Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)(29)

Chapter Thirteen





Raith felt the strength of the bond weaken as Scarlett walked away. She’d been lying when she said she’d agreed to come here. Something else had her here at the Winter Court.

Raith wouldn’t kid himself into thinking he’d be much help. He hadn’t been thinking when he’d come with an injury and nearly no magic. But he now knew Scarlett was at least under the protection of the Unseelie King. No one would be stupid enough to mess with her if she’d arrived as Kaelem’s guest.

The Winter Solstice celebration would last three days. Raith could find Scarlett after. For now, he needed to get out of the castle grounds without being discovered.

He used a small amount of magic to glamour on a shirt, leaving the rest of himself in his natural form. The less attention he drew to himself, the better. He passed servers heading into the dining hall as he went straight for the front door.

Raith didn’t have the strength to jump the fence surrounding the castle grounds. He’d have to go out the way he came in. He picked up his speed. As he neared the castle gate, his heart raced. Raith wasn’t sure what he’d do once he made it to the forest. Last time he’d wandered there, he’d been bitten. If he could make it to his tree in the Summer Court, he could take a door back to the mortal realm. It was the best plan he had. Even though he wanted to continue his search for answers right then, his body needed time to heal.

He approached the gate. He’d worn a glamour when he entered and prayed the guards wouldn’t notice his changed appearance.

The guards remained silent, but the gate swung open.

Raith relaxed. But his relief was short lived. Someone yelled his name.

He should have kept going. Ignored it. Pretended he wasn’t Raith.

But no, he made a mistake and turned to see Poppy running toward him.

Fuck.

Raith sprinted out through the gates before the guards could close him in. He made it out, but Poppy was gaining. He ran into the woods, hoping the trees would hide him. The crunch of footsteps approached.

“You are a brave soul, showing your face in Faerie again,” Poppy said.

Raith hid behind a tree. He didn’t know where to go. If he moved, she’d sense him. Poppy was a skilled fighter and tracker. She’d find him eventually even if he didn’t move. He wouldn’t go down as a coward.

He stepped out. “Hello, gorgeous.”

Poppy turned, daggers held in front of her. “Flattery will get you nowhere with me. You should know that.”

“Can’t a guy say something nice without expecting anything in return?”

Poppy carefully stalked toward him—she didn’t know how low his magic ran.

Raith inhaled the nature around him, giving him enough strength to keep his glamoured shirt up. He didn’t need Poppy knowing about his injury.

“You forget how long I’ve known you.” She kept her daggers raised.

“I’m not here for trouble. Just let me go and I’ll be out of your hair in a snap.”

Confusion crossed Poppy’s face. “You were here for the mortal.”

“Just saying hi to an old friend.”

“The bond remains between you two.”

Raith stepped back slowly. “Ahh, yes. Like it does between you and my brother, I’m assuming.”

“The battle is over. It should be gone.”

Raith searched for some advantage he could use. He noticed a tree root poking through the ground by Poppy’s feet. Raith pulled the lust he’d saved from his visit with Scarlett.

The root twisted up and latched around Poppy’s ankle. She cursed and chucked a dagger at him.

Raith ducked.

She tried again, this time sticking him in the arm.

He yanked the dagger out. Blood seeped from the wound.

“You aren’t healing,” she said.

Raith had used all his magic to trap her. He had nothing left to heal himself.

“Until we meet again.” Raith jogged away.

He glanced back to make sure she hadn’t followed him.

Someone jumped out from behind a tree and tripped Raith with a staff.

Raith rolled around, crossing his arms in front of him to protect his face.

Jaser stood above him, staff pointed at Raith’ skull. “Raith?” He kept his staff still. “You’re supposed to be dead.”

So Cade or Poppy hadn’t shared what they must have known when their bond didn’t break.

The whole Summer Court must think Raith was dead.

“Hey there,” Raith said. “Surprise.”

Jaser pulled back the staff, but kept it ready to strike.

“How are you here? Why are you here?”

Raith slowly sat up, careful not to move too quickly and scare Jaser. When Jaser didn’t try anything, Raith stood. Wet snow dripped from the sky like tears.

“I’m not sure why my brother didn’t kill me, but he didn’t. Somehow, we made it out.”

“You and Scarlett.” Jaser dropped the staff to his side. “I saw her with the Unseelie King.”

The tree root wouldn’t hold Poppy long. She’d thrown her daggers at Raith, thankfully, but she could wiggle out of it eventually. Raith needed to leave.

“I just needed to make sure she was okay,” Raith said.