No, downright hot.
But that didn’t mean—
Wait…
“I know you,” I said, my eyes widening. “You were at Cyrus’s coronation.”
I’d asked Claire who the handsome foreign fae was after catching a glimpse of him in the crowd. If I remembered right, he knew Cyrus and Exos. Which meant he could get a message to the Elemental Fae Council for me.
“Yes, I was,” he confirmed.
My shoulders instantly relaxed. “Oh, good. Then this is all just a misunderstanding. You know I can’t stay here.”
“What I know is, you can’t leave here,” he corrected. “Not until we see how Shade’s bite affects you.”
“You mean the bite that was against my will? The one he forced on me before taking me captive?”
A muscle in his jaw ticked, the only indication my words meant something to him. “Regardless of how it happened, you’re here now and we can’t change the past. All we can do is prepare for the future. So, if you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to Midnight Fae Academy and your new accommodations.”
He turned as if he expected me to magically agree to his command.
I placed my hands on my hips. “Yeah, no. I refuse.”
Kolstov glanced at me over his shoulder, those golden irises flaring with power. “Refusal isn’t an option.” He turned a little and produced a wand from his cloak. “I’m trying to do this the kind way, Aflora. If you prefer the harder route, then we can dance. But I assure you, you’ll lose.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Queen Claire will not approve of this treatment.”
“Queen Claire has no jurisdiction here or over me.” He faced me once more. “Which road are we taking, sweetheart? Because my patience is already at wits’ end due to Shade taking his fucking time downstairs.”
Given that my powers still didn’t work here, my options were limited. Either I tested the extent of what that wand in his hand could do or I pretended to play along.
Maybe my powers will regenerate outside these walls, I thought, considering him and his casual stance. Worth a shot because staying here isn’t going to fix anything.
“All right. Fine. Take me to the Academy.”
Amusement sparked in his gaze. “Dancing it is,” he mused and put his wand away. His response suggested he expected me to act out despite my words. He was probably right. “Come along, pet.”
I glowered at his back after he turned, not appreciating the “endearment” one bit.
Pet, I thought at him. Yeah, I’m a pet all right. With teeth.
He led me into an elevator of sorts, then keyed a code in plain sight, suggesting he didn’t mind me knowing it. Or maybe he was just that stupid. I memorized the alphanumeric mix, just in case.
The walls shifted around us, crickets sounding in the distance. I focused on the shifting scenery, searching for anything familiar, when we suddenly materialized outside a set of iron gates that were nearly three times my height.
Kolstov murmured a foreign command that caused the doors to open, then gestured for me to cross the creepy threshold. Two stone gargoyles stood watch, their red gazes analyzing my every move.
I swallowed.
They’re technically made of earth, so if I just—
“Even think of harming me, and they will cut you down,” Kolstov warned. “And while they may be beings of your element, they’re not yours to command, but mine.”
I considered testing that theory, but the writhing snake-vines slithering along the iron posts had me retracting the idea. On top of that, I still couldn’t feel my element. Closing my eyes, I searched the fractured connection, frowning when I found frayed ends flickering with lost power.
A hiss from the gate had me jumping backward.
Kolstov tsked. “Careful with your thoughts, sweetheart. They’ll be on you in a second, and you can bet your ass I’ll let them bite a few times before I call them off. Just to teach you a lesson.”
Meaning he could control these vile creatures.
“Prince Kolstov,” I mused out loud. “You’re next in line for the Midnight Fae throne.” Hence his ability to tame the beasts. I’d read enough about international fae politics to know the important names throughout the realms. It was why I’d been surprised by his presence at Cyrus’s coronation.
And maybe I’d been a little interested because of his looks.
Not so into those traits now.
“Just as you’re Princess Aflora, the sole Earth Royal,” he returned, pressing his palm to my lower back to give me a nudge. “On you go.”
I stumbled forward, my heels not made for the pebbled pathway. “If you know who I am, you know how wrong this is. The Earth Fae need me and my access to the source.”
“Yes. We’re working on that.” Another push to the base of my spine compelled me to walk alongside him. “Your bindings are temporary until Councilman Chern can develop a better harness for your natural gifts.”
Bindings? That explained why I still couldn’t access my element. “It’s dangerous to keep me severed from the source. I’m the conduit that allows the Earth Fae to thrive.”
“We’re aware,” he said, directing me to the left.
Gothic architecture met my vision. The entire campus resembled a castle of horror set against a moonlit landscape. Large trees void of any life or leaves decorated the ground with black branches, their roots thicker than both Kolstov and I combined. Bats dangled from the limbs, along with other foreign winged animals of varying sizes.
A phoenix landed on top of one of the obsidian towers in the distance, its fiery wings fluttering in the breeze.
“Given your royal status, you will be housed with the Elite Bloods. Specifically, in my family’s wing. Our suite has four bedrooms, a living area, a kitchen, a study room, and several bathrooms. I think you’ll find it to be up to your standards.”
“Elite Bloods?” I repeated, swallowing. I have to live with this guy?
He stopped to gape down at me. “You haven’t studied the Midnight Fae lines?”
“N-no.”
His expression told me that was not an appropriate response. “You’re the Earth Fae Royal, and you know nothing about our political structure. How is that possible? I can tell you everything of importance regarding the Elemental Fae Council.”
“Interspecies politics is on my course agenda this year.”
“Was,” he corrected. “Your new schedule will be assigned this week. I’ll see what I can do about having Midnight Fae politics added to it.” He shook his head and continued walking. “Absolutely ridiculous.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting to be kidnapped and forced into attending school in this realm. My bad for not taking a course about vampires.”
He halted once more, turning slowly. “Careful, sweetheart. That tone could earn you a lot of hurt on these grounds, especially when in reference to our existence and what we are—Midnight Fae.”
“Bloodsuckers. Yeah, I’m aware.”
Kolstov stepped forward, invading my personal bubble. “You know all about that, don’t you, love? What with Shade having already snacked upon your neck?” He hummed, the sound low and menacing. “Call me a bloodsucker again and I’ll give you a thorough demonstration of what a Midnight Fae can do.”