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The prince and I meet eyes. My heart dances strangely in my chest the longer I hold his stare, that inexplicable pull between us growing stronger, the anger and confusion and frustration rising with it to form a chaotic spell of emotions I can’t break free of.
“Why did you bring me here, Prince?” I will those words over the snow and into the black pit he calls a heart.
For the briefest of seconds, the defensive wall he keeps over his countenance lowers—just enough that I think he might finally open up. Might finally give an answer that indicates he’s not the soulless Fae I suspect he is.
The one who loves to watch me hurt.
Instead, his jaw firms up and that infernal cold mask slips over his face, his eyes going hard and cruel.
He shoves the book into my open hand. “Go back to the gym and stay there until morning. By then, you’ll be mine.”
“Yours?” I hiss, but he’s already stalking across the snow, his stupid cape slithering like a shadow behind him. If I wasn’t afraid the book would disintegrate on impact, I would throw it at his miserable head.
Note to self: wear boots that come off easier.
Just like that, the wall of blinding snow disappears, and the fourth year escorts us back to the gym.
Inside, Mack settles in to watch the rest of the movie with a slice of pizza. The higher ups apparently thought a Twilight marathon and deep dish pies shuttled in from a famous pizzeria in Evernell would keep us content.
It works—for everyone but me. While the others stuff their faces and then nod off to Edward and Jacob fighting over Bella, I pore over the book the prince so pompously gave me.
I’m determined to help Rhaegar win no matter the cost.
At some point, Ruby flutters over to my bed and sits atop the book, her little bean pod shoes making scuffing sounds against the old parchment. I lean down to hear what she has to say.
“I can help you,” she offers carefully. “If the prince wins you as his shadow, I can get you out of Everwilde and back to the human realm.” I open my mouth to object and she adds, “I can do it, you know. I may be small, but I’m good with spells. I can make you invisible to sneak you past the guards. . . or make it so anytime the prince looks at you he develops violent diarrhea. Two weeks, tops, and he’ll trade you.”
Wow, that escalated fast. And what is it with her and bodily functions?
But her offer warms my bitter heart, and I make a little nest of covers by my pillow for her. “Thank you, Ruby, but as long as I bear his mark, he can find me anywhere.”
Fae can’t cross into the human world without a visa. But if a human bears a Fae slave mark, there are plenty of bounty hunters who would find me and bring me back. Not to mention, I’m absolutely positive the Winter Prince has a visa.
It’s like this: the Winter King and his family undoubtedly have a monstrous townhouse in the major cities in the Untouched Zone, while my family can barely scrape by in a dying land.
Because life isn’t kind to those without power.
Turning the page, I go back to my research. Deep in my gut I know the answer I need is inside these stories. And I’ll be damned if I become the prince’s shadow without a fight.
30
I find what I’m looking for on the very last chapter. Breaking Dawn is playing over the television, the meager bluish light just enough to read if I squint really hard. As far as I can tell, everyone is asleep. It must be near midnight.
I’ve blown through exactly thirty chapters of intense recountings of the Nocturus over the years. All of them interesting, intense, and gruesome.
How very, very Fae.
The prologue gives a small history of the Nocturus. The Faerie Courts are notoriously corrupt, so many disputes were decided by the Nocturus, a battle of cunning and magic. In ancient times, there might be one hundred Nocturi held on the two major holidays when Fae powers are at their height: Samhain and the Wild Hunt.
Over the years, the Nocturus fell out of favor. Mostly because the Fae justice system became streamlined once the prince’s grandfather, Oberon, consolidated power to become ruler over all the courts. The rules of a Nocturus are simple: Each opponent chooses three weapons. Then they fight using said weapons and magic until one kills the other or one asks for mercy.
Most willingly die rather than shame their court.
The last chapter piques my interest for three reasons. One, the battle was held in secret, with only one witness per contestant. Two, the first opponent was a girl, the princess and heir to the Summer Court, Hyacinth Larkspur.
And, three, because the Winter Prince was the other player. I read his name twice, Prince Sylverfrost, just to be sure. There’s also a fairly good illustration in the book of the entire scene.
The girl is strikingly beautiful with long, unruly red hair and a stunning display of iridescent wings, two on each side of her shoulder blades. She wears a crown of ivy weaved with poppies and bellflowers.
