A Dark Eternity Read online

  Kaelem sat in the white, high-backed chair opposite Aria and lifted his feet to the matching ottoman. “I hated myself for letting you get taken. I vowed never to let anything like it happen again.” He crossed his right ankle over his left. “It was a one-time thing. I’d learned my lesson. I was the strongest fae except for Genevieve, and I knew I could hold my own against her if I ever needed to. But now, with the Fates on the loose and no idea what they plan to do, I’m worried.”

  “Who are you and what have you done with my self-assured brother?” Aria quipped.

  Kaelem laughed. “Please, I have plenty of self-assurance left. I’m simply trying to tone down my confidence a little bit. I don’t want to be as blind to outside threats as Father was.”

  Aria pulled her legs onto the couch in a criss-cross. Her hair almost reached her chin now, and the pinkness in her cheeks had finally fully returned. “You didn’t bring me here just to tell me you don’t know what to do, did you?”

  “I’ve had all the magical wards I can think of put up around the palace to keep the Fates out. They were the only ones who never needed permission to get in here. It never bothered me before. They were odd, yes, but seemed harmless. Now, they’re a threat.

  “I don’t know what they’re capable of. But they’re smart. They took Raith and must have a plan for him. I worry they might come for Ashleigh next.”

  “I won’t let them take her.” Aria pulled her shoulders back the way she always did when she meant what she said.

  “You might not be able to stop them, brave sister.”

  He’d always admired her ferocity. Even as a child, determination swam through her veins more than anyone he knew. She wasn’t afraid to stand up to anyone, no matter their size or magic capabilities. Out of all his siblings, she was the only one who openly called their father out when she disagreed with his decisions. She had being daddy’s little girl on her side, his wrath never finding its aim at her, but it still showed her daring nature.

  Aria shifted in her seat. “As you said, you have protection wards up. I’ve done my best to convince Ashleigh staying here is for the best. For now, she understands.”

  “And what about her boyfriend?”

  Aria raised an eyebrow. “Interested in a mortal relationship? Really, where is my brother?”

  “Ha ha. I plan to visit Scarlett soon and I’d like to update her.”

  Aria’s lips curved upwards. “Oh, Scarlett, that’s right.”

  “Don’t give me that look.” Kaelem adjusted his cuff.

  “You can tell her Ashleigh’s trying to understand, but I can only do so much.”

  Something clicked against Kaelem’s mind like a knock on a door. He reached out.

  Company. Lola’s voice played in his mind. The Seelie Advisor is here for you.

  “Looks like Laik has blessed us with a surprise visit,” Kaelem said to Aria. “Hopefully, he’s here to tell me the Seelie Queen agrees to my request of a formal alliance.”

  Aria shrugged. “Do things ever work out as you plan?”

  Kaelem didn’t answer.

  Send him to the parlor.

  When Kaelem entered the parlor, Laik sat in a red chair next to the fireplace surrounded by marble tile, a fire burning in the hearth.

  “I was cold.” Laik stared at the flames. “And it’s so dark around here.”

  “’Tis the reality of the Night Court.” Kaelem walked to the bar and made himself a mixed drink. “What can I get you?”

  “Surprise me.”

  Kaelem made Laik the same drink and handed it to him before sitting.

  Though he didn’t spend a lot of time in the parlor, he’d always loved it. The black and white artwork stood out sharply from the purple walls. It was fun and sophisticated, both qualities Kaelem enjoyed in the Unseelie Court. He’d redone the entire interior once he gained the throne, bringing in a well-known designer from one of the mortal shows he watched on TV.

  Kaelem pressed his mental ability outwards. Nothing. Laik’s wards were so strong, Kaelem wouldn’t have been able to sense his presence at all. Strange.

  All fae had the ability to block out invading minds from their own. Some were more gifted at the ability than others. But few could keep their mind’s entire existence hidden. It was an ability usually reserved for the strongest Unseelie. It wasn’t unheard of for a Seelie, though. Just rare. And it meant Laik was powerful.

  Kaelem shouldn’t be surprised. Only the strongest would be chosen as Genevieve’s advisor. Having strong mental shields was an important asset. It meant the Seelie Queen could confide in him with confidence. Laik had been her most trusted subject much longer than Kaelem had been alive.

  “Has your queen sent you to agree to my request to ally with one another?” Kaelem sipped his drink. Fruity with a little kick of vodka. Delicious.

  Laik took a gulp. “No, she is still deliberating.”

  “I see,” Kaelem said. “And she sent you here to?”

  “I came on my own.” He took another drink. “This drink is quite delectable. A mortal recipe?”

  “Yes. Sex on the beach. A fun title, don’t you think? Does your duty as advisor take you to the mortal world often?”

  Despite being in the mortal realm, the Seelie and Unseelie Courts weren’t actually part of the human world. They were hidden and only intermingled with mortals when they wanted to—like when a king was in desperate need for decorating advice.

  Kaelem thought of the flicker of Scarlett’s mom he’d seen in Laik’s mind when he’d visited the Seelie Court. The image moved like he’d seen her in person, not stale like a memory or a photograph would be, and she was younger than in the picture Kaelem had seen.

  He wanted to ask Laik how he’d known her, but moving too boldly with the information wasn’t smart. Kaelem needed to play this game right.

  “When necessary. My queen likes to keep up-to-date with the ongoings of the human world.”

  “Of course, as do I.”

  Unlike the Seelie Court, The Unseelie Court welcomed select humans into its world as guests. While Kaelem had no desire for mortality, he did find human life interesting.

  Laik finished his drink. “I’m here to learn more about the new situation.”

  “Situation?” Kaelem stood. “Another?”

  “Yes, please.” Laik handed his empty glass to Kaelem. “My queen is skeptical of the story you told her about the Fates and the Sidhe.”

  “And you? Do you believe me?”

  “I gave you the information that led you there. And it doesn’t surprise me that the Fates have had ulterior motives this whole time.” Laik’s gaze dropped to the floor. His right fist momentarily clenched before his fingers spread out and he relaxed his arm.

  Kaelem refilled Laik’s drink and topped off his own. “I told you what happened. We went through the portal and were trapped there. We traveled to the island’s center, and when we arrived at the power, the Fates showed up. We fought them and Scarlett took the power. Then they took Raith and left.”

  It was the quick version, but did the details really matter? Kaelem wasn’t usually so open and honest with people outside his trusted circle, but if he wanted Laik to put his faith in him, then he would need to be as truthful as he could.

  “And Scarlett got the power they prophesied?”

  “Yes.” Kaelem remembered the knife she lodged into his back to keep him from taking it. “By doing so, she became the realm’s queen.”

  He thought about how she looked after she’d healed him. Her skin—now tattooed in white—glowed with magic. Such a change from the human she’d been when he’d met her.

  “You believe the Fates wanted this power for themselves?”

  “I’m not sure.” At first, Kaelem figured they took Raith out of anger after Scarlett had taken the power for herself. But then, after more thought, he wondered if that had been their plan all along. “Part of me thinks they wanted Scarlett to be the one to get it.”

  “You’re saying
they’re using her?”

  “It’s possible.” Kaelem handed Laik his refilled drink. “There’s so little we know about them or about the Sidhe. Even Scarlett’s power is an unknown.”

  Laik’s eyes met Kaelem’s and he saw the worry in his gaze. “How is she handling it?”

  “She’s tough. But it’s a lot for her to take in. Her heart is still mortal and, as you know, we fae aren’t like the humans.”

  “No, we’re not.”

  “Despite our differences, our courts will be stronger united,” Kaelem said. “My father was never able to look past our differences. It isn’t in our courts to trust one another, but I believe, to prepare ourselves for what’s coming, we must.”

  “And what about the recent history between our courts? Is there any room for an alliance?”

  “I don’t have to like your queen to respect her power.”

  “It isn’t unheard of for our courts to have common interests.” A smirk crept onto Laik’s lips. He finished his drink and stood. “Thank you for the visit. I will return home and do what I can to convince my queen to believe what you say.”

  Kaelem didn’t try to pry into Laik’s mind again. But now, more than ever, he knew Laik’s interest in Scarlett went further than gaining information for his queen.

  * * *

  Raith waited in the bedroom he’d been given to stay in. It was plain, with stone walls and a bed frame made of black wood. A fireplace lit the room and offered him some warmth in the otherwise cold realm.

  It was a different chill than the one he felt in the Winter Court. There was no ice here, but an essence of death permeated the air. It didn’t bother him. Nothing did. He did as the Fates asked and, when he wasn’t needed, spent most of his time in his room doing nothing unless he had a visitor.

  He remembered the events of the past months. Losing to his brother in the battle, searching for and finding his mother, but something seemed to be missing from his recollection.

  The door swung open and Decuma, the middle Fate and his special visitor, entered. She walked straight to Raith and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close and pressing her lips to his. After a long kiss, she said, “Come. Father wants to meet you.”

  She turned and left the room.

  Raith obliged, following her through the hallway.

  There were no paintings on the walls. Lanterns every ten feet gave just enough light to see the stone covering the ground. The hallway led to a staircase down to the main floor, where the throne room was located.

  Across the room was an empty black throne, high-backed and embellished with a border of garnets. In front, a large fire pit currently sat empty. Windows were evenly spaced on two of the walls, giving a view to the gray skies outside.

  Morta, the oldest Fate, and Nona, the youngest, waited to one side of the pit.

  All three of the Fates wore long dresses covered in black atop the black fabric underneath. Though they all looked similar, Raith was able to tell them apart. Both Morta and Decuma wore their dark hair down, but Morta’s eyes were narrower and slightly more almond shaped than Decuma’s. He’d gotten to know Decuma’s gaze quite well during his time in the Darkland. She’d come to him his first night in the castle. Nona, the quietest of the three, kept her hair in a bun. She was also the prettiest, with large eyes and high cheekbones, but she kept her distance from him.

  “Father will be here soon,” Morta said. “We have an important task for you, Raith.”

  “Very well.”

  “Our plans with our allies are moving into motion. Now we need the Otherworld Queen.”

  Raith knew who she was. He’d been her ally at one point, but memories of her were fuzzy. “What do you need from me?”

  “Your memory was damaged by Ailani when you crossed the Spirit Lake. But, you and Scarlett had been close once. She will trust you.”

  Raith remembered going through the lake to get the tree where he joined with the Fates. He couldn’t remember why he changed sides. It was odd. But it didn’t bother him. “How will I find her?”

  “We will come up with a plan soon.”

  A man in a cloak appeared on the throne, wine glass in hand. He took a sip. “Hello, daughters.” His dark hair was cropped short and he looked younger than Raith had imagined he would.

  The Fates bowed. Raith did, too. No need to make this guy mad.

  “So, you’re the one my daughters have selected. I’m Ankou, King of the Darkland.” He stood and circled Raith. “Very well. And he can get her?”

  Decuma stepped toward her father. “They were…close… once.” She looked at Raith with pursed lips.

  Ankou raised an eyebrow. “I see. We all know how closeness toys with the mind. It seems he was the right choice.”

  Decuma and Morta both grinned. Nona lingered in the back.

  “Nona, darling, do you agree with your sisters? Will their plan work?”

  Nona smiled. “Yes, father, my sisters are wise.”

  Ankou finished his glass of wine. “Then it’s settled. When the opportunity is right, send Raith in and bring me the Otherworld Queen.”

  Chapter Three

  Scarlett stirred the food on her plate—purple potatoes, the ripest fruit, poultry of some sort. It was even more delicious than fae food, but she’d only eaten a third of it. Now, all mixed, it looked completely unappetizing.

  The dining room sat in the east wing of the castle, in a turret with the highest ceiling she had ever seen. A circular, stone table sat in the room, a long silver runner lining its middle. A glass vase with an assortment of white flowers decorated the center.

  Scarlett’s skin absorbed the sunlight pouring in through the skylight above. She closed her eyes and soaked it in. Serenity washed over her.

  “As beautiful as ever, darling,” Kaelem’s voice echoed through the room.

  When Scarlett opened her eyes, Kaelem was sitting across from her with his feet on the table.

  “And you’re as proper as ever,” Scarlett replied.

  “I’m quite the gentleman.” Kaelem leaned back in the chair.

  With the sunlight highlighting his gray eyes and his suit fitted just right, he looked dashing. Scarlett counted the buttons of his jacket. She could have it off so quickly. Then she could remove his shirt. Or maybe she should go straight for the pants.

  What was she thinking?

  His ganacanagh gift seemed stronger than ever. Had something in him changed or had Scarlett’s new power somehow weakened her ability to resist him?

  Scarlett pulled her head out of the gutter.

  “And what brings you here unexpectedly?” Scarlett asked. “Not that it isn’t a pleasure to see you.”

  “I always love the chance to see you, but I’m here to talk business.”

  Ashleigh’s face flashed in Scarlett’s mind. Had something happened to her sister? She should have gone back right away and brought her here where she could keep her safe. She’d become more powerful than she could have ever dreamed.

  So powerful, she was afraid of herself.

  “Your sister is safe,” Kaelem said.

  How did he know what she was thinking?

  “I’d like to say it’s because I know you so well and we’re soul mates, but your mind is an open book right now. You really let your mental shields drop when you’re emotional.” He mockingly shook a finger at her.

  Shit. Scarlett raised her wards. She needed to be more careful.

  “I also heard the part about the difficult decision of where to unbutton first.”

  Scarlett’s cheek’s flushed.

  With her shields up again, it was easier to subdue his ganacanagh nature. She couldn’t block it out completely, but at least it wasn’t as strong now.

  “How’s Ashleigh doing?” Scarlett hated staying away from her, though she’d grown tired of her cold shoulder.

  “She’s alive. Aria’s doing her best to keep her happy, but your sister is mortal, and she misses her human life.”

 
So did Scarlett. Even with the beauty and magic and status turning fae and now Sidhe had given her, she missed Friday night pizza with Natalie and weekend hikes with Teddy. She and Ashleigh had always had their battles, but, at times, they had each other’s backs.

  All of that was gone. Having a sister to fight with was better than having no sister at all.

  “Does she ask about me?”

  Kaelem frowned, pity filling his aura. “No.”

  Scarlett straightened her posture. She was a queen now. Not a broken human who needed the love of her sister. “Any sign of the Fates?”

  “None. They’ve been surprisingly quiet.”

  Why would they take Raith and vanish? It had only been two weeks in this realm, but still. Scarlett expected them to attack right away before anyone could come up with a protection plan.

  Kaelem took his feet off of the table and evanesced into the chair next to Scarlett. “We need to be ready for them.”

  “We don’t even know what they want.” Scarlett smoothed out her dress. Looking at Kaelem so closely was dangerous. She didn’t trust herself.

  “We know they want power. And we might not know their exact plan, but gaining allies now will help us be better prepared when we learn their intentions.”

  “Great. Then find us allies. I’ve been queen for two weeks. I need to learn how to rule before I can worry about forming alliances.”

  “You took the tree’s power. I can feel the magic buzzing from you now. I don’t know what type of magic you have, but I know it’s strong. Others will sense it, too.” Kaelem placed his hand on Scarlett’s knee. “You’re stronger than you realize.”

  Scarlett met his gaze. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t want this. No one will look at me as a leader to ally with.”

  “You underestimate yourself.”

  Scarlett closed her eyes and pictured herself in the chair Kaelem had been in before. Her skin tingled. In a blink, she evanesced there.

  “Look at you. You’re learning new things all the time.” Kaelem smirked. “Don’t be afraid of power. Use it.”

  “I plan to.” Scarlett stood. “Next time I see the Fates, I will make them pay. That’s my only concern. I’m not fit to be queen or to find allies. I’m sorry.”