Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)(35)

“Oh?” She was trying to act dumb, but doing a horrible job at it.

“But you already knew that. I saw him leaving the Winter Castle.” Jaser took Scarlett’s free hand. “You can trust me.”

Scarlett smiled. Knowing she had a friend sent warmth through her. But if the time came and she had to choose between Jaser and Kaelem, as long as her sister remained in the mirror, she’d have to pick Kaelem. And she couldn’t underestimate Jaser’s loyalty to Cade. As a Summer Court subject, Jaser could easily choose his king over his friendship with Scarlett. “I should be heading back in before Kaelem thinks I got lost in a secret lair.”

“Goodnight, human.” Jaser winked.

“’Night.”



Scarlett snuck back into the room as quietly as she could, praying Kaelem was already asleep.

“No such luck, darling.” He lay in the bed, the blankets covering his lower half, his upper half shirtless.

Was he wearing anything?

“Guess you’ll have to come see for yourself.” Kaelem winked.

“Sleeping on the floor never killed anybody.” Scarlett walked to an empty spot on the ground near the fireplace that lit the room. She’d slept on carpet before, but the stone beneath her feet was so hard.

Kaelem pulled the covers off of himself, exposing pant covered legs. “I’ll keep the pants on, but clothing is optional for you.”

The lace had begun to itch. There was no way Scarlett could sleep comfortably in it. Her skin needed to breathe. She slipped the dress off, leaving her in bra and panties.

A jolt of lust hit her, from Kaelem no doubt.

“The rest is staying on.” Scarlett crawled under the blankets next to Kaelem and pulled them over her body. She turned so her back faced him. “And no cuddling.”

The bed quivered as he laughed and rolled over. “We fae aren’t always selfish jerks.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it. Name one person you care more about than yourself?”

“My sister.” Sincerity filled his voice. He hadn’t mentioned anything about a sister. Probably just a ploy to gain her sympathy.

“Me too,” Scarlett said. “And you’re the one who took mine from me.”

“I hope someday you’ll forgive me.”

“Doubtful.”

Scarlett pulled the covers into her chest. If his sister were so important to him, he’d never have taken hers. Or did Scarlett’s sister not count since she was mortal?

Kaelem shuffled away from Scarlett as the room grew dark. “Sleep tight, darling.”





Chapter Sixteen





A knock on the door startled Cade. It was late and he had just taken off his boots and shirt. “Yes?”

“It’s me,” Poppy’s voice drifted through the closed door. “Can I come in?”

“Sure.”

The door opened and Poppy’s head peeked in. When she looked at Cade, she froze for a moment, but continued into the room. She was still dressed in her leather guard uniform.

“I’ve been going back and forth all day, but I think you need to know what happened earlier.”

Cade could sense guilt coming from the bond.

Poppy told him how she caught Raith leaving the Winter Castle and chased after him. She’d been fighting him when he trapped her. When she’d finally broken free of the tree restraint, she saw him talking to Jaser.

When Poppy was about to charge Raith, a woman fae ambushed her from behind a tree. Poppy didn’t know who she was, but she was skilled in combat.

“I should have told you sooner,” Poppy said. “I just didn’t want to upset you while you were here.”

Relief swam through Cade. He was glad Raith got away. He shouldn’t be. His older brother was a threat to his legitimacy as king. Yet, Cade couldn’t deny it was happiness he felt to know Raith lived.

If Poppy felt his relief, she didn’t mention it.

“Don’t tell anyone else about this,” Cade said.

“Of course not.”

“I’ll make sure Jaser knows to keep it quiet as well,” Cade said. He wasn’t sure where Jaser’s loyalties lay. Now that he knew Raith had survived, Cade decided Jaser would return back to the Summer Court. He couldn’t risk Jaser turning on him if Raith attacked. “If Raith shows up again, don’t kill him. I want my brother alive.”

“What?”

“If he’s willing to surrender his right to the crown, there’s no reason he can’t live.”

“It’s because of her. You don’t want to upset the poor human,” Poppy spat.

“No,” Cade snapped. “And she’s not a human anymore. Don’t forget she’s fae now, and we don’t know what type of power she possesses.”

“Please.” Poppy groaned. “She’s untrained and nothing I can’t handle.”

“My brother is not to be killed. That’s an order.”

The glare Poppy gave him was as cold as the castle. “Fine.”

Cade had been given another chance. His first act as king had not resulted in the death of two others. They may never forgive him, but maybe he could forgive himself.



After breakfast the next morning, Scarlett continued her training. She spent most of the day alone in the room while many of the guests attended the Solstice tea. By the afternoon, she’d learned to accurately move things with her mind and her mental shield had improved though it remained penetrable—as she learned when Kaelem entered the room.