I ignored the swarm of pixies. Their swords were irritating as shit. Like getting blasted from hornets but killing them stirred up just as much trouble.
More would come until I had hundreds on me. Bad enough my fucking back was on fire.
This was why humans or half-humans shouldn’t fuck Fae. Half my back burned after being with Darrius. Then after having sex with Malcolm, the second half was the same and damn distracting.
I burst into the castle, panting. A few of the pixies fluttered in with me, but now they soared ahead looking for new prey.
“Darrius! Malcolm!” I tore upstairs, shouting their name.
At the armory, I rummaged through the cabinets and drawers for my weapons. None of them were anywhere in here.
I settled for a pair of daggers and several throwing knives. The latter, I stuffed in the concealed pockets sewn into my shirt.
A yell echoed and I stilled. My entire body froze for half a second before the rush of anguish slammed into me. Darrius!
I dove for the door. My stomach felt like it had fallen into my boots. Though I’d gotten lost several times in this castle, I ran like something pulled me down the correct path.
Darrius lay on a sapphire and silver Oriental-style rug. His breathing was labored. Wounds with black lines covered his arms and legs.
My throat closed so tight, that I couldn’t swallow as I knelt beside him. I brushed his reddish-gold hair off his brow, and he flinched. His azure eyes narrowed as he tried to lift his knife. His hand shook as he pointed the tip at the hollow of my throat.
“I didn’t do this,” I forced the words out. “It was a Gwyllion…she took my form. Something about Amber?” Why would he believe me? I was an assassin. “I-I’m sorry.”
The back of my eyes burned as he pressed the tip of the blade into my flesh.
“I was wrong about the Fae. Some of you aren’t so bad.”
“If the Gwyllion took yer image, then how did ye escape?” Sweat beaded across his forehead, but he didn’t lower the blade.
And I knew his thoughts. The same ones I would’ve had if I were in his place. He’d kill me or try to with his last breath.
“Why do you hesitate if you hate me so much?” I asked.
“Answer the question.” His eyes searched mine.
My chest constricted and I grimaced. “Mrs. Browning…she gave me her essence… sacrificed herself so I could get out of some weird, magical tree prison.”
He dropped his arm and the knife clanked to the carpet beside him. “Even if it not be true, I want it to be. I can scent ‘er on ye. Couldn’t picture ye ‘armin’ ‘er no matter ‘ow ‘ard I tried.”
“I didn’t.” I clasped his hand. “Tell me what to do. How do I help you?”
His body convulsed and I watched helplessly. There had to be something I could do. When the seizure stopped, he laid there breathing heavily, his eyes closed.
Fuck! There had to be some remedy against the Gwyllion’s attack.
Helga.
“Be right back.” I brushed a kiss across his lips, feeling a tingle.
I pushed to my feet. My heart splintered as I ran through the castle. “Helga!”
“In here,” came a faint reply.
Once again, I followed my instincts to where I thought the voice had been and found a throne room with four majestic thrones. Indigo-blue with millions of stars and crystal chandeliers covered the ceiling. The walls were trimmed in gold with a cream color.
I moved cautiously further inside, daggers in each hand.
Helga leaned over someone. Or it could be the Gwyllion trying to trick me.
“Come quickly,” I said not moving within striking distance of her. “Darrius needs help. The Gwyllion attacked him, and he’s got these black lines snaking up his body.”
“Malcolm too.” She turned to me, tears in her eyes. “I’ve cared for these three their whole lives and their fathers and fathers before them.”
I sheathed my daggers. My gut told me this was the real Helga. When she moved back revealing Malcolm, my world slipped away.
He was so pale. His breathing was so shallow that I had to stare in order to see it. My hand covered my mouth. The urge to scream hurtled through me.
“No.” I shook my head. My entire body trembled. “Heal him…why aren’t you removing the poison like you did with the leminax?”
“No one can heal a cut from a Gwyllion bone.” She sighed. “That’s why the court is here, uniting the four realms to hold back the Unseelie from both Fae and humans.”
I clenched my fists. “Darrius was struck too. Multiple times. You have to heal them both. Do whatever you can.”
“It’s not that easy, child.” She gave me a soft smile that stabbed me. “All I can do is buy them time. Bring Darrius to me and I will keep them both alive for as long as I’m able.”
“You’re wrong. There has to be something.”
“The only hope they have to survive is the queen. She could heal them when she establishes her court.”
“I’m not the queen,” the words scraped my throat. For the first time since Malcolm told me his crazy idea of me being half-Fae and royalty, I wanted so desperately for it to be true that I’d sell my soul to make it so.
“Bring Darrius,” Helga prompted me out of my thoughts. “I’ll do what I can for them.”
With something to do besides stand there and fret, I bolted out of the throne room and back to Darrius.
He was as pale as Malcolm.
“Hang on. I’m getting you to Helga.” I lifted his shoulders, trying to scoot him, but he was dead weight. I couldn’t lift him.
Unseelie Fae crashed into the castle. Ogres and goblins and creatures I’d never seen before. All the stuff from nightmares.
Servants rushed forward from deeper in the castle, brandishing swords and knives. But they wouldn’t be enough. I had enough knowledge to know that they’d all fall.
If I stayed and fought with them, we might have a chance, but I couldn’t leave Darrius and Malcolm to die.
“Help me,” I cried out to the Fae near me. “I need to get him into the throne room.”
Some ignored me, not even glancing my way. Others shook their heads. Most glared at me like this was my fault.
“I didn’t do this…it was the Gwyllion. Please,” I said to anyone who’d listen and grabbed Darrius’ legs, attempting to drag him alone.
“My wife trusted you. Believed you were our queen,” Mr. Browning said from behind me. “She’s dead, isn’t she?”
Tears glistened in my eyes, blurring my vision. “Yes. She sacrificed herself for me. I-I’m so sorry.”
“Are you the queen?” he asked.
“I’m not. My mom was human.” But everything in me wished it were true.
He nodded. “I will help you in honor of my wife and for Darrius.”
“Thank you.”
Together, we carried Darrius to the throne room and laid him beside Malcolm. Seeing them together so pale, cut at my soul.
My back seized up and I hunched over, panting.
“Avery, what’s wrong?” Helga asked, but she didn’t take her hands from Darrius and Malcolm.
“Nothing. It’s just something I must have brushed up against that I’m allergic to.”
“Show me.” Helga frowned.
Mr. Browning nodded. “If any herbs will help, Mrs. Browning has—had a garden full of them.”
I turned my back to Helga and lifted my shirt. Her indrawn breath sent panic clutching my throat. Then Mr. Browning walked to the side so he could see too and paled.
I yanked my shirt back down.
“What is it?” I was probably dying. At least I’d take out as many of the dark Fae as I could. But I wanted Darrius and Malcolm to live. If I hadn’t been in such a hurry to leave, if I had accepted the good side of the Fae sooner.
Mr. Browning knelt on one knee, clamping a fist to his chest. “Forgive my lack of belief, your highness.”
I balked. “Wha—I’m not the queen. I told you that.”
“Aye, but you are, lass.” Helga cleared her throat. “Your back is trying to release your wings.”
“Wha—Then I can heal them.” I stepped closer, but she shook her head.
“Nay. You need to complete your court. Get your wings to release first.”
“Simeon.” His name slipped from my lips like a prayer.
The clank of boots on the floor had me whipping around. My doppelgänger still wearing my face stood surrounded by three huge ogres.
“I came here to kill the three bastards that killed my sister.” She smirked. “To overthrow their reign and bring the Unseelie court to our majestic place. And now that I have the queen, everyone will bow to me.”
“Don’t count on it.” I took out my throwing knives and hurled them at one of the ogres.
It roared, stomping toward me and I withdrew the daggers. Fighting three monsters would be a pain, but I wasn’t going down without a fight.
“Stop.” The doppelgänger held up a hand. “I have a better match against her.”
I stiffened, squaring my shoulders. “Bring it on. I can beat anyone you throw at me.”
“Really?” Her eyebrow cocked. “Let me introduce you to your third consort. Simeon who you, Darrius and Malcolm were so set on rescuing that you left the castle unprotected.”
A man stepped forward with white-gold hair. His head bowed. Blood covered his shirt. But when he looked up at me, I gasped.
Violet eyes. The same color that haunted my dreams. It was him…the Fae who had killed my mom.