Sleep has eluded me all night long. As the soft morning light filters in through the window, my thoughts keep returning to Ella. I am worried for her, and cannot help but be concerned that the witch may have discovered her deception. I should never have let her go. I should have found a way to bring her here… convinced my father to offer her sanctuary from the wrath of the witch.
I roll onto my stomach and bury my head in the pillow with a low groan. Father would never have agreed to it. He hates humans. Still… if she is hurt, I will never forgive myself.
I sit up in bed and run a hand roughly through my hair. Why am I so concerned for someone I only recently met?
Closing my eyes, I picture her long, silken, brown hair and ice-blue eyes. She is more beautiful than I ever imagined a human could be. A faint smile tugs at my lips at the thought of the many tiny spots of pigmentation that dot her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. They are a rather charming feature; one I’ve not seen on any of my kin before.
My vision of Ella standing before me, reciting the ancient vows of the bonding ceremony, replays in my mind. It troubles me because it does not make sense. Her people have been enemies of our kingdom for many years.
With a heavy sigh, I ready myself for the day and then leave my room. While I cannot deny that I am drawn to Ella, I could never bond with a human. It is dangerous enough that I am Dark Fae. There is no way I could ever bind myself to a woman who does not even possess any light magic to combat and balance my darkness.
Shaking my head to clear my errant thoughts, I make my way to the palace gardens, searching for Oradon. He was not in his chambers, and I know he spends much time out here, tending herbs for his formulas and potions.
I must speak with him about his visions. Oradon said he saw starlight in my future. Ella’s name means starlight in the ancient tongue of my people. It cannot be a coincidence that I met her last night. I suspect he knows more than he has told me.
As I traverse the winding paths, my gaze drifts over the many flowers that line the walkway. Although my people possess wings and often fly from place to place, areas such as these are meant to be enjoyed from the ground. There is something calming and almost meditative about wandering through this space.
The palace gardens are thick with vegetation. The bushes and plants are overflowing with vibrant, blooming flowers in various colors of red, blues and purples. Long trailing vines hang over the thick walls, swaying in the breeze like living curtains.
It is lovely here during the day, but I find it even more beautiful at night when the flowers and leaves light up in bioluminescent colorful displays. A cool breeze rushes through the gardens, carrying the rich scent of lavender that grows nearby. The fragrance reminds me of the vision of Ella and I performing the ancient bonding ceremony in a field full of lavender.
Perhaps it is the approach of my mating cycle that caused me to have such a strange vision. Maybe it is a compulsion of my biology to imagine myself already mated to another, even though she is human. After all, she is female first and foremost, and my kind once bonded with hers before the last Great War.
I pass by the large crystal fountain in the center of the gardens and marvel at its beauty as I always do. The sunlight reflects off the crystalline surface, casting brilliant, colorful bursts of light throughout the space. Water spills over the three levels before feeding into a small pool at the base. Several streams branch off and wind their way along the many paths and walkways.
My grandfather commissioned this as a gift to my grandmother. She died a few years ago, and he has sat out here every day since, grieving her loss. I’m not surprised when I round the corner and find him seated on a carved wooden bench across from Oradon. They often spend time here together, reminiscing days that have long since passed.
I am stunned to find my father here, however. He is usually in his throne room during this hour, conferring on affairs of state.
I have not spoken to him since he left last night, upset with me. My first inclination is to turn around before he notices my presence, but I’m too late. My grandfather calls out.
“Ryvan?”
I spin back to face him. “Grandfather, it is good to see you.”
“Come,” he says. “Sit down beside me. It is fortunate you are here. Something happened last night that we must discuss.”
With difficulty, I manage to suppress a sigh of frustration. Of course, my father told him about our argument. Now he plans to use my grandfather and Oradon to persuade me to see reason, hoping they will convince me to take a bondmate.
I take a seat beside my grandfather. He smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkling. His hair is still dark and lustrous, and he does not appear old, per se, but he is no longer youthful, either.
I worry for him. It has been two years since my grandmother passed, and I know he misses her terribly. It is not uncommon for our people to die prematurely due to a broken heart, and his increasingly frail appearance with each passing day has not escaped my notice.
As if he has read my thoughts, he sighs heavily as his gaze turns to the fountain. “This was your grandmother’s favorite spot in the gardens.”
“I remember,” I reply.
My father’s stern voice draws my attention. “I came back to speak with you last night, but you were gone.”
“I went out to the forest.”
He narrows his eyes. “You know it is dangerous to wander the woods during the silver moon cycle. Did you perchance happen to stumble upon a human?”
My heart stops. He knows about Ella. “I…”
I stop abruptly with my mouth hanging open, uncertain of what to say. How can I explain this? My father hates humans, especially after what happened to my mother.
“The humans sent someone to the barrier last night.” He cocks his head to the side. “Did you by chance see them?”
I’m not sure if his question is a trap. If he’s asking me this, surely he already knows the answer.
Swallowing thickly, I draw in a deep and steeling breath, meaning to explain why I did not turn Ella in for breaking through the veil.
Before I can begin, he says, “The King of Eryadon sent a messenger. The humans are asking for our help to slay a dragon in their kingdom.”
My head jerks back even as relief moves through me. He is not speaking of Ella, then.
He continues. “You’ve heard of the damage wrought by the dragon in Solwyck.”
I nod. Who hasn’t heard of it? Princess Halla managed to slay the beast, but at great cost to herself. Solwyck lies along the coastline, and the merfolk claim to have witnessed her bravery. They also say that she may never walk again.
Father casts a worried glance at me. “The human kingdom of Eryadon has a dragon problem, as well. They normally appease him with an annual maiden sacrifice, but recently, one of the maidens escaped to her village. Angered, the dragon returned to reclaim her, raining down fire and destruction before taking her away again.” He scowls. “The humans are concerned he will do more damage and are asking for our help to destroy him.”
My mouth drifts open. Dragons are dangerous, powerful beings—foes to Fae and Elvenkind for thousands of years. “What are you going to do?”
“Of course, we will not help the humans,” he snaps. “They are our enemies. They killed your mother. I detest all their kind.”
I should have suspected as much. Even though the men who murdered her were not soldiers of Eryadon, Father holds all humans responsible for Mother’s death. It is why he ordered his mages to strengthen the veil. To protect us from any outside invasion.
His gaze shifts to Oradon. “What does your magic tell you of the future? Will we have to deal with this dragon or will he merely be a problem for the humans?”
Oradon closes his eyes, conjuring his magic to read what he can. After a moment, he lifts his head. Immediately, he turns to me. “The dragon will come to Anara.”
Father’s eyes widen, as do mine. “When?”
“Soon,” Oradon replies.
“We must ready the guards,” Father snaps. “Station them along the barrier to be on the lookout for the dragon’s approach.”
Oradon frowns. “I do not believe he will come with the intent to destroy us. No, he will come to ask a favor.”
Father scoffs. “And what favor would a dragon ask of the Fae? Their kind is too haughty to plead for any sort of help.”
“Even so,” Oradon presses. “That is what my magic is telling me.” His eyes sweep to mine. “In turn, he will grant a favor for you, my prince.”
Father’s brows shoot up to his forehead, his shock mirroring mine. “What would a dragon want with Ryvan?”
Oradon shakes his head. “That I cannot foresee. I only know that it will happen.”
Father’s worry is written across his features. “You are not to leave the castle. Do you understand?”
Panic fills me. If he confines me here, there is no way I can meet Ella at the barrier. It would ruin all my plans. “No.”
“Your safety cannot be risked, Ryvan.” His wings flutter in agitation.
“You cannot force me to stay in the castle.”
His expression turns thunderous. “That is an order from your father and your king.”
Anger burns through my veins, sparking a darkness deep within. Magic, raw and powerful, courses through my body, crackling between the tips of my fingers like lightning. Father’s eyes widen as they drop to my hands, and I notice Oradon’s do the same.
“Ryvan,” my grandfather warns, holding his hands out to me. “You must be careful, my dear boy. You can control it. I know you can.”
Curling my hands into fists at my side, my arms tremble as I struggle to contain the power within. I draw in several deep breaths, forcing it back down and locking it away.
My grandfather’s eyes are heavy on me, his expression full of pity. His brother was born Dark Fae and he was killed because of it. It is the law. No Dark Fae should be allowed to live.
Father’s eyes meet mine. “You cannot allow your emotions to control you, else you will be unable to control the darkness within, my son.”
With a slight clench of my jaw, I lower my gaze. Does he think I do not know this? I have struggled my entire life to hide what I am—to keep it buried so deeply within me, praying it will never break free.
Dark Fae are powerful. The last Dark Fae King—Erebyr—nearly destroyed Anara with his warring. The power inside him drove him mad. He killed his family and set fire to half the land, including his own villages and people, to drive our enemies away.
He may have saved Anara from invasion, but at a cost greater than many were willing to pay. His was a dark and terrible reign that nearly destroyed our kingdom and our people. He is the reason why all Dark Fae are now put to death immediately upon discovery.
The first time a Dark Fae’s powers manifest is also supposed to be the last. They are to be executed instantly.
Grandfather and Father were the first to find me the day my mother was killed. If my father had cared for his kingdom more than he loved his family, he would have followed the ancient laws and executed me right then and there. Sometimes, I wonder if he would have been wiser to do so. Instead, we’ve kept this secret in our family all this time, and I fear it will eventually escape us if I ever take a mate.
In his gaze I can see my reflection and the fire that sparks behind my eyes as I struggle to control the darkness within. “I doubt even a dragon could harm me, Father. Can you not see what your son is capable of?”
All the color drains from his face as his gaze travels over me. In his eyes, I recognize the same fear I saw the night he found me standing protectively over the body of my mother.
A shadow passes overhead, and I lift my gaze to find one of the guards flying straight toward us. He lands before my father and bows low. “My King, Lord Fenlyr is here to speak with you.”
Father’s expression returns to his normally stoic mask. “Inform him that I will be there shortly.” As soon as the guard leaves, he turns to me. “We will talk later.”
As I watch him fly back to the castle, dark memories fill my mind.
When the enemy soldiers stormed the castle and took Mother’s life, that was the day we all learned the truth of what I was. She died trying to protect me and Eryl.
Rage roared through me, and I turned it on the men who took her life. I set fire to our enemies, burning them to ash for what they’d done. Even now, the raw and primal magic courses through me. It is ever-present just beneath the surface, always clawing to break free. It is the dark secret that I must keep at all costs.
Capable of terrible and destructive magic, I am among the cursed, one of only a handful born in a thousand years. My father should have put me to death when he discovered what I was. It was his duty as king, and he failed.
I am Dark Fae, and as such, I am the greatest threat to our people and our kingdom.
