1. Danica

Danica

1

P anic claws at my throat as I sink into the churning abyss. The current has dragged me under before I can draw a breath. My limbs flail helplessly, searching for anything to grab onto. The shadows swirl and twist around me as I tumble deeper into darkness. No light penetrates these depths.

A heavyweight settles in my chest.

I can't help but think that this is a pretty shitty way to go. I mean, drowning in some godforsaken, shadow-infested hellhole? Not exactly the blaze of glory I had in mind for my grand exit.

But here I am, flailing helplessly as the current drags me under, my limbs thrashing about like a puppet with its strings cut. The shadows swirl and twist around me, a sinister ballet of darkness that seems to mock my futile struggle. And let's not forget the cherry on top of this sundae of suck: the complete and utter lack of light. I can't even see my own hand in front of my face, let alone figure out which way is up.

As my lungs scream for oxygen and a heavyweight settles in my chest, the grim realization hits me like a ton of bricks. This is it. Finito. Game over. I'm going to drown in this miserable pit, and there's not a damn thing I can do about it.

But even as I resign myself to my watery fate, something latches onto my arm with an iron grip, jerking me to a stop and nearly wrenching my shoulder out of its socket. I gasp, choking on the foul water that floods my mouth, but a glimmer of pale light appears above me as I'm dragged swiftly upwards.

The surface seems impossibly far away, and my vision starts to tunnel, the blackness closing in like a hungry void. But when I think I'm about to slip into oblivion, I break through into the open air, retching and coughing violently as a pair of strong arms wrap around me, holding me against a solid chest until the spasms ease.

"Easy now," a deep voice rumbles. I squint up at my rescuer through wet lashes. A stunning male face gazes down at me, framed by drenched brown hair. Pointed ears peek through the strands.

Fae.

My lungs burn as I gasp for breath, clinging to the muscular frame that dragged me from the depths. His powerful arms encircle me, keeping me afloat as he swims, propelling us through the raging rapids.

The shore seems impossibly far, but gradually, it looms nearer. He guides us into the shallows with a few final strokes of his strong arms. His feet find purchase on the rocky bottom, and he stands, lifting me in his arms effortlessly. I shiver uncontrollably, my sodden clothes plastered to my skin.

Wading onto dry land, he lowers me gently. I collapse to my hands and knees, coughing violently as my body expels the foul liquid I inhaled. He crouches beside me, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. "Easy now," his deep voice rumbles.

I am trembling; my body is racked with spasms. The coughing won't stop, each fit threatening to split me in two. My chest feels raw, and every gasp of air is like swallowing glass. He is there, his hand on my back, a solid presence in the fog of pain and confusion. His touch is warm against my soaked clothes, grounding me. He swiftly grabs me and holds me to him.

When the spasms finally cease, I raise my head slowly. My rescuer's stunning face comes into clearer focus. His angular features are perfectly sculpted, as if from marble. His emerald eyes meet mine. They seem to glow from within, lined with flecks of silver and blue. They are full of questions yet contain ancient wisdom.

"Thank you," I rasp, my throat raw from coughing up half the damn lake.

He shushes me gently, running his hand up and down my back in soothing circles. "Don't try to talk," he advises, his tone firm but not unkind.

He moves a little closer, adjusting his grip on me. For a moment, I catch a whiff of something sweet and wild—like pine needles and summer rain. I try to pull away, but my limbs feel heavy and unresponsive.

"You can trust me," he says softly.

My mind reels… I don't know him, and I don't know anything about him. "I... can't..." I manage to choke out between bouts of coughing. Bitter and cold water still trickles from my lips.

"There's no need for alarm," he says gently. "I won't harm you."

"I don't... know you," I gasp, a rebellion against the coughing shaking my body. The words tumble into the empty space between us, barely a whisper of sound.

Trust is a luxury I can't afford, not with a lifetime subscription to Sparkle-Power-Related Bullshit Monthly.

I search those endless emerald green eyes but find no deception. Still, I remain wary. "Where am I?"

His expression turns grim. "The Shadow Court and you have stumbled into the territory of the Dark Fae and their king."

" Dark Fae? Well, that's just fantastic." I snap, scrambling away from him like he's made of nettles.

The Shadow Court sounds like a bad horror flick, but it's a place I'd rather not be in, thanks. If dread came in flavors, that name would be the bitterest on the menu, sending a full-body shudder right through me.

He raises his hands in a placating gesture. "Be calm; I promise you will come to no harm. Trust me, please."

Sure, he played lifeguard—round of applause for him. A wry smile pulls at my lips. "Sure, 'cause I've got 'gullible' stamped on my forehead," The subtleties of my own power spark a warning at my fingertips, a silent reminder that I'm not entirely helpless here. Amusement flickers in his green eyes, but he wisely keeps his distance, hands raised in a show of non-aggression.

My pulse races with suspicion. Is this some game to him? A sinister ploy? I can't afford to let my guard down until I findRhyland. Every unknown face is a question mark, a potential threat in disguise.

"You're quite the enigma," he muses, curiosity sharpening his features. "A human, yet your aura tells tales of hidden magic."

I raise an eyebrow, not loving how he's eyeing me like I'm some puzzle he's just dying to solve. Hand over my aces to this guy? Yeah, that's a hard pass. Suppressing an eye roll is a Herculean effort. "Oh, please. I'm nobody special," I chide, my sarcasm as thick as molasses.

His brow quirks in disbelief. "Just a regular human who defies deadly rapids and survives?"

Silence is my shield as I guard my secret closely against his perceptive gaze. The odds I've overcome gnaw at me—how the hell did I survive such a fall?

"And you are...?" he gently prods.

I reluctantly offer my name. "Dani."

"Dani," he intones with a certain reverence that makes me want to squirm. "My name is Faderyn." He eyes me with a measured intensity that sets my nerves on edge. "Your arrival here isn't by happenstance. What brings a human to the Fae Realm, especially one cloaked in such mystery?"