I scooped the cat in my arms, inhaled a deep breath, and opened the doors to my chambers.
One of the guards turned to me. “May I help you, princess?” he asked. His words might be polite, but his tone was clipped, as if he detested talking to me.
“Yes.” I opened my door wider. “All of you, look at this.”
The other three guards turned to me.
With the Frost Pendant in my hand, I called on my magic. The immense rush flooded my veins, taking me by surprise. I wasn’t used to this much magic at once.
“Princ—“
The guard’s words died on his lips as I shot my magic onto them. The four guards became ice sculptures. Using my powers, I pushed them inside my chambers and hid them inside my bathroom. Then I frosted over the bathroom’s lock. By the time they thawed and were able to break through this door, I would be far, far gone.
Slipping through the fortress was easy with the Frost Pendant. I tried not engaging with anyone, but now my powers were so great, it was easy to trick them all. My only other challenge was the guards at the outer gates. Those I had to freeze too. I hid them inside the nearest room and once more frosted over the lock.
Then I raced out of the fortress and the cat jumped off my arms, running ahead of me. I inhaled the fresh air of the evening. The sun had already disappeared behind the mountain, giving me cover.
It gave them cover too.
I didn’t see them emerging from the shadows until they were only a few steps in front of me. Soldiers. A lot of Shadow Fae soldiers, and all of them standing between my freedom and me.
This time, I wouldn’t just bow my head and let them take me. This time, I had the Frost Pendant. This time, I would win.
I shot my hand out before any of them could react. The became frozen statues. I made my way through them.
“Your highness.”
I whipped around and saw Jennie running to me. She had a small bag across her shoulders and big eyes.
“You came,” I whispered as she stopped in front of me.
She offered me a small smile. “I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to catch up.”
I reached up and rested my hand on her shoulder. “You’re here now. Let’s go.”
Jennie put her hand over mine. “I’m sorry,” she said, her eyes glinting in the darkness. Quicker than I could blink, Jennie grabbed the Frost Pendant from my other hand.
I gaped at her. “Jennie!” I lunged at her.
But she retreated. Meanwhile, the soldiers thawed and surrounded me. I stared at Jennie, my eyes wild. “What have you done?”
She stepped out of the soldier’s circle just as a new form took shape from the shadows.
Prince Lark.
He stood beside Jennie and extended her hand to her. She dropped the pendant on his hand, then lowered her head.
“Good girl,” the prince said, his eyes on mine.
I clenched my fists. “Why would you betray me?” I asked Jennie. “He’s despicable and I was going to help you escape.”
Jennie kept her head lowered. “The prince promised not only freedom, but the means to live well.”
He offered her money? That was why she betrayed me? I couldn’t believe it.
The prince nodded. “You know, my faithful servant.” He stepped back until he was looming over her. “I’m very good at lying.” A shiny blade appeared in his hand and he slashed her throat.
I gasped, my hand over my mouth. Horror filled me.
Lark stepped over Jennie’s body and approached me. “My dear Farrah. The Moon Period is over.” He snapped his fingers to the soldiers. “Bring her to my chambers.”
The soldiers reached for me.
I called on my magic and tried to freeze them again, but they were too many for me. When I froze one, another one showed up. I created an ice shield in between them and me.
Then the ice shattered.
“Enough games, Farrah,” the prince snarled. He had broken the ice.
The soldiers clasped their heavy hands around my arms and they dragged me back inside the fortress.
22
Wyatt
We didn’t go back to the house we had borrowed before. Instead, we went to Starlight Vale. I had sent a message to Luana and Keeran and they were waiting for us when we arrived.
Even before seeing Luana and Keeran, Romulus and Meira, Luana’s right and left hands, met us at the entrance. Meira guided the injured to the infirmary and the others to a temporary housing, while Romulus took Daleigh, Ariella, Kayden and I to the main building at the town’s center.
I glanced around as we walked through the paths forming roads—to the gray stone buildings, the brown tree branches entwining along the walls, the green leaves forming natural canopies. It was a beautiful, comforting town. But most impressive was the residents. Luana was the alpha of the Starlight pack, and Keeran was the Warlock Lord, and Starlight Vale was the home of magical werewolves and powerful warlocks.
Luana had invited me to stay here with them over three years ago, but I wasn’t magical like her and her pack. I was a normal werewolf. Despite her good intentions, I had never belonged here. That was why I left.
We approached the main building, which looked like a tall castle in the middle of town, and my steps faltered. Luana and Keeran stood atop the stairs at the front door, waiting for us.
For me.
When Luana saw me, she pressed a hand to her mouth.
I stopped a few feet from them. “Hey,” I said, suddenly feeling very lame. I had been a teenager when I had last seen them, and for many years, Luana had been my idol. In a way, I knew she had always considered me a kid, maybe even her kid, her responsibility. But in these three years, I had grown. I had matured. The demons still lived inside my head, sure, but I had a better handle on them now.
Suddenly serious, Luana growled and lunged at me. She punched my shoulder hard. “You pest!” She fixed her hazel eyes in mine. “You left without saying goodbye. I was so damn worried.” Then she flung her arms around my neck. “It’s so good to see you,” she whispered.
Stunned, it took me a second to act. But then I hugged her too. It felt different now. I was taller, wider, and she was smaller in my arms. “I missed you too.”
Luana pulled back and patted my cheek. “Pull another prank like that and I’ll skin you alive.”
I chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Keeran walked up to us, a small smile on his lips. “Welcome back, Wyatt.” He clasped my hand firmly. “Come inside. Let’s get comfortable so we can talk.”
Luana and Keeran guided us to a large seating room. Aspen and Boise, Keeran’s warlocks, had set up the room with drinks and lots of food. Since I was in much need of a break, I grabbed a bottle of beer and tipped it over, chugging it fast.
Luana raised an eyebrow at me. “Are you okay?”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I will be when all of this is over.”
Her hazel eyes narrowed. “Tell me what’s going on.”
So I did. I reminded them about Farrah’s deal with the evil shadow fae prince, and then I told them the rest: finding Farrah again, running from the prince, the prince’s promise to let her people go back to the fae realm, imprisoning Farrah with that fucking bracelet, his lies and locking her people in a prison camp, and us breaking them out.