Page 76 of Fae Mates

Pokeweed nodded. “That’s the only explanation we had for my appearance.”

“And your immense power,” said Prince Bradwell, his voice breathy with awe.

Prince Caulden stood. “You’re our brother?”

Pokeweed raised his shoulders. “I think so.”

Prince August was the next to stand. “With His Majesty’s likeness and power that feels like his, you could be nothing else.”

The four princes stood in a row, staring at Pokeweed as though trying to memorize his features. Under that kind of scrutiny, I would have shuffled on my feet or cringed, but Pokeweed stood proud.

A pang of sadness made my chest tighten. Poor Pokeweed had spent a lifetime being despised for his appearance and had gotten used to people’s stares. This time, they were looking at him because of his resemblance to the king.

“If any of you wish to challenge my claim to Unity, we can duel after we have rescued Helenium of Medietas from the Dark Fae Prison and dealt with Gala and the Duke of Nevermore.”

“Of course.” Prince August sounded almost deferent to Pokeweed. He turned to his brothers, who nodded.

Prince Caulden walked to the stump of a tree and produced a sack. “Here are the items from the seeing hag.”

He upended the sack onto the ground, arranged the bones and herbs and stones in a square, and asked his brothers to kneel at each corner. Magic streamed from their fingertips, causing the items to glow.

With the click of his fingers, Prince August set the items alight, and streams of curved flames joined each corner, creating a circle. The flames spread to the center, and the forest floor burned away to reveal a void.

Screams filled the air, so shrill that every fine hair on my body stood on end.

I cupped my hands and shouted into the void. “Helen?”

“Help me!” shouted a female voice above the screams.

Pokeweed placed a hand on my arm. “You’re supposed to summon Helenium with her full name. Otherwise, anyone may crawl out, and we’ll miss our chance to rescue your friend.”

Prince Rory cleared his throat. “Helenium Moerheim of Medietas, I command you to rise!”

Nothing happened.

A howl echoed from deep within the void. My teeth chattered, and I told myself it was the wind and not a monster of unspeakable evil.

The four princes turned to Pokeweed, who nodded.

He knelt at the edge of the flaming circle and said in a booming voice, “Rise, Helenium Moerheim of Medietas!”

Still, nothing happened.

“Please help me,” screeched the female voice. “I’m hurt.”

Swallowing hard, I knelt beside Pokeweed, ignoring the scratch of broken twigs under my knees. “Who is that?”

“Don’t speak to her,” said Prince Caulden.

“What if it’s an innocent girl like Helen?” I asked.

“Not all dark faeries are male,” said Prince Bradwell. “That could be Queen Maeve trying to trick you into dragging her out.”

A boulder of uncertainty rolled around in my gut, and my shoulders drooped. I stared into that pit, the woman’s pleas for help rattling between my ears.

Pokeweed placed an arm around my shoulder. “It’s rare for an innocent person to be thrown into the Dark Fae Prison. It takes an immense amount of magic, and Helenium was unfortunate to have made powerful enemies.”

“Have mercy,” the woman wailed. “Have pity for a poor, fatherless girl.”