Page 43 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

“We need to go, ladies,” Lucius called from the parlor.

Amolie strapped my dagger to the outside of my leg so its carved stallion hilt did not dig into my thigh. I slipped into the spiderweb gown, letting the mesh and velvet hide the scars on my back, then helped Amolie into hers.

“Beautiful and deadly,” Amolie said as she stepped back, allowing me to glimpse myself in the mirror. I did not recognize the woman who stared back at me. A queen of darkness replaced the mercenary.

The three men stared at us, mouths agape, as we descendedthe elegant marble stairs.Even Lucius looked taken aback by my appearance.

Caiden wore a dark blue velvet vest embroidered with lightning, Roderick wore traditional Court of Storms armor, and Lucius dressed in all black.

“You all look nice as well, except for Lucius. You look like you are attending a human funeral.”

The others laughed while Lucius pulled his hood over his head. His face disappeared into nothing.

Caiden extended a hand to me. “Shall we?”

“Let me cleanse us before you leave.” Amolie lit a bundle of dried sage. “To get rid of any negative energy on you.” She waved the smoldering herb over us, filling the room with the sweet, earthy aroma.

I hugged her tight before heading into the snowy night, where a black carriage waited outside to take us to the Court of Sorrows’ embassy.

Caiden kept a reassuring gloved hand on mine as we traveled through the white city. It scared me how easily I accepted his support. I should not become accustomed to something that would not last.

The black stone embassy of the Court of Storms stood out like a sore thumb among the white-marbled houses of the city. Two wraiths stood guard outside, holding obsidian spears. Their long black robes hovered above the ground. Hoods covered their gaunt, hollow faces.

Wraiths were shadows of men who had been cursed. Their bodies died long ago, but the essence of their spirits lived on. They served the owner of the curse until the owner’s death. Notoriously hard to kill, the wealthier of the Wild Courts collected them as a symbol of their strength. How Lucius came to be part wraith, I did not know, but I had my suspicions.

Caiden flashed an invitation embellished with the Court ofSorrows sigil of a spider battling a serpent. The wraith motioned for us to enter, waving their hands to open a giant stone door featuring the sigil.

A lump grew in my throat at the sight of the spider. Every strand of fur visible as though a live creature had been cast into the door.

“When the doors open, they won’t open to this house but to the Court of Sorrows,” Caiden said, reassuringly touching my small back. “It will be as though no time has passed, but we will have traveled hundreds of miles.”

The doors opened, and a damp fog crept from the mouth of a cave, covering our feet. Caiden grabbed my hand, escorting me into the darkness.Roderick and Amolie followed. The sound of his armor echoed through the empty cavern. I looked for Lucius but couldn’t find him.

I struggled to see in the pitch-black as we stood, unsure of our next move. The cave smelled of damp soil, and only the trickling of water could be heard.

A light flickered at the end of the tunnel, followed shortly by a sylph with pale white skin and hair as dark as ink. Vampires—a sylph who lived solely on blood. The pupils of his eyes turned red from a millennium of drinking the life force of others.

“Welcome, Lord of Lightning.” He bowed to Caiden then turned to escort us to the palace. “Please follow me.”

Damp air seeped into my bones. Shivering, I pulled my cloak tighter around me.

We reached a set of opulent stairs carved into the mountain. “My queen is waiting for you,” the vampire said, motioning for us to climb. Torches illuminated our way, making monsters out of our shadows as we ascended. Caiden did not let go of my hand.

Queen Nysemia waited with a myriad of other servants and courtiers at the top of the stairs in a rotunda of stone and stainedglass.The little light trickling through cast a rainbow of colors across their macabre faces.

“Welcome, guests,” she said in a voice as rich as dark chocolate.

Nysemia’s captivating beauty held me spellbound. Her skin was a deep purple, her hair the hue of fresh snow. Amber eyes entranced me, refusing to release their grip. A sheer dress adorned with diamonds gripped her curves, leaving little to the imagination. Around her neck coiled a golden snake, not a mere necklace but a living serpent, its tongue tasting the air. A crown of jagged bone rested on her pale hair.

“It has been too long since the Court of Storms visited us.” She flashed a smile. Her sylph fangs sparkled in the firelight. “I thought you didn’t like me.”

Caiden kneeled, kissing Nysemia’s outstretched hand. “It is time our courts reconciled.”

Nysemia smiled, running her jeweled hand down Caiden’s jaw. “Rise and join the festivities. We have much to catch up on.”

Nysemia clapped her hands. Two large doors heaved open, revealing an enormous ballroom filled with sylphs and faeries from across Moriana. In the center of the room, a chandelier filled with thousands of candles hung from thick chains. Fire sprites danced between them, ensuring their continuous burning.

The queen’s carved throne of adamant sat on a dais in the center of the room. Behind it, a wall of live insects hummed with life. The smell of incense and wine filled the air, and creatures danced lasciviously to the music of a string band. Two massive fireplaces heated the stone ballroom, bathing everything in a warm glow.

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