Forever Fae (Forever Fae #1)(34)

This is very bad news. What the hell was he thinking?

I roar with menace, “We need a change of plans, NOW! The princess needs to be taken today so you better find a way to figure that out. Our plan cannot wait until tomorrow because if King Oberon finds out about the death of his council members there is no way he will let his family out of his sight.” I walk away from the scrying bowl to try and calm my nerves. Seeing the idiotic fae is not helping me to calm down. If I didn’t need him right now, he would already be dead and in a pile of ash. This dumb ass idiot could be ruining my plans as we speak. I return to the scrying bowl and continue.

“I can have arrangements made for someone to assist you once you pass the edge of the Summer Court territory. If you fail in this I will rip out your entrails, shove them down your f*cking throat and then I will tie you up with iron chains and happily watch while the iron dissolves your pathetic body inch by inch. Are we understood?”

The fae shakes his head in agreement and prepares to leave. He looks terrified, but confident he can fulfill his task.

“It will be done. I should be able to get away with the princess. I heard that she secretly trains with her guardian every morning about a mile past the house. Maybe I can get her alone then and find a way to subdue her. I can use the gift you gave me to get close to her undetected.”

“Why did you decide to betray your court and friends? These are people you have lived with your entire life. Why would you betray them?” I ask.

He takes a deep breath. His eyes are empty and blank, probably from the persuasion I have sent his way and the power I have taken from him in the past. There is no love in his eyes. I only see betrayal and deceit.

“I am tired of living in the shadow of the prince. I am a good fighter but our people do not notice that. All they see is the royal family and how great they are, but what about the rest of us? We work hard and we defend our court. Siding with you will give me the power to be greater than I am. I can show them how powerful I can be and demand the respect when we take over the Land of the Fae.”

I dismiss the fae and close the scrying bowl. They will all bow down to me, not anyone else. I can let them all believe that for now, but when I get the power there will be no mistaking who the powerful one is then. My plans are finally coming together. I can’t believe the princess will actually be here this evening. She will be staying in my dwelling, away from the army. I don’t want anyone able to touch her other than me.





Chapter 16


Calista


We reach the field and set up the targets for dagger practice. I am excellent at dagger throwing. It’s my favorite thing to do. I have won a lot of treasures by challenging the other warriors to contests. Most of them thought it would be easy to beat me since they believed I had no real practice. I showed them though, and I won their respect as a fighter and there was no better feeling than that.

Merrick and I both stretch to get our bodies ready. I promised him an ass kicking, and that is exactly what he’s going to get.

“Alright, Princess, it’s time for the dagger throw.” He sits back and watches me. He watches me a little too intensely and it makes me nervous. I stop stretching and bend down to grab two daggers.

While bending down, I silently send Merrick a warning.

“You better not be staring at my ass. I have two daggers here and I am not afraid to use them. I’m sure your body could make do with one less appendage.”

Merrick laughs.

“To get to that appendage I would have to drop my pants. Is that what you wish? I would be more than happy to oblige.”

He grabs the waist of his shorts and pulls. I point one of my daggers at him and yell for him to stop.

“No, I was kidding. Don’t you dare drop those shorts. If you do, I will use this blade and I don’t think you’ll be laughing then.”

He backs away and keeps his shorts on, smart man. I turn to look at the targets and with two daggers in my hand, I throw them at the same time. I hit both targets straight in the middle. Damn, I’m good. The targets were placed fifty feet down the field and I nailed them.

“Now, this time do it with your eyes closed,” Merrick says.

I grab two more daggers and walk over to the other two targets. I close my eyes and concentrate on everything going on around me. I can picture the targets in my mind. I lift both hands with the daggers and release a slow breath. I count to three. One…two…three…and throw. I open my eyes to look at the targets. What do you know? Bulls eye, both times.

“Damn, Princess, you are just amazing at that,” he says. Silently he adds, “You are amazing at everything.”

I speak out loud, “I know I am.” I feign a mock arrogance and brush my hair off my shoulders. To change the subject, I pick up my long sword and point it at him.

“Pick up your sword, guardian, and let’s see what you got,” I yell.

He picks his sword up and circles around me. We continue like this for about a minute and I know he will never attack first so I give him an evil grin and charge. He dodges my attack and we continue this dance for a while. I decide to bring my magic into the mix so when he runs toward me, I run toward him and at the last minute I use the wind to help me jump in the air and over him. I land behind him and kick his feet out from under him. It is so funny to see him land on his face.

Merrick jumps up and gives me a scowl. I shrug and brush my shoulders to aggravate him more. I turn around and laugh out loud when all of a sudden a fire ball hits me right in the back. I stand perfectly still because I’m shocked into place. Did he just do what I think he did? I turn around slowly and give him a surprised look. My surprised look turns into my menacing one and his eyes widen at knowing what’s coming next. If he wants a fireball match, I’ll give him one.