Chapter 1

FIVE YEARS LATER

UNA

"How long has it been since he's spoken?" The burly wood fae stood opposite me his son's bed between us.

"Three or four weeks." He stared down helplessly at his sleeping son who couldn't be more than ten years old. "My sister watches him by day when I'm at the mill." He gestured outside.

His house was on the outskirts of Issos where his mill was situated on the river. He wasn't a wealthy man, but he earned a good wage and employed others in the trade of grinding grain for the bakers of Issos.

"My sister gave him a sleeping draught before she left so he might get some proper rest." He looked again at the boy. "I do what I can, but I need to work. I need the coin to care for him."

I took a seat in the chair beside the boy's bed and held out my hand to Min, my handmaiden and dearest friend who came with me everywhere. Frowning, she handed me the healing orb.

"You don't need to explain yourself to me, sir," I told him.

He rubbed a hand through his tousled hair, his pointed ears tipped red like his cheeks, emotion coloring his face.

"I don't know how to help him," he whispered with anguish.

"We don't have a cure," I told him honestly, taking the luminous white healing orb in its iron cage from Min and set it in its holder on the table beside the boy's head. "But we've found ways to ease the pain and extend life."

Her green wings quivered at her back, something she did when nervous. Min was my lady in waiting, but also my closest friend. She didn't like leaving the palace, even heavily guarded as we were. But I simply couldn't remain holed up when news came that yet another light fae was in the throes of the Parviana Plague. My own father was in his sick bed and had not spoken for the past seven months.

I gave Min a smile of reassurance then turned to the miller. "This healing orb will help with the pain." As it had for my father the past year.

"I can't thank you enough, my lady." The miller clasped his hands together in earnest. "I can't pay much, but—"

"No need for payment," I told him. "We are all suffering while this plague sickens our loved ones." I turned back to look at the boy, brushing his bangs away from his forehead. "It's my duty to help those I can."

When I entered this one-room home, a family table for eating and two beds against the back wall for sleeping, I knew this was a humble man with little means. And I didn't care if my brother complained that I gave away valuable resources needed for soldiers in the battlefields. He could wage my father's war against the dark fae abroad while I battled this plague taking root in homes across our land.

I didn't fear catching the sickness from touching the boy. I'd been at my father's bedside ever since the plague had put him there.

"What's his name?" I cupped his cheek to find it unnaturally cold, as expected.

"Aven."

For the thousandth time, I wished I had my healing magick so that I might help him. Or at least try.

I gently lifted one of his eyelids with the pad of my finger. His green iris was ringed white, the tell-tale sign of the plague taking root. The disease now moved faster through the body than it did when my father first caught it almost two years ago. Others had caught it and died within a year. Papa still lived, though barely.

"Does Aven want to be a miller like you when he grows up?"

His father chuckled. "No. He wants to be a mason."

I patted the boy's shoulder and smiled at his father. "We always need strong builders in Issos."

"Aye," he said, his voice cracking as he stared helplessly at his frail son.

No doubt he worried that Aven wouldn't live to become a man.

"I can't thank you enough, my lady."

"I'll send someone from the palace to check on him as I can't leave very often." I stood, offering him what compassion and reassurance I could. "Hopefully, we'll have a cure soon."

That old bitter reminder that I'd once been close to finding the cure stung me hard. I'd also nearly died for it.

"I hope so too, my lady. If there is anything I—"

The wooden door to the home burst open, wood splintering. I jumped back, startled. Then my blood ran cold. Bending their horned heads and emerging into the small room were three gray-skinned wraith fae with weapons. Min screamed.

Aven's father grabbed a poker by the hearth and lunged for the first one. A giant of a beast, he grabbed the poker and jerked the miller closer, slicing a blade across his throat before dropping him to the ground.

"No!" I cried, grabbing Min's hand and glancing toward the door for my guards, my heart beating in my throat.

We'd come with twenty Issosian guards, and I hadn't heard one sound of a skirmish outside.

"Now then, princess." The killer who'd just killed Aven's father spoke in demon tongue, which I knew well. He wiped the bloodied flat of his blade on his hide trousers. "Your guards won't be coming to the rescue."

He was horrifying to behold. His four thick horns almost scraped the beams of the ceiling. His fangs protruded from his mouth. His bare arms, visible from wearing only a black vest, rippled with muscle as he flexed the clawed hand not holding the weapon.

While I'd thought the miller a large strong wood fae, he seemed a child next to this creature. Now, the poor man was dead on the floor. I glanced at Aven then back to the killer, dread speeding my pulse.

His sharp blade was curved and as long as my leg, nearly touching the floor at his other side while he examined me with a sinister grin.

I couldn't even mourn Aven's father as my mind raced to find a path to escape.

One of the other three who'd entered the home, still standing near the entrance, pointed a dagger dripping with blood at me. "How do you know it's her for certain?"

The killer stepped toward me. Min clung to my side, whimpering.

"Look at her," he said, his voice a menacing rumble. "No other moon fae female with a face like that and wings the color of night exists in all the kingdoms."

Deep fear burrowed into my bones. He was definitely here for me.

"Then grab her," said the one with the bloody dagger. "Need to move before we've got trouble."

"No!" screamed Min.

The biggest one grabbed my arm and jerked me hard. I cried out as he pushed Min aside.

Min fluttered her wings and flew at him, going for his eyes with her nails.

"No, Min, don't!" I screamed.

The killer turned and shoved his long blade straight through her stomach with frightening ease. My knees buckled and bile rose up my throat as he jerked his blade free, and my dearest friend crumpled to the floor. I didn't make a sound as she stared up, mouth agape with shock, the light in her eyes fading.

"Min!" I reached for her, but the wraith fae still gripping my arm dragged me out into the night.

I stared back in horror at Min's small body on the wood floor, a pool of crimson spreading wide on her blue tunic, her eyes glassy. Aven slept on while the healing orb beamed bright. I prayed to the goddess he wouldn't wake up alone to find his dead father and poor Min.

Finally, my own will to survive snatched me out of my stupor. I beat at the beast's arm while trying to yank free. When he hauled me closer, I slapped him across his cruel face with all my strength. His head snapped to the side, and my hand stung.

One of his comrades chuckled. I waited for the killer to kill me, too, like he had my sweet Min. Instead, he let go of my arm and seized me by the hair, arching my neck and bending my head back. I bit my lip to keep from whimpering at the pain.

He sneered in my face, his orange eyes feral and mean. "Best save the foreplay for your new master, sweetling."

"Let's get moving, Erlik," called one of the others.

"True enough." His fanged grin sent prickles along my skin. "King Xakiel is anxious to meet you."

I froze at his words, my chest tightening with cold dread.

He let my hair go and snatched both my wrists, quickly binding them together with a rope he had on his belt. Someone else instantly gagged me with a rope from behind, binding it so tight that a lock of my hair pulled painfully at my scalp.

I couldn't breathe, sucking in gulps of air through my teeth around the rope, the cord biting into the corners of my mouth. I was struggling uselessly s I tried to calm my panting breaths and grasp what was happening.

A quick glance told me there were seven of them, and they'd killed all of the king's guard who'd escorted us here, their bodies bleeding in the road. They were deep in our territory with only a few warriors. A covert operation—to abduct me .

Another wraith fae warrior walked out of the shadows from the side of the house leading a giant Pellasian stallion. The fae had blood-red eyes and four horns like the one called Erlik, but there were thick silver bands at the base of his horns. I knew that meant he was high ranking.

"Time is wasting," he said gruffly, mounting his stallion. "Hand her up and let's go."

They moved faster at his command. He was their leader.

The others who had entered the home were all mounted now.

When the cruel one, Erlik, lifted me roughly up to their leader, I knew my fate was sealed. All I could do was kick and writhe, trying my hardest to free myself. My wings didn't even flutter, useless as they were.

"That's enough," said the leader, hauling his hand back and swinging it hard toward my face.

I woke to being jostled roughly. I was hanging face-down across a saddle. A hand pressed to my back kept me in place.

I could see nothing but the ground speeding by in the dark, listening to the pounding of hooves and the snuffs of the winded beast carrying me. My head pounded. Whether from being upside down so long or being knocked unconscious, I wasn't sure.

After what felt like forever, the horses slowed, and the sound of hooves clacking on wood echoed around me. Rushing water gurgled nearby. We were crossing a bridge.

One of the wraith fae said something I couldn't hear. Then the voice of their leader above me growled fiercely, "Not another fucking word until we're at the Borderlands."

The horse lurched into a gallop on solid ground. I tensed my body against the jarring pace.

The Borderlands. I'd flown over them once before when I had wings that worked. When I'd foolishly flown into Northgall territory to try to find the cure for the plague to help my people.

I always wondered what had happened to that wraith fae male with the unusual eyes who'd saved me. He was noble born for certain, and I wondered what crime he'd committed to be put down in the dungeon.

Despite my protests, my father demanded recompense for the brutality I'd suffered. King Xakiel's response was to attack our northern border. It was the beginning of this long war that seemed to never end.

When my father became too sick to command his armies, Baelynn took control with ease and vigor. He'd managed to keep the fighting far away from our palace, Valla Lokkyr, and our capital city of Issos in Lumeria. I'd never felt unsafe traveling within Issos, not even to the outskirts as I had tonight. There had been no signs of the enemy anywhere close to our capital.

I still always traveled with a full guard, but that hadn't mattered against this small band of wraith warriors. They'd come with stealth by night into our city to take the daughter of the King of Issos. They must've kept vigilant watch on the palace, awaiting the perfect opportunity. And I'd given it to them.

I would become a bargaining chip to end this war. To force my brother to surrender.

My mind trailed back to Min—the way she always made me laugh and spoke with kindness to everyone. And they'd killed her so cruelly. Tears finally slipped free—for my friend and myself, for Aven and his father. For my people.

The cost of war had already starved many since food and weapon resources were sent to the front. Perhaps this was for the best. That I should sacrifice my life in order to end this war. Still, the fear of it burrowed deeply. I didn't want to die, and certainly not by the hands of my ruthless enemy.

The horses slowed, and torchlight appeared up ahead. No one spoke as our mounts trotted into an enclosure, my stomach roiling with nausea. We came to a stop. A hand gripped the back of my cloak roughly and tossed me backwards to the ground. I fell with a jolt onto a thin bed of hay, my hip jarring hard, my hands and mouth still bound.

"Get her hidden and guard her. Geylan, go get the stableman to feed the horses. Then fetch something from the tavern to tide us over. We'll eat and rest briefly then be off again. No telling how long it will be before the palace guard sends reinforcements."

"Aye," snapped one of them, marching out the open stable door.

Erlik hauled me to my feet. I stumbled, but he didn't slow down, shoving me into a small, empty stall. "Watch her," he growled to one of the other warriors as he slammed the gate closed.

I slid to the ground, pressed my back against the wooden wall, and curled my knees up, winding my bound wrists around them. Shivering from nausea and fear and shock, I kept quiet and listened.

The Borderlands separated Northgall from Lumeria, the dark and light fae territories. There were taverns and inns along this barren region between the two kingdoms where both light and dark fae traveled. They obviously kept me hidden in case there happened to be any of my own kind about.

My captors wandered close by inside the stables. I heard another voice that sounded much younger speaking demon tongue and then some horses being led away. It must've been the stable boy.

"This'll be the end then," said the one I recognized as Erlik.

"If King Connall knows what's good for him," said the deeper voice of the leader.

"Will King Xakiel give her back when he's done with her, you think?"

"He plans to send pieces of her to her father, one at a time until Connall surrenders Lumeria," said their leader. "We know our sire's appetites. He'll spoil her thoroughly for the marriage bed first. They may not want what's left of her once they finally sign the accord."

There was a round of laughter. Acid churned in my belly. I closed my eyes and bit down on the rope in my mouth, wishing I couldn't hear them heartlessly laughing about my sad fate. Knowing the king's plans for me made it worse.

If I could get hold of a weapon, I could kill myself first. Then they couldn't bargain for my freedom. Then my brother wouldn't be forced to surrender and our people crushed beneath the brutality of Northgall.

I focused on calming my breaths, barely listening as someone returned with food and they ate loudly. After a time, I heard the door to my stall opening, jolting me to attention.

"What the fuck are you doing, Geylan?" asked Erlik.

"Giving her food," he answered, apparently the lowest in hierarchy among them.

"No food," said the leader. "She'll vomit it up on the ride. Just water."

"If she tries to scream, hit her," added Erlik.

My gut tightened as the younger warrior entered with a hide flask. He was no less intimidating in appearance, towering over me as he entered. I remained still as he knelt on one knee and set the flask on the hay.

"Lean forward," he said, pointing to the rope in my mouth. "And don't scream when I remove it."

I held his gaze as I eased forward, allowing him to loosen the rope. I whimpered with relief when I could close my mouth, the tender skin had been rubbed raw.

"Here." He lifted the flask to my mouth.

I drank until I spluttered and coughed.

He sat back on his heel. "Easy. Take a breath."

He didn't smile, but there was sympathy in his yellow eyes when he looked at me. That was unexpected. I knew he didn't feel so sorry for me he'd help me escape, but maybe…

"Another sip?" He raised the flask.

I nodded, noting that he wore many blades in different sheaths around his waist and across his chest. There was a slender one tucked into the front of his wide belt.

When he helped me drink, he was still too far away for me to reach it. After the third sip, he asked, "Enough?"

I nodded again. He set the flask down and leaned closer to retie the gag. I eased forward, pretending to help him reach. It was just enough to allow me the distraction and space I needed. Slowly, I reached up—wrists still bound—and slipped the small dagger free.

"What are you--?" He leaned back, frowning down at his belt.

Gripping tight with both hands and sending a prayer to the goddess, I thrust the blade toward my throat.

"No!" He swiftly closed his clawed hand around my fisted fingers, stopping me as the blade's tip scraped my skin.

I huffed in distress, my gag back in place, tears pricking as I begged him with my eyes to let me do it.

"What happened?" came the leader's voice from the open doorway.

Geylan averted his gaze from mine, pulling the dagger from my hands and standing. "She tried to hurt herself, my lord."

The leader crouched down beside me, pinching my chin and turning my gaze so I was forced to look into his crimson eyes. He examined me intently.

"Yes," he seemed to mumble to himself. "You would do it, wouldn't you?"

I said nothing. Not that I could with the coarse rope back in my mouth.

"No, my lady." His voice was hard and cold, a merciless whip. "You'll pay for starting this war. And before we send your pretty corpse back to your family in Issos, you'll end it."