Page 1 of The Fallen Fae King

CHAPTER ONE

Winter Court, Unseelie Kingdom

Daire Thorn, Alpha Shadow Fae King

Death stalks my royal fae House of Thorn, and its name is dragon.

My parents, King Branna and Queen Aine, pretend that the illness, which has swept the Winter Court leaving weeping and echoing silence in its wake, is natural.

The elder Druids have whispered to me in secret, however, that it is iron poisoning caused by our enemy’s uncle, Maximinus.

And this morning, underneath the warm spring sunshine, I’m about to lose the person who I admire the most in the entire realms. Because on the celebration for my thirteenth birthday, when I will be officially proclaimed crown prince, my da is dying from the poison.

I swallow, struggling to smile, rather than allow tears to tremble on my dark lashes.

I wrap my iridescent raven wings around myself.

I follow Da through the ring fort past large wooden round houses with thatched roofs that blossom with herbs and moss. Doorways are framed with antlers and climbing roses. Bees drift lazily between the flowers.

Thorn-vines, which are as thick as tree trunks, twist around ancient earthworks.

A shimmering emerald dome glows over the entire Winter Court. Da drains himself of his magic to keep this protective barrier up, which at least holds back the dragons who are trying to ambush us.

My conspiracy of ravens flies after me through the blue sky.

I glance over my shoulder at my ravens and whistle.

They swoop lower, cawing.

My smile becomes less shaky, as the merry harp music and singing drift from the Mound.

My Crowning Celebration has begun.

I breathe in deeply the delicious scent of roast beef, pork, and wild boar.

Did my friends join the hunt this morning?

“It’s a bloody waste,” I complained at dawn, squirming in my seat as Ma fussed with my hair. “May the Shadow Devils blind the dragons. They have been starving us, as well as poisoning us. You don’t need to hide these things from me. Unseelie don’t lie. The elders have beaten that into me.”

“Don’t cuss. And we don’t lie, but we don’t need to be honest either. Being able to trick with the truth is our talent. It’s why we hold power in our deals. Haven’t I taught you this, my son? No matter how desperate a situation may seem, a fae always retains the control. It is an honor to have a royal fae accept a deal. Also, the people need something to celebrate.” Ma’s voice was gentle like her soothing Omega pheromones. She pushed my hair out of my lavender eyes. “On the sacred ash, there are so few of us left and…I want this memory. Your da needs it. Joy is never a waste. Remember that, my little Thorn. You deserve all the happiness in the kingdoms. So do our people. We are free. Fae will fight and die but they will always be free. Let us dance and sing and eat to that.”

Now, Da smiles, although his breathing is ragged.

He wears a tall bronze and emerald crown of intricate feathers. His silver curls are much longer than mine, reaching all the way to sweep along the floor.

He is a famous Alpha beauty.

They say that if anyone who isn’t a fae looks upon him, they will be driven mad.

Isn’t that a curse?

Is this war happening because the other kings want to possess him? Want to possess all of us?

And if they can’t, then they will exterminate us.

Like me, Da has powerful raven wings. His own raven who follows him everywhere, Morrigan, rides on his shoulder.

I wink at Morrigan, who haughtily ruffles her feathers at me.