But…things were happening the humans had not told me about. At first, I’d assumed King Duncan Hinde was being secretive as always, but now I had to wonder…what if they hadn’t seen any of this? What if something was off?
“You’re wrong,” I said, my voice coming out harsh and choked, despite the brave front I tried to show her.
She merely smiled. “Come with me, my son. Be my heir.”
“Heir of what?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Of Gailfean. Of the Kingdom of Storms.” Her smile widened, so wickedly familiar. “Of all of Aesir.”
Chills rushed through me. I took a step back. “Gailfean? But didn’t you hear? The city has been destroyed.”
“Andromeda has left Gailfean to me. It’s mine to do with as I please while they press on to the mortal realms, though I will have much rebuilding to do now. The city is empty, but we can bring it to life once more. You won’t even have to deal with the gods. All they care about is Talaven.” She held a hand out toward me. “Join me, Ruari. Be my heir. Be my son.”
A knife of pain sliced through my heart as I stared into the silver eyes of my mother. I’d heard stories of those eyes and what they’d once looked like far before I was born. There were songs about her—tales told in pubs and around travelers’ campfires, back in a time when fae could freely travel across Aesir. She’d had brilliant ice-blue eyes, such a similar color to the silver ones she had now.
There were other tales about her, too. Stories said the stars glowed brighter on the day of her birth. Many had believed it was a sign that her realm would prosper under her rule, that the stars themselves had blessed her reign.
Now I couldn’t help but wonder if it had been something else entirely.
A warning.
From behind me, the sounds of the fighting cut through my thoughts, reminding me of the here and now and everything that was at stake. My people needed my help. I lifted my sword and met the gaze of my mother for one last time.
“Never approach me again,” I said to her in a snarl. “I will not join you in Gailfean, nor will I be your heir. Now get out of here before I order my men to cut you down.”
She just continued to smile. When she stepped back, her form slowly blended with the mist. “When you realize your world will never survive, you can find me in Gailfean.”
And then she was gone.
Forty-Eight
Tessa
The sounds of war rang through the city. I winced when another scream ripped through the streets, which was quickly swallowed by a thunderous boom when a storm fae blew his magic-infused wind at the castle’s door. He’d joined the scorpion in its quest to get inside, and the wood had splintered, nearly giving way.
With a strangled cry, I extended my wings and leapt into the night. I didn’t know how I would stop them, but I had to try.
My power would not win this fight, even if I managed to use it by calling upon Kalen’s strength again. One pair of hands for over a hundred enemies, all scattered throughout the city. It wasn’t enough.
Still, I raced toward the castle doors. The cloaked storm fae lifted his hands to release another burst of wind at the shuddering wood, but I swept in to block him before he could. I couldn’t let them inside that castle. Half the city was in there, safely hidden away. And my sister. My heart squeezed at the thought of her face—both of her faces, wolf and human alike.
“No!” I shouted as I threw myself in front of the doors.
The blast of wind hit me square in the chest, throwing me against the cracked wood. My head slammed against it. Pain ripped through my skull. Black spots stormed my vision as my body tumbled, my wings curling up behind me.
When I hit the ground, my leg smashed into the hard stone. My ears ringing, I tried to blink away the spots just as a pair of boots moved into my line of sight.
The storm fae let out a low, blood-curdling laugh. “There must be something precious inside this castle, indeed.”
I shook my head, my vision still blotchy, my ears still ringing, my body still screaming in pain. I needed to get to my feet. I needed to raise my sword. But try as I might, my body would not respond. The storm fae warrior gripped me by the back of my neck and hauled me from the ground. He slammed me against the door, and a broken beam sliced through my leathers and into my back.
Pain roared through me. Biting the insides of my cheeks, I forced the howl back down my throat.
Hissing, the storm fae swept a pair of red-tinged eyes across my face. “A mortal with wings.” He took a sniff. “You’re the one she’s sent us here to look for.”
“Then take me,” I growled back, ignoring the blood dribbling down my back. “Leave the people of this city alone and take me.”
He flicked his eyes up and down my body, as if he were considering. “Tell me what’s inside this castle that you’re willing todiefor.”
