Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)(43)

Bars of ice kept him from going any further. When he peeked through them, his chest clenched.

Curled up in the corner, his sister held her legs close to her body. Just like in the vision the Winter Queen had shown him, her hair was cropped short. His sister had always had long, beautiful locks. He was sure Nevina had taken them only to hurt her.

“Aria.” His voice was a mere whisper, but it was enough.

She lifted her chin. When her eyes met his, she grinned.

“Brother!”

She pushed herself up, nearly losing her balance as she took a step. But she continued until she was inches from Kaelem.

He tried to reach through the bars to touch her, but when his hand slipped in between, a powerful cold sent a jolt to his chest.

“It’s loaded with magic.” Aria placed her hands flat against the bars.

Kaelem did the same. It was as close to touching as they could get. “I’m so sorry.”

Aria’s mouth rose in a half-grin. “Could be worse.”

Kaelem reached his mind out to make sure no one was near. “I’ve come to get you out.”

“You cannot marry her, Kaelem. You promised me you wouldn’t.”

The Ice Queen had let him visit her the day she was imprisoned. He had told his sister of Nevina’s offer. In his heart, Kaelem knew his people needed to come first, but had the queen been there as he saw his sister shivering from the cold, he may have forgotten his duty and agreed.

Aria knew him better than anyone—so much so, she knew he would do something stupid to save her. She made him promise not to marry the Ice Queen. No matter what happened to her. He didn’t want to, but he could never tell his little sister no, and that day was no different.

And he would never break a promise.

He stared at her, stuck in that small cell. Her skin was pale. Dark circles lingered under her eyes. If he could at least find a way to give her warmth …

“You can’t,” she said.

Surprise coated his face.

“My body might be weak, but my mind is strong as ever,” Aria said. “It isn’t like you to let your mental shields drop. Is everything okay?”

“I won’t break my promise to you, not ever. I won’t marry Nevina. But I have to try to break you out.” His hands roamed over the bars. “There has to be a way to get through the magic. There’s always a way. “

“Who’s the woman?” Aria tilted her head to the side as she pushed her eyebrows together, a look of inquisitiveness she’d always possessed.

“What woman?”

“The one I saw in your thoughts. Brunette, blue eyes. She’s gorgeous.”

Scarlett’s face flashed in his mind.

“Yes, her,” Aria said.

“Someone here to help me.”

Aria sighed. “Don’t turn yourself into a monster, brother.”

“I…”

He lifted his mental shields again. What had been done was done. He’d already brought Scarlett here, and he had no time to come up with another plan. He’d turn into the devil himself if it meant freeing Aria from this dreadful place. He wanted nothing more than to see her face shine with life again.

Aria lifted her free hand to her heart. “I know you’ll try to save me, but if you can’t, I need another promise.”

He wasn’t sure he wanted to know what she was going to say.

She looked into his eyes. “If you can’t get me out, promise me you’ll find a way to kill me.”

“No.”

“Kaelem, I can’t do this anymore.” She gestured to the cell, to her body, then to her hair. “My body is deteriorating. They took my hair out of spite. The only thing I have left is my mind, and soon she will take that, too.”

He would save her. He’d find a way to get her out and she could go home and recuperate. Things would be good again.

“I know you want that,” Aria said, listening to his thoughts again. “But you can’t start a war with the Winter Court for me. And you can never give her what she wants.”

When he didn’t answer her, she said, “Promise me, brother.”

Tears dripped down his cheeks and froze mid-air before they fell to the ground. “I promise.”



“You got this,” Aria said as she hugged Kaelem.

Kaelem heard the crowd cheer. His brother must have entered the arena.

“Tarek has been practicing for this since he was five,” Kaelem said.

Aria pulled away from Kaelem but kept her hands on his shoulders. “You have far more natural magic than him. Just stay focused.”

Kaelem sighed. She wasn’t wrong. His power was stronger than Tarek’s, but he hadn’t spent enough time training to properly wield it. An idiotic move. He’d always known his brother would challenge him as soon as he was old enough. He just didn’t think it would be the very first day Tarek came of age. Their father was in good health. Kaelem doubted he’d die any time soon. Why the rush?

“If I lose…” Kaelem started.

Aria interrupted, “You cannot lose.”

He took Aria’s face gently in between his hands. “If I lose, you’ll have to challenge him. But not until you’re ready.”

“You won’t lose.”