Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)(42)

“That’s okay,” Scarlett said. “Wouldn’t want to start an all-out war here in the Winter Court.”

“No, not yet.”

“Not until you get what you need.” Whatever it was. It would be a lot easier if he just told Scarlett what it was. Then she’d know what she might die for, because that was the reality.

Maybe she had the potential to be a strong fae, but if the fight showed anything, it was that she wasn’t strong yet. Poppy handled her like nothing more than a pest. It was one-on-one and Scarlett had no chance. How was she supposed to be of any real help to Kaelem?

The only thing Scarlett had any confidence with was healing.

Healing. Of course.

She placed her hands over her stomach. With her eyes closed, she inhaled the torn skin. She absorbed out some of the injury, but the slices in her stomach remained.

“The magic in the weapons keeps your magic from doing much good,” Kaelem said. “But the wound will still heal. It won’t be fully healed by morning, but it should feel better. You should get some sleep.”

Kaelem lifted the blanket at the end of the bed over Scarlett’s legs. “You’ll get the hang of being fae. Don’t worry.”

He let Scarlett have the bed to herself as he returned to the chair.



Once Scarlett had drifted back to sleep, Kaelem quietly left the room. He’d planned on protecting her here at the Winter Court, but he’d failed epically. She wouldn’t die from the injury, but he still felt bad. And sitting there feeling bad would do neither of them any good.

He’d surprised himself at the worry he felt as Scarlett faced Poppy. With the magic of the battle, Scarlett was in no real danger, yet Kaelem hated the thought of even a cut slicing her skin. He hadn’t planned to grow so attached, but he couldn’t deny his affinity toward her.

But to save his sister he did the same thing Nevina did to him: stole someone from Scarlett.

Kaelem knew the feeling of protectiveness he was capable of. He’d have died willingly to protect his younger sister. Knowing he’d failed her was a constant weight pressed into his chest.

It was the middle of the night and the castle halls were empty. It had been three years now since he’d last visited the Winter dungeon, but he remembered the way.

Kaelem walked down a long tunnel of stone, one of the few places in the castle that wasn’t made of ice. His footsteps echoed through the long chamber. As he took a deep breath, the smell of rot slipped up his nose.

How had he let his sister live so long in this wretched place?

It wasn’t as if he hadn’t tried to negotiate her release, but the Winter Queen was stubborn. The only term she was willing to make to release his sister was marriage to the Unseelie King.

Unlike in the mortal world, fae marriage was permanently binding—a literal until death do we part. And it wasn’t just an emotional connection being promised, but a tether of power as well.

If Kaelem married Nevina, their powers would be combined and split evenly. Fae power was all about balance. What was given must be taken from somewhere else. Nevina was cursed by the season of her court, unable to permanently leave Faerie and limited in her power. Kaelem’s ancestors had made it so. If they were to wed, his court would share some of that burden.

Kaelem had no desire to lose an ounce of his power, but he’d give it all up if it would save his sister. It wasn’t just about him, though. The Unseelie Court needed him to be a strong king. Once word got out that the king of the Unseelie Court was vulnerable, so were his people.

The Seelie Queen would pounce.

As far back as the fae existed, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts had been at war. It wasn’t always an obvious war, no. Fae were sneaky. The only time the two courts had gotten along was when they left Faerie to live in the mortal realm. Then, they’d worked together to bind the power of the fae left behind.

Once the spell was done and the Seelie and Unseelie Courts had settled in their new realm, the animosity between them reappeared.

If Kaelem took Nevina as the Unseelie Queen, his court would be in danger. And as much as he loved his sister and would give his own life to protect her, he had a duty as king to put his people above all.

Kaelem reached out his mind to feel for the presence of others. Two guards were up ahead. One was hungry and couldn’t wait for his shift to be over. He hated guarding the dungeon. It was boring and pointless. Who would be dumb enough to break in?

Kaelem moved to the other mind. This one was female, and, apparently, in love with the other guard. How touching. And exactly the information Kaelem needed.

When he rounded the corner, both guards held out their weapons. The guy raised a sword, the girl a staff.

“Who are you?” the male asked. When his gaze met Kaelem’s, Kaelem’s mind latched on.

“The queen needs you to walk around the castle, nice and slowly,” Kaelem said.

The man nodded and walked past Kaelem and into the tunnel.

“You’re the Unseelie King,” the female said. “Our queen warned us you might come.”

“Did she now?” Kaelem said. “Does your friend know of your feelings for him?”

She glared at Kaelem just as he’d wanted. His mind broke into hers.

“You should go find your lover and tell him how you feel.”

Kaelem chucked as she left.

He continued into the dungeon. Some of the cells were empty. One had a banshee inside, who snarled at Kaelem then begged to be let out. He ignored her and kept going until he reached the cell in the back.