Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)(25)

He would learn what he needed to know and be the king his people needed him to be.

Ahead, Kassandra turned a corner, dressed in a long golden gown. “Son, you’ve already returned?”

“I’ll find you later.” Poppy bowed to Cade, then curtsied to Kassandra.

Cade followed his mother into the parlor.

She sat in her usual spot by the window. “How did it go?”

“Kaelem seemed open to keeping the peace between our courts.” Cade stood in front of Kassandra. He didn’t plan to stay long, not if he wanted to make it to the Winter Court soon. He hoped he’d be welcomed. He hadn’t received an invitation, which was unusual. “Have you heard anything about our invitation to the Winter Solstice?”

Kassandra peered out the window behind her. “Yes, we received it a few weeks ago.”

“I didn’t realize.”

“I’ve been communicating with Nevina,” Kassandra said. “She understood you might not make it this year as you’re attending to other royal duties.”

Cade should have at least been informed of the invitation. He hadn’t realized it was already time for the solstice until Kaelem mentioned it. “I’ve decided to attend.”

“You haven’t visited the Seelie Court yet.”

“It will be there after the solstice,” Cade snapped. “And you’re the one who claims I need to prepare for a war against Winter. I’d prefer to try and prevent it, if possible.”

Kassandra clenched her jaw. “Very well.”

“I will see you when I return.”

His mother didn’t ask any more questions. Cade left before she found some way to change his mind.

All the reasons Cade mentioned were true, but he knew part of it had to do with Scarlett. That was a tidbit he did not want Kassandra knowing.

After he had won the Battle of Heirs and told her he had killed Raith, she immediately asked about Scarlett. Cade would have thought defeating his brother was news enough, but even the memory of the glee in Kassandra’s eyes when he’d said Scarlett had died too sent a chill through him.

What would his mother do if she knew Scarlett still lived or, worse, that she was somehow now fae?



Scarlett and Kaelem stood outside a wrought-iron door that sat in the middle of the Unseelie Palace entryway. Like Deja vu, she was about to disappear into the Faerie realm, but unlike the last time, she was not happy about it.

“Cheer up, darling. I promise we can cuddle at night to keep you warm,” Kaelem purred beside her.

“That’s the last thing I want.”

“Somehow, I doubt that,” he said.

Scarlett wore a long dress with a slip that covered her body and fell to the ground beneath a layer of lace. The rounded neckline and arms were made only of lace, her bare skin peeking through. Kaelem had told Scarlett the Winter Court was as formal as the Summer Court, and that etiquette was of the utmost importance.

The door opened in front of them. Kaelem gestured ahead. “Shall we?”

Scarlett didn’t answer. She stepped through the doorway, and as she crossed the threshold, a shiver ran through her.

Kaelem followed behind her.

When they both had crossed the barrier, the door shut and disappeared. Panic tightened in Scarlett’s chest. She’d made a vow to herself to never come back to Faerie, but she’d rather break a promise to herself than lose her sister.

They stood in the middle of the snow-covered forest. When Scarlett had entered with Cade, they’d been inside a castle. She wondered how the doors knew where to take them, but asking Kaelem would require talking to him, which she wasn’t in the mood to do.

Instead of keeping her warm, the lace sleeves of her dress actually made the cool temperature around her seem worse. The sooner they got to the Winter Castle, the better.

“Now where?” Scarlett snapped.

Kaelem grabbed both of her wrists and pulled her in front of him. His breath was warm in her face. “I’m sorry this isn’t where you want to be, but if you want me to release your sister, you’re going to need to be a better date.”

Scarlett’s jaw tightened. “I thought I had to help you get whatever it is that’s so important you’ve resorted to blackmail. There was no mention of being amiable.”

“You best keep our plan to yourself, or we’ll fail and your sister will spend the rest of her mortal life trapped.”

Scarlett glared.

Kaelem sighed. “If no one believes you are here because you want to be, it will raise suspicion. The more convincing we are as a couple, the better our chance at getting what I need.”

“Fine.”

Kaelem rested his hand on Scarlett’s back. His touch sent heat through her. She wanted to jerk away, but resisted. They’d made a bargain. If Scarlett helped him, she’d get her sister back. They could go into hiding and move far away—anything to get her away from the fae world.

Ashleigh wouldn’t be happy, but Scarlett would make her understand. They were sisters, after all. They belonged together. She’d worry about the details after her sister was free.

Kaelem guided Scarlett through the trees. Snow coated the bare branches and trunks like powdered sugar. It also covered the ground, seeping into Scarlett’s shoes and causing her feet to grow numb from the chill. Thankfully, they didn’t go far before an opening appeared. Ahead, an enormous castle made entirely of ice stood. So much for it warming her up.