Chapter 11

ELEVEN

Cassia

My eyes flash open. I stare for a minute in confusion. Torches burn along the walls of the dark space I'm in. Roots hang from the ceiling above, and crypts line the walls. The House of Death. The place is aptly named, and is becoming a place I'm all too familiar with.

Rising from where I was lying on the floor, I glance around, and my gaze falls on Prince Forrest and the woman standing before him. I dismiss her in an instant, unable to look away from Prince Forrest. His auburn hair is dirty and tangled around his shoulders. He has a swollen black eye and bruises covering his face. They've chained him to a wall by his wrists, where he hangs, looking battered and beaten.

Yet, he's awake. Conscious and aware as he stares as the tall female fae who stands before him. She wears a black gown made of lace and brown and pale green wings extend from her back, their pattern similar to that of a butterfly's. Long black hair falls down one of her shoulders, but as beautiful as she is, she radiates the kind of chill I imagine only a fae from the House of Death could have.

"I must go," she says, her voice low and cold.

"No, Lady Grave, you came down here for a reason," he rasps, and my heart breaks at the sound of his voice.

She shakes her head. "I don't know why I came to see you. It was foolish."

"It wasn't. You wanted to see what the Keeper of Death was doing because some part of you knows this is wrong." He's struggling against his chains, but it does no good; they hold him solidly against the wall.

"I may be the head of the House of Death, but the Keeper is our true leader. The most powerful among us. The most revered by the dead. I have no power here, even if I wanted to go against the Keeper, which I don't," she says, giving a little bow of her head.

"That's not true. You can do something. You can stop this," he pleads. "You know this is wrong. You know what it will do to the kingdom." He tries to hold his head up, but it hangs awkwardly against the force of the chains and the angle he's being held at.

Lady Grave clasps her hands in front of her with no expression on her face. "This war and the deaths that will follow aren't the path I would have taken, but I don't make the path. The Keeper of Death, in all of her power, does. She rules this land. She could rule all the land with her power. It's not my place to question her or to rise up against her. It's my job to simply follow what she has laid out." She turns to leave, and I stand frozen, unsure what to do.

"I know you have premonitions, more powerful than any other fae. What have you seen happening if you let her do this?" he calls.

She answers without looking back at him. "Death is inevitable."

"You pretend all of this death and loss doesn't hurt you. But I know it does. I know the truth. Your truth," Prince Forrest calls out, halting her movement. "I saw the look on your face when you explained that your son was too weak to live among the inhabitants here. I saw your pain when you told my father your child was given back to the forest."

Lady Grave turns back around, shock splashed on her face before her expression changes to one of acknowledgement. "You were a young boy when I saw your father. When I spoke of the child I lost."

"I remember, and so do you. Why make more families go through that same pain? Why do more children need to be lost?" He's standing as tall as he can now, and I see the pain it causes him.

Lady Grave turns again to walk away, but she pauses and looks back at him before saying, "I'm sorry. One day, you'll understand." And then she disappears like a wisp of smoke in the wind, in a way that shouldn't be possible.

The realization that I'm dream sharing hits me. In real life, I'm on the road with Lady Nova. The princes are here in the House of Death. None of this is really happening, and yet, Prince Forrest will remember this too. Dream sharing with him and the other men is a blessing I shouldn't ignore.

"Prince Forrest," I whisper as I approach him, not wanting to scare him now that he's alone.

He raises his head and the light in his eyes when he sees me is as bright as the sun, which makes me feel even worse. This man shouldn't be this happy to see me. If he knew the truth about me not being his mate, he'd hate me for being the reason he ended up in this place. He'd hate me for not telling him the truth.

But I can't focus on that now, because none of that helps me. My guilt won't make his days any better, nor will it take his pain away. He deserves better.

"Cassia." His voice is soft and gentle, like he's not chained to a wall and bleeding. My heart aches at the sound of it. He can push aside everything he's going through and all the pain he's in to be gentle with me.

My assessment of this man was more than a little wrong.

"Prince Forrest, I'm here. Everything's going to be okay, alright? I'm going to find all of you and get you out of here, and then you'll be safely back home." Tears sting my eyes, but I force a smile into place. There's enough sadness in this dreary place; I don't need to bring more.

"The barrier. I must keep the barrier in place, but we're all too weak. Not just our bodies, but our magic. We can't keep this up forever."

"You won't have to," I promise, and my promise feels… powerful.

He doesn't seem to hear me. "Being here has given me time to think about every way I messed things up. About all the ways I failed with you. You deserved better."

My throat feels tight. "So you guys were as clumsy as incontinent badgers. It doesn't make you terrible people. Stop worrying about our awkward wooing."

"I can't stop thinking about it. You're my mate. My only mate." And he sounds so damn defeated.

The truth lingers on my tongue. "If I forgive you, then you have to forgive yourself. "

"Never."

I swallow around the lump in my throat. "Prince Forrest, you're a mighty Fall Fae and I'm barely a fae at all. You've gone above and beyond on your wooing of me, sacrificing life and limb to get me back."

He gives a little smile. "You're amazing. Funny, smart, sweet, and caring. If you can love me half as much as you love your father and grandmother, I'll be a lucky man. Offering our lives in exchange to the Keeper for finding you was worth it in all ways. To know you're safe and cared for."

My stomach lurches at the reminder that they're in this predicament because of me. All of this, the impending war and their torture, is because I got kidnapped, and they needed to find me. All I had to do was say yes to them.

They don't deserve this. None of us do.

Prince Forrest groans. The chains are hurting him, contorting him in awkward positions. I hate seeing him in them. I touch the chains, angry that they even exist, and they disappear. I gasp and have to react quickly as Forrest comes crashing down. Catching him, I lower him to the ground.

Our eyes meet, but we don't need words. I lean in and our lips touch lightly like mirrors reflecting one another, the same want on both sides. The kiss only lasts a few seconds, but my soul soars. Part of the heaviness that has been resting on my chest eases, and when I pull away, I find myself missing him again.

"Prince Forrest, are you okay?" It's a stupid question. Of course he isn't, but I need to know.

"Call me Forrest," he says with a smile. "You are my bride, after all. "

Our lips meet again, but this time it's all consuming. He clings to me, his hands tangling in my hair as our mouths find each other again and again. And his lips taste like warmth, like marshmallows roasted over an open fire, homey and right.

Desire rears inside of me, and I want to make love to him. But even in this dream, he's hurt. I can't be the one to bring him more pain. So, I end our kiss, still clinging to him, letting the warmth of my body press against the chill of his own. Hating this horrible dark place.

Except is this where we need to be? "Where would you be if you could be anywhere right now?"

He speaks without hesitation. "With you in your room, where we first kissed."

It surprises me. After all the amazing places he's been in his life, my room with me is where he'd want to be? Still, I try. I picture this place melting away and my room taking shape. I put a deep need into the image, just the way I'd done when I'd touched his cuffs.

In seconds, we're in my room, lying on my bed, freshly bathed and in our sleep clothes, snuggled under my old, ratty blanket. And he was onto something, because this is perfect.

Prince Forrest turns to me in surprise, no longer beaten and bruised. "This is all I've been thinking about. Whenever they're hurting me, this is where I'd picture myself being."

"It is?"

He nods. "I liked your home the minute I stepped foot in it. I mean, I was surprised by how small it was, and by how little you had, but your house felt like a home. Like love. Every inch of it. "

I smile. "That's exactly how it was. You're deeper than you led me to believe, Prince Forrest."

"Forrest," he corrects gently.

I shake my head, smiling. "After years of using titles, I'm not sure I'll ever get used to not using them."

"You will," he says, taking my hand and letting it settle on his chest. "Because soon, you'll be queen, and I'll be one of your kings."

"Scoot over!"

I let out a shriek when I see a shirtless Prince Cobar bounding up to the bed and leaping toward us. He lands right on top of me and then pounds his chest, a grin on his face.

Then I'm laughing. "You're insane! And there's no way this bed can handle three of us! I don't even know how it's handling Prince Forrest's weight!"

"Hey!" the big Fall Fae exclaims.

Prince Cobar squishes himself between us. "She's right. I've seen houses smaller than you." Then he's officially between us, and I'm turned on my side, clinging to him, trying not to fall off the bed. "Cozy."

"Cozy," Prince Forrest grumbles. "You're like one of my puppies when they reach adulthood, bounding on my bed, still thinking they're just a few pounds."

"I could turn on my side," he suggests in a helpful voice, turning to face Prince Forrest.

"Not in my direction, you crazy Spring Fae! I don't want your log hitting my thigh."

I'm laughing as Prince Cobar switches directions to face me, his eyes wide and innocent. "For your information, I'm only half-sprung, so it's not a full log quite yet." Then he wiggles his brows at me. "It could be though."

"I've officially decided that you both were only ever able to woo women because of your titles," Prince Zane says, and my gaze jerks to where he's leaning against my wall. "Because these moves," he gestures, "are appalling."

He's right. These guys have zero skills at impressing women, but I don't mind. They make me laugh. I like being around them. What more could a woman want?

Maybe the fact that you already know they have huge dicks helps. I swallow. Yeah, there's that.

"I really think Cassia should be in the middle of us," Prince Forrest complains.

Prince Zane comes and kneels down beside my side of the bed. "I think I like her right here where I can see her."

The flirt.

I smile. "I don't get the whole cold fae thing about your Winter Fae. You're nothing but warmth to me."

He touches my face. "You have no idea, but I hope someday you will."

I shiver, trying to ignore my racing heart. "So, what will it be like to be married to you?"

His fingers glide along my cheekbones. "It will be… a fairytale. You'll have everything and anything you ever wanted."

Is he sure? "Could we have a polar bear as a pet?"

He lifts a brow. "Would you like a polar bear as a pet?"

My nose wrinkles. "I'm not sure. I just think I like knowing it's a possibility."

Then he gives that little smile of his. "Everything is a possibility for you."

"Except that the three of you will get along," Prince Sulien says.

I glance up. He's watching us from the doorway, his expression darker than usual. It's in that moment that I remember what this is. A dream we're sharing. All of these men, when they wake up, will be suffering again.

"You know, I think I might be able to love all of you," I confess.

My words are met with silence, and then Prince Sulien says, "Them, perhaps, but I think you'd find me a little harder to love."

I speak without thinking. "Because you're like a cat."

His brows lift. "A cat?"

I might not have meant to say it, but it's true. The way I feel about each of these men is different. Even the way I feel about Prince Sulien is unique.

"This is going to be one of her weird Cassia things," Prince Cobar mutters.

I shoot him a glare, then continue. "No, listen, I'm right! You see, I had this cat I used to give what little scraps of food we had. She was a sweet little thing, black and gray, with a little brown spot on her back, nearly hidden by the dark colors. She would come up and rub against my leg. I'd pet her, and she'd be purring, then suddenly bite me, lightly, then take off. Or she'd run over for pets, and when I'd kneel down to pet her, she'd duck from my touch. She was a strange little thing. Aloof, annoying, confusing, but I loved her. You, Prince Sulien, are a cat. Prince Cobar is a dog. Prince Zane is a horse. And Prince Forrest is–"

"Don't say a bear," he mutters.

I laugh. "I was going to say a ‘tamed' wolf. I met one of them, and while I wouldn't want to be trapped with it hungry, it was basically like a giant, cuddly dog."

The vision fades away. Everyone is gone except Prince Forrest, who still lays beside me. My stomach flips. Are they okay? What happened to them in the House of Death? Prince Forrest rolls closer until we're looking at each other, and then my room fades away, and we're back in the dark underground of the House of Death.

Staring at Prince Forrest's suddenly hopeless face, I know what I need to do. As much as I want to just enjoy this stolen moment together, there's important information that I need to get across. Information that just might help this mission of ours.

I hold his face in my hands. "This is real. I'm coming for you. You'll all be free soon."

He turns away from me, shaking his head. "No, this is a dream. I'm dreaming of what I want to happen. Deep down I know we've lost you forever. We had one chance, that moment when we asked you to marry us, and you said no. We were so sure that you'd say yes that we gambled with the Keeper. Now she owns us, and there's no way out of the deal. Not when it's clear she wants to keep us."

"That was the deal you made?" I feel sick. "Oh, Prince Forrest…"

He puts his hand over mine on his cheek. "They're going to break us, Cassia. Soon, we won't be able to keep the iron demons out. I don't know how much longer I can hold on."

"It's okay," I tell him, staring into those deep green eyes of his. "I'm coming for you. We'll be there soon, and we'll get you away from the Keeper of Death. Just hold on a little longer."

His smile is pained. "You're not coming. And by the time anyone comes, it'll be too late."

Sunlight forces my eyes open. I blink, trying to focus my vision, and find Lady Nova standing over me. "It's time to get going."

I suck in a trembling breath and shakily exhale, pulling myself up. Did they really make that deal with the Keeper of Death? Did they really tie their fate to my love for them?

I've been such a fool.

"Build up the fire," Lady Nova orders, then adds, "with your powers."

It takes a minute to focus back on this world instead of the dark one with Prince Forrest, but I pull out of my blankets and put on my boots. Putting a few logs on the fire, I lift a hand towards them and think about the fire I want, picturing the size, the color, and the warmth. Sparks erupt, then flames. Within moments, a fire roars. Normally, this is the time I do a little dance, but not today. Not with the princes haunting me.

"Another dream?" she asks.

I nod, watching her moving around, cleaning up the camp. "Prince Forrest was chained and beaten. He was talking to Lady Grave. It was clear she didn't agree with the Keeper, but she was going to let the Keeper of Death do what she wanted."

"That's no surprise," Lady Nova says, rolling up my blankets. "Lady Grave is technically the highest ranking fae in the House of Death. She visits the courts, when it's required, and does what she has to do. But in the House of Death they respect power over position. The Keeper of Death is the most powerful fae amongst them. Lady Grave would follow her command."

It's weird. "I just don't get it. Fae are ruthless, selfish assholes who–" I freeze, remembering who I'm talking to.

She shrugs, not missing a beat. "We are, with exceptions."

Okay, I did not expect that. "So, the fae might be all those things, but I thought they mostly liked pretty clothes and expensive jewelry. How did one house end up focused on… death of all things? I mean, yeah, they're from the House of Death, but still, Prince Sulien is from the Summer Court and doesn't sport a hardon for the sun all day."

Lady Nova cocks her head. "You're a weird little thing, aren't you?"

I stiffen. "Nope."

"You're not?" She arches a brow.

"No way. Totally normal."

We stare for a minute before she looks away. "As much as I don't want to think about Prince Sulien, the honorable prince of the Summer Court, sporting a hardon… to answer your question, the House of Death is as weird as the House of War in terms of being fae. Both houses deal with the darkest and hardest parts of life, so that changes us. It's not strange that the House of Death seems unusual to you. What is strange is the fact that after all they've learned, they want more death and destruction."

I wrap my arms around my shoulders. "Do they like torturing the princes too?"

"Maybe," she says without hesitation, "but in all likelihood, hurting them is just a necessary step to getting what they want."

She finishes packing up the camp while I sit, feeling useless. "You know, I'm usually the one who does all the work. "

"I figured. That's why I'm okay being the one to do it for you," she answers easily.

Lady Nova is a strange character.

When almost everything is loaded, she stirs the stew over the fire and gives me a bowl, then one for herself. I blow on the spoon, thoughts spinning. We should be close to the House of Death. Shouldn't we? Then we have to face our enemies.

"Any idea what we'll do when we get there?"

She shrugs, sitting down on the log next to me. "You'll try to appeal to them as their future queen. Maybe try to bribe them or scare them into doing what you want. If that doesn't work, I'll kill them."

I stare. "Just like that?"

"Yup."

"What if I'm not so good at the whole scaring them or bribing them thing?"

She grins. "That's okay, because I'm good at the killing them thing."

"You're prepared to just… kill all the most powerful fae?"

She starts eating, looking smug. "Fae are ready for powers and trickery, not a knife to the throat of a certain Keeper of Death. And if I take her out, the deal is done, and the other fae will stand down. At least, I hope."

I eat slowly, thinking. "And what will happen if we don't get there in time? Are the iron demons as bad as they say?"

Her spoon hesitates at her lips, and then she puts it back in her bowl. "How much do you know about the iron demons?"

"Almost nothing," I admit .

She starts to eat again, her expression thoughtful. "Not much is discussed inside the kingdom, because the fae and humans want to forget. They want to forget the greater world and the greater history because it's dark and dangerous."

I sit up a little taller. "How so?"

It takes her so long to respond that for a minute I think she won't. "There are multiple kingdoms on this continent. The Witch Kingdom, the Shifter Kingdom, the Vampire Kingdom, and the Kingdom we call the Iron Demon Kingdom, which others call the Monster Kingdom. While most of us can get along with one another, at least enough to leave each other alone, the iron demons are an enemy to all. As far as we know, they have no leader and no purpose. They simply roam about causing death and destruction."

"Do the princes protect all the kingdoms from the iron demons?"

She shakes her head. "The vampires have built a wall to keep them out. The shifters have only a few places where the demons can get through, so they man their warriors there, keeping the rest of the kingdom safe. The witches are in the safest position, their lands are surrounded by the shifters and the vampires, and much of it is also uncrossable by mountains, so I imagine they deal with far less of the bastards than the rest of us."

"And if the barrier falls around us, even for a short time, how bad will it be?"

She tilts her head as if thinking. "The iron demons have always been drawn to our lands more than any other. No one knows why. The creatures tend to line up along the barrier and push and shove, trying to break through. Usually focusing on a few points to weaken the princes the most. If one of those points were to fall, I imagine hundreds of the beasts would cross over and cause quite a bit of death and destruction before being killed. So, it'd be bad, but at least it'd help the vampires." She gives a harsh laugh. "They'd be flooding our lands instead of trying to get into theirs."

I don't laugh. It's not funny. "I think we should get going."

Her pointed ears twitch. "Eager for battle, princess?"

"Eager to end this thing," I say, ignoring the fluttering in my stomach.