There was only one solution to the problem. Memory alteration, Lana’s voice whispered in her head.
Really? Shade wrinkled her nose at the thought, knowing how devastating a memory loss could be. But it was the only choice that would allow Ariana to live a free life in the court once more.
“Her memory of her reign is to be erased and altered. She will be treated with nothing but respect and love from everyone in the court. Anyone who does otherwise will answer to me. Please make sure she is taken care of, Nyol.”
He nodded, moved toward the fallen queen and had two guards scoop her up and remove her from the room. Shade knew her demand would be fulfilled, and for once, felt she could rule the Scren Court. With Lana’s guidance from her memories, she could do it, and she would.
One step closer.
Chapter Twenty-Three
NOTHING COULD PREPARE Shade for the magnitude of things to be done in the court. Not only did Nyol keep her busy with agendas that needed to be approved or altered, she struggled to obtain any kind of downtime by herself to relax and hang out with her family or Dylan. It was exhausting but necessary, especially with the threat of Aveta’s vast army near the borders of the Southern Realm.
She’d changed the scorching weather to more temperate summer heat, which suited her fine. She’d never been a fan of winter, which she found funny now that the weather would always be warm. But just outside the gates of the castle, the weather would not change at her command. The flurries fell increasingly around the perimeter of the gates, and Shade watched them from the balcony of her suite. All of Faerie was becoming colder. Temperatures had dropped all across the land, and winter seemed to be expanding its reach. She’d demanded to know from Corb if he had done this. He’d gritted his teeth at her demands, but continued to deny it.
“It’s Aveta, you know that as well as I. As she continues to break the wards on the boundaries of Faerie, the weather will turn colder until there is nothing but the season of death in all the land.”
“You can stop it, though. Isn’t it your season?” Shade paced in front of the Winter Ancient, frustrated by the lack of straight answers.
“Yes and no.”
“So why can’t you control its spread?”
He narrowed his eyes, smirking at her agitation. “I’m bound to you. My control over the winter is severed right now. The longer I’m bound to you, the more the Unseelie can use it against the other Fey, especially if the wards are breaking; there will be no boundaries between realms. It’s no longer in my power to send it back to the Northern Realm.” He turned away and crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall of his chamber. He was confined to this section of the palace, unable to explore it at his will. She didn’t trust him at all, even though he appeared to be stripped of his powers by the binding metal bracelet on his wrist. His flesh never healed around it, leaving it to remain an unsavory, angry red with puckering and swelling underneath it.
“Does it hurt much?” Shade asked. She knew it did, she just had to hear it from his lips for some reason.
He held out his wrist, turning it side to side as he studied the metal. “Indeed it does, Your Highness. Indeed it does.”
“Why doesn’t it heal?”
He walked toward her, grasping her arm and pressing it against the shiny metal. It didn’t hurt, but she could feel his pain through the connection of their skin.
“It is laced with iron. I’m not immune to its debilitating powers. You’re lucky your human taint allows you peace from its toxicity. Otherwise you’d be in unbearable pain right now, enough to drive you mad.” With that he abruptly let her go, wandering over to the large opened glass doors that opened onto a veranda. He leaned his head back against the stone siding, letting the setting sun reflect in his icy blue eyes.
Shade hadn’t gotten used to his more human appearance yet. How was it affecting him? Did he feel more human or just powerless? Either way, there was no way he could roam free now. He was just too dangerous to allow such freedoms, especially with Aveta’s army closing in.
Shade joined him on the veranda, taking in the beauty of the sunset as it soaked the world in colors of gold and tangerine. “Aveta’s coming. The Summer Court has prepared legions for her attack. Do you think she can beat us? Do you think she’ll try to free you?”
“Evil is subjective. All I can tell you is that she’s not alone, and you’ll need the help of another Ancient to win. Otherwise, you will fail.” He turned toward her, taking in her face as he waited. “And she probably won’t try to save me. I’m useless to her now.” His light blue eyes drilled themselves into her, making her shift uncomfortably.
“Another Ancient? You mean Kilara.”
He nodded. His eagerness to broach the subject of the sleeping Summer Queen was obvious, especially with the way he seemed to perk up at the mention of her.
“You’d want me to wake her, even if it wasn’t for help with this. You’d do anything to have me wake her, so you can have her back.” Shade threw her own challenging stare back at him. She wasn’t so naïve anymore, she knew just what it was he wanted from all this. If he thought he could make her out as a fool, he was sorely mistaken. “I won’t do what you ask. I never will.”
Hatred burned in his eyes, and she could tell he wanted to reach out and strangle her. Stepping away just enough so he would know that she was aware of his feelings, he wrangled them in just as fast. Turning his searing glare toward the sun, his jaw tightened as he remained silent. Shade could feel his anger burn away, and an unnerving calm overtook the air around them.
Finally, he turned back, his face blank of all emotion as he spoke. “You will find one day that you will have to wake her, no matter how well you have things thought out. You will need her at your side, with or without me.” He pressed his lips tightly together and spun to leave her alone on the veranda. He was done speaking for now, and she knew his desires better than anyone else. After leaving his chambers and not giving him another glance, she sighed with relief. He was increasingly shutting down and speaking to her less and less, but there was not much she could do about it. Not until Kilara awakened.
A knot of dread sat in her stomach as she pondered his words. He was right about needing to awaken Kilara, she knew it down to her marrow. Lana’s voice in her head assured her that the time would come when the Summer Ancient shall be awoken, but not yet. She would know when, and when that time came, all hell will have broken loose and there would be no other choice.
Shade hoped it wouldn’t be too soon. She needed a moment to breathe. Even if it’s just for a short while. Her soul needed to heal from everything which had happened in such a short amount of time. Scars needed to mend, and the love she felt for Dylan waited for a time when it could flourish. Couldn’t it be now? Couldn’t the war wait just for a while longer?
As she joined her family for dinner, she realized that there was nothing as precious and fragile as time. She was going to cherish each moment, for the future looked bleak, and the winter continued to consume the land. She’d find a way to stop it. She had to.
Part IV
The War of Faerie
Chapter Twenty-Four
FUNNY HOW LIFE plays tricks on you. Nothing ever lasts. Shade should have known that by now. How dare she lapse into any kind of comfort when there was much going on in Faerie, and the wards in the perimeter around the land weakened every day? Some days she wished for her simple life back home, watching TV and stuffing her face with pizza as football games ate up all the weekends. Now here she was. Stuck at the Scren Palace without even Brisa to keep her company.
Where was that girl? She and Soap should’ve arrived ages ago, but they’d yet to even send a message. She hoped they hadn’t run into anything really bad, but this was the Land of Faerie, and anything goes when there is magic involved. Even so, her suspicions about the nature of Brisa’s and Soap’s relationship made her wonder if they were taking their time on purpose.
“Hey, Sis.” Benton tossed a fire
ball up and down as he joined her in the garden of the Scren Palace. “So what’s the agenda now? We’ve been sitting here for days, and nothing is going on. I’m bored out of my mind. The only ones having fun are James and Anna, roaming the halls like it’s a treasure hunt.” He rolled his eyes as he absorbed the fire balls and glanced over at her.
“Nyol is still preparing the army. Training takes time, though faeries are fast learners. Once Aveta’s army heads this way, there will be no boredom.” Shade sat on one of the ornate cement benches lining the garden, admiring the array of colorful flowers in the bushes and grass under her feet. She felt the most at home here, surrounded by nature, rather than inside the stone walls of the palace. It had been one of Lana’s favorite spots, too, long ago, before she’d been banished.
“Can’t wait. I’m so ready to pulverize Aveta’s sluagh army. It will be the time of my life!” Benton laughed, moving around like he was sword fighting imaginary sluagh.
Shade rolled her eyes as she watched him. Benton was a lot less of a jerk now that they had a lot more in common because of their magic. Still, he was human, and she feared for her family in Faerie, even if they were powerful elemental fire witches. They could best a faery any day, and were even considered more powerful than some Fae. It still sent chills down her spine as she worried for their safety.
“I can wait.” She breathed in the fragrant air around them, hoping it would calm her nerves as they increased in jitteriness throughout the days. But nothing calmed them. She had become increasingly agitated as the days flew by, wondering if the time to awaken Kilara was near. Despite her reservations about Corb, she hoped that it was.
“Shade!” Anna came running into the garden, out of breath but excited as she jumped up and down before settling down next to her.
“Anna, what is it?”
“Oh my gosh, you won’t believe it! Soap’s here! Brisa’s with him. They’re finally here,” she gasped, attempting to catch her breath. Shade had a suspicion she had run all the way from the other side of the castle.
“That’s great! Where are they? I have to go see them.” Shade stood up but stopped when Anna tugged on her shirt, shaking her head violently.
“Wait.” She sucked a breath in, hunching over as she slowed her breathing. “I have to tell you something first.”
“Well, spit it out already!” Shade slipped back onto the bench, feeling her impatience building.
“Him and Brisa, they… they look mighty cozy for being just friends. Just had to let you know before you head that way. They look really, really close.” She gulped, staring back at Shade, her eyes filled with worry.
“What?” Shade whispered. She studied her sister’s sad eyes, knowing full well what she meant. She nodded, standing up and heading toward the castle, hoping she was ready for whatever she was going to find.
“Wait! We’re coming with you!” Benton pulled Anna off the bench and hurried behind her, though she didn’t hear them anymore. Her eyes filled with tears as she thought of Brisa in Soap’s arms. She should be okay with it, right? She’d seen it coming from a thousand miles away. They’d been apart for so long, and her love for Dylan had only amplified. So this should be okay.
But was it? Why did she feel so hurt? Her chest tightened as she got closer to the palace, choking up her breath as she swung the doors open and she flitted down the hall.
Why does it hurt so much?
Dylan was coming down the hall, obviously waiting for her. He came to a stop as he watched her approach, his face empty of emotion as he studied her for any. She paused, looking into his lovely steel-gray eyes, feeling a calm slowly wrap itself around her as he closed in to embrace her. The knot unraveled in her throat, and she could breathe again. His scent filled her nostrils, and she wanted nothing but to remain melted in his arms. The peace it gave her was all she needed now.
As the moment ticked by, she straightened and pulled away, smiling at Dylan. He clasped his hand around hers and began walking toward the main foyer of the palace, where Soap and Brisa were most likely to be waiting. With him holding her hand, she felt more ready to face anything.
Voices echoed down the hall, and she could here Jade and Nyol speaking with someone. They got louder the closer they got.
“Shade!” Brisa’s exuberant voice shrieked and brought her back to reality. She fell into her arms, squeezed tightly by her oldest friend. “Oh my gosh, we thought we’d never get here!” She pulled back to look at her and admired the sparkling diamond tiara on her head. “Wow, you’re an amazing queen!” She pulled her back into another breath-crushing hug.
Soap stood quietly behind her, watching their exchange and smiling. He looked genuinely pleased to see her and waited his turn to come in for a hug. She squeezed his slender frame, his familiar scent filling her mind with a pleasant array of memories.
“Hey, beautiful. You finally have the crown you deserve.” He also admired the tiara, his grin making him look unbearably handsome. Shade smiled, still feeling a bit shocked to see them together, but the sadness had faded away, replaced by the happiness of seeing them both.
She suddenly didn’t care that they were together. If anyone deserved each other, it was the two of them. This revelation set her at ease, making the reunion much more sweet than bitter. Nothing was better than to have everyone she loved under one roof. She hugged them over and over again, knowing that it wouldn’t last, but it was pure bliss for now.
Chapter Twenty-Five
THE ALARM RANG in the early morning hours, jolting Shade from her slumber. It echoed across the cobblestone streets and through the towers of the palace like a fire alarm, waking the kingdom into full alert within minutes. Panic didn’t ensue, but an organized assembly of guards and people gathered on the grounds, readied for anything.
Shade had wrapped her robe around her frame when Nyol burst into her room. He looked wide awake, as though he never slept and was ready at a moment’s notice. He approached her in full armor, concern flashing in his eyes.
“The Unseelie army is approaching. We are ready to meet them, and all our defenses are in place. I’m not sure how big their hoard is, but from the looks of it, it’s vast.” Nothing could veil the concern behind Nyol’s eyes, which sent a shiver down Shade’s spine.
She nodded. “Get me some armor.”
Hesitating, Nyol’s confused face only made her more determined. “Please, I’m fighting with my people. I won’t stand up here and watch them fight for me from afar. I have powers, and I need to use them for this. I was meant for this. It’s always been for this. They need me, Nyol.” Shade waited, her patience waning as she watched understanding float across his features.
“Of course, Your Majesty. I’ll send a squire and servants immediately.” He turned and rushed off down the hall. His uneasiness made her stomach churn as she paced back and forth in her room. She could do this, she had to. Everything had been building up to this moment. Her strength, her powers, it was all for this war in Faerie. She was meant to fight with her people, no matter what. And she would.
Servants poured in, arms filled with leathers, chainmail and weapons. Floating about her as they took in her measurements and began dressing her with the armor, Shade tried to calm her nerves, breathing slowly in and out and going over in her head Lana’s instructions on engaging in a full-out war. To observers, she looked crazy, nodding every now and then, confirming a maneuver or two in her head, but no one questioned her, and in no time, she was fully armored.
Clasping the hilt of her sword, she glanced down at the chainmail and faerie armor clasped around her body. The metal was lighter than armor made by humans would’ve been, but the weight of it and the chainmail felt oddly comforting to her. She headed out of her room and into the foyer, where she found Jade and Benton waiting, also fully prepared for battle.
“Where are you going?” Jade inquired, narrowing her eyes at the armor she was wearing. “You’re the queen; you don’t go out and fight.”
“I will be
there with my people, and I will be fighting. They need me. You know this.” Shade held her ground and only stirred from the spot when Dylan came running into the room, followed by Soap. They were also dressed and fully armed and waited for further instructions as they gathered around her.
“Where’s Nyol?” Shade glanced around, looking for the NicScren Guard’s leader.
“He’s at the gates, already transporting legions to the outer gates of the palace. He said he will be waiting for you,” Paki offered as he stepped past the others and came to kneel before her. Afterward, he stood and motioned them forward to follow him through the doors and out past the gardens.
This is it, thought Shade. Her nervous stomach gave way to a dangerous calm. She tried to shut off her feelings, but she knew she was out for blood. This was for everything she’d been through up till now, so there would be no mercy, only death and blood.
Transported to the outside gates, she saw her army filtering though one-way portals that would let people out through the magical barrier, but not back in. Pulling out her sword, she kept close to Dylan and her mother, hoping things would not be as bad as she thought they would be. The last time she was surrounded by the sluagh hoard of Aveta’s, they’d been marked for death. This time, she was determined to never fall into such a trap again. Following Paki, who led them right behind Nyol, she made her way to the front and stepped through one of the many one-way portals.
A flash of light enveloped her and after a millisecond of that and a slight jolt, she was surrounded by deafening screams and thousands and thousands of fighting sluagh, Unseelie fey and NicScren soldiers. There were fallen all over the place, covering the ground with blood and bodies. She rushed forward, slamming into a dark fey warrior that was about to thrust its spear into a NicScren soldier who had fallen to the ground.