Page 1 of Shadows of Air and Earth
Prologue
Two Hundred Years Post Blood Wars
Ilicked my lipsnervously, my white hair catching on the damp moisture for the hundredth time while I waited. A nervous habit I could not stop, especially not tonight. This was the craziest shit we have ever decided to do and I fucking hated being out of my comfort zone.
Blowing the strands from my lips, I surveyed the parade from the marble statue garden, where I hid, cocooned in their stoney embrace. Calm, solid, the statues were the opposite of the spectacle I watched from within the shadows.
Faerie's capital gleamed with all its splendor in decorations of white and silver. A full blown revelry in honor of the winter solstice that did not hold back in its jollification of our sacred holiday. Elemental and water fae performed dazzling displays of power and showmanship, but it was all a ruse. Because what lurked beneath the carousing surface of this pristine city was something much darker. Traitors to the throne hung decaying upon the city’s gates, the neglected outside streets festered with greed and desperation, and deep within the courts, whispers stirred of a power that no fae had ever seen before.
It was goddess damn dangerous to be here even hidden within the stones that I found peace and solace in.
Tainted by fear and paranoia, the City of Light had been this way ever since the Blood Wars ended—ever since Deirdre Tatianna Maeve Seelie was crowned queen.
Ripped apart and full of distrust throughout her rule, the elemental and water fae courts bled in silence. Only the shifter and shadow fae courts seemed to come out unscathed. King Asher of The West Isles kept his people safe across the great seas where leagues of water and the illusive Shen’s wall divided our worlds. But even that would not stop the queen. It was only a matter of time. He would be a fool to think otherwise. Secret whisperings of the inner court told of future war, plans of expanding the rule of Deirdre's crown over The West Isles.
That wasn't the only stirrings heard. It was said that Eve, lady of the shadow fae court had been ignoring Deirdre's summons for years, refusing to tithe to the queen. As such, there was not a single shadow fae left in the City of Light.
Except for one…Remnant Ezra Solaire Dark.
The powerful general of the Faerie throne wielded shadows like the death god wielded the reaping. She was fearfully respected and respectfully feared by all. It was said the depths of her emerald green eyes could read one's innermost thoughts and see their true intentions like the shifter king of old, and if she deemed them unworthy…her shadows would make sure not even Sheol found their soul.
And for the love of the goddess, she was theexactreason why I was here and yet…she had not arrived.
Shifting nervously, I licked my lips again. She was supposed to be here, making sure her queen was protected on the day of the Winter Solstice. The queen held this event yearly and like the sharpness of a blade always tended to, so was her weapon of a general, like a decoration on her arm. I knew this for a solid fact since we had scouted out this despicable event for the past five fucking years.
Five years was nothing in the world of the fae but for our needs, it was a goddess damn lifetime. We could not mess thisup…it wasvitalwe did not mess this up or it would be our bodies swaying in the soft spiritual breeze of Faerie’s winter winds.
A roaring cheer tore up from the crowd and I searched frantically for the cause of the sound. Blowing out my hair softly, I uncovered my face from the shield the white tresses provided. I always hid half my face. I hated it when people fucking stared and unfortunately, my face drew way too much attention. I’d much rather be the rock hidden deep beneath the earth, where my power was grounded and safe. Steady and unwavering, the earth was always there, always true to what really mattered in this damaged world.
Seeing now with both my eyes, relief and trepidation coursed through my veins while I watched shadows roll in across the diamond carved platform where the Queen of Faerie stood. Remnant Dark had arrived and the fae rejoiced. Standing next to the queen, together they were pulled through the streets by a team of twenty silver prancing unicorns, their hooves clacking upon the stone and crushing the red strewn flower petals in their wake. Not to be outdone by land, an ostentatious display of pixies zipping through the air blasted brightly colored fireworks of dust, painting Faerie’s enchanting dark skies where the three moons glowed.
All this for the silver splendor of the Faerie Queen, a fae that was rotten on the inside despite her beauty.
I held back my gag at the way Deirdre stood waving, her aquamarine eyes shining with narcissistic enjoyment. To complete her look, a garish crown adorned her head in a filagree of silver and diamonds, the obnoxious display adding to her own conceited vanity.
But the fae were not watching her, despite her outdone splendor. No. All eyes were on the shadow fae standing just slightly at her back, toned tattooed arms tucked behind her, her black and blue hair unbound and flowing just like the darkshadows that billowed in waves beneath her feet. Dressed in black with only a chest plate of silver armor and a silver-plated sword sheathed at her side, she was beauty and power wrapped in a stunning package that the queen could never stand up to even if she wore all the jewels in the world.
My lips thinned. Not understanding why the general was so dotingly devoted to the disgusting fae beside her. It was a weakness we would be taking full advantage of tonight, especially since the shadow fae general was hypervigilant in her duty to protect her queen amongst the obnoxious mob. Emerald eyes focused on every single one of the adoring fans, scanning for threats while her features stayed smooth and calm, not giving even a fraction of a thought away. But I was no fool, I had seen her in action before and despite her relaxed stance, she was poised…ready.
But so were we.Five years ready.
"She’s here Ri," I whispered to the soft breeze blowing across my face. Riley's breeze. I would know his elemental air anywhere.
"I'm in," his voice whispered into my ear even though he was nowhere near close to me. I glanced up at the looming palace basking me in its dark shadows where he hid within. Wishing I could see him. But the only thing I saw was a lone snowy white owl hunting the palace’s dark corners for its next meal.
Pulling my gaze away and feeling acutely worried, I kept my eyes steady on the general, knowing she could disappear before a fae blinked and that—that would be their cold end. Faster than any shadow fae I had ever known, she used her darkness with clever deceptivity, sensing dangers and threats like a shifter hunted prey.
Over the past five years of our cautious studying, I've seen her do it dozens of times. The terrifying fact of it was, no one else ever did. Disappearing and reappearing in shadows, she took outfae that were a threat like plucking weeds from a garden. Quietly, unmercifully, without a moment's thought. There one second, gone the next, with one less fae celebrating within the city.
EverytimeI observed it, it sent a foreboding chill down my spine…just like it had the first time I had ever seen her power in action during the Night of the Wailing.
Yet, despite my fear…I admired her formidable strength and power. Perhaps in a different lifetime we could have been friends, but her alliance with the queen made that event impossible. Shamefully, she was the hand of the queen of Faerie and as long as that bitch sat on the throne, Remnant Dark would always be my enemy.
Sliding quietly along the marble path to follow the progress of the parade, my elemental power of earth masking any noise of footsteps, I sneaked between another grouping of statues. Like all the others watching, I was still just as entranced as I was aware of the deadly shadow fae general.
Come on Ri,I pleaded silently.
"Got it," whispered his suave tone, the air tickling the shell of my ear and I ignored the way my stomach flipped at the husky whisper. I needed to focus for goddess sakes.
