Forever Fae (Forever Fae #1)(65)

I walk over to him and the rage and anger that has built up inside my body wants to be let free. The adrenaline pumps through my muscles and the sweet taste of vengeance is sharp on my tongue. The dark sorcerer looks up at me and he opens his mouth to speak, but I don’t give him the time. The dagger is in my hand and I slash it clean across his neck, cutting through tendons and bone in one quick swipe. His blood splatters on us, but I don’t care. There will now be one less minion for the dark sorcerer to take over. I have killed two people today and I don’t feel sorry for their loss at all. Their betrayals have cost numerous people their lives, and I avenged them all. Avery’s body disintegrates into ash and the dark sorcerer emerges as a black cloud rising from his body.

“Until next time,” he sneers.

“Fuck you!” I spit.

He disappears and everything goes quiet. I can tell he had been hurt because his form was almost see-through. He has my power now, but for some reason my guardian blade had an effect on him. I need to remember to ask Elvena about that and maybe we will be able to find a way to defeat him.

“Princess!” Nixie appears fluttering her little golden wings and waving her hands.

“Where have you been? You were supposed to help us,” I snap.

She turns her head for us to look behind her and she points at something coming from a distance. Galloping toward us are two horses. I recognize Merrick’s white horse, Storm, and the other horse must be Ryder’s horse.

Nixie looks at me with a smug look.

“I did help, and I still can, but we need to get you out of here. NOW! You may have wounded the dark sorcerer, but it won’t take him long to come back for you. When we reach the edge of the Black Forest, I can use my magic to take you home.”

Ryder and I quickly embrace and he kisses me hard and feverishly. He climbs on his horse and whispers something in her ear and I climb onto Storm. I lean down and rub Storm’s neck.

With a choked sob, I say, “I’m so sorry Storm, but I lost him. He’s never coming back, boy.” Storm huffs and bows his head. I give him a little nudge and demand softly, “Let’s go, Storm. Fly like the wind and take us home.”

Both horses are agile and fast as we race our way through the forest. Nixie flies along beside us the whole way. I am so glad she brought the horses because I don’t think we would have made it out of the forest without them. We reach the edge of the forest quickly and the adrenaline that fueled my escape has now left me exhausted and weak. All I want to do is sit down to cry and break down over the loss of my guardian, but I know I can’t do that until I get home. Getting home is the most important thing at this moment.

Exhausted, I turn to Nixie and ask, “Now what’s your plan? You said you could help when we got to the edge of the forest.”

With a gleam in her eye and her chin lifted proudly she says, “I did, didn’t I? Give me your hands.” Nixie floats between me and Ryder. We’re both still on the horses but we each grab a hold of her tiny, green hands. They feel so fragile and small, but she grips my hand tight and I’m shocked by the amount of strength her little body has inside of it.

Nixie asks, “Where do you want me to take you?”

Ryder speaks up, “Take us to the Summer Court.”

Nixie looks over to me and I shake my head ‘yes.’ The second after that we are thrust into a whirlwind of colors and it feels like we’re floating in the air. I feel weightless and there’s nothing around us but a rainbow of shimmery colors. It’s so bright I can barely stand to keep my eyes open. It’s an amazing sight and now I know why Alasdair took her. She can port travel. It is a very rare gift and only imps have the capability. Most fae creatures can travel to the mortal realm, but it’s not the same as port travel. Nixie can travel to any part of the Land of the Fae in a matter of seconds, and take whoever she wants with her.

It is over quickly and the colors start to fade. We find ourselves at the willow tree by the lake in the Summer Court. This is mine and Ryder’s favorite place now. I look around and a sigh escapes my lips. I’m home, or at least my home for now. Soon I will be queen of my own court and keeping our people safe. I wonder why Nixie brought us to this exact spot.

She answers, “Because it is the place you feel most happy to be, Princess. You will need time to heal because no one goes through what you have without needing help and love to guide you.”

“Thank you, Nixie, for bringing us home. I will keep you safe and we will search for your family soon,” I reply. Keeping Nixie and her family safe is a promise that I will be more than happy to keep. I look at Ryder sitting on his horse and all I want to do is hold him in my arms. He looks at me with a wan expression and I know he can tell I’m trying to be strong by holding it together. I am saddened, but Merrick saved Ryder’s life because he knew how much I loved him.

Nixie looks back and forth between me and Ryder with the hugest grin on her face and asks, “So when is the wedding?”

Ryder and I both look at each other and smile.





Chapter 26


Ryder-5 Days Later

Rescuing Calista and holding her in my arms again was the best feeling. I vowed from that moment forward that nothing will ever come between us and I will stop at nothing to finding ways to defeat the dark sorcerer. Seeing Calista being touched by that f*cker sent me into a blind rage. I fought him with everything I had and I would have fought him for however long was needed to get Calista to safety. I almost didn’t make it through the fighting, but Merrick jumped in the way of the iron blade and took the blow that was meant for me. I saw Calista go down and her scream was the most heart-wrenching sound I have ever heard. My heart broke for her in that moment because I knew I couldn’t be there to comfort her when she had just lost one of the most important people in her life. I was afraid she would never get through it. I stole quick glances at her on the ground with her guardian and I had never seen her so broken. I hope that with time her heart has the ability to mend. A passing ceremony will be held in his honor as well as Xylia’s parents, Raisa and Foster.