“There are farmers on that island who think they know how to run these lands better than I do, but they will only destroy our paradise. Show them we’re stronger, Lucinda. Bring fear into their hearts. Can you do that for me? Can you make me proud this time?”
“I won’t disappoint you, my king. I’ll be whatever you need me to be in order to keep our home safe.”
I’d gone to North Island and burned two crop fields and an orchard that day. I’d killed more than a dozen fae and put that fear right where the king had wanted. He’d even rewarded me with a new doll after that, but I’d never even touched it after sticking it in the back of my closet.
“Well, Finn Barlow of North Island. We have a bit of a problem.”
He narrowed his silver eyes at me. “And what would that be?”
“Well, besides the fact that I can’t remove spells like I’ve already said, I have no plans of returning to Fae Islands. Not a single one of them, so while I’d normally tell you I don’t back down from a challenge, I can’t do that with this one.”
His next words made me laugh out loud. “I’ll pay you.”
“Honey, there isn’t anything in this world you could pay me with that I can’t obtain on my own.”
“What about the king’s head?”
His question made my heart stutter. Breathing became harder, and my wings tightened around me. Clearly, I wasn’t as over my past traumas as I would have liked, but I pushed those feelings aside and laughed once more. “The king is untouchable, and not worth my time.”
He grinned, and it was the first time since he’d moved out of the shadows that he seemed comfortable. “A lot has changed since you left. The king is no longer the beloved leader everyone once thought him to be. His death would be celebrated across the islands if someone was capable of doing so.”
“Even the West?” West Island was where King Zephyr lived, and he allowed only the richest, strongest, most useful, and most loyal to stay within close proximity of his castle.
“Even there.”
A flicker of emotion I hadn’t felt in years sparked within me, but while I was reckless most of the time, I wasn’t stupid.
The purr of Black Widow entered the alleyway, and I was saved from responding. Neva parked under the light, and I took in her ashen face. She was scared to death of handling my pride and joy.
I waved her over as she inched out of the car with the utmost care and tossed the keys at me as if nothing made her happier than to no longer be responsible for my baby.
Neva joined me at my side but said nothing while appraising the fae before us.
Finn stepped forward, held out his hand, and introduced himself. “I’m Finn.”
Neva opened her mouth to reply, but as their hands touched, she jerked hers away before he could hold on for too long. His face creased as she moved to stand a little further behind me.
Now that Neva was back, I realized I’d let my curiosity stop me from taking what I needed from the fae: a release of my dark magic.
I’d been allowing myself to get distracted too often lately, further proving it was time for a change. I couldn’t become complacent. Not ever again.
“So, are you going to help my sister or not?” Finn asked as awkward silence settled around us.
My arms rose, and I tucked my wings away while faking a yawn. I was done dealing with him and the memories that he’d roused within me. “It’s late and I’ve had a long day. How about you stalk me tomorrow and I’ll let you know then? Say, around lunchtime?”
“How do I know you won’t disappear?” he challenged.
“If you know so much about me, then you should also be aware that I never run from anything. This town is my home now, and I won’t let another fae run me out of it. Now, piss off and come back tomorrow or don’t. I don’t really care. You’ve made me cranky, and I want sleep.”
He rolled his eyes before spreading wings that were leather and a green so deep, it was almost black in the dim light. I was only slightly disappointed they weren’t gossamer like I’d pictured earlier.
Without another word, he wrapped his wings around himself and disappeared.
I turned to Neva, who was trembling. “What’s wrong?”
“He is full of darkness, Lucy. You need to be careful.”
For the first time ever, she’d called me Lucy, but I didn’t dwell on that milestone. Instead, I was left wondering how the hell she’d read the darkness in him when I’d somehow missed it.
It was time to head out of town and let my darker side free. I was too distracted and needed to be fully present before Finn showed up again. Otherwise, I just might do something I’d regret.
After dropping Neva at the apartment, I’d taken off on my own, racing Black Widow through the traffic that never seemed to stop in LA, even at two in the morning. Once I was out of town and alone, only then did I scream my frustrations and let go of my hold on the dark magic threatening to consume me.
I ended up spending nearly two hours out in the wild, letting my power take charge and decimating half a forest in the process. I knew it was wrong to take my lack of control out on the earth, but it was either that or the humans.
When I was as satisfied as I was going to get, I’d made my way back home in hopes of sleeping, but for the rest of the early morning, I was assaulted by dreams—well, more like nightmares—of my old home every time I closed my eyes.
Memories broke through of my first days in the palace and believing when King Zephyr had promised to treat me like the daughter he’d never been able to have, to make me a princess. For the first year until I’d hit full maturity, he’d been the nicest fae I’d ever known. All of the mental conditioning I’d been through back then made me shudder now that I knew better.
Then, on my tenth birthday, he’d thrown me the largest party with more gifts than I had ever imagined, inviting every member of his guard. I’d never felt more special until the night ended and he’d come to my room with a gleam in his eyes I’d never seen before.
“It’s time for you to repay me, Lucinda. Tomorrow, you’ll begin putting those lovely wings of yours to use by training with the other guards and I want no complaints. Just remember how much I’ve done for you. You don’t want to disappoint me, do you?”
The feel of his fingers grasping my chin seemed so real as I shook the memory off, letting wrath rise to the surface instead.
I’d been so naïve. So afraid that if I didn’t do everything he asked, I’d once again be tossed out like the previous day’s trash. He’d known my fears and planned it all perfectly. He’d made me believe I needed the only thing I’d craved as a child—a family. He’d pretended to be my family, but none of it had been real.
And now, he was going to die by the monster he’d created.
Well, only if I decided to help Finn.
While my time under the king’s thumb hadn’t been the highlight of my life, it had taught me enough to know I couldn’t make emotional decisions. Finn’s favor had stirred up too much of my past, and I wouldn’t rush into making my final choice.
After deciding there would be no real rest for me, I trudged down the hallway from my bedroom to the kitchen where Neva was already waiting with coffee in hand.