Wings rustle as he enters the stone room. The flames in the hearth behind me crackle as I take in the sight of him. At last I see him with my own eyes. My fate.
The King of Ravens.
His black hair is flecked with gold from the firelight, and his shadowed gaze glints with silver. The inking of a black raven is etched over his bare skin. It wraps around the muscles of his broad shoulders and covers his right arm. On his head he wears a silver laurel. Around his neck is the heavy iron torque that holds back his immense power.
He grips the body of a limp winter fox in one fist and a bloody dagger in the other. The white body drips crimson onto the stone floor as the king steps closer to me. I can’t look away from the rare fox, its beauty snuffed out by those beastly hands. That will be me very soon if I’m not cautious.
But even in my fear, I stand firm. I cannot cower from him. In spite of all I’ve done, I’m no craven thing. He is my punishment, my eternal cage. Because of what happened in the arms of the trees . . .
No. I can’t let myself think of the human boy I burned in the wood. How with a kiss I pulled life from him until there was nothing left. I was a fool to think I could control it on my own. I deserve punishment. This dark beast’s coldness is what I have earned.
The Cast’s envoy stands in the corner, watching my first exchange with the king. He’s a thin man, a bit hunched in his heavy furs, balding. Not what I expected from the representative of the powerful Cast of Seven, who live in the Otherworld, lording over all of us demis for their maker, the mother goddess, Danu. I would think the Cast would send someone more daunting in size to oversee the initial introduction of this match that they’ve allowed my mother and the Morrígan to draft.
This is the first time the Cast has permitted a Bond between two Houses, two bloodlines, two separate, very different powers: fire and spirit. Somehow the mistake I made warrants a complete shift in the order just to control me. And so the King of Ravens is my doom.
There is no escape once the vows of the Bond are sealed at the next new moon and I’ve given myself over fully. This beast is far more powerful than I am. He’ll surely eat away at my soul, my powers, a little at a time, until all that’s left of me is a mindless shell.
Like the charcoal bones of the boy I killed.
I still see the horror of that day when I close my eyes. The hollow skull smoking on the mossy ground of the forest, the embers of my youthful foolishness.
The king steps closer and drops the body of the fox at my feet. Its golden eyes are glazed over with death, and it wears a glistening ring of blood around its throat.
“For you,” the king says, his voice prickling over my skin. “An offering for my future Bonded, the Daughter of Fire.”
I give a curt nod and try not to stare at the pool of red spreading along the cracks in the stone floor.
He holds out the dagger. “Would you prefer to do the honors?”
I look at his blood-smeared palm and my mouth goes dry. “Much gratitude, but no. I wouldn’t wish to dirty my skirts.”
His eyes rake over me. “You must settle yourself into this life, Daughter of Fire. We are not full of youthful whims here in the North. You are now a grown woman, and this is a cold world.” He steps closer and takes my chin in his fingers, the sticky blood smearing my skin. “It is a shame that you are so lovely.”
I make myself meet his icy, silver-blue gaze. “Why?”
His lips tilt in a sad smile. “Because, my fire creature, nothing beautiful survives my cold touch. I doubt you’ll be the first.”
TWO
SAGE
“She’s definitely not much to look at,” a voice says, pulling me from sleep. I was dreaming of . . . I don’t know, it’s fluttered out of my head already. But I do know I’m not alone in the room.
I sit up in a rush and scramble back against the wall.
Three large males hover over me, all wearing cat ears and holding red Solo cups. Two are blond with pale skin, and the third is super tan with brown eyes and dark brown hair. They study me intently, like I’m some sort of science experiment they’re trying to figure out.
“Whoa,” blond number one says, his head pulling back.
Blond number two adds, “Skittish thing,” like I’m not staring right at him.
The tan guy takes a drink, then says, “You’d be skittish too if you woke up to someone insulting you.”
Blondie One looks dubious. “You know I’m flawless, Ben.”
“Sure I do,” Brown Eyes answers dryly. He must be the cousin.
Star pushes them all aside. “Gods’ bones, give the girl space to breathe. I told you to leave her be until Faelan gets here.”
“You aren’t in charge, Star,” Blondie Two says, then chugs his drink. Whatever’s in the cup appears to be red; some of it stains his lips before he licks it off.
Star rolls her eyes and throws up her hands. “Far be it from me to make Faelan’s job easier.”
“What the hell’s going on?” I ask, looking from one figure to the other. I’ve woken up in the twilight zone. Who’s Faelan?
“Ignore these beefburgers, Sage,” Star says as she sets her cup down on the bedside table. “Go away, all of you. The girl needs to rest.”
Ben starts to object. “But what about the spe—”
She smacks her hand over his mouth. “Later, Ben.” She shoos at the three muscular guys with her tiny hands.
They bow their heads, looking contrite as they leave the room.
Star sighs dramatically and sits on the bed. “Boys are so annoying.”
“Star, what is going on?” I hug one of the pillows to my chest.
“Oh, they just heard about you and were curious.”
“You talked to them about me?” Why would she do that? That’s weird and creepy. Horror stories of street kids being bought and sold like cattle fill my head.
Her face pinches with concern. “Not like in a stalker way!” she says. “I just told them that I was hoping we could . . . you know, help you. Good karma and all that.” She looks at me sheepishly. “Not creepy, I swear.”
“A little creepy,” I say. But I relax some, seeing open honesty in her eyes. It’s not normal for people to be so nice, which is probably why I’m freaking out.
“I’m sorry. I’m just bad with humans,” she says in a whisper, like it’s a confession. “But I’ll scold those boys later for scaring you, I promise.”
Humans?
“It’s all right,” I say. “I’m not used to people giving a shit.”
“You poor thing,” she says, and her eyes glisten.
I laugh softly and nudge her shoulder. “It’s okay, Star.”
Her gaze skips to the space between us and her jaw clenches like she’s suddenly realizing how close I am to her.
Now we’re back to the awkward. I move away and lean on the wall again. “If it’s all right, I’d like to try and get some sleep. Then I’ll go. Feel free to burn the sheets afterward.”