Chapter 41
Curse our luck.
One look at Anders’s grim expression confirms what I suspect: whatever is happening on the other side of the cliff, it’s nothing good.
Another shout echoes through the night. Masculine. Pained.
“Shit,” Anders mutters.
My thoughts exactly.
The marks on my arms draw tight. Light magic flows freely in my veins, ready to be of use, somehow completely healed after my burnout last night.
I tamp down on the power, willing it not to erupt in a flash of brightness that will expose us to whoever waits on the other side of the jagged cliff.
“What do we do?” I whisper.
Anders releases a near-silent sigh. “We wait.”
A third shriek punctures the night air.
I cringe. “For what?”
“Backup.”
My brows rise. “Who is—”
A loud snarl cuts off my question, followed by a masculine scream that is cut off with a sickening gurgle.
A terrified voice bellows, “Shadow Fae!”
My pulse skips a beat.
And I’m already moving.
“Elara,” Anders hisses. “Wait!”
I don’t.
I can’t.
My heart pounds as I creep forward, realizing too late I’m only wearing one sandal, but there’s no time to fumble with the clasp to remove it.
Water sloshes around my ankles, weighing down my gown, as I grab the cliff wall for balance and peer around the edge.
My pulse spikes.
Silas and Darius stand side by side on the beach, in front of a narrow dock that extends into the water. A boat is tied to the post on the end, bobbing in the waves.
Anders’s face nears mine as he leans close to take in the scene.
The Shadow Fae hold their swords high. Blue light zips down the sharp metal as they face off against four opponents.
Pirates?
The unknown males’ form-fitting black leather trousers and matching tunics aren’t familiar. But even in the night sky’s dim light, they look expensive.
My gaze dips to the three bodies lying on the beach. They wear the same clothing. Their chests are unmoving.
The standing males slowly back away from the armed Fae.
“Aw, come on. Don’t stop now,” Darius taunts, turning his wrist to swing his sword in a wide circle. “Fight us.”
The pirates continue their retreat. All but one.
The broad man holds his ground. He lifts a heavy-looking sword.
“Idiots! They aren’t Shadow Fae,” he bellows at his comrades, jabbing the weapon toward the Fae. “Do you see any shadows?”
The others stop, share a glance, and then move toward their friend with slow, measured steps.
“No?” Darius chuckles, though it comes out strained. “Perhaps you just need to come a bit closer to see?”
The broad man throws out his other hand. A ball of fire soars across the beach.
I smother my gasp with my hand.
Darius jerks left, dodging the blaze, but the effort costs him.
He straightens, wearing an instigating smile, but his arm shakes as he lifts a hand to wipe sweat from his brow. “Fire? Aren’t you a lucky one.”
Silas shifts closer to his friend, concern rippling from his rigid frame.
My stare zeros in on the manacles still clasped on Darius’s wrists. I dig my fingernails into the cliff.
Silas, too, is still bound by the power-subduing cuffs.
The Fae are skilled fighters, but against fire magic? I don’t know if the odds are in their favor.
Another fireball flies from the pirate’s palm, casting shadows on his arms and menacing face.
I lower my hand and squint.
Is he human or Fae?
I can’t see his ears.
Darius and Silas duck.
The blaze misses their head, but the fire singes the back of Darius’s toga.
He straightens as if nothing happened, but he tilts into Silas’s side, betraying the unaffected act.
Light trickles into my fingers.
I have to help him.
I shift forward.
A firm hand clasps my shoulder and yanks me back.
“What in the hells do you think you’re doing?” Anders hisses in my ear.
I tug my arm free.
“Darius is weak,” I huff. “We have to get those manacles off him.”
Though I have no idea how we are going to do that.
Anders glances over my shoulder, and his jaw tightens before he grinds out, “Allow me.”
I blink. “How are you…”
Anders lifts a hand between us. He stares at it with a furrowed brow. Then—
Light sparks.
The power bounces from fingertip to fingertip.
My mouth drops, and my shock rises like a cresting wave, ready to wash away everything I knew about the Mountain Fae.
Anders leans around me and flicks the spark toward the beach.
Blood roars in my ears as that single flicker of light zips through the air, faster than a firefly. It weaves through the Fae and strikes Silas’s manacle right at the keyhole.
“Get down!” Anders shoves me to the ground and hovers over me on his hands and knees.
A yelp tears from my throat. Frigid water soaks the back of my dress.
“What are you—”
BOOM!
I curl forward. My forehead kisses the medallion hanging from Anders’s chest.
Screams crash through the air.
I count the seconds until the pain-filled cries stop.
When I reach ten, I open my eyes and exhale a ragged breath. “What in the hells was that?”
Anders meets my stare with a grim expression. “The destruction of astlerium forged with Fae Fire.”
He destroyed the cuffs?
My pulse stutters.
“D-did you know it would explode?” I choke out.
“I suspected. Though, I’ve never used my light magic that way.”
I rear back with a gasp.
Light magic?
Anders has light magic?
I search his eyes.
Dozens of questions burn on my tongue, but they’ll have to wait.
I need to check on the Shadow Fae.
I push against Anders’s chest. He leans back and holds out a hand.
I ignore the offer, pushing myself up from the soggy beach.
Shivering, I peer around the cliff, heart thumping as I brace myself to witness what’s become of Silas and Darius after that explosion.
The scholarly Fae stands tall, a downright dastardly grin curling his lips as shadows swirl around his manacle-free arm.
Darius stands slightly behind his friend, also smiling, but fatigue pulls his face taut.
Two more pirates have fallen to the ground. A nasty wound bleeds from the temple of one. A shard from the destroyed manacle rests nearby.
Two pirates remain.
The broad one continues to throw balls of fire.
Silas’s shadows swat each away like they’re nothing more than bothersome insects.
Anders shifts closer.
A spark dances in his palm. “Prepare yourself.”
I press my lips together and nod, clamping my hands over my ears as he sends the spark flying.
The magic lands its mark on Silas’s second manacle.
BOOM!
The force of the cuffs' destruction hits like a punch to the gut. I hunch over, but immediately lift my head, determined not to miss what happens next.
Scraps of metal soar through the air. They don’t strike the pirates, but that doesn’t stop the men from shouting in terror.
Silas’s shadows pulse and double in size, rising toward the stars above, stretching like a beast who's been contained in a too-small cage for far too long.
Both remaining pirates turn and run, kicking up sand under their polished boots.
They don’t make it far.
With a snap, Silas’s shadows dive. They close the distance between their master and the fleeing men.
I whirl around before they make contact and cringe as agonized cries fill the night before they’re cut short.
Silence follows.
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end.
Anders’s arm brushes mine as he shifts to face me. “Are you all right?”
My pulse pounds as I hold his blue eyes.
The question forms slowly, reluctantly. Like part of me already knows the answer and fears what will happen when I hear it out loud.
“You’re…” I swallow hard. “You’re Light Fae?”
“Surprised?” He smirks, but it’s forced. “Honestly, I’m shocked you didn’t figure it out sooner. My light could sense yours the first time we spoke at dinner.”
His light sensed mine?
I bite my cheek.
My power never acted strangely around the Mountain Fae.
Is it because I’m not full-blooded? Is my magic lacking due to my diluted bloodline?
The power in my veins flares hot with disapproval.
Sorry.
The agitated magic cools to a low simmer.
I shake my head and stare at Anders when Rian’s parting words play in my head.
Protect your bloodline.
“You knew…” I drop my gaze. “All this time?”
“Yes.”
I stare at my feet, watching the chilly water flow over my toes, lingering for a few seconds before retreating out to the sea.
“Is that why you took the time to tell me about Calla?” I lift my head. “Were you trying to give me a hint?”
“Partially.” He shrugs and crosses his arms. “But I was genuinely surprised to see the late queen’s journal in your possession. I knew you were part Light Fae, but that book confirmed a lot of things for me.”
“Like what?”
His lips part.
“Not to break up your little family reunion.” Silas’s shout cuts off Anders’s impending reply. “But I could use some help over here.”
In a blink, Anders and I rush out from behind the cliff concealing us.
My stomach rolls at the carnage left behind by Silas’s shadows, but the organ drops to the sand when I see Darius collapsed on the dock.
“Gods!” I race across the sand, ignoring the bite of sticks and pebbles against my naked foot.
Anders blurs past me.
He reaches Darius’s side.
“Take cover!” he orders.
Two sparks fly from his fingers and into Darius’s manacles.
I drop, belly first, onto the beach. I shield the back of my head with my hands.
Two explosions follow in quick succession. Their force presses my face into the ground. Breath punches from my lungs as grains of sand scratch my skin.
I spit the grit from my mouth and rise on shaky legs, wiping my eyes and cheeks.
Bits of manacles litter the beach, and Darius sits slumped against Anders. Shadows slither over his once-covered wrists, too weak to billow out the way Silas’s had.
I hurry to his side.
My knees bang against the wooden dock as I land in front of him.
Darius’s complexion is sickly gray. He’s unconscious, and the pulse flickering in his throat is dangerously slow.
The scent of charred flesh reaches my nostrils, and my hands fly out.
I grip the cursed Fae’s fingers and shove light magic into his body.
My skin glows, like parchment hovering over a candle. Warmth flows as steady as water from an open faucet, pouring from my body into Darius’s.