Page 7 of A Blaze of Fire
We wokeat the crack of dawn. Violet shuffled out of her room bleary eyed, groaning that it was much too early to be up, even though I’d barely slept a wink all night. I waited by the door for Kazimir to arrive so we could open a portal to the Unseelie Court within the Fae realm. I was itching to get out of the human realm. It didn’t suit me.
“If they kill me as soon as I step foot in your court, I swear I’ll haunt you from the afterlife,” Violet grumbled. “And I’ll have all eternity to do it.”
I rolled my eyes. “Sure. You do that.”
“Think I won’t? Just watch me.” She side-eyed me and glanced down at her feet, shuffling them. “Are you going to tell the sperm donor about me?”
I furrowed my brows. “You mean am I going to tell Kazimir that you’re his daughter?” She peered up at me and nodded, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. “Yes, Violet, I want to sign your death warrant,” I deadpanned.
She exhaled dramatically. “Okay,fine. You could have just said no.”
“Isn’t it obvious?” I raised a brow. “Kazimir kills without a second thought. Our goal is to keep you alive by making you indispensable to the King.”
She walked toward me and stopped two feet away. “Why? Why are you doing this? What’s in it for you?”
I grinned. Violet wasn’t stupid. She was skeptical, and in this world – my world – it was a good quality to have if she wanted to survive. And she needed to survive. The Unseelie Court wouldn’t be kind to her. She needed tough skin and quick.
“Well, aren’t you a curious cat?” I pushed off the wall and prowled toward her, invading her space. I knew she didn’t like it. I didn’t like it, either.
She swallowed deeply. “If it’s about me, I’m entitled to know.”
I smirked at her flimsy act of bravado. “Is that so?” I raised a condescending brow.
She scoffed and looked away. “You’re such an asshole.”
I chuckled and backed away, relinquishing her space. “I’ve been called worse.”
A sharp knock came at the door and we both looked at it at the same time, knowing exactly who it was. I motioned for her to get behind me and went to open the door, allowing Kazimir inside.
The Unseelie Court’s enforcer was dressed in typical Unseelie fashion with charcoal slacks and a dark olive tunic with gold embroidery around the edges. His shoulder-length black hair was pulled back in a severe ponytail at the nape of his neck, exposing his pointed ears. He looked regal and cold, every bit the General of the Unseelie King.
He surveyed us unflinchingly. “Are you ready?”
I glanced back at Violet and noticed her eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets. I nudged her and she quickly blinked and snapped out of her daze.
“Yes, we’re ready,” I answered confidently.
Kazimir glanced to the floor, then traveled up to meet Violet’s eyes. “Will she not be bringing anything with her?”
I shook my head. “Once we arrive at the Unseelie Court, I’ll arrange for a tailor to craft her attire. She doesn’t need anything else.”
Violet leaned against my back and murmured, “What about a cell phone?”
I glared at her and muttered between clenched teeth, “They’re useless in the Fae realm.” I turned my attention back to Kazimir and smiled as if nothing had happened. “Ready when you are.”
Without a second glance, Kazimir held out his hand and opened a portal. Whereas typical portals were mesmerizing swirls of auburn and gold, the portal to the Fae realm appeared as churning eddies of sparkling sapphire, blindingly brilliant.
“After you.” Kazimir motioned for us to enter the vortex and I grabbed Violet’s hand.
“Hold on a second!” She tried to pull away. “I don’t know if this is such a great idea. Maybe we should—”
I growled; my patience had long since left. Kazimir would kill us without blinking if we wasted his time. In one smooth motion, I grabbed Violet and flung her over my shoulder, making her yelp.
“Alec! Put me down, you animal!” she yelled as she slapped my back, incensed.
I gave a small wave to Kazimir before stepping into the portal and letting it swallow us whole.
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