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“You can’t be serious,” I snapped, glaring daggers at Lailah. “You can’t stop me from being a Keeper.”
She lifted her chin. “Actually, I can. You are about to be a queen, Ella. The Land of the Fae needs you.”
I threw my hands in the air. “But I have duties, responsibilities. I was chosen to be a Keeper before I was even born. You know I’m not the type to sit idly by while others protect me.”
Lailah nodded. “I know, but—”
“But nothing,” I cut in, “we’re going to do thismyway. If any other Keepers get a call to go to the mortal realm, you tell them to ignore it and send me instead. If those Shadow fae cocksuckers want me, they’re going to get me. I’ll be the last person they ever see.”
Lailah hung her head. “And what if something happens to you? How are you going to get help?”
I waved her off when she looked at me. “My mother already knows what I’m doing. And I can already tell you I won’t need help. I’ve got this.”
She stared at me and I hoped she could see the determination in my eyes. “You are the stubbornest woman I know. Even before you were born, I knew you’d be a handful.”
“I take that as a compliment,” I said. “Are we done here? I have somewhere I need to be.”
Lailah nodded. “Be careful, Ella. The Shadow fae you seek is very powerful.”
I knew that all too well. Lailah nodded once and then disappeared back to the Hereafter. Heart pounding in my chest, I could feel my magic desperate to break free. But before I could summon a portal, Merrick appeared and grabbed my shoulders.
“Where are you going?”
“Tohim,” I growled. “I should’ve known something like this would happen.” I jerked out of his hold and opened a portal to the mortal realm. “I’ll be okay. Trust me.”
If death was what the Shadow fae wanted, that’s precisely what they would get.
* * *
When I steppedthrough the portal into Kai’s cabin, he was nowhere to be found. But, as always, I could feel him and I knew he’d be able to feel me too. He wasn’t far.
I stormed out of his house, the door slamming behind me so hard it broke off its hinges. I could feel the magnetic pull to him, and I took off into the woods toward it. His words last night echoed in my mind.When I use the power my father gave me, it heightens my desires. This means my need to kill you will be greater, but it'll also enhance my wanting to be with you. It’ll be a constant battle warring within me. It’s going to get to a point where I might be unable to fight it.
Was it all just bullshit? But then again, if it was the truth, there was no telling what I was about to walk in on. Would his desire to kill me outweigh the rest?
The faster I ran through the forest, the closer he became.
Up ahead, I could see him standing with his back to me, an ax in his hands. Lying in front of him was a felled tree, chopped into a million pieces. His shoulders lifted up and down from exertion, and sweat soaked the back of his gray T-shirt.
“It’s over, Kai,” I shouted. “You want a war, you got it.”
He spun around, his eyes blazing as he tossed the ax onto the ground. “What are you talking about?”
He stalked toward me, but I unsheathed my dagger, making him halt. “One of the Keepers is dead because of you. She was murdered when she tried to help someone cross over to the Hereafter. Your people killed her to lure me in.” He stared into my eyes but then looked away. “Was that your plan all along? To kill innocent fae in the hope it’d be me helping them?” When he didn’t look at me, my rage intensified. “Answer me, dammit!”
“Yes,” he growled, clenching his fists at his sides. His stormy gray eyes met mine and he sighed. “That was the original plan, but things changed. I told my brothers I was going to go after you myself.”
I held out my arms. “Well, here I am, jackass.”
Kai shook his head, his forehead creased with fury. “I had nothing to do with what happened, Ella. I was withyoulast night.” He stepped forward, but I refused to let him get near me. “I told you what would happen if I used my magic, and I’ve been fighting the urges all fucking morning. That’s why I’m out here, taking my aggressions out on the goddamned tree. I don’t want to hurt you!”
“Then tell me the truth . . . did you order the hit?”
Kai held up his hands and stepped closer. “No. I know nothing of it, but I have no doubt it was my brother.”
He tried to get closer, but I called upon the wind, which tossed him back. Unfortunately, it didn’t do much good, considering he also had an affinity for wind. He got to his feet and continued his pursuit.
“The next time your brother does this, Iwillbe there and Iamgoing to kill him,” I said.
