and reins his horse up beside him. “Mother save you, Draven. No one likes a sore loser. Pay up.”
With a grunt, Draven fishes a coin pouch from beneath his cloak and tosses it over.
Silas snatches it midair, smirking at the muttered insult that follows. Something about pretty boys and their mothers.
“Tell me you at least brought better supplies,” Rian calls over his shoulder, voice clipped.
Silas winks. “Sorry, Your Highness. Guess you’ll have to wait until we reach the port to find another fancy blanket to replace the one Darius’s musk ruined.”
Darius chuckles. Jaxon barks out a laugh. Even Draven’s mouth twitches.
But Rian does not laugh. The second the words left Silas’s lips, his entire body went stiff. His shadows coil over his shoulders and ripple down his spine, agitated.
I see it all. And for a moment, I don’t understand.
Then the amusement around me dies.
Horror and regret ripple through the other’s faces as their gazes swing from Rian to me.
I don’t understand why. Not until Rian’s swirling silver eyes lock with mine, and the truth slaps me across the face.
Your Highness…
My mouth dries, gritty like it's packed with earth.
Gods save me…
Darius isn’t the Shadow Prince… Rian is.
Rian is the male whose shadows raze villages to ash.
The one whispered about in fireside tales, who steals daughters from their beds, who strips the land bare of harvest and leaves families to starve.
The monster who will one day rule the merciless Fae.
And I…I am bound to him.
Rian lured me into trusting him with acceptance and kindness, only to then manipulate and chain me with his lies.
I’m his captive. His prisoner.
My already wounded soul howls at the injustice.
Velmira, help me…
What am I going to do?
To be continued.
Continue Elara’s Story in Captive of Secrets and Storms, The Shadowbound Fae Book Two.