Page 47 of Beneath the Flames
Ripping.
Agony—
I shot up in bed, finally breaking free from the chains of the nightmare.
Sweat drenched my clothes, chest heaving as I stared into the darkness of my room.There was barely a moment to take much needed air into my lungs before a familiar bitterly cold fury filled my mind.
Someone was in my chambers.My entire body tensed, bracing itself for battle.
Clearly my wards around the castle are failing ifall these Fae can easily Flash inside.
I refused to think about what that meant for my magic, and how much time I had remaining.After so many years of it being only Nico and me, it suddenly felt a little too crowded in the castle, both with Maren and these uninvited guests.
I gave myself five seconds before throwing myself from the bed, wielding a pathetic amount of golden magic in my palms.
At first, nothing moved in the darkness, but then the candles along the mantle flickered, the fireplace itself roaring to life.I allowed myself a single blink to adjust, to take everything in.
Two females stood on the other side of the room, looking up at the moons through the window.They didn’t bother to face me.
At least I knew my magic wasn’t completely gone if I was able to tell exactly who the intruders were by the feeling of their thoughts.Positive side, I supposed.
“Shadow Ire isn’t looking very well these days, PrinceRhydian,” one of them said, still keeping her back to me.
The other woman glanced at me over her shoulder, her blue eyes flashing as she gave me a quick once-over.“Then again, neither are you.”
I swallowed down the fury rising in my throat, my stomach twisted into knots.They were trying to goad me, and I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of falling for it.“How did you get in here?”
The woman who had spoken first finally turned to face me, the white rings around her blue eyes flaring.Her short silver hair was cut in a severe bob, her lips red as the lava surrounding my land, the sky-blue dress adorning her short frame seeming to engulf her.She had always been my least favorite of the two.Elonara.
“It seems your magic has weakened to the point of letting us easily through your wards.It was all too simple to break them and enter the castle.”
My suspicions were correct then.
The other woman turned then too, the blue rings around her silver eyes flashing.Her long black hair was ramrod straight, floating to the base of her back.She wore an emerald dress much better suited for her tall frame.Unlike the other, she wore no color on her lips or face.She, unfortunately, didn’t need it.She was considered one of the most beautiful female Fae in all of Avalea.Valianna.
Too bad her heart didn’t match.
I hated these Fae.
They were cruel and twisted, ironic since they were not of the Dark Fae kingdoms.
It was them I had to thank for this curse.
It was them that Carrow had gone to all those centuries ago.
“What do you want?”I demanded, bracing myself forwhatever this visit was going to cost me.
The queens of the Pure Fae always cost mesomething.
As if they were each a puppet on a string, they moved in tandem, each clasping their own hands and laying them in front of them.Their golden amulets shone in the light from the fire illuminating the room.
“Prince Carrow tells us you’ve had a resurgence in attempting to break the curse,” Elonara said.“Whyever would you do that?”To anyone else, the sneer on her face would have been terrifying.“Your time is almost up.”
I gave a careless shrug, not letting them see the inner turmoil I was truly feeling.“How else am I supposed to pass these last days?”
“You realize that freeing yourself is impossible, yes?”Valianna asked, her lovely brows twisting in confusion.
“Yes,” I said, jaw clenched.“I realize that.”
