AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Remember,” she continues, “Keepers and sprites must not use even a hint of magic. Any caught doing so will result in their shadow’s immediate expulsion, and permanent marks will go on your Keeper’s record.”
Mr. Willis addresses us next. “The gauntlet will push all of you to your breaking point, but I believe every one of you are capable of passing if you stay calm and remember your training. Don’t forget, this isn’t simply about your skill with a weapon. You’re being tested on strategy, thinking under pressure, and, most importantly, your ability to work with your Keeper—which all mortals know can be like dealing with a child sometimes.”
Nervous laughter ripples through the group. We’ve never heard any instructor dare to openly criticize the Fae like this, but these are special circumstances.
“Years of successfully guarding the Fae have shown me that the most successful shadows are experts at reading their Keeper. You have to know when to take over control of the situation to protect your Keeper, and when it’s safe to let them join the fight. At least, just enough to smooth over that fragile ego they all have.”
More chuckles.
“It’s a dance,” he finishes. “A skillful shadow can find the right balance to sync with their Keepers—and when that happens, let me tell you, it possesses a magic of its own.” His eyes turn serious, and he sweeps his kind but firm gaze over all of us in turn. “May the luck of Queen Titania be with you all.”
As soon as both instructors leave, I scour the island. It’s night here as well, the sky veiled in ominous gray clouds that block out the stars and moon. Around us, high rise marble buildings the Fae prefer stand next to older brick complexes that look more like apartments.
So we’re in a turned city, like Evernell, which used to be Las Vegas and is now some Frankenstein of both Fae and mortal worlds. A tug on my belt draws my eye to Ruby, who’s trying to lift the GPS.
Mack already has her own out, and she gasps. “No, we’re in . . . Lumeria.”
Ruby hisses. “Orc balls, we won’t last the night.”
Some of the others must have already figured out the same because gasps fill the air.
“What’s Lumeria?” I ask, praying it’s not as bad as they’re making it.
Mack slips her GPS back onto her belt and fixes me with a determined stare. “Only the most modern and famous city in the Spring Court territories. Or it used to be . . . before the wards fell and darklings infested the place, driving out all the residents. Now it’s scourge-touched, infected with basically everything that can and will kill us. Darklings, orcs, trolls, dark magic.”
I nod, forcing the fear from my chest. “Okay, we knew it was going to be tough. Let’s not panic.”
Ruby snorts, but I ignore her as I look over my own map. The landmarks dredge up a sense of familiarity.
The Washington Monument. United States Capitol. The old White House . . .
“Holy Fae hells,” I murmur. “This is . . .”
“Welcome to the former capital of the United States of America,” Mack says, sweeping her arm out to indicate the rising skyline in the distance.
Washington freaking D.C. Just being here, witnessing the city that used to represent the height of our world’s power before the Lightmare, is enough to make me feel lightheaded. Out of all the territories affected by the Lightmare, it was losing Capitol Hill and most of our regulatory body that nearly destroyed our country.
And now the Fae have lost it as well. A part of me is bitterly glad about that.
At least, until we set off as a group toward the shadowy city.
Mack immediately designated herself the map reader, and she spouts off directions as we all jog across the metal bridge connecting the island to the mainland. Thankfully, most of the darkling clusters are concentrated south of where the Keepers are stashed. A few dark shapes flicker in the distance, scuttling across empty highways and over guardrails.
As long as we’re quiet, the darklings won’t be attracted to us. Once we’re with our Fae Keepers, though, things will change.
“Asher and the Winter Prince are together,” Mack pants as we halt near the end of the bridge. “But we’ll have to break off from the group.”
I swallow, not loving that idea.
Cruel laughter draws my attention to Reina. She’s with the twin boys and a few other Unseelie shadows. “Careful, Puke Breath. I hear orcs are attracted to certain types of stench.”
I turn around, not even bothering with a response.
“Afraid?” Reina taunts.
Without turning, I say, “No, I just have a policy not to feed trolls.”
Mack grins as we break into a jog down the closest street on our left, headed deep into a residential block of condos and luxury townhomes. I flick my gaze over the dark landscape, taking everything in. I imagine this place was gorgeous before the darklings overran it.
