The sun was beginning to sink behind the trees when we finally set out for the Spring Court. We had little over a day to travel, convince the Spring fae to hear us out, and stop them from heading off to war. Alwyn took the lead of our small party, and I rode just behind her, sandwiched between Kael and Liam. Finn and Rourke rounded out the back. We rode in comfortable silence. Every now and then, Finn would make a joking remark. Kael would roll his eyes, Liam would laugh, and Rourke…well, wouldn’t have much of a reaction at all.
After several hours of travel, the night began to deepen, and we passed from the free territory and into the Spring Court’s lands. Even in the dying light of the day, Spring sparkled as if it was in a permanent dawn. Flowers bloomed all around us. They were vibrant and colorful, their bulbs shooting sweet and soothing mists into the air. Finn began to whistle, a strange and whimsical tune, one I swore I’d heard before. A long, long time ago.
I twisted my head to glance over my shoulder. “What’s that song, Finn?”
“It’s called Shadows and Light,” he said with a grin. “An ancient song. Mothers sing it to their babes when they are born to teach them about the world of the fae. It’s about the balance of nature—of shadows and light. Would you like to hear it again?”
“No,” Alwyn said with a frustrated sigh. But I gave him a smile and said, “yes.”
So, he began again. He whistled the tune, the soft sweet notes that rose and fell like waves. Again, I found it felt so familiar, so familiar that my heart began to ache. I reached up to touch my face and found the tears beneath my eyes. Why did this song move me so?
The thunder of horses rose up around us, seemingly coming from every direction imaginable. Hundreds of them melted into view from the surrounding forest, topped with riders decked in brilliant blues and greens. The rider in front—a woman wearing a iron helmet—pulled on her reins and thundered to a stop only inches from where we were now trapped.
“You’re trespassing on our lands,” she snapped before twisting toward her fellow riders. “Take them and their weapons. They’re our prisoners now.”
Chapter Fifteen
We managed to convince the riders to take us to see the Queen and King instead of throwing us straight into the dungeons. The Spring fae seemed angry, but they were reasonable, at least. They took us into a long hall within the castle’s grounds, where two flower-decked thrones sat at the end of a carpet of green moss.
The Royals watched silently as we strode toward them down the long, thin carpet. Their scrutinizing gazes were locked on our faces, and I felt the strange urge to bow, even though I was not a member of their Court.
When we reached the end of the carpet, the King glanced from Alwyn to Finn and then to me. The others he seemed to have no interest in.
“Alwyn Adair, Head Instructor at the Otherworld Academy for the changelings who have been sacrificed to the human world in the tithe to the dark fae.”
Well, that was a long-ass title if I’d ever heard one.
“King Deri of the Spring Court. Queen Shan.” She gave a small bow. “It’s a pleasure to see you once again.”
“Yes, yes. I apologize for the welcome party,” he said, the corners of his lips lifting into a smile. “I’m sure you can understand that we’re being especially cautious right now. After the attack at the Feast of the Fae, my Hunters are concerned that the Autumn Court might make a move against us next. It’s only a matter of time before they go for another crown, and it will likely be us. We doubt they would be so bold as to go into Winter lands. Her men are not accustomed to such weather. She will try to draw them out instead.”
A strange expression flickered across Alwyn’s face. “Yes, well…that’s why we’re here.” And then, my Head Instructor, who I could have sworn hated me all this time, turned and looked right at me. “King Deri, I would like to introduce you to Norah Oliver. She is one of our students at the Academy, the first Greater Fae in over eighteen years. She has something she would like to say.”
What? My mind screamed, and all the feeling in my arms and legs vanished in the blink of an eye. Everyone was staring at me now. The Hunters who had escorted inside. My instructors, my…mates? And now the King and Queen of the Spring territory. All looking at me expectantly, as if I had even the slightest clue about what I should say or do to stop this war from happening.
But…how could I, of all of those in this room? I was just…me.
You are you, a little voice whispered into my mind. You are worthy.
The King gave me a kind smile and rubbed his jaw. “A Greater Fae, you say? Well, this is certainly a treat. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve met one of your kind. The embodiment of the realm’s spirit, they used to say. That’s what the Greaters were. Anyway, what is it you would like to say to me, my dear?”
“I…” Trailing off, I glanced at Rourke. His gaze caught mine, and he nodded. Something about his encouragement, his approval, his belief in me, it made me find the courage within myself to plow forward. “We came here to speak with you about the impending war. The future of the realm is at stake, King Deri. We understand…no, wait. I understand why you might feel as if you have no other choice than to go on the offensive, but it’s only going to make matters worse. More bloodshed. More death. More fracturing in the realm. Instead of fighting each other, we need to band together as one, even though I know that’s not how you do things anymore. Don’t fight against Winter. Join with Winter. It’s the only way to stop the Autumn Court from gaining more power.”
The King stared at me, still rubbing his jaw. After a moment, he shifted on his chair and took a long moment to speak. “I must admit, your words have both moved and confused me. It’s been a long, long while since I’ve heard a fae speak so passionately and eloquently about reuniting our four Courts. I have to admit, I find myself agreeing with you. Which is why I haven’t the slightest clue why you seem to be under the impression I’d want to launch my forces against the Winter Court.”
I had braced myself for a wide variety of responses from the King, but this one…well, this hadn’t even been on my radar.
I blinked at him, frowning. “But I thought that was your plan. I thought you intended to attack within the next day.”
He shrugged and shook his head. “I’m not sure you where you got your information, Norah, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s not a single bone in my body that wants to battle the Winter Court, but even if I did, I’d never take my forces up north. We’d die within a day.”
“But the Queen said…” I trailed off, dread pooling in my gut. My eyes flicked to where Alwyn and my instructors were now murmuring urgent words underneath their breaths. The King noticed as well, and he cleared his throat, so loud it made me jump.
“Would you care to share that with the rest of us?” His voice had lost some of its gentle edges, transforming more into a commanding kingly steel. “Norah mentioned the Queen. Which Queen?”
“Queen Viola,” I answered for them. Whatever was happening, it was all my fault. I’d been the one who had gathered the information. I’d been the one who had convinced everyone to come all this way. If anyone deserved to explain, it was me. “I have the power to shadow, something the Summer Hunters discovered. They requested that I go into the Autumn Court and spy, hoping I could find out information about the Queen’s next moves.”
The King nodded with a grunt. “Seems reasonable. Go on.”
“Well, I managed to get inside and overhear a conversation between Queen Viola and one of her Hunters. She said exactly what I’ve told you. That you, the Spring Court, planned to attack the Winter fae in three day’s time. That was two days ago.”
“I see.” A pause. “And you heard this directly from Queen Viola? She didn’t know you were in the room?”
“No, I was shadowed. I don’t see how she could even know I can do that.” I glanced at Rourke, at Liam. “I mean, the only people who know I have that power are in this room or are part of the Hunters for the Summer fae.”