The burning flames from Kieran had burned hotter than hell but hadn’t been meant to wound her. Instead, it messed with her mind and made her believe she was going to be a burnt mass for Romano to find. Kieran had also used the fire to shield them teleporting to another location.
Said location, she wasn’t so sure of. It didn’t look like any place she’d seen, and a lance of fear speared through her. Where was she? Had he taken her out of Encantado? Through the golden haze she was trapped within, large stones protruded through a blackened flat swathe of earth. It was sort of like … an arena, minus the bleachers or seating for visitors.
Beyond the arena was a forest of dead and white gnarled trees. Their branches had long ago given up producing anything living, and the vision of them was enough to make Kalinda look away.
Her captor walked around the flattened space—probably as large as half a football field—pointing at the ground and muttering. In the wake of where he stepped, white lines appeared on the floor, glowing brightly.
When he reached the end of his circle, he smiled. “Falistinar.”
The odd, sing-song language he spoke was the same as Silva. Kalinda hadn’t heard much Eldalisfae—the language of the Fae—but she’d learned about it being with Silva and among the Mage Council. Much of Kalinda’s power was rooted in the old connection mages used to have with the Fae court. Kalinda was the only known mage of old blood to revitalize that connection.
“I see you’re awake.”
No shit, Sherlock. “Where is Silva?”
“Niamh Danaan of the Silver is on her way here, I’d hope. For your sake. It’s been two weeks.”
Two weeks!
Romano would be losing his shit and probably destroying all of Encantado to find her.
“My mate—”
“Your mate has sent word my demands shall be met, but the object of my query was harmed enough to have to be healed properly. I suppose I shouldn’t have destroyed her wings.”
Silva would die without them, and Kalinda had no idea how she’d slept through two freaking weeks and wasn’t aware.
“Don’t worry, the osraebrin can sustain life for as long as it’s active.”
Not that she had any idea what the hell he was talking about, but she figured he talked about the glittery goo around her.
At least she wasn’t dead. That had been Kalinda’s greatest fear after the beating she’d taken and the fire had spread. “How do you know Silva?”
She knew Kieran, no matter how much he appeared like Silva, was not the same. His black eyes and darker visage were a dead giveaway. Still, he was Fae. Silva, as Queen, should have been untouchable for him.
Instead of answering Kalinda’s questions, he stalked toward her. A portal opened behind him, but he never acknowledged it. Not that it mattered, since the Fae warriors and wolves he had with him in the Council mansion were the only ones that stepped through.
Oh good. We’ve got more assholes to deal with. Great.
Kieran sniffed the air, a very wolf-like move that surprised her. “I can smell her magic on you but no wynathraeda. She always was an overconfident queen.”
Again, Kalinda was really tired of not knowing what was going on. “Taking me will bring Silva to your doorstep, but it will also bring my whole pack and the National Magic Council on you as well. It would be better to figure out what your demands are now.”
Being in politics had, at least marginally, increased her diplomacy if nothing else. The sooner she got out of this, the better.
“Do you know the woman you follow so blindly?”
Kalinda shrugged, internally reaching for her magic. There was nothing. The inner spirits still didn’t answer when she summoned them, and it frightened her. No one had ever been able to stop her power.
“It’s this land. Outside of this area, there is a magic-dampening aura here.”
He said outside the area, so she should be able to reach. But how did he know she was reaching?
Kieran rolled his eyes. “It’s because I would be doing the same. But the binding spell you’re in won’t allow any magic to be used. Feel special. It cost a pretty penny to get that when I was back in my world, and I used it on you.”
Except, she didn’t feel special. She wanted out and wanted this over and done. “What do you want?”
“Ah, ah, ah. My question first. How well do you know Niamh?”
