father did before me, we will repopulate our depleted sidhe, and one day Charles will defeat Naberia and the Demon Realm will fall.
Even though my time with Isaiah had ended sixteen years ago, my strength had not returned completely. He'd stripped me bare, mentally and physically, adding blocks that burned and stabbed whenever I tried to access my powers. It had taken me many years to unravel them, but I was almost free.
One day I would have my revenge on Isaiah. Until then, I would work toward my immediate goal of restoring the Faerie Court to full power. Fionna was a hindrance and would have to be eliminated, but Charles, Jacqueline and I would soon take up the reins.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Elle knelt beside her sister's still-warm body and drew Niral's head into her lap. She brushed aside the strands of chestnut colored hair that covered her face, then leaned down to kiss her sister's pale forehead.
"We have been kept apart for more than fifty mortal years."
"Niral asked me to take you with me when I leave."
"Why would Niral ask that of you?"
"Love. Fear for your safety. She thought of you with great affection, telling me you work in the fields and that I should try to find you there."
"I prayed for many months that I would be allowed to work in the fields. The queen had other ideas." Several tears splashed from her eyes onto her sister's cheeks, as if they both mourned their separation, now final. "I am alone. Truly."
I took her hand and she immediately looked down in submission, perhaps trained to do so. "As long as I live, you aren't alone. Niral gave me her blood and I promised her that I would help you. This was a ritual agreement between us."
She tried to pull her hand away. "You got what you wanted. You do not have to honor the agreement."
"I do." I forced her to look me in the eye, hoping that her fae senses would show her the truth.
"What is your name?" she asked.
"Garrett."
"Gar-rett." My name sounded odd as she tried to pronounce it. "Garrett." I nodded and smiled. "I see you have honor, but there is nothing you can do to save me."
"Caelen will take you into Cascade."
With a whoosh of air, Fionna was back and looking bored. She scowled as she glanced around the room. "Now that you're cooperating, I might give you better accommodations. You can wait for your sweet little cheetah in comfort. I cannot have my twin brother thinking I mistreated you." She laughed and took hold of Elle's braid, yanking her to her feet. "The slaugh hungers for your sweet flesh."
I stood, speaking in a commanding tone, "Leave her. I'll need more blood soon."
The bitch queen narrowed her eyes and sneered. "She is tainted with human blood, like her sister."
I continued to meet her gaze, smirking to make her think that I could also be a cruel being. "I've grown fond of human blood over the centuries."
She let go of Elle's braid and looked me over with a new interest. "If I do this for you, you must do something for me. I'll even give you a choice when the time comes."
"Not torture or murder. Nor will I forsake my family, friends or my allies."
"Agreed." She shrugged.
Seeing no other way out, I nodded. "Excellent. I will find another companion for the slaugh." She yanked on Elle's thick braid. "See that you satisfy all of the vampire's needs, mongrel. The corpse of your sister will please the dogs." She dissolved along with Niral's body.
Elle stood, untying the laces on her bodice, her expression blank. "No, stop." She tilted her head up, confused. I showed her the mating mark on my wrist. "I am bound to my lifemate, Jacqueline. I will never ask you for anything except perhaps a small amount of freely-given blood. I cannot help us escape if I am starved."
"Why did you take so much from Niral?"
"Fionna was going to feed her to the slaugh if I didn't drain her. This death was her choice, not mine."
Her body went slack with relief. "At least she found peace at the end. Will you do the same for me?"
"Only if there's
Even though my time with Isaiah had ended sixteen years ago, my strength had not returned completely. He'd stripped me bare, mentally and physically, adding blocks that burned and stabbed whenever I tried to access my powers. It had taken me many years to unravel them, but I was almost free.
One day I would have my revenge on Isaiah. Until then, I would work toward my immediate goal of restoring the Faerie Court to full power. Fionna was a hindrance and would have to be eliminated, but Charles, Jacqueline and I would soon take up the reins.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Elle knelt beside her sister's still-warm body and drew Niral's head into her lap. She brushed aside the strands of chestnut colored hair that covered her face, then leaned down to kiss her sister's pale forehead.
"We have been kept apart for more than fifty mortal years."
"Niral asked me to take you with me when I leave."
"Why would Niral ask that of you?"
"Love. Fear for your safety. She thought of you with great affection, telling me you work in the fields and that I should try to find you there."
"I prayed for many months that I would be allowed to work in the fields. The queen had other ideas." Several tears splashed from her eyes onto her sister's cheeks, as if they both mourned their separation, now final. "I am alone. Truly."
I took her hand and she immediately looked down in submission, perhaps trained to do so. "As long as I live, you aren't alone. Niral gave me her blood and I promised her that I would help you. This was a ritual agreement between us."
She tried to pull her hand away. "You got what you wanted. You do not have to honor the agreement."
"I do." I forced her to look me in the eye, hoping that her fae senses would show her the truth.
"What is your name?" she asked.
"Garrett."
"Gar-rett." My name sounded odd as she tried to pronounce it. "Garrett." I nodded and smiled. "I see you have honor, but there is nothing you can do to save me."
"Caelen will take you into Cascade."
With a whoosh of air, Fionna was back and looking bored. She scowled as she glanced around the room. "Now that you're cooperating, I might give you better accommodations. You can wait for your sweet little cheetah in comfort. I cannot have my twin brother thinking I mistreated you." She laughed and took hold of Elle's braid, yanking her to her feet. "The slaugh hungers for your sweet flesh."
I stood, speaking in a commanding tone, "Leave her. I'll need more blood soon."
The bitch queen narrowed her eyes and sneered. "She is tainted with human blood, like her sister."
I continued to meet her gaze, smirking to make her think that I could also be a cruel being. "I've grown fond of human blood over the centuries."
She let go of Elle's braid and looked me over with a new interest. "If I do this for you, you must do something for me. I'll even give you a choice when the time comes."
"Not torture or murder. Nor will I forsake my family, friends or my allies."
"Agreed." She shrugged.
Seeing no other way out, I nodded. "Excellent. I will find another companion for the slaugh." She yanked on Elle's thick braid. "See that you satisfy all of the vampire's needs, mongrel. The corpse of your sister will please the dogs." She dissolved along with Niral's body.
Elle stood, untying the laces on her bodice, her expression blank. "No, stop." She tilted her head up, confused. I showed her the mating mark on my wrist. "I am bound to my lifemate, Jacqueline. I will never ask you for anything except perhaps a small amount of freely-given blood. I cannot help us escape if I am starved."
"Why did you take so much from Niral?"
"Fionna was going to feed her to the slaugh if I didn't drain her. This death was her choice, not mine."
Her body went slack with relief. "At least she found peace at the end. Will you do the same for me?"
"Only if there's
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