The Half Blood Book 5

“Sorana…” Kieran’s voice echoed in the room. “Don’t be fooled into thinking the Seelie realm will be a walk in the park. I’m not joking when I say it could be the death of you.”

His emerald eyes seemed to darken momentarily.

“I won’t die.” I felt the need to reassure him. But why? Why did I feel the need to reassure him of anything?

“Once they have you, they’ll lock you up. You’ll need to find friends and a way into the Seelie Court.” Kieran moved closer, his imposing figure towering over me.

He was tall. The Lord of the Court of Fears was blessed with a striking physique. His leather and cloth attire only added to his appeal.

“Lord Finn is the fae who initially captured you during the Hunt. He has the crystal we need to get back.

“Remember Reeona and Bianca? We believe they’re there too, but we can’t be certain.”

“How will I contact you?” I asked.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll always find you.” His words were laced with a certainty that he would.

And for a moment, I believed that no matter where I was, he would find me. The thought left me feeling…relieved? I wasn’t sure.

The more I observed him, the more I felt confused. Something about him stirred something within me, making me feel defensive just by his mere presence.

“One more thing, demoness,” Sorcha chimed in. “Don’t kill the human.”

I scowled.

“What human?” Cian asked the question before I could.

“A human that will test Sorana’s patience. Don’t kill her,” the old woman reiterated to me.

“We’ll see,” I responded.

“This isn’t a game, demoness. I need that human alive.”

“She won’t kill her, Sorcha,” Kieran interjected, and I found myself staring at him.

His assurance to the old woman that I wouldn’t kill the human didn’t sit right with me, and I couldn’t figure out why. Kieran met my gaze with indifference.

“I trust you, Lord Kieran, that it will be so,” Sorcha said. “Good luck Sorana, you’re going to need it.”

After bowing to the King, the old woman vanished, leaving me alone with the King and Kieran.

“Lord Riathan must be waiting, demoness. We should go,” Cian said, and a door materialized next to the ice-glass window overlooking the lake.

As I neared the door, my gaze drifted back to the lake. The memory of that kiss sent a warm sensation coursing through me.

“Goodnight, Sorana.”

My heart stuttered for a moment, and I held my breath as I heard him…

I turned to see Kieran, or rather his retreating figure, as he opened the door and exited. No, it was just my imagination. Lord Kieran was nothing like the man from my dreams.

The Lord of the Court of Fears was detached and distant, and wouldn’t waste his time on someone like me... unworthy.

“Is something wrong, demoness?” Cian’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“No.”

I followed him and reappeared, this time alone, in the same room where I’d left Keya. Only Riathan was waiting for me now.

He took my hand and led me to the edge of the palace. The same black-winged horse was waiting for us. Without a word, Riathan lifted me up and positioned me against his chest.

The horse spread its wings and we were airborne. Riathan remained silent, but I could feel the tension in his movements.

As I surveyed the Unseelie landscape, I found it impossible to commit the image to memory. It was as if my eyes could see the landscape, but my mind couldn’t retain it.

Everything became a blur, and I suspected it had something to do with the magic of this place.

Perhaps the magic of the Kingdom caused intruders like me to forget its appearance. The magic was likely a protective measure for the Court of Darkness.

Riathan began to descend, and we landed in a forest blanketed with purple flowers.

He helped me down, his hand on my waist.

“What are we doing here?” I asked, observing the night that dominated the space between the trees.

“From here, you’ll run from me. Follow that path, and you’ll come across the River of Pain. Cross it, and you’ll be in Seelie territory.”

A burning sensation began to sear my ankle, causing me to hiss in pain.

The flowers seemed to meld into my skin.

“Demoness,” Riathan’s voice pulled me from my focus on my scorched ankle. “My loyalty to my Kingdom trumps everything else. I’m aware of your plans.

“I see it in your gaze constantly. And I know your smiles are just a facade.”

His hand brushed my cheek, so gently that for a moment, I questioned if this was the same man who ruled the Court of Tears.

His hand moved to my hair, gripping it tighter than I anticipated, drawing my face nearer to his.

“You belong to me. Your body, your soul, your thoughts, all of it is mine. You can’t escape me.”

I raised my knee and drove it into his groin, instantly taking his breath away. He didn’t see it coming. The bastard wouldn’t see me again after tonight.

He claimed I was his? As if I was some pet. Asshole. I wasn’t anyone’s property.

I bolted, seeking my freedom, as ironic as it was since my freedom was in the hands of other executioners.

I ran for what felt like forever, the damn flowers scorching my feet.

I realized this was the same forest where I was abducted by that fae... Finn, that was his name. He was going to pay for this.

Following the same path that jerk Riathan had shown me, I saw nothing but trees and more flowers, no sign of the River of Pain. I halted, gasping for breath, straining to hear if there was water nearby.

I shut my eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again, steadying my breath and pounding heart.

That’s when I heard it… the sound of running water. I must have been closer than I thought, but the darkness of the forest made it hard to see.

I started walking quickly toward the sound of the water, and as I got closer, another sound joined in, creating a melancholic ambiance.

It was the same violin I had heard before. Something in my chest tightened as if the violin was affecting me in some way.

I reached the river, and there on a rock, a naked man with horns on his forehead was playing the violin non-stop.

And even though I wanted to just sit and listen to him all night and all day, I had a mission to complete.

Without giving it much thought, I stepped into the water, feeling the cold seep into my skin and making my wounds sting as if millions of ants were feasting on my flesh.

But I didn’t scream. I couldn’t leave yet. Not until I reached the other side and the Seelie territory.

I swam across the wide river without stopping, and when I was more than halfway across, I screamed as I felt something drag me down into the depths.

I tried to free myself, squinting through the murky water. And just when I thought I was out of air, my feet touched the bottom, and I was able to breathe again.

My surroundings came into focus, revealing Aegalin’s face. Her hair was silver with blue streaks, and her eyes were black, just as I remembered.

“Female of fear… we meet again.”

“Aegalin.”

Her serrated teeth seemed to form a grin.

“You remember my name.”

“What do you want, Aegalin? Last time I gave you everything I wanted you to take from me.”

“I’m a curious female of fear… why are you fleeing from the Unseelie realm when you belong there?”

I thought about telling her the truth for a moment, but I didn’t want to risk the one thing that could free me from Riathan.

“I want to escape from the Lord of the Court of Tears.”

“Why? He could be your mate.” Aegalin started to swim circles around me.

I scoffed. “Mate? I doubt it. That fucker can’t be my mate.”

“How can you be so sure if you can’t tell the difference?”

She was right. I had no way of knowing, and based on my past experience, that bastard Riathan could very well be my mate and he just wouldn’t tell me.

That might explain his attachment to me. But I didn’t want to believe that he was. Because if he was, then the gods truly despised me.

“I don’t want to be with him,” I confessed to Aegalin, and she stopped in front of me. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of sympathy in her eyes, or… something else? Was she pleased with my answer?

“If you go to the Seelie territory, you might die there, female of fear. The games will start soon, and those faes aren’t as merciful with their prisoners.”

A frown creased my forehead as she spoke again. It wasn’t her warning that bothered me, but the peculiar name she used for me. Female of fear.

“Why do you insist on calling me that?”

Her lips curled into what could be a smile, but with her sharp, jagged teeth, it was hard to tell.

“I sense our paths will cross again. Soon. Your fate is calling.”

Suddenly, I was engulfed in darkness, and I could feel the air leaving my lungs. I started swimming towards the surface.

I made it to the shore and glanced back at the river. The forest’s silence seemed to have swallowed up the violin music.

The horned creature was no longer on the boulder.

The river’s dark water appeared harmless.

I got up to continue my journey. The scent on this side of the river was more floral, more inviting.

I looked up at the sky, and the blackness that marked the Unseelie territory seemed to fade here. The night sky was a deep blue, but oddly devoid of many stars.

“Halt.”

A voice stopped me in my tracks, and I saw two figures dressed in immaculate white uniforms and black boots. Their golden hair revealed pointed ears.

They both had swords pointed at me.

“Identify yourself.”

Trying to appear as harmless as possible, I held my breath. “Please, I need help... I can’t go back there.”

“Answer the question, demoness.”

“I... I... escaped from the Court of Tears. I was held captive there. Please, I just want to go home.” I wasn’t sure if they would believe my plea or my feigned fear.

For a moment, they both studied me, trying to determine if I was telling the truth. But perhaps due to my appearance, they seemed to believe I was on the run.

“Don’t worry, demoness, we’ll assist you.”

I didn’t trust them for a second. I followed them until we reached a field as wide as a meadow under the spring night sky.

A carriage made of pure black iron appeared, pulled by two white horses with golden reins.

“Get in,” one of the faes ordered gruffly.

“Will this take me home?” I asked, playing the fool.

One of them nodded, and I saw the hidden malice in his eyes. Fools. They have no idea. They’ve just invited the lion into their den.

It wasn’t surprising when the carriage eventually stopped in front of a massive snow-white mountain with gray rocks. A prison.

“Why am I here?” I asked, feigning fear and putting my acting skills to good use.

Another fae glanced at my bruised and sore feet, and my still-drenched dress. He grabbed my arm and dragged me into the mountain.

I screamed and kicked as much as I could. The bastard punched me in the face more than once to shut me up.

The prison was a maze of dark, winding corridors. Some cells were shrouded in complete darkness, while others had no ceilings, exposing the sky.

A cell door opened, and the fae shoved me inside.

“Welcome home, demoness.”

I waited for him to leave before touching my cheek, wincing in pain. Damn. That hurt.

“You’ll pay for this, you bastard.”

My cell didn’t have an open ceiling, but at least it wasn’t completely dark. One of the walls was made of crystals that cast a faint light around me.

“Another newcomer?” A woman’s voice echoed.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Do you really want to know?”

I sighed and replied honestly, “Not particularly.”

“Ouch. That was harsh.”

I heard her chuckle.

I settled down on the floor.

“What’s a demoness doing in a fae prison?”

I was taken aback that she knew my origin.

“How did you know?”

“That you’re a she-demon? I saw you when the guard brought you in. I’m two cells down. It’s just you and me in this part of the prison.”

“How long have you been here?” I asked.

“Who can say? I’ve lost track.”

She clearly didn’t want to share. Her voice didn’t sound like someone who had been resigned to prison life for years.

“Where are you from?” I asked.

“Everywhere and nowhere,” she replied.

I wasn’t in the mood to keep up this ridiculous chat with the stranger. It felt like a waste of time. But she seemed to have other plans, as she just kept talking.

“Ever wonder why they stuck you in this cell with me?”

“I’m guessing you’re going to tell me whether I want to know or not.”

“You’re not much for small talk, are you, demoness?”

“You’re quick,” I retorted, sarcasm dripping from my words. “So, enlighten me. Why are we here?”

“It’s all about the games.”

“Games?” I feigned ignorance.

“Every year, the fae host three games of life and death. The players aren’t them, though. It’s people like us or some lesser fae.”

“Ever been in these games?”

“Once. Last year.”

Life or death? That meant she must have won if she was still here.

“Congrats,” I said.

“For what?” she scoffed.

“You survived last year.”

“You’re sharp. We might have been friends in another life. Too bad you’re going to die.”

Now things were getting interesting. This woman wasn’t as harmless as her sweet voice suggested.

“We’ll see about that.” I leaned back against the wall, shutting my eyes.

“What’s your name?” she asked.

“Sorana,” I replied, my tone flat.

“Nice to meet you, Sorana. I’m Celeste.”

“And what are you, Celeste?” I asked, not expecting a truthful response.

But her answer made me open my eyes. “I’m what the fae refer to as the human.”