Page 71 of Sold to the Dark Vampire Prince

Eating and drinking anything while in their company, was likewise not recommended.

Everything they said, touched, or were forced to offer at a negotiating table, if it came down to that, would have to be carefully calculated.

She’d tried to imagine the land of faerie over the years, picturing the ancient immortals as the wise and compassionate, figures from pre-pandemic era media, saviors that on the darkest days, when wolves and vampires were fighting for the rights to control sector territory, might come to humanity’s rescue.

Now that she was older, she could recognize it as a child’s fantasy. The fae had lived in the immortal realm for thousands of years, biding their time and growing ever more impatient as humanity overpopulated the planet, pumped toxins into the earth, depleted its resources, and drained its lakes and rivers dry. Sometimes she wondered why they hadn’t put an end to humanity’s era of prosperity sooner, but perhaps mass annihilation was a step too far, even for them.

Alex and Sera brought her to a cold empty field. Dead cornstalks poked up out of the snow, crunching under their boots as they made their way up to an old split rail fence. As they got closer, the air around the fence began to shimmer.

“It’s warded,” Alex said. “You can’t pass through without permission. If you try, it will pack a nasty punch. Some wards can make you forget who you are and why you’re trying to breach them. The one set around the castle is set to make you sicker every time you try to enter without permission.”

Sera was studying the posts, brow furrowed in concentration. “I think it’s this one.”

“How can you tell?” Dani asked. “They all look the same.”

Her cheeks seemed faintly pink, though maybe that was just the cold. “Before Finneas left our sector, he grabbed my wrist, and told me that if I ever needed to contact him, I could come to the edge of the fae kingdom, and this portal would open for me. He projected an image of this place into my head.”

“And you don’t think it would be better to just text him?” Alex said dryly.

Ignoring him, Sera placed her hand upon the post. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, an arched doorway shimmered open to its right. Sera took a startled step back.

“Well, I guess that answers that.” She sounded uncertain.

“We can still turn back.”

“Not if he’s the only one who can help Dani,” Sera reasoned. “I’ll go first.”

Carefully, she stepped through the portal. Alex took Dani’s hand and together, they stepped through into the faerie lands.

The change in temperature hit her immediately. On the other side of the portal, the snow was gone, the air slightly crisp, but not cold. The trees around them bore red and gold leaves.

It was autumn.

She’d learned in school that the fae could control the seasons, that this was why they were able to produce as much food as they wanted. Stepping from the barren, snow-covered landscape of the vampire-controlled sector into a lush meadow where the leaves were just beginning to change at the start of autumn felt surreal.

Down in the valley below them, workers were busy up in the trees harvesting apples, heavy bags slung over their shoulders as they worked. Dani took note of the collars around their necks, marking them as thralls. None of them had the telltale pointed ears of the fae.

“They’re all human,” she said. “Slaves.”

“The thralls’ position in fae society is complicated,” Sera said tightly. “Many are refugees who have fled our sector and applied for asylum. They’re free to return at any time, or to go to the wolves, if they choose.”

“Those aren’t exactly appealing choices.”

“No. And you’re right that there are problems with their treatment here. They can’t vote, any more than humans can in our sector. The laws here are very strict, and anyone who is a problem is taken back to their sector and not allowed to return.” She paused. “Even if that means leaving family behind.”

“That’s cruel.”

“In that respect, fae law is no less an oppressive system than our own. But I will admit that their people seem to be given adequate food. Their housing is spartan, which is typical of fae culture, but it is comfortable and warm.”

“You know so much about them,” Dani said. “I suppose all the royals must be educated in such things in order to understand the politics between realms.”

“Yes, and—” Sera hesitated. “When I believed I was to be forced into a marriage contract, I did extra reading on my own. I wasn’t going to walk into any situation unprepared.”

Sera fell silent as a fae male approached them. He wore a gray tunic and robe. His dark hair was long and swept partially back, revealing pointed ears. When he smiled, Dani could see he had rather formidable teeth.

“Princess Serafina, welcome. I’m Killian. Finneas has been expecting you.”

Sera rolled her eyes. “Of course he has.”