Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)(32)

Aria, on the other hand, genuinely cared for the people. All the people. He’d seen her laughing with goblins and giving gifts to brownies.

“You’d be the best ruler of us all,” Kaelem said.

None if it mattered, then. As long as their dad lived, he would rule the Unseelie Court.

Someday, though, unless his younger brother beat him in battle, Kaelem would become king and, with his sister to help him, maybe he’d be a good ruler for the people.



Cade watched Scarlett linger outside the door to the Winter Queen’s throne room. He should continue to his room, but he didn’t. He wanted to speak with the queen privately once the Unseelie King left.

Since Cade had to wait anyway, he approached Scarlett.

“Hello,” he said. He should have come up with something better to start the conversation, but he wasn’t sure what else to say. He’d wanted to talk to her at dinner, but every time he tried to speak, his tongue grew heavy.

“Hi.” Scarlett avoided his gaze.

“I’m sorry…for nearly killing you. I thought I had.” Shame spread through Cade. He hadn’t come to apologize, but he couldn’t hold the words in.

“I survived.” Scarlet crossed her arms in front of her chest as she stared at the closed throne room door.

“And my brother?”

She snapped her gaze to him. Anger emanated from her. “Are you sorry you killed him?”

Her words seemed genuine. Had Raith died in the forest? Cade hadn’t been the one to kill him, but maybe a creature got to Raith and finished the job, and the bond between Cade and Poppy had another cause. “He…died?”

“You killed him, didn’t you? To become king?”

“I…” He wasn’t sure what to say. He’d told everyone he’d killed his brother. If he told Scarlett the truth, she could use it against him. But he wanted her to know he’d listened to her words in the battle and after the remorse of having thought he killed her had hit him, he spared his brother. Sort of, at least.

But had he really? He’d left Raith there to be eaten by a forest beast. Would it have been more merciful to finish the job himself? Or if Cade had just helped Raith, maybe he would have surrendered. The castle was a lonely place, and Cade could use an advisor. There was no denying their brotherly relationship had its issues, but they’d been close once and Cade missed having Raith in his life.

“You what?” Scarlett snapped. “You got your precious Summer Court crown for your dear mother. Don’t act like you’re sorry.”

She was right. He couldn’t play the victim. And, even if Raith lived, any chance of having him in his life vanished the moment Cade left him in the forest to die. He couldn’t undo the things he’d done.

“What do you want from me?” Scarlett asked. “I’m no longer a helpless mortal desperate for you to feed from my pain.”

“I just wanted to apologize.”

“And you have, so we’re done here.” Scarlett stomped away before Cade could think of a meaningful response.

A few moments later, Kaelem exited the throne room. He said to Cade, “All yours.”

The Winter Queen sat on her throne, eyes on Cade as he entered. The door swung shut behind him.

“Hello, new Summer King. I didn’t think you’d be joining us this year.”

The throne room was long and narrow, with a rounded ceiling made of ice at least thirty feet above. A silver rug led the way to the queen. Marble columns lined the room, connected by arches that matched the shapes of the windows. Crystal chandeliers hung down, reflecting the light shining into the room.

When Cade reached the throne, he bowed. He wasn’t sure exactly what he was supposed to do. They were equals in Faerie: both rulers of their courts, but he was there as a guest so he would show respect whether it was custom or not.

Nevina tipped her chin.

“I’ve come to discuss relations between our courts,” Cade said. “I know things haven’t always been civil between us, but I hope to continue the peace between our peoples.”

“The peace that got my father killed in the war?”

“A war I was not alive for.” Cade didn’t fear showing reverence toward the Ice Queen if it would keep peace in his kingdom, but he knew he must also appear strong if he wanted her respect. “I am not my father. Nor are you yours.”

“Your mother reached out to me when you took the throne,” Nevina said. “She claims our courts may have a common goal.”

His mother mentioned she’d been in touch with the Winter Queen. She hadn’t shared what she’d told her. Instead, she’d warned Cade to be prepared for war against Winter. Which was it?

“My mother is a trusted member of my council.”

Nevina’s eyebrow lifted into a perfect arc. “She didn’t tell you what she shared with me.”

Cade kept his mouth clamped shut.

“We are both rulers of Faerie courts, cursed with bound magic limiting our power, while the mortal realm fae have no restrictions.”

His mother had mentioned a plot to unbind their powers, but Cade hadn’t thought she’d meant it. The danger it would bring if either the Seelie or Unseelie courts found out wasn’t worth the risk.

“We’ve spoken about the situation,” Cade said.