Page 121 of Wrath of the Fae Queen
The sun sits huge and heavy over the horizon as we glide back toward the City of Vertical Gardens, still two hours until it sets. Ezekiel circles around the outskirts of the city, slowly winding his way in as we compel the people below to vote. Aldrin’s huge body wrapped around mine becomes stiffer by the moment in anticipation.
Titania must know.
Her retribution must be in action right now.
We cannot feel a hint of it. My heart aches at the thought of what she must be doing to Sasha in my place, and I onlyhope that we can seize power in time to rescue her before any permanent damage is done.
We spiral closer and closer to the palace, both trembling with fatigue and the drain on our magic. The pull is so much greater here, with so many fae in one place. Ezekiel flies us right over the wealthy districts hugging the core of the city, then up the spires and peaks of the palace itself. Relief floods me the moment he pulls away. The entirety of the Spring Court has been summoned to vote, with the sun only an hour away from setting.
Our destiny is in fate’s hands now.
I glance over my shoulder, taking in Aldrin’s wild eyes. “We did it! We actually called the vote in a single day.” I laugh out loud. Triumph makes my heart light.
“Yes, we did,” he says softly. “Whatever else happens, we have that.”
I feel untouchable as we fly though the city and back to our headquarters. We will band with others to replenish our magic, then we will pick up our weapons and storm the palace.
I won’t even consider the possibility of losing the election. Of how we would have no moves left and I would be stuck as a prisoner to that woman.
Ezekiel lands roughly on the rooftop balcony, jarring my bones. His exhaustion is clear in the way his wings hang low and he huffs steam without making a single snarky retort.
“Thank you, my friend.” Aldrin reaches around me to touch the dragon king’s shoulder, still keeping his other arm around my waist. “We couldn’t have done this without you. The next time your kingdom is under attack by a rival king, you will have my army at your back.”
I have traveled to another realm for you, Aldrin, King of the Spring Fae. I expect your gold at my disposal as well.Ezekiel lets out a tired wheeze.Now get off me so I can devour a few of your enemies, then sleep.
Aldrin laughs and says something cheerful, but I can hardly hear his voice over the ringing in my head. The entire world spins and dips around me, a numbness radiating from my chest.
I blink multiple times, then shake my head to dispel the sensation.
It only worsens.
It must be the sheer fatigue of the day getting the best of me. Or magic depletion.
Then I raise my hand before my eyes and gape at it in horror.
Ash rises up from it.
Thin tendrils curl away from my fingertips, and deep glowing cracks form across my hands. They travel slowly down my wrists, over my body, creeping up my face, stinging like cold seeping into the flesh.
“Aldrin!” I cry out, but even my own voice sounds distant.
Devastation blooms across his face. “No! No, Keira! Don’t go. Don’t leave me. You have to fight it. I can’t do this without you.” Aldrin lifts me in my seat, rotating me so I face him, then crushes me to his chest. His hands are in my hair, his lips on my rapidly deteriorating face, but I can’t speak anymore. Too much of my body has turned to those channels of ash and I am only half here.
“No,” Aldrin continues to whisper while his tears fall upon me. “No. Nooo?—”
This slow rip and pull away from my current location is painful, as I fragment and exist in two places at once. I try to fight it with everything I have, to stay with Aldrin, but the power of the bargain was bestowed upon the fae by the gods, and it is not a thing a mere mortal can resist.
Its power is weakened, as though it does not know whether it is still in place with the election in motion. Perhaps we are winning. Perhaps it all rests on the tip of a knife’s blade and could go either way. The fact remains that the sun has not yet set and I am still athermercy.
I slip out of Aldrin’s grasp and his animalistic cry is of pure heartbreak. It cuts off abruptly as I am suddenly somewhere else completely.
I open my eyes, hunched over and dragging in a ragged breath like my head has been held underwater for too long. Fiery swirling eyes are right before my face. Lips tattooed black and curled in a cruel smile. Golden runes etched into pale skin, framed by black hair and a crown that doesn’t belong on her head.
Titania inspects me.
I try to bring up my fist, to plant it directly in her sneer and bloody up her teeth with as much force as I can manage, but my first instinct is a mistake. The glow of the bargain ties my arms tightly to my sides in magical restraints.
“Welcome back, little mouse.” She grabs my chin and slices her nails through my cheeks. “I have fun games planned for us.”
