AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 1
Bree
It was a day of celebration,but Bree’s heart was full of fear. She clutched the assassin’s note tightly to her chest and wondered if she should go straight to Taveon to tell him what Fillan had done. With a quick shake of her head, she reopened the small square of parchment and read the words for the hundredthtime.
You and Taveon and won the crown but only because ofme.
You owe me, Bree Paine. And I intend to collect on yourdebt.
Bree crumpled the note into a ball and threw it into the roaring fireplace, watching the edges curl up and turn black. Smoke filled the air, filling her lungs with soot. She would have to tell Taveon about Fillan’s note, but not today. There was no telling how he would react. He might decide to call off the coronation completely, believing that he had not won the crown legitimately if Fillan had been the one to take care of all of the champions. And Bree couldn’t have him doing something ridiculous as that. Prince Taveon needed to sit on the throne. He needed to rule Underworld. He was the only one she trusted. He would be kind to the fae in not only his realm, but he would also be kind to those she’d leftbehind.
Taveon wanted to stop the Tithe, the agreement the Dark Fae had made with the Light Fae realm. The agreement to steal innocent humans from their world and transform them into vicious monsters. It was the only way the Dark Fae could get the energy that they needed tosurvive.
But Bree knew there had to be another way. A way that would not end in so much death. A way that Taveon had sworn he wouldfind.
With a deep breath, she gave a nod to confirm her reasoning with herself. She would tell Taveon exactly what Fillan’s note said, but she would do it tomorrow.Afterthe coronation. Through their magical bond, Bree could feel excitement and hope rippling toward her. She knew that he would be able to feel her unease, despite how much she tried to keep it bottled up inside. Even though the two of them were inexplicably linked due to the nature of the champion bond, she was able to keep most of her thoughts and feelings to herself…unless she wanted him to hear what was on hermind.
It was a strange sensation, one that she was getting oddly accustomed to. There was a strange kind of comfort in knowing that Taveon was only a thought away. A warmth surrounded her mind and her heart. He was part of her now, as strange as that sounded. And he would be as long as they didn’t sever thebond.
Rafferty popped his head around the door to find Bree staring down at the fireplace, her eyes still caught on the charred remnants of Fillan’s note. He cocked his head and sized up her expression, but he didn’t say a word. Rafe was used to Bree’s changing moods bynow.
Instead, he let out a low whistle. “You look absolutely breathtaking, Bree. The ceremony is about to start. Are youready?”
She glanced up at him and smiled, a new kind of warmth spreading through her entire body. Rafe had called her breathtaking, buthewas the one who could truly steal the air from anyone’s lungs. His silver hair curled around his pointed ears, and his eyes flashed with a kind of heat that could make her toes curl. He was tall and lithe, and he moved with a kind of grace that betrayed the truth of who and what he was: a shapeshifting Dark Fae whose raven form soared through the moonlit skies of Underworld. Rafe was part Wilde Fae, but it was impossible to see their orc-like nature reflected in Rafe. He was one of the gentlest, kindest Dark Fae she’d met. A total contrast to the Wild Fae’s penchant for viciousviolence.
“I’m ready.” Bree smiled across the room at him, her eyes drifting to his fitted fighting leathers that stretched across his muscular chest. Even on a day like today, Rafe dressed the part of one of Taveon’s warriors. She glanced down at her violet dress with the lacy edges that cut across her chest. “Am I dressed okay? Should I change intomy—”
“You look perfect.” Rafe strode across the room and held out an arm. “It is an honor to accompany you to the coronation. Every fae in the room will be extremely envious.” He gave a wink, and Bree’s cheeks filled withheat.
The two of them exited her living quarters and made their way through the castle grounds to join the bustling crowd in the Main Courtyard just inside the front gates. A stage had been erected at the far end where the silver throne had been placed. Usually, the throne sat deep within the Keep in the throne room, but it had been moved outside for the ceremonial day. The Dark Fae believed in each King making his vows for the realm outside and underneath the power of the moonlitskies.
Bree shivered as they strode through the crowd to take their seats toward the front rows. Many of the fae had donned their horns and strange, gruesome masks had been painted on their faces in varying shades of reds, oranges, and greys. Even after spending weeks inside this castle with these fae, Bree still hadn’t grown accustomed to the beastly side they only showed during special occasions. The twisting horns that protruded from their skulls, especially. It was a reminder of exactly where she was and who these fae were. Many of them were full of viciousness. Many of them weredangerous.
She needed to keep up herguard.
Bree and Rafe took a row just behind the previous King’s council. Ethne, who had helped get Bree ready, Lord Dagen, whose changing loyalties made Bree’s head spin, and Conlan and Branok, both of whom had claimed allegiance to Taveon back before all of this had even begun. She stared at the back of their heads, frowning. Conlan and Branok had seen her meeting with Fillan that day, back during the Silver Moon Ball. And yet, they’d never informed the Prince about it. She couldn’t help but wonder why. Taveon had always told her that Fillan did not let anyone see him unless he intended them harm. And yet, not only had Conlan and Branok seen and recognized the fae assassin, but they hadn’t even seemed particularlyalarmed.
But her thoughts were cut off as the buzzing crowd fell into a sudden hush. In the distant, a low horn echoed through the expansive castle grounds, bouncing off the tall, sharp towers that rose up high all around them. Hooves clattered on the stone ground, starting with a hush and building into a roar. As if one, every head in the crowd turned to gaze at the front gates of the castle, at the thick iron bars that were being dragged open by two armed guards decked out in red and goldfinery.
Two more guards appeared in front of the gates, their black horses trotting down the path. Through the bond, Bree felt the first hint of apprehension from Taveon. Even without seeing him, she knew he was only seconds away from appearing in front of the gates. She sent back her own emotions: encouragement, hope, and something else she couldn’t quite name. Something akin to friendship, though that word barely seemed to cover the way she felt about Taveon. Their relationship had been strange from the moment they’d met, and it hadn’t gotten any simpler in the weeks she’d spent inside hisrealm.
First, there had been anger. A hell of a lot of anger. From both sides. Then, there had been a grudging acceptance. Until the anger had taken ahold once again. Now, they had a bond that surpassed the magic that connected them together. A strange kind of trust that they could only have after everything they’d gonethrough.
As Taveon approached the front gates, appearing on his silver stead, Bree couldn’t help but feel a blaze of affection toward the Prince. She had tried so hard to keep that affection at arm’s length, but it had broken through every wall she’d erected betweenthem.
There was no denying how she felt about him, not anymore, though she barely understood the full depth ofit.
Taveon urged his horse forward, coming into full sight of the guests gathered to watch him ascend to the throne. Bree couldn’t help but gasp at the flicker of her heart. His dark hair had been smoothed back from his face, highlighting the sharp cheekbones and the commanding curve of his jaw. His eyes were deep pools of pure black, but they somehow glowed underneath the light of the bulbous moon hanging low in the night sky. Underworld was always drenched in darkness. They had no daytime in this realm. But, right now, with the future King striding toward her, Bree felt like a light as bright as the midday sun had suddenlyappeared.
As Taveon continued down the pathway that cut through the rows and rows of fae, his gaze caught hers. Something passed between them, a flicker of affection and heat that made every hair on Bree’s arms stand on end. And suddenly, she understood what his look meant. Through the bond, she heard it all. Taveon thought that all of this—his coronation, his crown, his throne—was all because Bree had been brave enough to fight as hischampion.
But now Bree knew the truth. Fillan had done this. Not her. Taveon’s success had nothing to do with Bree. Her heart dropped low in her chest, and she shrunk underneath his beaming gaze. Oh, how she wished she could be the result of that look in his eye. To be the true reason of all that pride. Because that was what it was. He looked proud of her. Proud to have her as his champion. Proud to have her waiting to watch him take hiscrown.
She blinked back tears and tore her gaze away from Taveon’s form, the silver finery barely hiding the tightly-coiled muscles that made him the strongest Dark Fae she’d ever laid eyeson.
“What is wrong, my love?” Rafe leaned close and whispered the words in her ear. She gritted her teeth and turned toward the throne. Rafe didn’t need a bond to understood what Bree felt. He could see every emotion written across her face. But she couldn’t tell him about Fillan either. Not yet. And definitely not here in front of every single member of thecourt.
If the wrong fae heard the truth, there was no telling what wouldhappen.
