And since Lara left a week ago, I have never felt less like laughing than I do right now. With my queen gone, the poison flows thick and hot once again. Hate and bitterness unfurl in my blood like snakes waking from hibernation, slithering through my body, a creeping, crawling death march.
Whiskers and hot horsey breath tickle my cheek as Jinn nudges my shoulder armor, nibbling at the stiff layers of leather that resemble angled wings. He wants me to stop mindlessly tearing grass with my fingers, get to my feet, and engage in an interesting activity. Or even better, do something exciting.
“Give up, Jinn. I can’t be bothered racing around the kingdom with you.” I rub my chest as he whinnies a protest. “The poison moves, spinning the same rotten thoughts through my brain over and again—wreak havoc, cause suffering, induce pain. End someone. Who? Anyone. I long to give in to these wretched desires. Tell me, if you were me, would you let darkness conquer your soul?”
He snorts and pushes my shoulder, this time nearly knocking me from my lonely perch.
When I glance up, the High Mage is hovering in front of me about three inches from the ground, and I nearly tumble off the rock in surprise.
“Must you sneak up on me like that?”
“Dear Prince of Air, the pure light of the Lake of Spirits always shines upon you,” she says, her voice soothing. “It is your true birthright.”
“Is it?” Wet hair curtains my face, swiping at it, I gaze into Ether’s black eyes. Beside her, Balor wags his ridiculously long tail like a milksop whelp. “At this moment, the pits of Hell feel like my natural home. What brings you here?”
“I have your hound. He’s been fussing outside my door all morning, making quite a racket.”
Damn dog, trying to get the mage involved in my business.
“I thought I would find you near the gardens.” She smiles not unkindly. “Magret tells me you’ve been quite a nuisance the past few days. Have you no business to occupy yourself with?”
“No. Nothing I care about.”
“Perhaps you should visit the Moonstone Cave today. I believe the portal is open.”
“What?” My fingers stop ripping at grass. The High Mage frowns at the blood coating my fingers. “How?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes as though speaking to an imbecile or a mindless Unseelie fodden.
A harsh breath rushes out, and the black clouds quicken. “You’ve opened it again.” I accuse.
“Yes. Why do you mope here alone thinking about the human? If you want her, all you need do is pass through the portal and find her.”
“It isn’t that simple. I refuse to feel this way about someone Aer has chosen for me. I will not let her win.”
Ether laughs, and purple rose petals rain down on us, piling in a sodden mess at our feet, thanks to me. “You have it wrong. By loving this human, you have won. Aer wants you to despise her, to beg to be freed from the girl. Find happiness together and you win.”
“So, I become king, and when I eventually die, pass the curse onto my sons and they onto theirs forevermore? No. I think not.”
“Teach your children to honor and follow their hearts. We cannot be sure what will become of them, but a life lived with true love, even a brief life, is surely enough. What greater happiness could you wish for them?”
“If I do this, the Merits will cry war before I make her queen and try to take her from me.”
“Make her yours in another realm where they cannot touch her.”
“It’s pointless.”
“Is it? Did the poison halt its course in her presence?”
“Yes. I was myself again. I saw humor in things that would normally make me ache to rip out someone’s lungs.”
“And now you are apart?”
“The blackness moves again. Anger and hatred overtake my mind, burning my thoughts, turning kindness to ash.”
“Go to her and love and light will return to you. The curse may follow you. The curse may stay behind. The only way to know is to slip through the veil into your future.”
“But if the curse stays in our land, it will pass to Raff.”
“Most likely. But Raff is a much different creature than you. He wouldn’t mind being king. Come to your senses and stop this miserable rain from falling, Ever.”
“I can’t.”
“Try.”
Muscles hardening, I slow my breathing, focusing on light, blazing sun. Bright bluebells. Warmth. Sapphires. Lara’s laughter. The taste of her kisses—sweet as honey.
Ether’s smile grows as the sky clears, her skin glittering like diamonds in the sunshine.
“See?” she purrs softly. “You can do anything you want.”
Sighing, I sift rich, red soil through my fingers. “But I dream of impossible things—a babe with silver eyes and Lara’s red hair.”
Her brows arch high. “Is that so impossible? Perhaps it is a glimpse into your future. As you well know, it is indeed rare for a fae to get a mortal with child. Rare, but certainly not impossible. Love is required. Follow your heart, and you will triumph over Aer.”
At the mention of that witch, the sky above shakes, clouds streaking across it like ink-black hounds chasing each other’s tails. My eyes meet Ether’s, silver mercury spiraling through them. Hot. Uncomfortable. “But if Lara bore a halfling of royal blood, how would she deal with such a creature in the human realm?”
“In our land, Lara’s gift of song is no cheap parlor trick to be trifled with. Here, she has power. You thought yourself as good as dead to finer emotions, and now look at you. Bring her back to the Emerald Castle where she can protect herself and enjoy your lives together. Doing so will neutralize Aer. I have the strength to hold the portal open for one more hour only. Dana knows when I will be able to summon it again.”
This could be my only chance.
Without another word, I stand long enough to kiss the High Mage’s fingers, then leap onto Jinn’s back. “Balor, come,” I shout, wheeling in the direction of the stables. I crouch low over Jinn’s neck as he gallops hard until we scrape to a stop in the courtyard, dust and stones flying.
Raff, Kian, and Seven are preparing to ride out.
My brother waves. “Ever, at last you’ve woken from your dreary spell. Coming riding with us?”
“No,” I say, dismounting and meeting them in the center of the yard.
Red hair alive like writhing snakes, Kian smirks and folds his arms over his chest.
The imp’s black eye winks at me as she smiles and drops a slow curtsy. Today, her curling horns are green. “Please say you’ll join us, Prince Ever. It’s been so long since we’ve dallied together.”
“I’m sure Kian will be pleased to entertain you.” I flick my head at him. “Go now. I need to speak to my brother alone.”
Kian’s smirk vanishes and, grumbling loudly, he tugs Seven’s arm and drags her through an ivy-covered archway.
“What is it?” Raff asks, watching me pace before him.
I stop and huff a breath. “If I leave here now to find Lara, the Black Blood may pass to you. I know not if this will happen for certain, but—”
Dropping onto his haunches, he pats Balor’s wiry fur. Fire and amusement spark in Raff’s wolf-like gaze. “Hurry up and go, then. I wouldn’t mind being king. Pity that I’d have to trek regularly out to that ghastly Crystalline Oak to seek some girl I don’t know, but other than that, it sounds like fun.”