It spat me out on the green grass in Kilmartin, Scotland, a region renowned for its ancient heritage sites. Hundreds of stone circles, petroglyphs, chambered cairns, and hill forts littered the area. It positively reeked of Fae magic, though the Seelie Kingdom was located in another realm that existed parallel to this one.

  They were technically the good Fae in this region, while the Unseelie Fae were the bad Fae.

  Nothing was ever that simple though.

  I spun in a circle, breathing in the cool, windy air as I inspected the mountains surrounding me. They soared in the distance, surrounding the flat green plain on which I stood. The sun dipped toward the horizon as twilight arrived.

  It was the perfect time to try to gain access to the Seelie Kingdom. The Fae were a twilight people, existing at the borders of day and night, this realm and the other, the past and the present.

  The magic in the air was different than any I’d ever felt. Ancient and heavy, with a hint of the whimsical. Behind me, I found a long row of standing stones. They were flat and thin, spearing toward the darkening sky with a majesty suited to their age.

  The stones themselves were thousands of years old, laid down by the ancient Fae to mark the entrance to their world. Humans thought that their own ancestors had created the huge monuments, though they’d never been able to figure out exactly why.

  They were wrong.

  These were Fae stones, though humans had taken to worshiping them almost as soon as the Fae had put them up.

  I approached one and reverently rested my hand against the flat, rough surface. Magic flowed into me, almost familiar.

  Where had I felt that before?

  It was unsettling, but I couldn't quite place it. My gaze was drawn to round indentations in the stone that looked intentionally placed, but I had no idea what they were for. I ran my fingertips over them, studying each one in turn.

  The sun dipped deeper in the sky. Twilight was nearly gone.

  I needed to find the entrance before it was too late.

  I made my way down the row of stones, headed for the end. The magic seemed stronger there, the air almost sparkling with it. When I reached the final stone, it was clear that I stood at the entrance to the Fae realm.

  I could feel it. There was a door. An invisible one, but a door all the same. My soul ignited at the feel of it. It was just like standing at the edge of a cliff, waiting for the fall.

  Before I could enter, I needed to hide my iron blade. I took it from the ether and jogged to a copse of trees about twenty yards away. It would be a pain in the ass to retrieve in the future, but I was obsessed with being prepared.

  I buried it shallowly in the dirt, then returned to the invisible door. I stepped forward, moving toward the strongest magic. I managed two steps before I slammed into an invisible barrier.

  Blocked.

  Agatha hadn’t mentioned anything about this. She must not have known.

  I studied the standing stone closest to me.

  There was a faint glow in the middle of it. One of the small round indentions was lit up with a host of sparkling fairy lights.

  I tilted my head and pursed my lips. “Hang on a sec.”

  I pulled the medallion from my pocket. Agatha had told me to present it to the first Fae I met, and perhaps I would. But I wanted to try something first.

  Slowly, I approached the stone. It towered above me, twice as tall and three times as wide as I was. Thin patches of green lichen covered the surface, but it was the glowing indentation that I was interested in. Someone had carved that little circle into this rock at some point, long ago. It’d taken ages no doubt, so it had to be for a purpose.

  I lined up the medallion with the circular indent and pressed it inside. Magic sparked, bringing with it the sound of birdsong and the last warm rays of the sun. To my left, where the portal magic had been the strongest, the air vibrated.

  I turned to look. A door was appearing. It was made of twisted, pale tree limbs that were so artistically interwoven that I gasped. Around the door was an arch created of the same limbs, but the tops bloomed with bright white flowers.

  Breath held, I withdrew the medallion and clutched it tight, then stepped toward the door. As I approached, it swung open.

  Magic bellowed out, a dozen different signatures tumbling over each other. They were all earth-based—the sound of tree limbs rustling, the scent of a calm lake, the feel of grass beneath my feet, and wind in my hair.

  “Here goes nothing,” I muttered as I stepped through.

  I’d been in a lot of amazing places in my life, but it was rare that I got to go to other realms.

  The Seelie Fae Kingdom?

  Hell, that was the rarest of all. A place so secretive that I had been halfway sure it didn’t even exist.

  But it did.

  I stepped out into a forest grove. It was twilight there as well. The sun had just dipped behind the enormous trees and shed a pink light across the entire sky. It was edged with dark gray as night fell swiftly.

  I craned my head back to inspect the trees. Wonder filled me at their size. Each one was at least four hundred feet tall. Even bigger than the redwoods, with silver gray trunks and deep green leaves.

  Except there was a darkness here, just like Agatha had said. I could feel it in the air, faint but true. Dark magic like a slick of lake slime against your skin. And it smelled vaguely of brimstone and putrid night lilies.

  I shivered, my heartbeat jumping.

  “Welcome.” The voice floated on the air from behind me.

  I whirled around, suppressing my usual fighting instinct.

  She’d said welcome after all.

  The woman who stared at me looked more Fae than anyone I’d ever seen. Her skin was milk pale and her hair an icy blonde. Bright lavender eyes assessed me, and her pointed ears twitched.

  Did she sense the darkness as well?

  She didn’t seem to.

  Behind her, an enormous city rose in the distance. It looked nothing like the cities on earth. Half the buildings were built into trees, and the others were so ornate that they looked like decorative cakes. Fairy lights floated in the air—slightly bigger than fireflies and pale white.

  “I am here for the competition.” I held out my medallion, and she took it.

  Carefully, she inspected it, then slipped it in her pocket. “Do you bring iron with you?”

  “No.”

  “I’ll check all the same. You have quite an arsenal stored in the ether.”

  “You can feel that?”

  “I guard the Fae realm. Of course. It’s my job.”

  “Okay.” Quickly, I began to pull all my weapons from the ether. They appeared in my hand at my command, and I laid them on the ground. Daggers, sword, bow and arrow. My pouch of potions.

  The Fae knelt and hovered her hand over each one. Finally, she stood and nodded, satisfied. “You may continue on. I will call a carriage for you.”

  She whistled and waved her hand while I knelt and repacked my weapons. When I stood, I spotted a fabulous open-air carriage rolling up the lane. It was made of the same pale, twisted wood as the door had been, with highlights of sparkling silver. The two steeds that pulled it were silver-winged stags, their horns shooting up toward the sky.

  The carriage pulled up alongside, and the driver peered down. He was tall and strong, with jet black hair and green eyes. Just briefly, he reminded me of the man I’d seen in my shop earlier that day, but the feeling faded quickly.

  Next to him sat a tiny figure with wrinkled skin and huge eyes. The creature—a male, I guessed—wore a blue tunic that looked almost medieval, and had unnaturally long fingers. I didn’t want to stare too long, but I did want to figure out what he was. A hobgoblin or brownie, perhaps.

  “Ready to go?” the Fae man asked.

  “Ready.” I climbed into the carriage.

  He flicked the reins, and the stags took off, trotting down the lane. The massive trees rolled by on either side.

  The small, wizened figure hopped up on its seat and turned around to peer at me. “You here for the games?”

  “I intend to win.”

  “You’ll probably die.”

  “I won’t.”

  He shrugged. “Lots do. But the prize is worth it. Any wish you want. Granted.”

  “Any wish? Really?”

  He nodded.

  Wow.

  The wizened creature looked at me with squinted eyes, then gestured to his face. “What’s with all the black around your eyes? Your soul seeping out or something?”

  “Eh, not quite?”

  The figure grunted. “Well, try not to die too quick. I like you.”

  Yikes. “Thanks?”

  He turned around and flopped back into his seat. The city rolled ever closer, with the main castle soaring above the houses. The famous Fae Court. Ornate towers connected by arched walkways soared through the air.

  We passed through the city streets, rolling by dozens of Fae going about their daily business. And it seemed they really couldn’t feel it. They were different than the ones I’d seen walking the streets of Magic’s Bend.

  For one, they didn’t all have wings. At least not visible. Maybe they didn’t even have them. But the biggest difference was their power. These ones seemed much stronger. As if the earth-walking Faes’ magic had been diminished by being away from the Fae realms.

  The closer we got to the castle, the stronger the dark energy in the air.

  Demonic, definitely.

  Many of the houses had black cloths draped over their doors. They were very different than the otherwise pale fabrics that hung in the windows.

  I pointed to them. “What’s with all the black?”

  The hobgoblin—or brownie, I didn’t know how to ask—frowned, his eyes turning sad. “The deaths. They came two months ago. Took over ten percent of our people.”

  Fates, that was so many. Horror sliced me. “How?”

  “We don’t know. They disappeared. Later, their hearts were found, shriveled and rotten.”

  Oh, shit. And the king didn’t want our help? “But the deaths stopped two months ago?”

  “Just about, yes. Maybe longer.”

  “Why?” Agatha hadn’t mentioned that. Maybe she hadn’t known. It was difficult to get information from here.

  “We have no idea. We are waiting for them to start again.”

  I shivered and sat back in my seat, watching the town carefully as we passed, searching for any clues to the dark magic that grew stronger as we neared the castle. Still, no one seemed to notice it. I was particularly skilled with sensing it, but I’d have expected some of them to be able to smell it or feel it. The signature was distinct. Decay and mold. Rot and filth. In this case, brimstone and putrid night lilies.

  Extremely out of place in this otherwise beautiful wonderland.

  The castle loomed above as we approached. “The king must be a pretty powerful guy if he lives in a place like this.”

  The wizened little figure hopped up and turned back around, a big grin revealing a mouthful of fangs. “Oh, he is.” He shuddered. “Mean bloke, though. Keeps to himself since he took the throne.”

  Apparently he liked to gossip, and that was good for me. “When was that?”

  “In the spring.”

  “So just a few months ago?”

  “Yes. Just about.”

  Hmm… How did that timing work with the deaths? “Two months or three? Four?”

  “Two.”

  Interesting. “How is he mean?”

  “Always scowling. Silent. Hardly merry like a Seelie Fae should be. Almost no one ever sees him, in fact. The Court is in session less than it ever has been. He’s not keen on others. And he says he’s trying to solve the murders, but we don’t believe him.”

  “Interesting. Any idea why?”

  “Mean bloke?”

  That wasn’t exactly a great answer, or a confident one, but it’d have to do. Never insult your source. Rule number one of trying to sweet-talk info out of people. They might clam right up if you insulted them.

  I nodded. “I know just the type.”

  “The worst, aren’t they?”

  “Definitely.”

  The little figure shrugged. “Most of us are afraid of him. He’s ruthless. Some say cruel. Only his inner Court ever sees him, and that’s rare.”

  “Is he cruel?”

  “Hard to say. Never seen any indication he isn’t. He’s got some horrible things in his past, though.”

  I leaned forward slightly. This was good shit. “Like what?”

  The little figure clammed up, his mouth flattening into a line. “Shouldn’t say no more.”

  Damn it. I needed to keep him talking. Get him comfortable enough to spill the details later. “But he’s hosting the games? Why?”

  “It’s been years since we’ve had one. Maybe for his own entertainment?”

  “Sounds like a peach of a guy.” I tilted my head back to inspect the underside of the castle wall as we passed through a gate. The stone was a pale silvery gray, shot through with minute sparkles of mica. I looked back at the tiny troll, ready to ask more questions.

  But the carriage rolled to a stop at the side of the castle.

  “We’re here.” The driver turned around to look at me, then gestured to the ground. “Your stop.”

  “Thanks for the ride.” I climbed down and approached the arched entrance at the base of the castle. Above, dozens of windows gleamed in the light. Trees grew right inside the castle walls, their branches weaving through the stone. It should be impossible, but not here.

  “You’re not in Kansas anymore,” I muttered as I approached the two guards who stood on either side of the archway.

  They were dressed in gray-blue tunics and trousers, the fabric woven with threads of silver. Their hair was drawn back to show off their pointed ears, and they carried tall wooden pikes tipped with silver.

  The guards’ eyes flicked to the carriage, then they nodded. The one on the left spoke in a gravelly voice. “Come with me. You will join the other competitors.”

  He led me into the depths of the castle. It should’ve been dark and dank and gross down here, like in most castles.

  But not in a Fae castle. The passageway was wide, with a high arched ceiling and smooth stone floor. Torches dotted the walls every ten feet, each filled with sparkling fairy lights.

  The Fae might not have the same kind of technology we had on earth, but they certainly weren’t living in the Dark Ages.

  Finally, we reached a massive domed room. Benches ringed the sides, and weapons hung high on the walls. The space was crowded with different species. At a glance, I saw witches, vampires, shifters, and mages. Not to mention quite a few Fae. The magical signatures in the room nearly bowled me over.

  They were all trying to impress each other with how strong they were.

  It kind of worked.

  There was some serious competition in here.

  I was good in a fight—really good—and I had a few magical skills I could call on. Transportation, amplification, seeker, the ability to send messages to someone’s mind, as well as speed and strength. But the big guns—my Dragon Blood magic—couldn't be used in front of other people. I didn’t need them figuring out what I was. Even using it just a little bit was a risk.

  Even now, I could feel that I couldn’t transport directly out of this realm. It was blocked. If I were caught spying on the king, it’d be nearly impossible to escape.

  Nerves shivered along my skin, and I suppressed them. It wouldn’t do to show weakness.

  “Stay here,” the guard growled. “They’ll call for you soon enough.”

  “The games will begin soon, then?”

  He nodded sharply, then turned and left.

  I made a circle around the room, checking out my competition. On the far side, away from where I’d entered, there were arched cutouts in the wall. They revealed the hallway beyond, and a dozen competitors were crowded around, looking out.

  I strolled over, catching their whispers.

  “He’s here!”

  “That’s him.’

  “King Tarron.”

  Ooh, the king? Perfect.

  I hurried forward, squeezing in between a guy who definitely smelled like a shifter and a woman who was likely a witch.

  A group of Fae were walking down the hall toward us. The ones in the back were dressed in their finery, all gazing obsequiously at the figure in the front.

  He strode along in a deep green suit—modern and from the human realm—his dark hair glinting in the fairy light.

  I gasped and stumbled back.

  Holy fates.

  Holy fates.

  The king was the same man who’d visited my shop.

  The same one who knew I was a Dragon Blood.

  The same one who thought I was his fated mate. And didn’t like it.

  5

  My heart thundered so loud that it nearly deafened me. I spun away from the archways that led to the hallway and hurried in the opposite direction.

  Oh, this was bad. So, so bad.

  I bumped into a woman, who grunted and turned. “What’s your problem?”

  “Sorry. Bathroom. Where’s the bathroom?”

  “Nervous?” She raised a blue eyebrow, and her pink eyes softened. Her white wings glittered under the light.

  “Uh, yeah. Where is it?’

  She hiked a thumb toward some doors near the entrance. I hurried toward them, too distracted to even thank her. By the time I entered the bathroom, I was nearly panting.

  Thank fates he hadn’t seen me.

  And thank fates the bathroom was empty. I didn’t need a witness to my semi freak-out.

  I stalked toward the sink basin. Public bathrooms in the Fae realm weren’t dissimilar from ones in the human world, except for the fact that they were a hell of a lot nicer. Water poured continuously into blue crystal bowls. No water shortage here, apparently. The mirrors gleamed inside pale wooden frames made of beautifully twisted tree limbs.

  I leaned over the basin of water, staring into the mirror and trying to get it together. Fates, I needed a cigarette. But that wasn’t going to happen, so I shoved one of my old-lady candies into my mouth and sucked hard.

 

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