Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)(15)

“How do I keep myself from using my own anger?” Her rage mixed with fear, causing her fingers to shake. She didn’t want this. The power inside her pulsed. Why couldn’t she give it back and be human again?

Scarlett didn’t want to be fae.

“You need to master refueling yourself with other means, like the emotion of others. Like a starving animal, you’re most dangerous when you’re hungry,” Kaelem said. “Only instead of raw meat, you crave other things.”

“Like emotion.”

Kaelem nodded. “Reach out and feel for my emotional aura.”

She’d felt the emotions of others when she was in Faerie and last night at the party, but they hadn’t been on purpose, except just that once with Teddy.

She could do this.

Scarlett breathed in and mentally reached around her. A line drifted from Kaelem, red in aura. Scarlett breathed it in: lust. It hit her strong, sending a shiver down her back.

The magic in her salivated as she greedily absorbed it. More and more, the red power filled her.

Something else filled her, too: desire. Every inch of her body longed to be touched, to feel the sensation of skin on skin.

Scarlett’s gaze found Kaelem. With slightly squinted eyes and a raised chin, he watched her. She might not be able to read his mind, but his hunger for her was obvious. She felt for the shield that blocked his ganacanagh gift. Still up. But desire coursed through her.

Kaelem exhaled. “Now, bring me one of the books on the bookshelf.” He gestured across the room to a glossy white bookshelf built into the wall.

Scarlett rolled her eyes at the mundane order, but moved to rise anyway.

“No,” he said. “Use your magic.”

Oh, right. Scarlett chose a book with a lavender spine. She pictured it lifting. It did. She guided the book through the air, right into Kaelem’s lap.

He grinned. “Very good.”

Power coursed through Scarlett, from her toes to her fingers and everywhere in between. It felt marvelous—a high like none she’d ever felt. Giddiness tickled her. She noticed the fireplace next to the bookshelf. Heat rose inside her. The fireplace lit.

Her eyes widened. “Was that me?”

“Sure was, darling.”

Back home, she’d tried with all her might to move the pen and it wouldn’t budge until she’d gotten frustrated. Now she felt like she could move an entire house if she tried. What had changed?

“You fed from me,” Kaelem said, reading her thoughts. “As King of the Unseelie Court, my emotion is potent, the finest of wines.”

Scarlett remembered the power she’d felt when she’d choked Hair Gel at the party. Sure, she’d felt strong. But this was something else.

“Consider it a privilege,” he added. “I’ve let very few souls absorb my power.”

Thank you.

“I can think of a few ways you can repay me.” Kaelem moved the book and glanced at his lap.

No way.

Kaelem chuckled. “Someday, darling.”



Scarlett’s training session was a surprise, even to Kaelem. As king, he’d seen so many unexpected things; he didn’t know he could still be amazed. But Scarlett’s raw power and ability to control her magic so quickly awed him.

After she’d worked on controlling her magic for another hour, Kaelem excused her and relieved some of the tension he’d built up as she’d fed from his lust.

As he left the room, Lola found him.

“You have a visitor,” she said. He listened to her thoughts. The Winter Queen. In the entryway. Looking bitchy as ever.

Kaelem grunted. Why was she there? “Thank you. I’ll see her in my throne room.”

Lola gave a small nod and turned away.

Unexpected royal visitors to another court were rare and considered rude. Leave it to the Winter Queen to break fae code. Doing so allowed Kaelem the right to retaliate as he saw fit without abiding by the court treaties. But she knew he wouldn’t harm her, not with the advantage over him she possessed. Kaelem may be more powerful but hurting her, justified or not, would only end in his own loss.

Kaelem evanesced to a large room with two wrought-iron thrones at the end. He sat in one. Every court had its own throne room, some rulers spending more time there than others. Kaelem hated sitting where his father had spent so much of his life. A life so still and boring was a life wasted in Kaelem’s mind. But sitting in a throne was an ego boost that so many of the rulers took satisfaction in.

As the door swung open, The Winter Queen waltzed in.

“Kaelem, dear.” Her long, white dress trailed behind her. Its lace sleeves elongated arms that ended in thin fingers. Three male fae followed behind her.

“Nevina, to what do I owe this pleasure?” His tone was cold as ice, fitting for his Winter guest.

“Can’t a queen have a friendly visit with a king?” Her platinum blonde hair was pulled from her face into a tight bun that accentuated her dark brown eyes.

“I didn’t know you were capable of friendship.”

Nevina held up a hand and her minions all stopped. She continued until she was a few feet from Kaelem’s throne. “Ruling can be so lonely.” She glanced at the empty throne next to him.

“I prefer to rule alone.” He leaned back, wearing a mask of nonchalance. Kaelem didn’t like Nevina, and he didn’t want to give her any other impression.