Rev
Just when I’ve earnedeverything I’ve worked for, my fated mate burns it all to ash—and it’s so like her.
I almost laugh at the thought. It’s always Caelynn at the center of it all. Every major event, good and bad, has centered around my lovely Shadow fae.
In the last few months, my world has turned entirely on its head.
Sometimes, the things you dread in the beginning are the very things that make your life worth living.
Meeting Caelynn was like that.
Without her, I wouldn’t have an incredible fated mate. I wouldn’t be High Heir. And, realistically, I wouldn’t even be alive. She’s at the center of every bad thing in my life, yet she’s the shining light that gives me hope and happiness in a way I’ve never felt before.
But the haunted look in Caelynn’s golden eyes as she leans over the ancient book laying on the coffee table clearly illustrates that our battle is not yet over.
Snow falls in thick waves beyond the large window, blanketing the entire countryside in puffy whiteness.
We’ve been in the Frost Court for three days, after the High Court was nearly destroyed. It’s been a good break from—well, everything. Cae and I have hidden away in our room, with the roaring fire and massive window showcasing the snowy mountains in the distance.
Caelynn spends hours and hours every day conversing with the spell book we retrieved from the Schorchedlands. The book is legendary, but very few souls know the full extent of it. It holds power, yes. It reveals spells long lost to our world, yes.
But it is also a sentient being that holds nearly unlimited knowledge. And it belongs only to Caelynn, the hated assassin fae from the Shadow Court. I’m able to read bits and pieces from the book, but only Caelynn can hear its voice.
While Caelynn obsesses over information from the ancient book, I often attend meetings and dine with our hosts, the Frost Court royals and the High Queen. Every moment between, I am here with my secret mate.
Here, in this cozy room next to the fire, we are far from the conflicts haunting us. Far from our enemies and close to one another. The moment we leave, we’ll be dropped straight into a war we may not be able to win. The moment we leave, Caelynn and I will be pulled apart. Maybe permanently.
Snow blankets the hills outside, but we are warmed by the flickering fire. Even so, Caelynn shivers, her muscles tense.
“Caelynn?”
She doesn’t move, doesn’t breathe. She remains still as stone, staring at the scrawled text of the legendary spell book’s open pages with wide, terror-filled eyes.
My stomach twists. There are three words scrawled on the worn page in front of her, but I can’t make them out from here.
I step closer.
“Cae?” She still doesn’t respond, but she releases a shuddering breath. I lean over the book to read the phrase that has her transfixed.
Hello, my pet.
My stomach sinks. “Caelynn?” I say more firmly, heart pounding. The words fade into nothing, leaving only a blank page.
I crouch and grip her chin, forcing her eyes away from the page. She meets my stare with absolute horror.
“Are you okay?” I don’t know what’s going on, but her expression has me shaken. “What is it?”
She glances at the now-empty page. “He sent us a message.” Her voice is hushed but not panicked.
“A... message?” I frown. The spell book can tell us anything that has happened, even things that are happening now, but it’s never been used to send a message. But I suppose someone could if they knew the spell book’s power and how to get its attention. The Night Bringer likely knows both.
She nods. “The Night Bringer spoke something meant for me to hear. The book is giving me the option to read it or... not.”
I pull in a long breath, thankful to the wise book for giving the option instead of just throwing it at her. But then again, maybe hiding the existence of the message altogether would have been even more favorable. “Notis probably the better option.” I can’t imagine a single word of their message will be helpful.
There is no negotiating with the ancient evils—if it wasn’t for the bargain. To save Caelynn’s life in the Schorchedlands I bowed the ancient evil’s wishes and freed them, but first forced them to a magical promise—they will never harm us.
Of course, they’ve already found ways to get around that bargain, and I know it’s only the beginning. These creatures want to kill and torture us. Their words will only be baiting and dishonest.
