Savage Beauty(47)

“He grew up hating the fae. I don’t know if he’d want to become one, even if it would save his life.”

“The toxin seems to be taking him down and then letting him up for air. He isn’t drowning, so maybe you should let him decide. But know that if he takes a sudden turn for the worse, you or I will have to make the decision for him.”

“Are you sure he’ll be okay for tonight?”

“With Aura one can never be sure, but if he gets sick again tonight, I can tell him and let him decide for himself. My blood would likely work better than yours, anyway. No offense.”

“None taken.” Would it work? Was Malex lying? I was skeptical since I’d never heard any rumors of a fae turning a human into their kind, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t hopeful. This would be a pivotal decision in Phillip’s life. Choosing to become the thing his parents and countrymen hated was no easy choice. If Phillip became fae, he could never return home. The prejudice in Grithim would be too much to overcome.

I took my broom, swung my leg over the handle, and flew up and into the night air. The sky was clear, save for the smiling crescent moon. I flew fast to the forest west of Ringsted. It took longer than I expected, but I finally found Terigon’s hunting party. And to my luck, they were in pursuit of a wild boar. Their horses whinnied, galloping after the crazed, squealing animal. Their torches dripped fire onto the forest floor, igniting small clumps of leaves in their wake.

Tsk. Tsk. They should be more responsible in autumn. The whole forest could become cinders due to their carelessness.

Weaving recklessly through the forest, Terigon’s horse suddenly faltered and fell. Terigon was thrown to the ground and rolled down a small embankment, only stopping when his stomach wrapped around a boulder. I jumped off my broom and threw him onto his back, straddling him and holding him still with my broom and thighs.

“What the hell are you…? Witch,” he breathed. “What do you want?” he asked venomously.

I removed my knife and smiled. “I want your tongue.”

“Why?” he gritted, trying to buck me off.

“I need one for a spell, but Malex specifically suggested I take yours.” His eyes widened as I whispered in his ear. “You must have really pissed him off.”

I used a spell to keep him quiet, and then held his arms, legs, and jaw open with magic until I was finished slicing. By the time I tucked his thick tongue into my bag, Terigon was gagging on his blood, tears running into his cropped blond hair.

Hatred radiated from every inch of him and he flashed me a look that promised retribution. I stole his memory of the event just in case he decided to lash out once I was untethered from Aura.

I took to the air just as his men came to his aid. A few moments too late for their liege, unfortunately.

Leaving him there, bleeding on the ground, felt good. Hurting him made me feel strong and untouchable in a time when everything in my life was bad, and when I felt powerless to stop the darkness I knew would come with Phillip’s death.

And then I began to cry, because the good feeling was gone; in its place was something horrific. I was a monster, just like Aura, just like our mysterious father. Who could attack someone, cut out their tongue, and then feel good about it? A beast, that’s who.

A savage.

Someone not worthy of the love of a prince, or a man like Phillip.

I should have known better than to let my heart feel anything again. This was William’s younger brother. Only a beast could fall for their first love’s flesh and blood.

Everyone who loved me died. Aura made sure of it. I knew that if she found him she would punish him, but she’d found him first and punished him anyway, simply because she was a demon dressed in fine gowns who lived in a palace of blood and bone, hidden just beneath the soil.

Curses, I hated her.

Phillip would never want to become fae, and I wouldn’t blame him for not wanting to be like us. This was all Aura’s fault. Wiping my tears away, I began to laugh. Hers was one death I would revel in. I would end her and not feel an ounce of guilt for doing so.

The only problem was the last ingredient. Malex said I had to get a rose from her garden during the daytime, but how? I couldn’t pluck it while sleepwalking, and I couldn’t drag it from the dream into reality.

But I could send Ember.



Malex was chatting with Phillip when I returned, both men chuckling at something they’d shared. I smiled as they stood up. Phillip’s eyes raked over my form-fitting britches and lit a fire beneath my skin.

“Did you get it?” Malex asked excitedly, eyes glittering. His eyes flicked to my neck, which was sticky with blood.

“Have I failed you yet?” I answered dryly.

“No, you haven’t.”

I took off my bag and belt and dropped both in my spell room, locking it behind me. “One final ingredient.”

Malex nodded. “One final ingredient.”

I toyed with the idea of telling Malex my plan to get the rose. He’d helped me thus far. Surely I could trust him. My battle with Aura was only making me cynical and paranoid. He would find out soon enough, anyway. I would soon be at the entrance to his cave, ingredients in hand, ready for him to help with this spell.

“I’m sending Ember to retrieve it.”

“She’s your familiar, but that doesn’t make her immune to death, Luna. Her life isn’t tied to yours.”