Night Fae by Meg Xuemei X.
Chapter 8
The Wild Hunt would happen in two days, since Brigantia had moved the date, hellbent on killing me earlier.
“We can and will fight off the compulsion of the Wild Hunt,” Baron hissed.
Northton and his mage healers were checking on him. The Fae kings healed faster than other mortals and immortals, but they were in a human city, where their powers were lessened. We’d need to move him back to the Summer Court soon, where he could draw magic from the fairyland for a full, quicker recovery.
It was a grotesque sight to see so many broken bodies littering the floor. Blood tainted the walls, marble columns, and windows. We’d killed two-thirds of the demonca and many Dawn knights, but we’d lost many good, brave warriors as well. The dark honey-haired older mage was among the fallen. The surviving mages and the Fae knights carried out their duties with grim expressions, helping the wounded and carting away the dead.
“No one has ever succeeded infighting the magical obligation of the hunt, not even the most powerful Fae two thousand years ago,” Rydstrom said gravely. He’d resumed his Fae form. “We need to find out how to kill Brigantia. We need to assassinate her to terminate the call of the Wild Hunt.”
“We tried to kill her today and failed,” I said.
“Then we’ll try again!” Dad said. “We just need to put all our heads together and find her weak spot.”
She might not have a weak spot that we could find, and we had less than two days. But I didn’t voice the doubts in everyone’s mind.
“If worst comes to worst and we have to join the hunt,” Baron said, “we can still resist the bloodlust and the demands of the hunt. No force can be greater than our bond to our mates. It’s not in a Fae to hunt his true mate, and we aren’t just any Fae. We’re the kings. I don’t care what kind of fucker is out there, no one can make me hurt my mate.”
I gave him a tender look while I grasped his hand in mine to comfort him. The Summer King was still in great pain as the mages patched him up to the best of their ability. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure that his primal protective instincts could overcome the ancient and powerful force of the Wild Hunt.
The Summer King wasn’t one to admit or accept defeat. He often plowed blindly through dangers. He’d mistaken me for a peasant girl on our first encounter and tried to compel me to suck his cock to punish me and show off to his half-brother how he could get a mortal girl to do his bidding. Only I wasn’t just any girl, and I hadn’t put up with his bad behavior. So, I’d generously rewarded him by spraying air freshener in his eyes.
But while he was injured, I wouldn’t douse his spirit with my grittier and more realistic view.
Rydstrom shrugged off the healer who was attempting to check his wounds, even though I could feel his pain radiating through our bond.
“We can’t afford to hold onto false hope, but we’ll find a way,” he said, rage glowing in his sapphire eyes. “We’ll plan on assassinating Brigantia within two days, but we need a backup plan. We need to find a loophole in the Wind Hunt and shrug off the compulsion. So, in case the Wild Hunt is inevitable, we’ll help our mate win the game instead of hunting her.”
“The Silver Circle will stand with King Rydstrom of Night Court and King Baron of Summer Court and provide whatever assistance you need,” Northton said, a muscle jumping in his tightened jaw. “We’ll put Queen Ileana on her rightful throne at all costs. The world’s fate depends on it.” He scanned the Silver mages, icy steel in his voice. “We have much work to do, and we’ll tear apart the Black Circle!”
As we got ready to move out of the headquarters of the Silver Circle, my thoughts drifted to Rowan for a moment. He and his knights had fought neither us nor Brigantia. Strangely, no one had mentioned the absence of the Winter King—not Rydstrom, Baron, or Northton—and I pushed all thoughts of the coldhearted and opportunistic bastard to the edge of my mind. I had more urgent worries.
In two days, I’d be hunted in the Wild Hunt, and worse, no one knew when or where or how exactly I’d be taken into the arena.
~
I held Baron’s hand while he slept. The court healers had bustled around and examined him and made him drink a healing potion. The Summer King could regenerate quickly in his own realm, but with the venom from Brigantia’s claws, he healed much slower.
Her claws had also carved three bloody marks into my face, but somehow, my power had purged her poison. Without being tended by the healers, the long slashes on my face had sealed, leaving only faint lines.
Rydstrom’s wrath was inconsolable, even though I kept assuring him that I was fine. The Night King left the Summer Court after the healers convinced him that the Summer King would recover. Rydstrom was injured as well. He had a deep wound in his thigh and another across his shoulder. He needed to return to his Night Court for further healing and to prepare for war in the meantime.
I’d wanted to go with him and help him in any way I could, but I couldn’t leave Baron behind. My heart was torn between the two kings, but Rydstrom made it easier by kissing my lips farewell.
“I’ll come for you later, love,” he’d promised and departed with his knights.
Baron murmured my name in his sleep, his fingers curling around mine, unwilling to let me go. I wiped beads of sweat from his forehead with a hand towel. Somehow, he still had a slight fever.
The king tugged me to him. I crawled onto the bed, nestling against him, and he sighed in contentment.
Golden plants draped from the top of the ivory canopy of the bed, shimmering with sunlight and earth magic. Wherever I looked, the king’s chamber exuded extravagance. Even the dragon chairs were finished in gold. I felt like Alice in Wonderland in the wake of the Fae king’s wealth.
While I stroked Baron’s arm to make sure he rested better, I raised my head and leaned on my elbow so I could peek out the window and study the vast, ancient tree that bore golden blossoms. The tree must be Elowen of Summer Flame, the central power of the Summer Court. It drew magic from the land and sustained the Summer Kingdom.
There were over a dozen Summer knights guarding the magical tree around the clock.
It was mesmerizing to watch its sunset-colored leaves fall from high branches and drift in the wind. As soon as they fell, new leaves sprouted and blossoms bloomed like clusters of tiny flames.
With my Fae senses, I could feel its essence and the old magic in its core. I’d kept my Fae form ever since battling Brigantia. There was no need to put back the old glamour unless I was among humans.
“Elowen of Summer Flame isn’t what it used to be in its glory days,” a royal healer from the Summer Court had told me sorrowfully. “It’s become weaker every year. I’m afraid it’ll fade when magic finally leaves Elfame, and it’ll happen if the Dawn Queen rules faerie.”
I shut my eyes for a second, not wanting to dwell on the gloomy future.
The air smelled of lush greenery, blossoms, and the mulled wine that mortals should never taste—once they did, they’d crave it until their death.
With golden sunshine warming my face and with beauty everywhere in this land, I wished I could stay here forever, yet dangerous reality reared its head as soon as I opened my eyes.
A squad of the Summer knights patrolled outside in the garden. Baron had given his generals orders to secure every inch of the border before he allowed himself a healing nap. The Summer King had also revealed my heritage as the rightful queen of the Dawn Court and that I was his mate. The generals had bowed to me in respect, though there was skepticism and wariness in their battle-hardened eyes. The Summer knights who had fought with me, however, all took a knee in front of me and placed their fists on their chests to swear their fealty.
I’d come so far. Baron and I had come so far. A couple of months ago, I’d vehemently resisted moving too fast in our relationship, but war waited for no one.
Soon I’d have to leave Baron’s side. Time was short, and I needed to spend half a day with my family. I needed to say farewell just in case I didn’t make it out of the Wild Hunt. My chest tightened at the thought of never seeing my mates and family again, but then a sense of serenity washed over me. My parents had returned and resumed their former positions in the Silver Circle. The heavy burden of keeping my siblings safe was lifted from me. They were in good hands now.
My gaze drifted back to the large, warm body slumbering beside me. I snuggled closer, letting his heat banish the residual chill in my bones. I might not have much time with him or Rydstrom, but I’d cherish every second I could get.
My finger traced his beautiful, hard contours, and he brought my palm to his burning lips for a tender kiss while he remained unconscious.
Fae kings were ruthless, but they were wonders as well.
My heart gave a pang as I thought of my eventual departure. I wanted to see my mates again and get to know them more, and I’d give all I had to return to them.
Rydstrom, Baron, and their knights had drilled the rules and every trap they could think of about the Wild Hunt into my head, but no amount of training or intel could prepare anyone for the hunting game.
War drums beat in my heart even as I basked in the amber sunlight and my mate’s warmth. I could feel the Wild Hunt coming for me sooner rather than later.
