Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)(22)

Shock poured from Cade when he saw Scarlett sitting there, an arm’s reach away from the Unseelie King.

She hadn’t died. She’d survived. Why was she there, with Kaelem of all people?

From behind him, Cade felt Poppy’s confusion through the bond. She was there as his guard, just as she had requested. He’d asked her to choose someone else to join them, and she’d picked Jaser. Cade hadn’t understood why, but Poppy assured him Jaser was a top-notch soldier and was the best for the job.

Jaser kept his emotion held tight. Cade couldn’t sense if he was surprised at the sight, or if he’d known Scarlett had made it out of the battle alive.

Cade regrouped his emotion. He was there on business, and he was a king now. He needed to be composed.

“The new Summer King and his posse,” Kaelem said and he sat in the chair at the head of the table.

Scarlett’s face was a mask of indifference as she sat in the chair closest to Kaelem. Her dark hair was pulled into a bun high on her head.

Kaelem gestured to the other side of the table. “Please, sit.”

Cade obliged, Poppy and Jaser each sitting to one of his sides.

This was where the king of the Unseelie Court lived? How awful. It was far too much like the mortal world for Cade’s liking, but what did he expect from the Unseelie? The Court of Darkness, it was called. Who would want to remain in a world of night?

Cade enjoyed feeding on human emotion, but he’d never want to live among them. Though the Unseelie Court was magically secluded from wandering humans, its presence in the mortal world was undeniable.

“Welcome to the Unseelie Court,” Kaelem said.

“I’m here to discuss relations between our courts.” Cade straightened his spine. The sooner the meeting finished, the better. He fought the urge to stare at Scarlett, still bewildered by her presence.

“I just don’t think of you that way,” Kaelem said. “Other options strike my fancy.” He winked at Scarlett, whose cheeks reddened.

Cade clenched his teeth. Had Scarlett moved on to the Unseelie King now?

“Kaelem only wishes,” Scarlett chimed.

Cade’s mouth relaxed. “We’ve had a long period of peace between all the fae courts. I’d like it to stay that way.”

Kaelem rested his elbows on table. “I see no reason the Unseelie Court would want anything different at this time.”

Scarlett folder her hands in her lap, her stare burning into Cade. She was alive. He couldn’t deny the relief he felt. She must have known where Raith was. If Cade still felt the bond with Poppy, Scarlett would still be connected to Raith.

Cade felt for her aura. The scent of mortal no longer drifted from her. No, somehow, she’d become fae. Had Kaelem rescued her? That would violate the agreement between courts. He wasn’t to enter the battlefield during the Battle of Heirs. No, Cade had seen Kaelem with the other spectators. Even an Unseelie King couldn’t be two places at once.

Scarlett had always been beautiful, but as a fae, she was stunning. Her porcelain, peach skin was as smooth as glass with not a single blemish, and her bright blue eyes illuminated her now fae beauty.

“She is quite lovely,” Kaelem purred.

Shit. Cade yanked up his mental shields. He’d been careless and dropped them. As king, he couldn’t afford such sloppy mistakes.

“Thank you for your time.” Cade stood. He should get out of there before he did anything else wrong. So much for looking strong in front of the Unseelie King. Better to mess up here than at the Seelie Court, though.

“Will we be seeing you at the Winter Solstice?”

“We?” Cade glanced at Scarlett again. Annoyance emanated from her.

“Yes, Scarlett has agreed to be my date.” Kaelem smirked.

“Then I suppose we’ll see you both soon.”

Without another word, Cade left the room, Poppy and Jaser right behind.

His trip to the Seelie Court would have to wait.





Chapter Nine





Every muscle in Raith’s body burned, an inextinguishable fire of pain. Heaviness weighed on his eyes.

Surely, he was in hell. He’d never given death much thought, but he could think of nothing other than the flames torching his nerves.

“Shhh,” a voice said, soft and warm, female but unfamiliar.

It would be fitting if his devil were a woman. Raith chuckled, sending a ricochet of agony through him.

Raith dozed in and out of consciousness, always too tired to open his eyes. The burning continued, slowly dulling.

Coldness pressed onto his forehead. The female voice from earlier said, “Your fever is breaking. You’ll feel better soon.”

Raith searched his memory. How’d he get here? He’d been in the forest, searching for the Autumn Court. An image of a silver wolf flashed in his mind. Its pack had attacked him.

He reached to his side. A hand grabbed his and squeezed, gently placing his arm on his stomach.

“Careful, the wound is still healing,” the woman said.

Who was she?

Raith’s eyes flickered.

A young woman leaned over him. Firelight brightened one side of her face. Her copper hair hung down past her chest as her light green eyes widened. She wiped his face with the cool cloth in her hand.

Raith tried to push himself up, but his body was too heavy.