Something moves ahead, too fast to get a clear view. Zarreth shoves me behind him, his hands already covered in flames. The faint outline of Graven’s shield shimmers while he draws his sword. “Fuck!” he mumbles quietly.
“Stay behind me, Frankie! At least until we know what the fuck is making that sound.” I peer out from behind Zarreth’s back, barely able to make out low gurgling sounds. Soon, a dozen creatures come crawling out of the woods. Their eyes are red, skin is burnt, and their odor is unbearable. My stomach lurches, but I manage to unsheathe my sword without getting sick.
They all stop at the same time, their heads turning in unison as they take us in.
“Playtime’s over,” Brynn shouts. “Beasts inbound.”
The valkyrie…falkyrie—whatever they call themselves— instantly shift into the warriors we first met. Spears spin to ready positions, lightning striking from the tips. The beasts charge straight for us. Some leap as high as buildings, some crawl on all fours, but they’re all fast.
“They don’t stay dead,” Kara shouts. “We just need to slow them down so we can get away.” She runs forward, her spear steady, when Zarreth releases his fire.
Flames eat through them before they can scream. Their bodies never touch the ground as they turn to ash. Everyone pauses. The lightning fades from the tip of Kara’s spear as she looks at Zarreth. “Guess I was wrong. Can’t imagine anything coming back from that.”
Brynn lowers her spear and opens her mouth to speak, but another falkyrie scoffs, shoving her weapon into the dirt. “Thanks a lot, demon. Maybe next time you could save some for the rest of us.” She storms past him, eyes narrowed in his direction the entire time.
Brynn shakes her head, glaring as she walks by. The other falkyrie follow suit, mumbling about manners and learning how to share.
Kara glances at him, her mouth twitching. “You’re not making any friends that way, demon.” She turns on her heels and follows the others.
I glance at Zarreth, the last of the fire fading from his hands. Are we the villains or the heroes here?
“Weird little creatures,” I mutter.
He lets out a low laugh. “Careful, little mate. They might hear you.”
CHAPTER 29
Frankie
Istay close to Zarreth as we follow the guards through the castle, my eyes darting over every surface. The walls rise like sheets of living crystal, catching the sunlight and casting a light wash of color over the floor. It feels like we’re stepping through the inside of a prism instead of a hallway. Silver vines climb the crystal columns, their buds glowing faintly like they’re holding bits of starlight.
Jess turns in slow circles as we walk, afraid to miss a single detail. “Holy shit…this is fucking cool.” Her voice echoes, clear and sharp against the walls, and I can’t help but grin.
The guards, however, don’t seem as amused. One glances back, a cold expression glued to his face. “Restraint is expected in the Queen’s halls.”
Graven huffs. “Yeah, good luck with that.”
Jess shoots him a glare, but he doesn’t bother looking her way. I honestly don’t know how those two can stand to be near each other when all they do is fight.
“Don’t worry about the glitter guards,” Brynn quips. “They’re just jealous you actually have a personality.”
One of them stiffens, but keeps his gaze fixed ahead as we approach a set of towering crystal doors. Another set of guards stand at perfect attention on either side, spears angled upright. Our escorts nod at them and disappear down the corridor.
“Thanks for the tour,” Brynn hollers after them. “You’re a real ray of sunshine.”
Faint voices come from behind the doors, but I can’t make out the words. When the door parts, a little round-bellied fae with translucent wings waddles out. He’s muttering to himself, eyebrows drawn into a scowl. “…outrageous…absolutely outrageous…how’s a respectable pixie supposed to keep to a three-petal ration? Three petals a week! The Queen’s never tried to brew tea for seven cousins on three petals…”
He nearly bumps into Zarreth’s arm, squawks in surprise, and flutters sideways, still grumbling. “…unfair…positively tyrannical…three petals…”
Jess snorts a laugh while I quickly bite my lip, holding mine in. Even Zarreth’s mouth twitches. One of the guards clears his throat and gestures us forward.
The chamber is huge and full of light. The floor is made of polished crystal with veins of gold running through it. Columns of rose quartz climb to the ceiling, reflecting the light and sending it into little rainbows across the court. The air smells faintly of something bright and green, like the first rain after a long, cold winter.
Dozens of fae fill the sides of the chamber. Some are tall and slender with bright silver hair; while others are smaller than children, with wings glinting in the glow. Conversations falter as we enter. Their eyes land on us, first Jess and me, then Zarreth and Graven. The shift in the room is instant as wariness seeps in. A few of the smaller fae actually step back,wings drawn close to their backs. The guards at the edges of the dais tighten their grips on their spears.
At the far end, a throne carved from luminous white stone rises from the dais, its gold trim shining brightly. A waterfall of light spills down the wall behind it, making the throne seem haloed.
The Queen sits there in a gown that seems to be made of light. Silver-and-gold hair drapes over her shoulders, and her eyes catch the light with a faint glow. She’s absolutely striking.
