Away from the dungeon, Scarlett could think a little clearer. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
“Evanesce? Most high fae can, but it takes our magic from us, so most of us don’t do it often.”
“Shouldn’t you be saving your magic for the battle?” Scarlett stepped away from Raith. Though still weak, she was able to stand on her own now.
“I’ll be fine,” Raith said. “I’m going to have someone bring you breakfast. A real meal, not that garbage they were feeding you…before.”
Scarlett headed straight for the tub, catching her reflection in the mirror, her ribs poking out more than normal. Her hair was a knotted, greasy mess. She hadn’t bathed in days and was sure she reeked.
After she was clean and feeling more herself, Abigail brought her breakfast.
“I’m here to help you prepare,” Abigail said as she set the tray of food on Scarlett’s bed.
Scarlett scarfed down the eggs and bacon. Even though she’d had a good dinner the night before, the days in the cell had taken their toll on her.
Abigail helped Scarlett dress. For the battle, Scarlett would wear black leather pants and boots, and a leather vest that crossed in front. At least she’d be able to move quickly. Abigail braided Scarlett’s hair into two long braids.
“My mother used to braid my hair,” Scarlett told Abigail. Speaking of her mother pulled at her chest, but it didn’t hurt like it used to—her words felt right.
“Mine, too.” Abigail smiled.
What brought Abigail to Faerie? Scarlett had never thought to ask until now. “Why are you here?”
“I don’t actually remember,” Abigail said. “All I know is I bargained away ten years for part of my memory to be erased.”
What happened that was so bad it was worth ten years of servitude? Scarlett changed the subject to a more pleasant topic.
After Scarlett was ready, Abigail left her to go help prepare the food being served to all the guests, giving Scarlett a moment to herself.
Scarlett sat in a chair next to the window overlooking the courtyard, which was filled with fae—all there to witness Summer Court history. To Scarlett, this battle was a fight for her life—for a chance to go home. But to everyone there, it was part of their society. A ritual important to their future.
A knock on the door startled Scarlett. Raith must be back to take her downstairs. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see the Unseelie King staring at her, a smirk on his face. “Don’t you look feisty.”
“Can I help you?” Scarlett didn’t have time for any more games. She couldn’t help him pass the time answering all his stupid questions like during The Hunt. Today, she’d be a participant in the main event.
“Meow.” Kaelem laughed. “Can I come in for the quickest of moments?”
Scarlett considered telling him no, but he’d been the one to warn her about the feeding ritual, so she should hear him out. She moved from the doorway, letting Kaelem pass. He shut the door with his magic.
“A human in the middle of a Summer Battle of Heirs,” Kaelem said. “Life is full of surprises.”
“These may be my last moments breathing, so if you have a point, make it.” Scarlett didn’t mean to be so sharp, but nerves were settling in her stomach and she’d rather be angry than scared.
Kaelem pulled something out of his pocket and held it up—it was a pill. “I brought you a gift.”
“Poison?”
Kaelem laughed. “No, darling. This is a special Unseelie concoction. Take it and you’ll have a better chance of winning.”
“What is it?”
“Now what fun would telling you be? All you need to know is it will help you, but, with magic, there are always consequences.”
Scarlett took the pill from him. What would it do to her? She didn’t think help from Kaelem would be worth the cost.
“Thank you,” Scarlett said. “But I’ll take my chances.” She slipped it in her pocket.
“If you insist,” Kaelem said.
“Why bother helping me?” Scarlett asked.
“I have my reasons.” He shrugged. “Good luck, or as you humans say, break a leg,” Kaelem added before disappearing. Apparently, he had no issue evanescing.
A few minutes later, Raith was at her door. Then they were walking to the courtyard. When the crowd saw them, they all cheered. Being chosen as Raith’s second, even as a human, must have taken her a step up in class, because no one in the crowd scowled at her.
She and Raith took their spots on the opposite side of the announcer as Cade and Poppy. Scarlett didn’t look at either of them. Any nice feelings Scarlett had for Cade vanished the moment she was thrown into the dungeon like some criminal.
“You will each be evanesced somewhere random in the forest.” The announcer paused and looked at all four of them. “When a brother has won, he can evanesce himself and his second out.”
Scarlett wouldn’t go in with Raith? She’d be put somewhere else. What if Cade or Poppy found her first? She’d stand no chance against even one of them by herself. She ran her fingers over the pill in her pocket. It would help her, though she didn’t know how exactly. Or what the cost would be.
The announcer continued, “You will not be alone. Forest creatures can come and go as they please. The winner will be declared when either Raith or Cade is killed or surrenders.”
Scarlett glanced into the crowd and saw Jaser giving her a thumbs up. The announcer counted down from three. The moment he said “one,” Scarlett felt herself flying through the air. She landed inside a crumbling castle exposed to the light above. Overgrown branches slithered into the stone walls.
Scarlett exited the collapsing building into the middle of the forest. A staff leaned against a large tree. Not only was she at a disadvantage by being mainly human, but she didn’t know the forest like the others did.
Scarlett grabbed the staff. The orb in the middle glowed violet. She could do this. Cade and Poppy wouldn’t see her as a threat, so all she needed to do was survive until Raith or Cade won. Then she’d figure out her plan after that.
Raith was somewhere, hopefully not too far away. She didn’t know which way to find him, but when she closed her eyes, she could feel him though the bond. He was to her right somewhere.
Scarlett jogged toward the bond. A tree branch shot through the air toward her. She lunged out of its path. The roots rose from the ground and slithered toward her. Raith warned her about this. The forest would play with her mind. This wasn’t real. The roots moved swiftly. Scarlett jumped over them. A tree branch swung down. She ducked.
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. When she opened them, the tree was back to normal. Scarlett pushed herself from the ground and kept running toward the pull of the bond.
Cade felt the pull of the bond with Poppy. He sprinted toward it until they nearly ran into each other.
“Found you,” Cade said.
“Obviously.” Poppy put her hand on her hip. “What’s the plan?”
“Let’s split up. The sooner we can find Raith and kill him, the sooner we can be done with this.”
“What about Scarlett?”
“We’ll deal with her when the time comes. She’s of no real threat.”
“If she gets in the way?”
Cade paused. “Do what you must.”
He didn’t like the idea of killing a human. Scarlett hadn’t asked to be tangled in this web of the Summer Court. Cade had brought her into it all. But it was what it was, and he wouldn’t let his sympathy stop him from winning the battle. He was so close.
Cade jogged back the direction he came from and Poppy headed straight into the forest. Something growled at Cade from behind a tree, but when Cade snarled, the creature shut up.
Now and again a tree would shift, the forest trying to break into his mind. But with his mental shields so strong, it couldn’t get through. Something rustled behind a tree.
He could feel her fear.
“There’s no point hiding, I know you’re there.”
Scarlett stepped out from the cover of the tree trunk with a staff raised in front of her. Her expression was cold as her eyes glared at him.
“It doesn’t have to be like this,” Cade said. “I don’t want to hurt you.”