26. Adelaide

26

ADELAIDE

I stare at him, my blood like ice. "Well, that sounds frightening."

"It is."

Zephyr places his arm around my waist as we make our way back towards the others. The forest seems darker, the shadows deeper and more menacing.

"What's your dad like?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

Zephyr's jaw tightens. "Powerful. Ruthless. Not someone you want to cross."

"Sounds lovely," I mutter.

"Hmm."

As we approach the edge of the clearing where the other students are gathered but thinning as they head home, I spot Ignatius, Corvus, and Zaiah huddled together in an intense conversation. They look up as we near, relief washing over their faces.

"Addy!" Ignatius calls out, rushing over. "Are you okay?"

I nod weakly. "I'm fine. Zephyr brought me back."

Corvus eyes me warily, his gaze flicking to my mouth as if checking for blood. "And Crimson?"

"Under control. For now."

Zaiah steps forward, his white eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. "We need to talk. All of us. Something's happening."

"Yeah, no shit," Zephyr mutters. "My father's on his way."

The others exchange worried glances.

"That's not all," Zaiah continues. "I saw something. The bridge between worlds?—"

"You saw it?" I interrupt. "Where is it?"

"You're looking at it."

It takes my tired brain a few seconds to catch up. "What? What do you mean?"

"I mean, I'm the bridge. I don't create it. I am it."

See now there is someone with brains.

I hiss. "You sound weak, dear. Everything okay in there?"

She laughs. Your Fae mate has got some fucking power. But tell him I'll repay the favour when I get out of here.

"Tell him yourself."

"What is she saying?" Zephyr murmurs, and I shake my head.

"Never mind that. Zaiah. You can't be serious. This sounds dangerous."

Zaiah's eyes lock onto mine, his gaze intense and unwavering. "I am serious, Addy. I can feel it. The power, the connection between worlds - it's all inside me. I think this is why I've always been different from other djinn."

"Fuck," Corvus mutters. "So what does this mean?"

Zaiah shakes his head. "I'm not sure exactly, I just know I'm the bridge."

Before anyone can say anything else, the shadows deepen. A chill runs through my soul as I sense a presence, unlike anything I've ever felt before. It's like a wet blanket that has been thrown over my head and is smothering me.

"He's here," Zephyr says quietly.

From the darkness emerges a figure that can only be Zephyr's father. Tall, imposing, with eyes that seem to hold the depths of the void itself.

"Hey, Dad," Zephyr says.

The Dark Fae King looks around at all of us but ignores everyone except for me. His eyes lock onto mine, and I find it impossible to pull away. My soul withers, and even Crimson is quiet and trembling in the corner, which makes no sense. Shouldn't she be more powerful than him?

I feel frozen in place as Zephyr's father approaches, his gaze never leaving mine. The air around us seems to grow colder and darker. He stops in front of me and grips my chin. Zephyr's hand comes up to shove him away, but his dad holds his hand up to stop him.

"Adelaide Black," he says. "It's an honour to meet you."

"S-sir," I bleat out, so terrified I'm about to wet myself.

His eyes narrow, and he purses his lips, looking a little irked. "Crimson. How are you, dear? Been a while."

I blink and wonder for a split second if I should let her deal with him instead of me.

Tell him to get fucked.

"She says to tell you to get fucked," I blurt out and then wish the earth would open me up and swallow me whole, spitting me out, preferably somewhere very far from here.

Zephyr hisses, but his Dad snorts with amusement. "I bet. That little bitch is not our biggest fan."

"Little bitch," I snicker as Crimson hisses and snarls in my head. "He's got you pegged, doesn't he?"

"I am Malachar, King of the Dark Fae," he says, letting go of my chin and dropping into a deep bow. "I am at your service, my Queen."