Chapter 8
MAX
“This is suicide.”
“In a way,” I conceded.
“We should have really brought along the princes,” Samkien mutters.
Peeking out from the brush, I glance high to the moon. It took us straight the rest of the night, through the next day to make it to the palace’s grounds. The guards are exhausted, and the stallions are laying down, unable to continue. They pushed through to get me here.
Because we all want Kaden back.
“We don’t need the princes,” I argue. “We can do this.”
“Can we?” Reid pulls a red bandana from his chin. “Because neither of us know how to enter those grounds without being killed.”
Cocking an eyebrow, I gesture to the field. “She can’t be as bad as you say.”
Samkien sighs. “She is, Your Majesty. Aoife is known to be wildly unpredictable.”
“But Kaden was able to speak to her.”
“And Kaden is the only one. Without the princes or him, we are seen as enemies. We don’t know how she’ll react.”
“I have faith that we can win her over.” My fingers pull red. “We just need her to see us as friendly.”
Reid glances to the soldiers who silently wait behind us. Tiredness seeps from their auras, but their eyes watch, waiting to act. Covered in leather armor, faces are bare to me and their weapons gleam against the moonlight.
They probably don’t look like allies.
I twirl the dagger, a present from my mate for our engagement. Crafted by his hands, they’re light as a feather, easy to spin with dark gems the color of my eyes. They’re a piece, a reminder, of what I fight for. Him.
“What about an envoy?”
Reid snorts. “Who are we sending to be killed, Dark Queen? Samkien?” He points at the Fae. “Feel like dying today?”
“Not particularly, no.”
“Then, what do you suggest?” I growl, tossing a rock at the irritating male. “Because we need her help to crack the curse on the spell book to save Kaden. I’m open to all ideas.”
Falling back on his knees, the young male shrugged. “Find another option?”
“Reid!”
“What about a hawk?” he suggests. “Send her a message. Let her know we want to meet.”
Samkien shakes his head. “Only the king knew how to communicate with the Woodland Fae Queen. We don’t know if she’d accept the hawk or kill it out of the sky.”
And considering we have three hawks in our company, we need them for communication. We can’t risk losing one.
Dropping beside Reid, I hang my head. We’re stuck unless we come up with another plan.
Or if Mal and Fenrir catch up to us. They could explain to their mother what was happening, but it’s unlikely. Their horses don’t look like they’re meant for speed. Considering we traveled through the night, and everything in this kingdom hates darkness, it could be some time before we see them.
And we don’t have time to waste. The full moon is coming up, and if we don’t figure out how to break his curse, Kaden will be stuck like that. Forever.
No.
“Do you think Fee is alright?”
“She’s fine.” Reid runs a hand through his hair. “Fee was trained to be our ruler long before Kaden gained control. All of this, yelling at lords, forcing them to comply, is as natural as breathing to her.”
“But we left her in such a mess—”
“She understands.” Reid bumps me. “Focus, Max. Now, what do we do here? We can’t exactly charge the field.”
I mean, we can’t. But maybe we should try something like that.
“What do we know of their palace?” I ask, turning toward Samkien. “Weapons, abilities, anything of the sort?”
Rubbing his chin, Samkien explains, “They’re known for their archers. Long range. They’re also good with spears.” His black eyes scan my face. “No.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“I see it, Your Majesty. It’d be a fool’s errand to do what you’re thinking.”
“What is she thinking?” Reid looks at me. “What are you thinking?”
Patting Samkien’s shoulder, I smile. “You’ll just have to be ready to defend me.”
“And if we’re slow?”
Patting my neck, I make sure my crown shines against the starry background. “Don’t be.”
Inhaling, I push past my people, and walk into the center of the field. The tall grass brushes against my thighs, and the scent of honeysuckle swirls inside my nose. Out here, it’s silent, with the far distance chirp of crickets the only noise.
A golden, glistening castle full of spirals, turrets and points, sits in the distance.
I’m sure when the sun is high, the castle burns like a torch.
In the darkness, it reflects the moon, with think lines of ivy crawling up its sides.
It’s as smooth as the Summus Mountain behind me, just as dark and forlorn.
At the front is a wide, open gate, without the presence of anyone there.
I know from the Black Palace that can be deceiving.
“This is not a good idea,” Reid hisses. Samkien has a hand on his shoulder, holding him from coming to my side. At least someone is thinking straight and it certainly isn’t me. “What if she kills you?”
“She won’t.” I hope.
Reid glares. “This is not what a Dark Queen should do.”
“Last time I checked,” I say, walking to the middle of the field, arms outstretched, dagger limp, “I’m the queen and I can choose what is best.”
Reid curses me out but I’m pleasantly surprised to hear Samkien’s laughter.
I spent my whole life hiding. I hid in the Blackwoods Coven and I hid from my love in the Black Palace.
I chose to ignore the bond, fight it, until it was the only thing that mattered.
I didn’t listen when Oslo told me I would save Kaden—and now I’m here, fighting the consequences of my inability to embrace what’s happening.
I’m choosing to believe in this, right now. I am strong. I am capable. I am a queen.
So, that’s what I’m going to be.
“Queen Aoife!” I yell, my voice carrying up the thick golden walls of her Veridian Palace. “I am Maximillia, Dark Queen of the Dark Fae. Mate of Kaden Moorgate. I’m here to ask for your assistance.”
Silence. The palace remains quiet, torches flickering against the wind.
Reid looks over my shoulder, keeping his eyes trained. Nothing moves.
I try again. Maybe she didn’t hear me.
“Queen Aoife, I’m here to ask for help. We’re here to break Kaden’s curse.”
More silence. I’m more than halfway to the palace, my guards further back. I can smell the wildflowers, the sweet nectar that seems to permeate this land and yet, nothing stirs.
Then, drums in my ear. Sudden, brackish beats that pound into my temples. My fingers turn reddish-black and bend, rising to the call of an impending attack.
But I can’t see anyone.
“Max, look out!”
A spear comes barreling at me, straight through the clouds. The silver tip drills through the air, there’s no chance for my escape. I close my eyes to brace for impact.
Reid slams into me as we tumble into the dirt. We glance back, the spear stabbing the ground with such force, my hair blows back from my face and dust kicks up.
Reid pants, “Still think they’re friendly?”
A thunderous call sounds from the far walls and dozens of tiny flames erupt. Mouth parting, I watch as those flames hike higher and I realize with sick fascination, that they’re not flames. They’re arrows.
Flaming arrows. There are guards ready to let them loose and we’re out in the open.
Together Reid and I twist, darting through the spray as they release. Fire catches on the bark, the thunk of the tips striking the wood with hard pressure. Everything turns into kindling. Smog erupts, clogging our noses and mouths as we try to find shelter.
Throwing myself at a tree, my guards fight and avoid the arrows, using their swords as makeshift shields. Some take cover under the trees but the leaves overhead catch on fire, and we’re hunkering under falling soot. If we stay here, we’re dead.
And the Woodland Fae guards aren’t going to help us.
Aoife is not the type to listen to reason.
I move. If I’m a queen, then I need to act like one. Saving my people is what I’m meant to do.
Searching the parapet, I hunt for all the hearts there. They hold the arrows. They’re attacking us.
If I can do what I did in my dream—grab all their hearts into one thread and control their movements—I can stop the arrows. We can access the castle. They’ll be safe.
Fingers twist and bend, knuckles popping as I clasp to the lives high above. This is natural, this is comfort. Locating all of them takes only a few breaths. Arrows fly past and my soldiers shriek, impaled. Burnt flesh wafts into the air.
The threads come together, rolling into a long rope. Coiled tightly, wrapped together, my fingers compel it closer. They weave and stretch, becoming a beautiful work of art of red lines and pulsating energy.
Then, I pull.
Carefully, I hold their hearts and the arrows stop. I know this is wrong—but not one bit of guilt enters my mind. This is necessary—this is needed.
“Go!” I shout, urging them on. With one hold on the guards, I know I’m limited in my magic without using too much. The faster we breach the walls, the sooner we can show Aoife we’re not the enemy. We’re allies.
The main gates are only steps away when a force knocks us backward. My head smacks into the ground, and my ears ring.
What was that?
Groggily, I open my eyes and see Reid next to me, on his back.
And his neck is slashed.
“No!”
Clawing at the dirt, I pull myself to his side, fingers touching his throat. Blood soaks my hands, the dirt, his tunic. It’s fucking everywhere. Wide amber eyes plead with me and I gulp, as the roaring noise of battle rolls over me.
Another blast of energy detonates and all of us fall back. The ground shakes, trees break with large branches falling and I crumple, covering Reid’s body from the debris.
“Enough,” a woman commands. It carries over the field and I cling to Reid’s chest.
I have one hand on the thread that ties me to the guards, but Reid is dying. The wound is large, gaping and wide, and he swallows against the pain. Blood seeps out from every movement. Pulling back, I search his body, and try to hold the cut together with slick fingers.
The woman towers over me, but she’s slight in statue. Pale, with white-blonde hair that lays like a thick curtain around her shoulders, she glares down at me. Green eyes, the color of the darkest evergreen trees, flash when they land on me, before closing off completely.
She raises a hand, but no weapon. The energy comes from her.
“Release my guards,” she says, voice steely. Blinking against my tears, I shake my head s words fail me. “You cannot hope to save him and hold them. You don’t have the strength.”
“I have more strength than you think.”
But it’s a lie. My magic is raging—to attack, to take—but I can’t focus. Not when Reid needs me and I have to help. I’m being torn into two and I don’t know which way to go.
“What do you wish to accomplish?” She lowers to my side, my guards lifting their weapons. They’re unsteady, struggling to stand and she waves her hand. More energy knocks them back. Most do not move again. “You wish to keep my soldiers trapped while he dies?”
“I’ve only come to see Queen Aoife,” I plead. She’s right. I can’t keep them immobile for long. “We are allies. This is the Prince of the Shadowlands—”
“I am no ally to the Shadowlands,” she snarls. Her fingers dangle in my face. “Release my Fae, or I’ll be forced to attack you next.”
Glaring at her, I spit out, “Do it. But I’ll take your guards with me.”
There’s a pause. She knows I’m not bluffing. There’s almost pride in her eyes before she looks away.
Samkien kneels a few paces away, leaning heavily on his sword. She cocks her head, assessing him, as he snarls at her. The proud Fae doesn’t know when to stop.
“Do not touch our queen.”
“Such loyalty. I wonder if it would last after death.” She grins at me, serene, as if threatening a person is a happy ordeal.
“Release them, or I’ll kill every Dark Fae here until you do.
” Those green eyes glint like a dangerous cat.
“Starting with him. And something tells me you’re not the sacrificing type. ”
Only myself. Never innocents.
Dropping the thread, shouts echo from the palace walls. It’s a brief reprieve before I use my magic on Reid.
I don’t know what I’m doing. Seti’s Hell, I don’t know if I can, but I gather my strength and force the blood to stop flowing.
Through it all, I can feel the slowness of his heart, the last bit of blood pumping through his veins.
It’s weak, a trickle of life but I hold on to it. Will it to grow and move.
I will not lose someone else. I will not see Kaden lose another loved one.
The blood seeps back to the source. His veins begin to mend, and his flesh pulls together. With a furrowed, sweaty brow, I work, oblivious to what is happening around us.
I don’t care. I don’t care that this woman watches me, judges me, all I know is whatever I’m doing is working. The wound is mending.
It takes too long, though. Precious time that I can’t afford to waste, but for Reid? For him, I will.
Finally, the last of his wound closes and I open my eyes, falling backward with exhaustion. Samkien is there, catching my shoulders and my vision blurs, turning black around the edges.
The woman stands there, her long golden dress hidden in the shadows. Her smile is wicked and cruel. She looks as if she’s learned a great lesson. “A blood summoner. How fortunate.”
“And the Queen of the Dark Fae.”
She rushes forward, grabbing my cheeks in a painful grasp. Samkien lays a dagger on her wrist and is thrown sideways for his rebellion. I barely catch myself from falling.
Searching my face, the woman glares, sneering at me. “Tell me your name.”
I gulp. “Maximillia.”
“Well, Maximillia.” She tosses me back and the world tilts. “You have entered my kingdom and attacked my people. Allies do no such thing.”
Her territory. How can it be…
She’s Queen Aoife.
“We are. Kaden is my mate. We need your help—”
“I do not help people that do not respect my laws.” She waves her hands again and those balls of flames appear in the distance. “For that, there are repercussions.”
Blinking against fatigue and depletion, I glance around the field. All my guards are sprawled out, unconscious or dead from arrows. More arrows are being readied to release and those left alive will be killed. No one should be sacrificed for my impulsiveness.
This is my fault. But I’ll fix it.
With the last bit of energy, I locate that thread again. If she’s going to kill me, I might as well do something for it.
The thread comes to me easily and the arrows lower. She looks around confused and I smile. Blood drips down from my nose, over my teeth, falling from my chin. I’m using too much magic, but I don’t care.
Holding my palm high, I snap my fingers. Every heart explodes quietly, but the bodies dropping thud around us like an avalanche.
“If you’re going to kill me, you might as well know. You’ll kill Kaden as well.”
Before I pass out, Kaden howls in the distance, and I smile.