Chapter 1
“There is a revolution coming, Brexley. And you are going to lead us straight into it.”
The statement echoed in my head, bouncing and smacking back into itself, tangling into one emotion.
Terror.
I struggled to breathe, my eyes darted around the room, seeing a group of mostly unknown faces. Even the one related to me was a stranger, my Uncle Mykel, who I had known only in name growing up. Father said he was a criminal and had to run off to Prague soon after I was born for safety.
Now he was the leader of the infamous rebel group in Prague—Povstat. Meaning “to rise up.” A large growing faction fighting against both the fae and human leaders, declaring the need for real change.
“You are our trigger pin.” Mykel’s light brown eyes dug into me. My head jerked away from him, my chest squeezing with pain. He was so similar to my father: the way he spoke, his mannerisms, the same height, black hair and beard, similar soft brown eyes. My father, Benet, had been broader, probably from years of battle and training. He died in an uprising between fae and humans five years prior.
“The one who knows both enemies.”
“Wha-what?” My voice finally found its way up my throat, my defenses mounting. Being “used” by whatever group kidnapped me seemed to be a growing theme. And I had no idea who to trust, if anyone. “What are you talking about?”
Mykel smirked, his heavy-booted feet moving in a tight back-and-forth motion. “I’ve been watching you for a long time now.” He rubbed his beard. “Had eyes on you as much as I could. Even in Halálház.”
My gaze snapped to the blue-haired demon standing feet from me.
“You were watching me?” Betrayal burned up the back of my throat, but I kept my expression clear of emotion. “Of course.” I shook my head. No one did anything unless it somehow benefitted them. I thought for a moment her “friendship” had been honest, but it seemed no one in Halálház had befriended me out of kindness.
“When I learned you were there, I got word to Kek.” Mykel nodded to her. “I told her to watch you but not engage. To keep her distance.”
“I’m a naughty demon.” Kek grinned mischievously, her fingers tugging on the end of her braid.
Mykel’s lips pinched together, not responding.
“I don’t understand.” My head still pounded from the chloroform. I felt mentally and physically exhausted. “Why are you even with this group? You’re a demon.”
“You’re right.” She nodded, tapping her lip like she was just realizing this. “I am.”
“Then why?” My frustration and crankiness skimmed over my skin. “Why the fuck do you care about this fight?”
“Because I’m fae, I shouldn’t give a shit?” She lifted an eyebrow.
“Demons don’t give a shit,” I spat back.
Demons were at the top of the food chain here. Since the fall of the Otherworld wall, the Seelie, the light, and the Unseelie, the dark, ruled together in the West, forgoing the old fae ways and trying to make strides toward equality under their reign, including humans.
Many fae did not like the idea. Tired of hiding, they wanted to restore fae sovereignty above humans again, back to the time before they were forced into hiding. The East fertilized the battle between the species, like a powder keg.
Having a demon as the Unified Nations King turned the arrogance of demons throughout the world on high, thinking themselves above all. Unfortunately, they pretty much were. Only pure fairies could challenge their strength, which was why Killian was able to be lord and master of the fae in Budapest.
“We have a mix of human and fae in this cause.” Mykel held up his hand, stepping between us, motioning to the large group in the room. “Half-breed and pure.”
My attention darted around, taking in the different figures. All ages, colors, races, species, and sexes filled the huge windowless room. Dressed in various shades of gray and black, clean and dirty, tattered and newer, I could pick out the fae easily. Ethereal, beautiful, dynamic, and fit as hell, while the pure humans appeared a little more “worn” around the edges, with imperfections. Some were old enough to have gray hair and deep wrinkles. It was almost impossible to discern what the half-breeds really were.
Was that why they were hated the most? Jealousy on the humans’ side and distrust on the fae’s? With a half-breed, they couldn’t tell whose side they were on or what they really were.
The more I lived away from Léopold, the more I found all of it stupid and pointless. Didn’t we all want to be happy? Live peacefully?
My gaze landed on the blonde who put her boot on my throat and the guy next to her, his nose and one eye black and blue where I kicked him.
They scowled at me.
Maybe those two didn’t.
Mykel’s eyes darted to them and then back to me.
“I apologize for the way you were retrieved. I felt I had no other way to get you here.”
“Maybe ask nicely?” I folded my arms, trying to keep my body steady, the exhaustion making me dizzy.
Mykel laughed. “And if I did, would you have come?”
No, I wouldn’t have.
“Tracker and Lea said you are quite the fighter.” He gestured to the pair who had attacked me back in Budapest, their glares still digging into my skin. “I warned them you might be.”
“And just think.” I lifted my chin. “I was hurt, alone, and had chloroform pressed to my face.”
“Told you... the girl survived the Games.” Kek flipped back her braid, winking at me. “She wasn’t gonna go down so easy. I’ve seen her fight a legend.” Her brows wiggled. “I said you needed more than the five to capture you.”
My lids lowered on Kek. She was the reason he had a dozen people on me?
“With a normal person, five would have been enough.” Mykel’s head tilted in a way that reminded me of my father when he saw through my bullshit.
I glanced away, my feet shifting, my body swaying slightly.
“She’ll stand here fighting you until she actually falls over.” Kek waved down at me. “She’s that stubborn.”
“Just like her father.” Mykel shook his head, breaking the scrutinizing focus on me. “You must be hungry and tired.”
I was, but there was no way I could sleep right now.
Mykel must have seen it on my face because he responded. “At least come sit in my office. I think you and me, my dear niece, have a lot to catch up on.”
He took my non-response as agreement, his feet stepping back.
“Tracker, Ava, Blade, Sab.” He called out names, two women and two men, the ones I remembered the most from my kidnapping. “The prime minister and his consort have a meeting with some government officials in an hour. Go tail them.”
The four dipped their heads, immediately heading out.
“Ava couldn’t come up with a cool code name?” I watched the group leave.
“Ava is for Avalanche.” Mykel peered back at me, his eyebrow curving up. “When she fights, she crushes.”
“Really?” I snorted. “Didn’t feel all that crushing to me.”
“I told them to go easy. I didn’t want you hurt,” Mykel replied before he fully turned. “Follow me,” he ordered, striding out of the room.