Epilogue

THE FAE KING

“Stop,” I shout to the darkness following me. Hunting me. The last of my guards fell as my monsters turned on me, as my fae ran for their lives and left me. Running as fast as I can through the alleys of the city, I don’t pause to look at the dead burning or listen to the screams echoing around my city. No one looks twice at me, trying to escape the monsters and darkness themselves. I lost my crown ages ago, and that betraying bastard has taken over my city and burnt it down. That wasn’t the deal. I want to be the ruler of Ethereal City forever. He told me I’d be safe on my throne if I did what he asked. He told me if I came here and possessed this stupid Fae Prince and became the king, then he would leave me on the throne and leave me with some people to rule when he came. But the bastard lied.

He came here, and he took over my monsters, took over my army, and left me with absolutely nothing. Now he’s trying to kill me. The betraying bastard king. I keep running, knowing if I just get out of the city, I might stand a chance. The brave prince inside me keeps fighting, even now, to escape me, but there is no hope for him. I can’t go back to my body in the Rift. The spell I cast was a one-way ticket, and if I leave this body, then I’m dead.

Being a prince of the fae was much fucking better than the nobody I was in the Rift. I found the crowns of legends, the ones my family told me couldn’t be found, as they starved and begged for any god to save them. I heard the gods whisper in my ear, telling me where I could find them, and I placed them on the throne like he told me to. I did everything to make sure that the thrones would have twelve rulers from this world of the light. I did everything that he told me.

Yet his rulers still betrayed me.

I come to a halt at a dead end, and I turn around, flinching when I see darkness spreading like a wave across the ground in the alleyway. I sense him coming. The darkness ripples with his deadly power, and a shadow stretches up out of the darkness until it becomes a solid person.

Louie, one of the twelve children taken, stands in front of me with darkness at his feet, under his command.

He was the first one to go in there. He was my first sacrifice. I remember dragging him, kicking and screaming into the Rift, giving him to the god to do with as he wished. I killed his almost dead mother, knowing she was no use alive anymore. I know Calliophe wanted them alive. It was fun to use her as the old god had such an interest in her. I know why, and she won’t live long now that his rulers are here on the hunt.

“I was told you wouldn’t hunt me,” I plead. This version of Louie isn’t the same. The Rift, the crown or god has changed him. He’s no longer a young child. He now looks my age, and he is wearing a gold crown I found. His eyes are bleeding black. “I don’t want to fight. I will just step out of your way or go back to the Rift if you wish.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Louie taunts.

“Louie—”

“That is not my name anymore. That was my mortal name, but I bear another. The god gave it to me, and he thanks you for your service. Death is your reward,” he interrupts, his voice cruel.

“No!” I scream, walking backwards. “This wasn’t our deal! NO!”

Louie laughs, walking slowly towards me. “Whatever you wish to call yourself, it is your time. There can be no more rulers in this world other than me. I will destroy every royal bloodline, and after you, I’m going after Calliophe. When she is gone, the rest of this world is going to fall. Be glad you won’t see it.”

I scream as his shadows rip into me like monsters, claws and teeth ripping me apart until there is nothing left of the Fae King.

Find the next book here.