Dagan grew worried about Celine when he could not find her in the castle. After he had searched and asked around, he concluded that she must have opened a portal. But where had she gone? Had she been foolish enough to travel to Erken to retrieve the No-Name sword? It was certainly possible that she felt guilty for losing it and wanted to fix her mistake. Or maybe she had been foolish enough to go ask the Elves for help, alone. It was possible that she had gone to visit her family. Dagan had seen how much she loved and missed them. It was something he could use against her, but never would. He’d never hurt her like that – like Caynin had. She could have gone to see Caynin, and this thought turned Dagan’s stomach. He hated that he was jealous because it gave Celine power over him.
There was nothing he could do except wait for her return – if she even returned. It made him feel weak, and he realized Celine was the only human who had this effect on him. He didn’t consider her weak, although she was mortal. She possessed a strong will and a brave heart, and he wished she would trust him more. The past months he had tried his best to keep her happy and be a good friend, but she was smart and knew he had more than friendship on his mind.
Dagan climbed onto the wall at the edge of the castle where he and Celine often had dinner together. He swung his feet off the side as he sat down. He breathed in the fresh air and closed his eyes so that he could feel the sun on his face. He was not afraid of heights or many other things; his biggest fears were losing the power he’d worked so hard to gain or opening up to someone. The wall he had built around his heart was there for good reason.
He had come so far in life, and he was not ready to lose everything because of the Prenumbras. When Celine returned, they would travel to the Moon World and find a way to convince the Elves to help them. Dagan, ever the strategist, couldn’t help but wonder why the Prenumbras hadn’t acted yet. The ones on Earth seemed to be mindless zombies, unlike, from what Celine told him, the intelligent Prenumbra king. Had he given orders for the portal behind the waterfall to be guarded? Did he have a master plan that was yet to be revealed?
Dagan planned to have the swords forged so he could kill all the Prenumbras on Earth. He had no doubt that the other princes and Severin would join him in hunting them. Once the Prenumbras were dead, the kingdoms would be safe. There would also be no need for Princess Celine to ever open another portal again. None of the Fata wished to return to Erken, and none of them wished to battle a Prenumbra army.
What would Celine do once they killed the Prenumbras? Would she return to her family and try to live as normal a life as possible? He did not want her to go. He wanted her to stay with him, but he wouldn’t force or manipulate her.
Dagan touched his chest as if his wall had a small crack in – because of Celine.
Although she was terribly annoying, and he wished she would listen to him, he had also grown too fond of her. She was always kind and tried to help everyone. She was the most genuine person he had ever met.
To Dagan’s right, Tybalt was pacing on one of the patios. The former King of Erken had already gained some weight and wore clean clothes. He avoided Dagan, and Dagan avoided him. They had nothing to say to each other, but had Tybalt ever had the decency to thank Celine for risking everything to save him? No one else would have done it. And why would they? Tybalt had never cared about anything or anyone except himself, and he had failed to defend Erken against the Prenumbras. He was purposeless now, and Dagan did not think much of him.
Dagan watched the waves as they rose and fell. He didn’t ever want to return to Erken. This was where he belonged. He liked the weather, the planet, and the high drinking human blood gave him. He liked his power as prince.
“My Prince,” one of Dagan’s guards said from behind him. “This has come from the Everblossom Kingdom.”
Dagan turned around and accepted the papers and pen from his guard before dismissing him. They were from Severin, and Dagan immediately read the letter. In it, Severin explained that he had captured Celine and would return her alive only if the three Eternity Princes signed his binding document in which they acknowledged Severin as the one and only King of the Eternity Kingdoms. He wanted to take Queen Valeska’s place. If the documents were not returned within one day, he would assume that they weren’t signed, and he would torture Celine before killing her.
Dagan wanted nothing more than to shred the documents and to rip out Severin’s throat. How dare Severin threaten him? The other two princes would share his anger.
Severin’s plan was foolish because he had now revealed that he had Celine. Dagan could simply go and get her back. If he showed up with an army, it would be an act of war. He did not want to declare war, not while they were busy fighting the Prenumbras.
For the first time, Dagan longed for Flint. If his Waerie were here, he could easily have had his back during these difficult times. Flint and Dagan had not been close, but they had understood each other. Flint had known when to push Dagan and when not to. He had known when to ask questions and when he should have kept his mouth shut. And Dagan had left him to die.
Dagan didn’t have many allies. He had concluded long ago that the only Fata he could trust and rely on was himself. But it would be unwise to challenge Severin alone. He’d need someone else with him, someone powerful. Who else could be a potential ally? He doubted Bolt would come to his aid nor would he sign these documents. But Caynin… Caynin was in love with Celine. Love made anyone foolish, and Dagan assumed he had already signed the document. Even if everyone signed the documents, Dagan did not trust Severin to keep his word.
Dagan most certainly did not want to ask Caynin for help. But who else was there? Besides, Caynin was one of the most powerful Fata on Earth. He and Dagan were each more powerful than Severin, and together they could sneak into the castle and steal back Celine. That way, there would be no need for fighting, no innocents would get hurt, and Celine wouldn’t be tortured.
Dagan’s stomach twisted at the idea of someone torturing Celine. The things he would do to that Fata…
What had Severin done to her that she could not open a portal home? There were different ways to bind someone’s magic. Certain spells also counteracted magic, like the protective ward Dagan had put on her. Whatever Severin had done, he was going to pay for it. Dagan would make him pay.
And how had she ended up in the Everblossom Kingdom? Severin wouldn’t have sent his faeries to come kidnap her as they would be trespassing in the Evergreen Kingdom – an act of war. Which meant she had gone to the Everblossom Kingdom on her own.
Dagan studied the documents and decided what he was going to do. Then he called his guards back and told them to return the documents to Severin.
Dagan wasted no more time. He went to the armory, picked a sword, chose two daggers, and hid them in his jacket’s inside pockets. He wore steel-tipped shoes that would do serious damage if he kicked someone.
Then he went to the stables and saddled a piatek with large, sharp claws. Dagan had experience with piateks, and it did not take long for him to mount and sink his heels into his mount’s sides. There was no time for the wingless griffin to warm up, Dagan had to hurry. The piatek galloped to the Globetrot-tree, and Dagan moved rhythmically in the saddle. When they reached it, the piatek’s coat was covered in sweat, and he breathed heavily. Dagan rode him to the side of the tree and touched the tree. Bright light erupted from the bark, and Dagan could feel the magic as if it were his own.
“To the Everwhite Kingdom,” Dagan said.
Instantly, he was there, where he had been many times before and knew his way around. The piatek tossed his head, clearly confused by how his surroundings had changed so drastically. There were no more beaches and palm trees, only forest and snow.
Dagan urged the piatek to gallop until they reached the castle’s beautifully manicured gardens. Fata all around knew who he was. He could tell from their curious faces that they wanted to know why he had shown up unannounced.
“Tell Caynin I am here,” he ordered one of the guards.
The guard nodded and then disappeared into the castle. Dagan dismounted, and one of the Fata took his piatek and led him to the stables. The beast was tired and panting, and Dagan gave him a rewarding pat before letting him go.
The guard who had gone to Caynin returned. “Follow me.”
Dagan followed him to the throne room where he closed Dagan inside. Was this to give them privacy or to trap him?
Caynin sat on his throne, waiting for Dagan to approach. Dagan went to him with his head held high, and he could immediately tell something was off. Caynin looked… sick. His eyes were red, and there were bags under his eyes. His arm had been bandaged.
“I take it, you’ve heard from Severin,” Caynin said in lieu of greeting him.
Dagan nodded and stopped once he was near the throne. Few Fata would dare to stand this close to the prince, but Dagan was his equal and did not fear him.
“I’ve already returned the documents to him,” Dagan said.
“As have I,” Caynin said.
They met each other’s eyes. Dagan knew what he had done with his document, and he suspected Caynin had refused to sign his own. But he didn’t ask or explain himself.
“How could you let him take her?” Caynin couldn’t keep the accusation from his voice.
“She comes and goes as she pleases,” Dagan growled, instantly angry. He was not sure if he was angry at Caynin or himself.
“Then you should have stopped her from leaving!” Caynin yelled and slammed his fist on his armrest. Any other chair would have broken had he done that, but the magic in the Everwhite Throne kept it together.
“And how should I have done that? By telling her she is cursed and cannot leave?” Dagan’s heart leapt with joy as Caynin’s face twisted.
“Watch your tongue,” Caynin responded. “She came to no harm while she was under my protection.”
“And yet she couldn’t wait to get away from you,” Dagan said.
Caynin jumped to his feet and flexed his fingers, making Dagan think that waves of pain had shot through his arm. He had some nerve, showing up here and insulting the Everwhite Prince in his own kingdom when he had intended to ask him for help. But his jealousy had got the better of him.
“She left because you poisoned her mind.”
“She left because she does not love you.” Dagan hoped it was the truth.
“And she loves you? Is that why she keeps coming back here?” Caynin snapped. His icy blue eyes sent daggers at Dagan, but Dagan kept his expression stone. Caynin, like many others, no doubt wished he could read him better. He had no idea what Dagan was feeling or thinking, and Dagan could use this to his advantage.
Caynin was telling the truth – Celine had been visiting him. Each time she had returned, Dagan could smell Caynin’s scent on her. It made him sick, and it took everything to not tell Celine to stop visiting. If he commanded her, she would come to the Everwhite Kingdom out of spite. She never did anything Dagan told her, which was so frustrating.
“She keeps coming back here out of pity.” Dagan studied Caynin’s injured arm, slumped shoulders, and tired eyes. Humans had soft hearts and were ruled by their emotions. Of course, Celine pitied him.
Caynin stepped away from the throne, closer to Dagan. “She comes here out of love.”
“That’s not what she said when she let me shove my tongue down her throat.”
Dagan instantly regretted the words when they left his lips, but there was no time to linger on them. Caynin was not thinking clearly as he leapt then swung his fist into Dagan’s face. Dagan had expected them to have an argument, but he hadn’t expected Caynin to get physical. Caynin could throw a good, solid punch. If he wasn’t so weak, he would have sent Dagan falling to the ground. But now, Dagan remained on his feet, touched his jaw, and fixed his eyes on Caynin.
“How dare you kiss her while my scent is all over her!”
The possessiveness in his voice made Dagan ball his fists at his side. “Your scent has faded these past three months,” Dagan told him. And just to put the cherry on the cake, he added, “I also didn’t see any tooth marks on her, which means she has not let you claim her as your own.”
Dagan knew Celine hated that faeries enjoyed human blood. There was no way she would ever let Caynin bite her.
“She hasn’t let you bite her either,” Caynin countered.
Dagan should stop this petty fight, but Fata males were so territorial and couldn’t share. “I have not bitten her, because she prefers drinking my blood instead.”
“You’re lying.” Caynin shoved him.
Dagan was not going to share the circumstances under which Celine had drunk his blood. There was no way he would explain how Celine had depleted her magic and, if she hadn’t drunk his blood, she would have died.
“Shove me again, and you will regret it,” Dagan threatened.
Caynin shoved him again, and Dagan hit him. His fist connected with Caynin’s eye, and he hoped it would leave it blue. Then Caynin jumped at him, snarling. Caynin punched, and Dagan grabbed his wrist, pulled him closer, and flipped him over his hip. Once Caynin was on the floor, Dagan kicked him.
Caynin was clearly weak, and it was not a fair fight. But that was not going to stop him. He had not become a prince by fighting fair. He kicked Caynin again, and Caynin rolled onto his back. Then Caynin swung his legs into Dagan’s so that he fell to his knees.
Caynin punched, despite his weak arm. His rage must be worse than the pain, so he kept fighting. They kicked and snarled and hissed until Dagan pushed Caynin onto his back and punched him in the face again.
Dagan pulled back his hand, and Caynin flinched. Instead of hitting him again, Dagan cried out in frustration and rolled off. They lay side by side, panting.
“I did not come here to fight,” he stated.
“We both love the same woman,” Caynin said. “Fighting was inevitable.”
Dagan considered those words. Did he love Celine? Dagan had never loved anyone before – love made one weak! And the walls around his heart now had cracks in them... The only thing he loved was power.
“You took my letters,” Caynin stated.
“I did not want her returning to you,” Dagan confessed.
“I didn’t know you were so insecure.”
“I didn’t know you are such a weak fighter,” Dagan said. A moment of silence followed. “What happened to your arm?”
“It doesn’t matter. It will heal,” Caynin responded. They stared at the roof. “Why did you come here?”
“For help.” Dagan laughed. Caynin finally turned his head to look at Dagan. “I want to go and rescue Celine. I want to sneak in and out and thought it would be quick if it were just us. I didn’t know you were injured.”
“I can do it,” Caynin said.
“Are you bringing your Waerie?”
“No.”
Dagan had a feeling Rane would try to talk Caynin out of going because he was injured or offer to take his place. But Caynin obviously didn’t want to be influenced by his Waerie and had chosen to leave him out of it.
“So, what is the plan?” Caynin asked.
“The Globetrot-tree is the only way to get there,” Dagan said. “Once we are there you go find Celine – I suggest that you search the dungeons first.”
“And you?”
“I’m first going to kill Tarragon.” Tarragon had sent those assassins after Celine, and Dagan was going to make him pay. The world would be a better place without him, and Celine would be safer.
“Are you going to kill him while he is weak and defenseless in his cell?” Caynin asked. “I know you don’t have honor, but this is a bit extreme.”
“Trust me, it is for the best,” Dagan responded. “Once he is dead, I will go to the castle and figure out why Celine is not able to teleport. Severin won’t expect you and me to be working together. Once her magic is free, we get out of there.”
“That is if she is strong enough to use her magic.”
Dagan did not want to think about Celine being hurt. “Severin gave us a day before he would torture and kill her.”
“He never said he wouldn’t hurt her in the meantime,” Caynin reminded him.
“Then we better hurry.” Dagan got to his feet.
The fight had not hurt him much – his faerie body healed quickly. As he helped Caynin to his feet, he realized the fight had drained some of his energy, and his face was already turning purple. Dagan regretted coming to him. Caynin had a strong will, but he was sick. Dagan hoped he would be able to help, instead of slowing them down.
“Did you sign it?” Caynin asked unexpectedly.
He was referring to the documents. He had to choose – give someone power over him or let Celine die. Instead, he asked, “Did you?”
Caynin didn’t answer either.