Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)(20)

She wanted to stay and to dance, but a new desire had taken hold, and she didn’t know if she should embrace it or run as fast as she could. The Twisted Pixie had slowly left her system, but a new buzz replaced the one the alcohol had left behind.

“Very well.” Kaelem’s aura burned as red as a garnet.

Neither spoke as they left the club. As they walked side by side, a shriek echoed through the street.

Kaelem stepped in front of Scarlett. A fae with a purple mohawk and no shirt stepped from the shadows, hand clenching his stomach as blood oozed from him. Kaelem evanesced himself and Scarlett closer to the man.

“What happened?” Kaelem demanded.

“Someone followed me,” he mumbled, face filled with pain. “I turned to confront him, and he stabbed me.” He coughed up blood, but instead of red, it was black.

Was that normal?

A crowd surrounded them, their confusion attacking Scarlett. Kaelem spoke calmly. “Scatter.”

He didn’t have to ask twice; everyone fled.

“He’s been poisoned,” Kaelem whispered to Scarlett.

The man’s eyes widened in fear. “I’m going to die.”

For a brief moment, Scarlett felt sadness. Not the man’s, but Kaelem’s. As quickly as she felt it, it disappeared.

“Maybe I can help.” Scarlett’s power was overflowing. She’d saved Raith. She had to at least try to save this man.

Kaelem raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t stop her when she lifted her hands over the wound, now leaking thick, black liquid.

Using the energy inside her, she closed her eyes and mentally reached into the wound. As more tar-like liquid gushed out, color returned to the man’s face. When Scarlett couldn’t sense any more poison, she imagined the wound sealing itself. It did.

Kaelem watched her. Then he took the fae’s face between his hands. The fae’s pupils doubled in size as Kaelem said, “You got in a fight in the alley. Someone cut you, but you’ll be all right.”

When Kaelem let go, the man blinked and reached to the wound. “The asshole almost got me good.”

Kaelem nodded. “Close call.”

Then he took Scarlett’s hand and they were flying through the air once again.



Kaelem still held Scarlett’s hand when they appeared in front of the Unseelie Palace. He followed her as she walked inside, watching her hips move with each step. He wondered what might have happened if they’d returned to the palace uninterrupted, but the lust he’d felt in the club had diminished. Nothing like seeing one of his people almost bleed to death of a poisonous stab wound to sober him up.

His court was known for its violence. With high and low fae mixed together combined with drugs, alcohol, and lust, it was expected. But this was something else. When emotions ran high, fighting was bound to happen. But poison? That had to be a personal attack.

Not only had the man been poisoned, but whatever had been used was strong. With the fae being so durable, something lethal enough to kill was rare, and Kaelem was certain if Scarlett hadn’t intervened, the man would have died.

When they waited for the elevator, Scarlett said. “You changed his memory.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Yes,” Kaelem said. “It’s best no one find out about your healing gift.”

“Why?”

“It’s a Seelie power, and you’d best keep that part of your heritage to yourself.”

Scarlett didn’t respond to his advice, and Kaelem didn’t dig into her thoughts to see how she took it.

He’d tasted her Unseelie power the first time he’d drank her emotion. He hadn’t even considered it might only be a part of her fae nature. She was a mix of lifelong fae enemies.

Which made her more powerful than Kaelem had ever imagined.



Kaelem had begun calculating a plan when he’d learned of the power Scarlett possessed, and he now found himself standing outside Scarlett’s mortal home, holding a bronze mirror in his hand.

She was back at the Unseelie Palace, unaware of Kaelem’s location. She’d find out soon enough.

He’d brought Scarlett to his court to earn her trust. If she was crucial to saving his kingdom, he wanted her on his side. Teaching her to control her power and showing her the benefits of the Unseelie Court seemed the best method. But when the Winter Queen showed up, his priorities had changed. Nevina had something of his, and he was determined to get it back, once and for all. He’d tried before, but the situation was delicate. One more wrong move and he could permanently lose what was so precious to him.

Kaelem needed Scarlett. She had no allegiance to any court, and no one, except perhaps Raith, had an idea of the power she possessed. If Kaelem brought his strongest guards with him, Nevina would be suspicious. No, that wouldn’t work. But if he brought Scarlett under the guise of a date, no one would suspect a thing.

He wanted to believe Scarlett would help him out of the kindness of her heart, but one moment of indecision could ruin it all. No, he couldn’t have that. She needed motivation.

He released the invisible glamour he wore and knocked on the door.

A young blonde woman appeared. She looked much like the mortal-Scarlett Kaelem had met at the Summer Court. Confusion covered her face.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Yes,” Kaelem said. “Yes, you can.”