2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

" I could make you happy." Jesper smiled at me as I tried to find a way over the wall my father had built around the castle to keep me in. I turned to him and raised an eyebrow.

"A future king does not want a bastard daughter." I frowned as I looked for a branch to help me climb over.

"I don’t care about all of that," he sighed. "You kissed me; I thought you liked me."

Intent on ignoring him, I reached for the next branch, only to find it missing. I rolled my eyes heavenward, realizing my father must have cut the branches off the trees so I couldn’t climb them anymore.

I turned back to him. "Your family would never approve, and neither would mine. Besides, no one wants me. I’m broken and tainted." I repeated the words my stepmother had said about me when she thought I couldn’t hear. Even though I knew they were true, it still hurt when she said them.

"I don’t care," he ground out. "I want to try."

"You aren’t my type," I said as an excuse. I didn’t know what my type was, but Jesper Alcove was not it. Sure, he was handsome, but that was as far as the appeal went.

He scoffed. "I’m everyone’s type."

I scrunched my face at his comment. He said things like this a lot, conceited prick.

"Well, not mine."

"Why not?"

"Do you even know how to defend yourself? Do you know how to climb a tree or sneak through the woods at night? Can you make a joke?"

"None of that matters. I’m going to be King of Kizar one day." Jesper was fit, handsome, and rich, but no matter how many times I kissed him, it didn’t ignite a spark in me. I felt nothing toward him.

"It matters to me," I said, rolling my eyes. "You’re boring."

He paused for a moment, a hurt look on his face. It quickly changed to anger. "And you’re just the king’s bastard daughter," he spat angrily.

My mouth hung open as I searched for something to say, but it shut when I couldn’t find the words. Jesper needed to understand that I only kissed him to see what it was like. There was nothing behind the kiss except simple curiosity. I did not feel anything for him, and that was because he was an entitled prick.

"I’m sorry." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "That was cruel."

"What are you two doing?" Tally walked up, glaring at me.

"I’m trying to get over this damned wall Father built so I can watch the blood moon."

"If you leave the castle grounds, I will tell my mother," she sneered. "They forbade you from going."

"Don’t do that, Tal. I’m going to go with her; you’ll get me in trouble too," Jesper announced. Well, this was news to me because I wanted to go alone. "You can come with us. Have a little fun and not be so boring."

His eyes flickered over to me. Is this why he suddenly had a change of heart? He wanted to prove he wasn’t boring.

"I’ll go if you are." Tally smiled at Jesper, who smiled back at her. I rolled my eyes. Gods, please give me the strength to never fall for a man as boring as Jesper Alcove. I would rather be alone.

"Why do you want to go see the blood moon so badly?" Jesper asked.

"It’s my favorite night of the year; it calls to me. The beauty, the mystery, the stories of wishes coming true. All of it... intrigues me."

"What stories?" Tally scoffed.

"You mean you don’t know?" I asked smugly, glad that I had the upper hand in something for once. "The blood moon is supposed to know your true desires, and sometimes it will grant them to you. Maybe love or fortune. I like the thought that something out there knows what I truly desire and could grant it to me."

“That is not true. It’s just a stupid moon. Nothing but bad things happen on the blood moon,” Jesper huffed, but continued to follow me.

I frowned. Every year, I asked the blood moon for the same thing. I wished for someone who would love me—someone to build a real life with. A mate.

I stopped talking and headed to my favorite spot.

“We shouldn’t be out here,” my half-sister muttered somewhere behind me. When I turned toward her, her pretty blue eyes paled as she looked at the dark forest around the castle.

“Then go home, Tally.”

Her eyes shifted to Jesper before returning to me.

“No.”

I didn’t like the way she only followed when he was near. Jesper was not my boyfriend, but it was clear he had affection for me. On the other hand, it would be nice for him to stop bothering me so much. Tally’s dress tore as it snagged on a downed log. I was the only one of us who dressed appropriately for trudging through the forest, in my trousers and boots.

The darkness made it hard to see the tree limbs blocking the path, and I could feel them pricking my skin and leaving abrasions. I didn’t care much. Tonight was the blood moon, and I wanted to see it from my favorite spot. I turned around when I heard Tally whimper in pain. Jesper scooped her up and held her close to him as he walked. My eyes took in the sight of them. They looked good together.

I shook my head and continued walking up the hill. It was forbidden to leave the castle at night. Our father had always driven it into our heads and the heads of our fae that we would die at the hands of monsters if we were caught outside the walls at night. I had been sneaking out for years and had never encountered a monster. I was starting to think they were made up. I smiled to myself as I saw the field just ahead.

I pushed through the branches and stopped at the small clearing that led to the cliffside. We could see for miles and miles here. The blood moon was so red and beautiful that it nearly stopped my heart. Beautiful crimson red covered everything the moonlight touched. It was such a beautiful color, but I never spoke of that in Cerithia. It was a color that represented our biggest enemies, but something about it made my heart race.

“It’s kind of creepy,” Tally whispered as Jesper set her down next to him. My gaze flickered at her in annoyance.

“It’s beautiful,” I said sharply as I turned back to the moon. It appeared so large that I felt like I might be able to reach out and touch it.

“It is a little creepy.” Jesper glanced back into the forest before meeting my eyes. “I feel like we’re being watched.” His hand ran through his dark blonde hair as he glanced around us.

I felt it too, but nothing stood out to me in the darkened woods. I wish they would have just stayed back at the castle. They were ruining this night for me with their complaining.

“You guys may go back to the castle, but I wish to stay for a little bit.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright out here by yourself?” Jesper asked.

I turned to him and stared at his hand holding Tally’s tightly. I thought he would protest me staying out here by myself or at least pretend to care as he claimed to.

“Yes.”

“Ok.” His tense shoulders sagged as he and Tally walked into the dark forest without me. My eyes lingered where they disappeared. I should feel more upset that they left me, but I knew where I stood with my family. As the illegitimate daughter of the King of Cerithia, I was not royal by any means.

All my father had to do was accept me as his daughter, and I would be considered royal blood. He hadn’t, though, and I was losing hope he ever would.

Tally, Gwyn, and Mae all pretended to be civil with me, but I could see the hatred in their pale blue eyes when they looked at me. Maybe that was why I was surprised when Jesper approached me instead of Tally. Everyone in the kingdom knew who I was to the king, and most stayed clear.

My focus returned to the blood moon, and I smiled as I sat down on the grassy cliff. This was nice, quiet, and peaceful.

The villages in the distance started putting out all sources of light. They believed it would keep them safe from monsters that lingered in the woods. Tonight was the most dangerous night of the year, according to what we had been taught. Monsters would kill and eat anything that moved, but again, I had never seen these monsters.

My eyes shifted down the cliff as I scooted a little closer so I could throw the flower petals off the side and watch them drift down. My face turned up to the blood moon, and I asked it for the same thing I did each year. A mate, a man I could love and build a true life with.

I shifted slightly when I heard a small noise behind me. I turned, expecting to see Jesper standing there, but I didn’t see anything. Someone or something was watching me.

I pulled a dagger from its hiding place in my boot.

“I can hear you. Come out, you coward.” I stood and backed away from the cliff.

I half expected nothing to happen, but then he stepped out. The man was taller than any man I had seen in our kingdom. He wore all black except for his cloak, which was dark red—or maybe it just looked that way in the blood moon. He kept his oversized hood on, but I could feel his eyes on me.

“A coward, huh?” he said with a chuckle. I should feel scared. Why didn’t I? I gripped the viper-handled dagger in my hand tightly as he stepped closer.

“I will kill you if you get any closer.”

“Oh, I believe you would try, little viper.” His voice was deep and reverberated off the forest and dirt around me. Something about it instantly soothed my tense body. I glanced around the woods to see how many others there were, but I couldn’t make out anyone else. My eyes shifted back to him.

“Why are you out here?” I demanded with as much confidence as I could muster.

“I could ask the same of you.” His voice was soft, like he worried I would spook easily.

My gaze narrowed at the hooded man, but I didn’t respond. His golden eyes shined brightly from under the hood, making me lose my thoughts altogether.

“Watching,” he finally muttered.

“The blood moon?” I turned toward the moon for a brief moment before looking back at him.

“No.” I gasped when he was only a few feet in front of me. The stranger had made no noise as he snuck up to me. I should not be out here talking to this man. “You.”

“Me.” I stilled at his confession. I should run. I should run and scream. If he thought I would be an easy target, he was very wrong. I was a good warrior. My father let me train with his guards because I was not a woman of royal blood.

“You come here often.” It was a statement. “Alone, without protection. There are monsters in these woods.”

“I’ve done just fine by myself,” I argued weakly.

He let out a soft chuckle again and took a step forward.

“Have you? Or maybe someone else was watching out for you?”

His question confused me. Who would be watching out for me in these woods, and how would he know? My hand gripped the dagger tighter. His golden eyes dropped to the blade in my hand, and I swore he was smiling.

“Are you implying that you have been protecting me?” I scoffed.

He took another step closer to me. An overwhelming urge to see his face overtook me. Why was he being secretive? I traced the outline of him, hoping something would tip me off to who he was. He was dressed oddly. He definitely wasn’t from Cerithia.

“Someone should protect you,” he said. “Monsters would love to get their hands on you, little viper.”

“Are you a monster?”

“Yes,” he said confidently and without hesitation.

“Show me your face. Do I know you?” Gods, why did he seem so familiar?

“No.” He turned his back on me and took a step away. He tensed, turning to the forest, and sighed like we were being interrupted. I glanced where he did, but I didn’t see or hear anything. When I glanced back to where he was, I had to step back in surprise. He had moved directly in front of me again. His large hand pushed my dagger away from him.

“I will not hurt you.” His golden eyes pierced into mine, and I felt no danger from him.

I believed him, and it was stupid. I didn’t know this man. I normally had good instincts, but they were all over the place right now.

“You told me you were a monster,” I whispered. His scent filled my space, and I wanted to bury my face into his chest and inhale deeply. He smelled like forest and rain, two of my favorite things.

“I am, but never to you.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but he sighed heavily as he turned to look into the forest again.

“Get back!” Jesper yelled from the tree line. His panicked voice startled me out of whatever trance I was in, allowing me to realize just how close the stranger was to me. He must have enchanted me.

Sensing the danger I was in, my dagger flew forward, and the mysterious man grunted at the force of it settling into his stomach. Strangely enough, the sight of it made me want to apologize to him for some odd reason, but I didn’t. The viper-handle protruded from his stomach. I backed up, and Jesper’s hand wrapped around mine and pulled me close to him. The hooded man groaned softly as he stood up straight and yanked the blade from himself.

“What the hell were you doing?” Jesper hissed at me through clenched teeth. “He was practically flush against you.”

I dropped my hand from Jesper’s and glared at him. He had left me out here without protest. I didn’t need him to rescue me from a man who didn’t seem to want to harm me. Jesper grabbed my hand again.

“You left her out here alone, on the blood moon,” the hooded man said loudly. His gold eyes flickered to where mine and Jesper’s hands connected, and I swore they swirled with black.

“She didn’t mind,” Jesper retorted. “And I came back.”

I could hear something else shifting behind the hooded man in the woods. My eyes strained in the darkness to see what it was. Jesper glared at me like this was all on me. I mean, I guess it was. I was the one who insisted on coming out here. I had never had issues before, though. Maybe it was the blood moon. Then a noise caught my attention, and I slowly turned. My eyes adjusted just as a monster started to appear from the dark woods behind the mysterious man.

The monster stood at least three feet above the stranger. Its skin was covered in thick, dark fur. Its arms were so long that they dragged on the ground as it slowly crept forward on its back legs. The monster’s long, pointed ears twitched as it watched us. The beady-red eyes didn’t blink as they emerged from the woods. The creature snapped its jaw, showing the rows of pointed teeth.

“Behind you!” I warned.

“Get her out of here,” he demanded at Jesper, who had froze when he saw the red eyes watching us.

Suddenly, the creature moved. It was so fast that I would have died if I had blinked. The hooded man pushed me out of the way just in time, almost as if he anticipated the attack, and speared the monster with a sword I never saw him carrying. I tumbled to the ground with a loud, hard thump, and my head bounced where it landed. Dazed, I struggled to lift it. Once I did, I saw that Jesper had retreated into the woods without me. Asshole.

The monster lay next to me, dead. The man was hovering in front of me a moment later as I sat up. His hand brushed the hair off my face as his eyes traced over me, looking for wounds. The backs of his hands were tattooed, but I couldn’t make out what they looked like.

“Are you hurt anywhere?” His hands held my head gently. My gaze shifted over his shoulder when another one of the creatures came from the woods. It was easy to spot in the dark with its glowing red eyes.

It all happened so fast. Something inside of me stirred as the monster headed straight for the mysterious man. I opened my mouth to warn him, pointing at the creature that was racing toward us. Before I could get any noise out, fire exploded out of my fingertips, burning the monster into ash before it ever reached us.

Panic filled me at the realization of what I had just done. What the fuck was wrong with me? I didn’t have magic; I didn’t. I glanced at the man, confused. Fear laced every part of me; fire magic was not common. It was considered elite. If I had elite magic, my family would hate me.

“I guess you didn’t need me to protect you,” he chuckled.

I could hardly think as I stood up and began running through the woods, back toward the castle of Cerithia. I stumbled and tripped with deep pain consuming my head. Gods, I was hurt badly. I had just lifted my hands to see if there was any trace of fire magic on my skin when I heard something behind me. I went to grab my dagger but realized I had left it embedded in the hooded man’s stomach. Great.

Fearing another monster, I turned and started blindly punching and scratching at my attacker, only to be subdued with little effort.

“It’s alright, little viper," he grunted as he caught my wrists and yanked me flush against him—again. This was beginning to become an annoying habit of his. He lifted me before walking quickly. “You’re hurt,” he said angrily.

I closed my eyes tightly, trying to keep myself from throwing up. Jesper had left me for the monster to eat and saved himself. I knew he was a dick, but gods, I hadn’t realized he was such a coward. I opened my eyes after the nausea had settled, and I tried to see the man carrying me, but it was no use with his hood on and the darkness of the forest surrounding us.

“You saved me even though I stabbed you.”

I was slightly worried that if I reminded him that I had stabbed him, he would retaliate somehow. I could not even defend myself against a mouse right now. He laughed loudly, and something about it made me feel warm all over.

“You did stab me. But in your defense, you told me if I came any closer, you would. I guess I should have listened.” He paused for a moment. “You could stab me a thousand times, little viper, and I would use those same knives to kill anyone who meant harm to you.”

I swallowed hard as my mind tried to come up with a response to that. What did someone say to that?

After a brief pause, he continued to walk. I used these few minutes to rest my head against his chest, letting the scent of rain and forest surround me.

“I don’t have magic,” I whispered as I looked up at him. Tears of confusion filled my eyes.

He stared intently at me.

“That was your first time using it?”

“Yes.” I glanced away. What did this stranger think of magic? Did he hate it like my father?

“Well, little viper, I’d say your elite magic was triggered because you were in danger,” he sighed as he kept walking.

Elite magic.

I was going to be sick.

“I was worried you were going to get hurt,” I confessed. “That is what triggered it.”

I felt his body stiffen as he continued to carry me. I could feel him staring at me, but I couldn’t bear to look at him just in case I saw disgust for magic.

We walked in silence for a few more minutes before I finally saw the castle break through the tree line. He couldn’t take me there. He would be killed immediately, and the thought made me feel a way I didn’t like.

I could see Jesper and Tally standing close to the castle wall, pacing. Jesper glanced up and began running toward us the moment he saw us.

The man carrying me tensed. His grip tightened momentarily, but he eventually loosened it and stood me on my feet. I was wobbly, but I would be alright. I turned to the hooded man, desperate for him to stay a little longer and to hear his voice once more.

“Will I see you again?” I whispered.

“I’m not sure.”

I frowned.

“But who will protect me when I sneak out again?”

I didn’t need to see him to know he was smiling at me. I could sense it. I could feel it.

“Maybe you shouldn’t sneak out.” His amusement was evident in his tone.

“But I will.” I wasn’t lying, either. I would probably be out here tomorrow. “I can’t count on him to save me.” I pointed to Jesper over my shoulder.

“You are strong enough to save yourself, little viper. You do not need a man to do that for you.”

He was both so sure of himself and so sure about me that I could feel myself believing it too. I raised my hand to slide his hood off, but he moved from my reach and grabbed my wrist. I frowned up at him, then gently pushed my hand toward his face, and this time, he didn’t stop me. My fingers met stubble on his chin. My thumb rubbed his lips, feeling them curve into a smile. He turned my hand and pressed a soft kiss to my palm before letting it go. Then he placed the viper-handled dagger in my hand. Hesitantly, he lifted his fingers and brushed my braid over my shoulder.

“Your magic was a beautiful thing to witness. Never be ashamed of it,” he whispered as his fingers tucked a stray curl behind my ear, causing a hot sensation to burn where he touched.

The man leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine briefly. Gods, I wondered if he could hear my heart pounding. Kissing Jesper had never felt like that.

“I hope our paths cross again soon, little viper,” he said as he turned and ran toward the trees.

My chest ached as I watched him run away. What if I never saw him again? I watched as he turned when he got to the tree line. I could see his silhouette as he grabbed his hood and pulled it off. What a little shit. I bet he was smiling to himself too.

My mind snapped back to reality when someone yanked my arm roughly. I looked up to see a guard, and behind him stood Tally, Jesper, and the king and queen. Shit. How much had they seen? Did they see the hooded figure? Did they see me touching his face? Him kissing me?

I suddenly became very lightheaded, and my eyes felt fuzzy. I didn’t pass out, however, until after the queen backhanded me across the face for sneaking out. As I felt her hand connect with my cheek, everything went black. I welcomed it, though, because maybe the hooded man would meet me there in my mind, in my dreams.