Prisoner of Darkness (Whims of Fae Book 2)(44)

Kaelem’s eyes fixated on hers. “If I do, it will be up to you.”

Aria pulled him into one last hug.

The announcer called Kaelem’s name. “I have to go.”

“He’s a showoff. Be patient,” Aria said.

“Love you, sis.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Kaelem turned and headed into the arena full of Unseelie fae—high and low fae alike—to face his fate.

“Don’t lose,” Aria yelled as he met the stares of the crowd.

He’d followed Aria’s wishes; he didn’t lose. Some courts allowed surrender. The Unseelie wasn’t one of them. A challenge for the Right of Heir was a fight to the death.

On the ground, blood pooled at Kaelem’s feet. His younger brother’s severed head rolled away from its body.





Chapter Twenty-One





Cade felt mostly back to normal the next morning, though his ego was still wounded. Challenging the Unseelie King was a stupid move, truly. But it showed—win or lose—he wasn’t afraid of a challenge.

Poppy challenging Scarlett was not part of his plan.

He visited her room to confront her about it.

“I can feel your anger,” Poppy said as she sat in a rolled back, burgundy chair next to a window. “You gave me no choice.”

“I gave you no choice?”

“You challenged the Unseelie King in front of the Winter Queen and lost. We couldn’t look weak. What message would that send?”

“So you challenge Scarlett to show your strength?” Please. He didn’t buy it. “Her obvious inability to fight made you look like a predator.”

Poppy clenched her jaw. “At least I won.”

“I may have lost, but at least I picked an opponent worth fighting. I lost with dignity. You won with what?”

“It sent a message to the Unseelie King that he’s only as strong as his partner.”

“Scarlett is not his partner.”

“Then what is she, huh? Because she isn’t yours.”

She was right. Cade learned that in the Battle of Heirs. Scarlett had chosen his brother over him, and now she chose Kaelem. She’d even kissed him. The thought sent nausea to his stomach. But why? And why would he choose her? As king, he had endless choices for a partner.

He must know something about Scarlett that Cade didn’t. Raith had known Scarlett was part fae when Cade hadn’t. He must have to have chosen her for his second.

But Kaelem was infamous for playing games, so maybe he brought Scarlett to the Unseelie Court and to the Winter Solstice simply to get under Cade’s skin, which, if that was the case, was working.

“Leave Scarlett alone.”

“Yes, King.”

Cade didn’t want Poppy mad at him, but he didn’t want Scarlett hurt. “I know you don’t like her and probably won’t understand, but I’m the one who brought her into this world simply to use her as a way to defeat Raith. I don’t know why she’s with the Unseelie King now, but if it hadn’t been for me preying on her vulnerability, she’d still be mortal and far away from here.”

“She should be thanking you,” Poppy quipped. “She’s powerful now and much less fragile.”

Yes, mortal Scarlett would have died from the injury from last night’s battle, regardless of the enchantments on the weapons.

“Maybe.” Cade shrugged. “But she didn’t have a choice. Not really.”

There was no other way he could explain to Poppy how he felt, so he left it at that. He couldn’t let the guilt consume him, though. He was king now, and his people depended on him.

He wouldn’t go out of his way to hurt Scarlett and would keep members of his court from hurting her as well, but if she ever got in the way of protecting his people, he’d do what must be done.



When Scarlett woke up, Kaelem was gone. The pain in her side had faded and was tolerable. Bending over hurt, but as long as she was careful, she could move.

As she slipped on a dress, he entered.

“Oh, sorry.” He looked away.

What had gotten into him? Normally, he would have jumped at the chance to catch Scarlett inappropriate. He’d have said at least one improper comment.

“You okay?” Scarlett reached around to tie the back of her dress, sending a shooting pain through her side. “Ow.”

“Here, let me help.” Kaelem came over and tied her dress.

“Thanks.”

Scarlett couldn’t read his thoughts, but she could feel solemnness coming from his aura. What had happened to make him so different?

Kaelem went into his closet and when he came back out, he held the mirror he’d trapped Ashleigh in. “I thought you might want to visit her.”

Scarlett’s heart fluttered. He’d let her see her sister? She nodded.

“I’ll put you inside the mirror with her for a few minutes, then I’ll pull you back out.”

Was it a trap of some sort? Even so, at least she’d be with her sister again. “Okay.”

Kaelem held the mirror in one hand and, with the other, spun his hand in a circular motion.

Scarlett felt as if her body was dissolving into thousands of pieces. Her skin tickled as she moved freely through the air. The world around her blurred. When it came into focus again, she was inside her house.