“Yep.”
Satisfaction burst from Raith, wrath from Cade. Raith’s gaze found Scarlett as his brother glared at him with a venomous stare.
Now she wished she hadn’t come to The Blessing. Not that it would have changed anything.
“Will Scarlett please come up to the balcony?” the priest asked.
Scarlett wasn’t sure what was going on, but she did as she was asked. The crowd parted as she made her way to the stairs, her heels clinking with each step up, murmurs echoing behind her.
Fury cloaked Cade’s face as Scarlett approached. Raith wore a triumphant expression. Had this been his plan all along?
“To deny a second request is treason,” the priest said as he stared at Scarlett. “You will be in the Battle of Heirs as Raith’s partner. Either Cade or his second can kill you and you them. Should Cade defeat Raith or Raith surrender, your fate will be up to Cade.”
Well, that sucked. She was supposed to fight in a fae battle? But she was human—well, maybe she wasn’t. But the only thing she’d been able to do so far is sense emotion and heal Abigail, neither of which compared to what Raith and Cade could do.
“You may stand next to Raith,” the priest said.
Scarlett moved next to him, avoiding Cade’s eyes. Would he hate her now? Did it even matter if he did? Raith could take her pain away, too. But she didn’t trust Raith. Then again, she didn’t trust Cade either.
“Name your second, Cade,” the priest said.
“Poppy,” Cade said, his expression blank.
Cade’s trainer stomped up the stairs. Unlike most of the fae women in the crowd who wore dresses, she was in leather pants and a vest, as if she were ready to step into battle right now. Did she know Cade was going to choose her? The annoyance on her face told Scarlett no.
The priest repeated the rules to Poppy, her jaw clenched.
“Raith and Scarlett will be first. Please come to me.” The priest stood behind the cauldron, facing the crowd. “Hold out your hands.”
Raith raised his arms in front of himself, wrists pressed together. Scarlett did the same. Nervousness swam through her veins. What had she gotten herself into?
A rope of pearls appeared in the priest’s hands. He wrapped them around Raith’s wrists and then Scarlett's. “Place your hands over the fire.”
But that would burn her! She waited for him to say he was kidding, but he didn't. She felt her fear leeched from her. Was Raith doing it?
Raith moved toward the cauldron. Tied together, Scarlett had no choice but to follow. She held her breath as her hands hit the flames. No pain. Instead, it tickled her skin. The flames turned from red to pink to purple to blue as the pearls tying them together burned away.
When they pulled their arms away from the fire, Scarlett was hit with a feeling of delight—not her own, but Raith’s. She'd felt moments of emotions from others—usually from humans—but this was different.
Raith reached around Scarlett’s waist and guided her away from the cauldron. It was Cade and Poppy’s turn. As Cade stepped to the priest, he shot a dagger of a glare at Raith. Raith winked in return.
Poppy didn't say a word as the rope wrapped around her wrists and then burned away. Her eyes avoided Cade completely.
Scarlett had forgotten about Kassandra. When she made the mistake of looking in the queen’s direction, she was met with a snarl. Scarlett snapped her gaze away. It wasn't like she chose to be Raith’s second. It was basically a death sentence as it was, but now that she was on Kassandra’s bad side, she had little hope to ever make it home. Unless Raith won. Then he would be king and could offer her protection.
But if he wanted to win, why in the hell did he choose Scarlett as his second?
As the priest spoke the actual blessing, Raith stared at his brother.
The rage on Cade’s face sent satisfaction coursing through Raith. His plan had worked perfectly. He didn’t know he’d win The Hunt when he made the bargain with Scarlett, but he knew he had a good chance. When he found out about the whole removing their mind shield part he got nervous. But he won and had been waiting for this moment ever since.
And as much joy his brother’s anger brought him, he also planned to get Scarlett out of Cade’s grasp. He sucked the poor girl dry every day. Raith didn’t blame him, her emotion was tasty, but Raith had grown somewhat fond of the human.
Only, he wasn’t so sure she was a human. Something was different about her. He knew that when she didn’t die from the banshee bite. And there had to be a reason her emotion was so succulent.
When The Blessing was over, the priest excused everyone. Raith linked his arm with Scarlett and led her away from the balcony. Once they reached the hallway in front of the library doors, Raith felt something hit his back.
He turned to see Cade with a ball of summer magic in his hand.
“That could be grounds for forfeit, brother,” Raith said. “No fighting before the battle. And I thought you were a rule follower.”
Magic glowed in Cade’s hands.
“Seriously, Cade,” Poppy said as she stood next to him. “Calm the fuck down.”
“Why her?” Cade asked. “I know you’ve never wanted to be king but a human as your second?”
“Is that concern in your voice?” Raith asked. He’d seen his brother grow attached to Scarlett. At first, he thought Cade had lost his mind, but Raith now saw her lure—which made taking her away from Cade even more gratifying Raith glanced at Scarlett. Her blue eyes were wide as she bit her lip. Her dark brown hair contrasted against her pale skin, freckles sprinkled across her nose. It wasn’t just her beauty that drew Raith in. Even when her emotion ran low after Cade’s feedings, Scarlett had spunk.
Right then, nervousness emanated from her, along with relief. The bond of The Blessing had strengthened Raith’s connection to her.
Whenever Raith visited the mortal world, humans annoyed him more than anything. But Scarlett was different than most humans.
“She is mine,” Cade said.
“No, she’s not,” Raith said. “She’s no one’s. But she’s linked to me now whether you like it or not.”
Cade swung his arm back, summer magic still burning in his hand.
“Now hold on,” Raith said. “We can make a deal.”
Poppy reached for Cade’s arm and pulled it to his side. She gritted her teeth. “Don’t be an idiot.”
“What kind of deal?” Cade asked.
“If Scarlett agrees, she can stay with you until the battle, except for a training session and strategy meeting with me every day to prepare. You cannot force her, with or without your gifts, to do anything, and you cannot feed from her emotion.”
How much would Scarlett mean to Cade if she weren’t a power source?
“Fine.”
“Let’s shake on it.” Raith stuck out his right hand.
Straight faced, Cade gripped Raith’s hand and they shook. It was done. Should Cade break the bargain, he’d be cursed. Sometimes a broken promise could end in madness, other times a loss of magic, now and again death—never anything good.
Cade wasn't an idiot. He'd follow through with the agreement, but Raith hoped the struggle would distract him. It was part of his strategy. And he was banking on the fact that Scarlett wasn't entirely human. But even if she was, he doubted Cade would hurt her in the battle.
Raith suspected Poppy, on the other hand, would have no problem sticking a sword through Scarlett’s chest. But she would be under Cade’s command.
“We’re leaving.” Cade motioned for Scarlett to come to him. She did, but on the way her eyes met Raith’s and he felt her confliction. He almost regretted making the bargain with Cade. He could have demanded she come with him and there wouldn't have been much Cade could have done to stop him. But pissing off Cade was too fun, and Scarlett wouldn't be forced to do anything she didn't want to. Most importantly, Cade would no longer drain her.