With a small grin of her own, Jennie picked up the paper. “I can do it.” She folded the paper and slipped inside one of the pockets of her uniform.
I smiled at her, as if I had found my new best friend.
I felt bad for using her, but for some reason, I knew I could trust her with this. Finally, I was seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
6
Wyatt
It didn’t take long for the Blaze fae to realize they weren’t alone in the canyon. As Ariella and I approached their hidden town, which I still couldn’t see, a handful of soldiers, all dressed in dark red uniform ran to us, pointing their spears at our chests.
“Who are you?” a male fae with long brown hair asked.
“I’m Wyatt, this is Ariella,” I said, putting on my best business mien. “I’m here to talk to your leader.”
The male fae frowned, considering. After a minute, he nodded once. “Follow me.”
He turned and started walking deeper into the canyon. Ariella and I fell into step behind him, and the other soldiers flanked us. They lowered their spears, but kept them close and ready. We weren’t prisoners, but we certainly weren’t free to roam around here.
After a few steps, a jolt of energy coursed through me and the scenery before me changed. Now I could see the town: many side-by-side brown and reddish houses, nestled against the canyon, forming narrow roads that ran deep into the gorge.
Soldiers patrolled the street while blaze fae spied from their houses as we walked by one of the roads. We were escorted to what I thought was the center of the small town, where a bigger building stood in front of a large square.
“This way,” the fae guiding us said, gesturing to the front doors of the building.
We stepped into a foyer that opened up to several doors. He took us through the one on the back, the largest one.
Inside was a meeting room with a long rectangle table and a high chair at one of the ends. A male fae with a few wrinkles and long red hair stood from this chair, followed by a young female fae on his right side.
They stared at us with inquisitive eyes.
“What’s going on?” the red-haired fae asked.
The other fae lowered his head. “Lord Alos, this werewolf and this fallen angel asked to see you.”
Beside me, Ariella seethed. From what Farrah had told me, Ariella was a fallen angel, but she didn’t like to be called that.
Lord Alos narrowed his eyes at me. “Why have you come here?”
“Because I heard the blaze fae has a score to settle with the shadow fae,” I said, going directly to the point. I had no reason to drag this on. “And I want to take them down.”
Lord Alos stared at me for a moment, considering. “Why?”
I inhaled deeply and told them about Farrah. That she was a frost fae who was now locked inside the Shade Fortress, how her people had suffered in the hands of the shadow fae, and how the prince was just plain evil and had to be defeated.
“I know you want to take them down as much as I do,” I continued. “I know Ariella and I are only two, but we’re powerful. Together with your people, we might have a chance to infiltrate the Shade Fortress and defeat the prince. Once he’s out of the picture, it’ll destabilize the shadow fae, providing an opportunity for you to start a war, and this time, win.”
Alos didn’t seem convinced. “You seem to know a lot about fae and our history.”
I puffed out my chest. “My mate is a frost fae. I made it my business to find out as much as I could about fae.”
“What you’re asking for … it’s tempting, but it’s too risky,” Lord Alos said. “I won’t put my people at risk for a young female fae.”
I knew it wouldn’t be easy to convince him, but I didn’t have many more arguments to offer.
“If you help us take down the prince,” Ariella started, “we’ll help you with your war. We’ll stay with you until the end, and we’ll make sure you win.”
Lord Alos rubbed his chin.
The young female fae leaned closer to him and whispered something so low, even I couldn’t hear it. She had the same red hair as Lord Alos, though hers was tied into a long braid.
Lord Alos nodded at her. “My daughter, Kayden, has an offer.”
She turned to her, her amber eyes blazing. “We won’t give you an army, but I’ll join you in your quest. If we infiltrate the shadow fortress and kill the shadow prince, then we’ll rage war against the rest of the shadow fae. And you will join us.”
I clenched my teeth. Just one fucking blaze fae? Well, that was better than nothing, but probably not enough. “I’m assuming you’re a good warrior.”
Kayden’s lips curled in a taunting grin.
Lord Alos snorted. “She’s the best warrior the blaze fae has ever had. If she joins you, you’re sure to win.”
I glanced at Ariella. This was between the two of us. We came for an army, but we were being offered just one measly fae. Would that be enough? Would she still stand beside me and help me rescue Farrah?
As if reading my mind, Ariella gave me a sharp nod.
“All right,” I said, a little irritated by the situation, but also relieved we didn’t come this way for nothing. “We’ll accept your offer.”
After our meeting, Ariella and I were escorted to a small house at the edge of town.
“You can spend the night here,” Kayden said, opening the front door to us. “Someone will come with food later.”
I frowned as I looked inside the simple house. “We’re not allowed to leave the house?”
“You can,” she said, calmly. “But we won’t be responsible for your safety. After the war and being chased out of our own realm, the Blaze fae isn’t very trusting, especially of other races. It’s better if you stay in.”
“We will,” Ariella answered for both of us.
Kayden glanced at us. “We’ll leave tomorrow morning before dawn.” She turned and left, without waiting for a reply.
Ariella and I stepped into the house. I didn’t even glance around and explore the place. I simply dragged my feet to one of the two bedrooms and plopped down on the bed.
Arms crossed, Ariella watched me from the door. “Taking a nap at this time of night?”
“No, not a nap,” I mumbled. After so many fucking days driving like crazy and being worried out of my mind, my body was exhausted. I wanted to crash and slumber for a hundred years. “I’m turning in for the night.”
“Oh, okay.” She stepped out of the room and grabbed the doorknob. “Good night.”
The door closed with a soft click, and I closed my eyes, willing sleep to come take me and shut down my many thoughts.
I fell asleep and dreamed of Farrah being held by Prince Lark, being in chains while he tortured her people in front of her. The prince laughed, saying it was all a trick. That he never intended to let her people out of the hook. That they would all suffer while she spent eternity with him.
I woke up with a gasp, sitting up in bed.
A second later, my senses became alert, but it was too late.
Hands clasped around my mouth and arms and legs.