Fae War Page 15

  Strange shapes shifted around me. It felt as if I’d shrunk and been placed inside a lava lamp. My head spun and my eyes burned. I couldn’t breathe.

  Panic spread through my mind. Where was I? What was happening? For a moment, I forgot who I was, what I was, there were only the strange images and confusion. Had I always been there in that place?

  From somewhere outside of myself, I heard a woman screaming, but I didn’t know her or understand the significance of her distress.

  A large blue eye popped into view. My hand stretched for it. I knew that eye, but I didn’t remember how. It began to fade and for some reason, I found that alarming.

  Wait. Don’t leave. The words echoed from me and floated in the air.

  They rippled around us like water.

  The strange eye returned and blinked at me. Pain shot through me. A white-hot burning pain that left me gasping.

  I screamed. Snowcapped mountains flashed in my mind. A pine forest stretched before me. Then blackness.

  My eyes flew open, a scream still ripping from my throat. Sweat covered me and a sharp pain made my head throb. My breath came in gasps as I blinked, trying to recover.

  “Renée!” Mom’s voice rang in my ears.

  Her arms were around me, holding me tightly. My body shook as she pressed me close against her. I could feel her heart pounding in panic. My lips moved, but I couldn’t speak.

  I clenched my eyes shut and cleared my mind. The smell of Mom’s vanilla spice overpowered my senses and helped ground me.

  I was safe. I was home.

  Somehow, we’d ended up on the wood floor beside the couch. Everyone had returned, their worried gazes fixed on me. My eyes widened in surprise. How long had I been stuck in that strange place? I winced as the memories returned. I still wasn’t sure what I’d seen or where the creature was.

  “Well?” the queen snapped.

  Aunt Cindra frowned. “Give her a moment.”

  “The creature’s hold on her is strong. I couldn’t see anything, and it pushed me from her mind.” Mom’s voice echoed.

  All their eyes remained on me. I sucked in a breath and withdrew myself from Mom’s embrace. Slowly, I rose to my feet. Dizziness struck me and Mom was quick to wrap an arm around me to hold me up.

  “I… I don’t know what I saw.”

  Fury flashed on the queen’s face, making me flinch.

  “Mountains and woods. It looked like Colorado. So, I think it’s still here.” I finished lamely.

  Des snorted.

  Heat flooded me. I tried to remember if there was any other detail. Pain speared through me as I tried to recall the images.

  “Don’t push yourself,” Mom warned.

  The queen snarled. “That is exactly what you need to do. We need to find the Raj’ani. Now.”

  Mom placed herself between us. “Pushing herself won’t help. She needs to rest and then it will return to her.”

  Aunt Cindra sighed. “We don’t have a lot of time, Aubri.”

  Mom whipped toward her. “I’m well aware of the time we have, Cindra.”

  My head pounded, making me groan. All their arguing was making my headache worse. I summoned my magic and let it run through me, soothing the damage. I pieced together as much as I could as the pain dulled.

  “I think… I would recognize it if I saw it.”

  They stared at me. Mom nodded encouragingly and I could tell Sacha and Mag believed me. The others… weren’t so convinced.

  “Yeah. I don’t know how, but I feel certain I’ll know.”

  The queen’s lip curled. “You feel?”

  I lifted my chin. “Yes. I’m certain. I can do this.” My eyes met Mom’s.

  She smiled at me and turned to the others. “You heard her. We should go.”

  “Oh… I think we’re going to need a car,” I added.

  I glanced around to do a head count. Mom’s old car only fit five. Two of us would have to stay behind and judging by everyone’s eager faces, no one would want to volunteer to be benched.

  “Sacha and Mag will stay behind,” Mom announced.

  Sacha’s jaw hardened, but he gave her a dutiful bow in acceptance. Mag wasn’t so quick to hide her disappointment. Guilt trickled in as I mouthed an apology to her. I was glad Mom had the guts to tell them, so I didn’t have to and deep down I knew it was for the best. Sacha and Mag were the least equipped to handle the Raj’ani should it attack or try to flee.

  “I’ll drive,” Des offered, to my surprise.

  The words he’d promised back in the prison flashed back. He’d promised a driving lesson, but I doubted this was the time to cash in on that offer. I had enough on my plate worrying about finding this creature and learning to drive was the last thing on my mind. Besides, if I stayed in Feylin, I’d never need to learn. If there was still a Feylin. That thought sobered me.

  “Well, by all means, lead the way.” Aunt Cindra waved for Des to go.

  I waited beside Sacha and Mag as the others began to follow him out. Their disappointment wavered in the air around us. I fought the urge to dispel it with my power.

  “I’m sorry, you guys. I promise we’ll be back as soon as possible. You can help yourselves to whatever you find in the cabin or the woods, just don’t go too far. I’ll be back.”

  I tried to give them, what I hoped was an encouraging smile. Their smiles in return didn’t quite reach their eyes. Dismissing my guilt, I gave them both quick hugs and turned away. Mom waited for me at the door, eyebrow arched. I ignored her questioning look and steeled myself.

  It was time to find the Raj’ani and go home.

  18

  Mom’s old car sat where we’d left it, abandoned outside. Just seeing it for the first time in so long shook me. Had it always been so big?

  “Time to go,” Mom urged.

  Aunt Cindra halted. “In… in that thing?”

  I followed her gaze to the car and snorted. “It’s better than a flying carriage.”

  She gave me a skeptical look.

  Des smiled. “It’s much faster than a carriage. Come on, I’ll show you.”

  He hopped into the driver’s seat like a high schooler who’d just gotten their first car. My lips quirked at the sight of the elf assassin behind the wheel. Mom gave Aunt Cindra’s hand an encouraging squeeze that seemed to do little to dissuade her from judging the car so harshly.

  Mom opened the back door for me and motioned for me to get in. I slid in and moved to the middle then quickly realized my mistake. I didn’t want to sit next to the queen. I scooted to the furthest side and waited for Mom to follow.

  In front of me, Aunt Cindra ducked into the passenger seat and shot Des a worried glance. My aunt was afraid of riding. I couldn’t blame her. For someone who’s fastest mode of transportation was a flying carriage or dragon, a car would be a bit of a culture shock. An image of Fearless popped into my mind. Was the dragon under the same sleeping spell as everyone else? If the spell required dragon blood, did that mean they were immune to it? New worries grew as I thought about it.

  Mom pressed herself closer to me, making room for the Queen, who appeared none too happy about our means of transport. I snorted, earning a questioning look from Mom. Not wanting to speak my thoughts aloud I shifted to look out the window.

  It was a surreal moment. Never in a million years would I have predicted riding in that very car with a dangerous elf queen, assassin, and a royal aunt. My past was colliding with my future and Belle’s warning that I needed to forget rang in my ears.

  Sorrow engulfed me. I didn’t want to forget who I’d been. There was so much good in the past, and the thought of losing all of it made my heart break.

  “Do you feel anything yet, Renée?” Mom’s voice interrupted my dark thoughts.

  I blinked at her. “Huh? No… nothing yet.”

  Des turned to me. “So, I’m supposed to just drive until you… feel something?”

  The queen sneered. “You drive until I tell you when to stop.”


  His eyes flashed to hers in the rearview mirror. “I didn’t realize we were still under your orders.” His voice was hard and mocking.

  Beside him, Aunt Cindra stiffened, her eyes darted to him in concern. The queen lifted her chin and ignored him. Did she not understand his sarcasm? Mom and I exchanged glances. Our task was hard enough without adding more drama into the mix.

  Without another word, Des started the car. The engine sputtered. I held my breath as we waited for it to move. Dread filled me. How long had the car been out in the cold, never run?

  Aunt Cindra scoffed. “This is what you consider fast? We’re not even moving.”

  Des gripped the steering wheel. “I am aware, Princess.” His words came out clipped.

  I threw my head back into the seat. “Great. Terrific. Car’s broken. It’s going to take all day and well into the night to go by foot.”

  The queen glared at me. “I am a queen. You expect me to go traipsing through these disgusting woods for an entire day?”

  My lip curled at her. “Then you can stay behind.”

  Her eyes flashed.

  Mom held up a hand before she could blast me with her ice magic. “There isn’t another car or way to get there.”

  Aunt Cindra was the first to exit. “I have no objection to walking,” she muttered.

  She got out and stood by the door, waiting for it to shut on its own, I realized. I opened my own door and got out to shut hers.

  “I may know of another car we can borrow,” Des spoke.

  “You have a car?” I asked him.

  His eyes narrowed. “I know someone who does.”

  Aunt Cindra gave him a sharp look. Jealous or just curious? I was curious to see who this mysterious car-lending friend of his was. Someone human or fae?

  Even Mom looked suspicious. “Someone around here?”

  Des grunted. “Why is it so difficult to believe that I have… acquaintances? I was banished here for ten years. I didn’t just follow you around all the time.”

  Aunt Cindra flinched. “I never banished you.”

  Mom held up a hand. “We are not going to get into that right now.”

  The queen sighed. “I will find the creature on my own.”

  She turned her back to us and headed for the woods.

  I frowned. “I thought queens didn’t walk.”

  “We should stick together,” Mom called out after her.

  I watched her go, dread building. Was it wise to let her go off by herself again? What if she hurt someone?

  “Let her go.” Aunt Cindra sniffed. “Not like she had much luck last time. Besides, we don’t need her. Better to leave her behind in this place.”

  Des’s eyebrow arched. “You’d abandon your queen to the human world?”

  She met his eyes. “Not purposefully, but time is of the essence.”

  He grunted. “Glad to see you still have no qualms about abandoning others.”

  Aunt Cindra flinched. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  His eyes narrowed at her.

  Her nostrils flared. “You of all people should feel no remorse at leaving the queen behind. After what she did to you…”

  He stepped toward her. “And what do you care what happens to a vulgaire? False pity doesn’t suit you, Princess. Cold indifference is more your color, no?”

  Fire lit in Aunt Cindra’s hands. “You know nothing of what I feel.”

  “Stop this. Put out the fire,” Mom hissed. “Before someone sees.”

  I frowned. “But there are no humans out here to see.”

  She shook her head. “The GRIMMs are always watching. Besides, there are lesser fae here and they would gladly take their tales to the GRIMMS.”

  The fire fizzled out, leaving a smoky smell behind. I stared, open mouthed as Mom stood between Des and Aunt Cindra.

  “We don’t have time for your hysterics. If you can’t work together, maybe it’s better to split up.”

  “Gladly,” Des hissed. He summoned his shadow magic and disappeared.

  I groaned. Now we were down two people. Why were all the adults acting like children? It was essentially the end of the world for Feylin and my family still couldn’t get along.

  We were hopeless.

  “Now what?” I kicked a rock into the dirt.

  “He’ll return.” Aunt Cindra shrugged a shoulder.

  “Yeah, but with a car… or do we walk?”

  Mom growled in frustration and rubbed a hand across her forehead. I folded my arms across my chest, sharing her sentiment. We needed to find the Raj’ani before the GRIMMs did, or before it hurt somebody.

  “Let’s go.” Mom nodded at me.

  My eyes widened. “Walking?”

  She squared her shoulders back and headed for the woods. Aunt Cindra frowned and followed. I gaped at them. Did they realize how far we’d have to walk? My muscles hurt just at the thought of all those miles. I bit back a groan and followed them. Thankfully, I’d chosen practical snow boots. The boots from Feylin left my feet sore. Though, by the time we made it to where the Raj’ani was hiding, my snow boots would be just as worn.

  Above us, the sun shone in the blue sky, adding some warmth in the chilly air. In the mountains, there was almost always a chill, but I had a feeling winter had already passed and spring had arrived.

  My chest tightened. I had missed Christmas and New Year’s. Not that I had been one to be invited to any parties, but the idea that two of my favorite holidays had come and gone and were no longer a part of my life, saddened me.

  Again, Belle’s warning played in my mind. That to save Feylin, I’d have to give up everything else. Everything that made me human. Dismissing the pessimistic thoughts, I caught up to Mom and Aunt Cindra.

  First, we had to find the creature. Then I could worry about all the other things—breaking my mind, losing my memories, and possibly death. I shuddered. Yeah, my life sure had taken an abrupt hellish turn. Sighing, I tried to think of something positive. At least if we succeeded in saving Feylin, my life would have accomplished something. The unicorn’s words echoed in my head. Good was ahead. We just had to get through all the bad first.

  By sunset, my body was covered with sweat and my feet were numb. Worse, Mom and Aunt Cindra had decided our mountain trek was the opportunity they’d been waiting for to lecture me about my relationship with Sacha.

  Which led me to point out their own lack of following such advice. The hypocrites. Mom had quickly changed the subject while Aunt Cindra silently fumed. Though I couldn’t read her thoughts outright, I could still sense her pent-up emotions and doubt. Her court was gone, yet she was still scared of her bond with Des. I just didn’t understand why, and any approach to the subject led her to denying any feelings for the assassin. Ancient elves and yet they were worse than the obvious love-struck teenager.

  “Renée, does this look familiar?” Mom interrupted my musings.

  I blinked and looked around at the pine trees and forest floor. Heat flushed through me. I’d kept pushing us forward, hoping we’d come upon something that would spark a memory or connection for me and so far, I’d felt nothing.

  “No… not yet.” I bit my lip. “Maybe a little farther.”

  Aunt Cindra sighed. “Are you certain you know where we are going?”

  Mom frowned at her. “Of course, she does, Cindra. She wouldn’t lead us nowhere.”

  My face reddened as I looked away. Yeah, that was exactly what I was doing. I called out to my magic and waited as it slowly crept over me, filling me with warmth. The energy buzzed under my skin and made me feel invincible. Like I could run through the forest for a month and never tire.

  I closed my eyes and stretched out with my mental magic.

  Where are you?

  The Raj’ani didn’t answer, but that was fine, because I didn’t want it to know we were coming. I concentrated on finding our connection once more without being swallowed by the strange images like I had been the last time. I still wasn’t sure
what to make of what I’d seen, but I had a feeling, the Raj’ani had been showing me where it had been before or maybe where it had come from. A world that didn’t make sense to us.

  I felt a tug on my mind, snapping me back to the task at hand. I followed the tug and summoned more power to strengthen the connection, careful not to let it slip away.

  Tree tops rushed by me. I was flying. I was free. There, ahead—a cave. Spots filled my vision before I could get closer. I winced as pain burned inside my temple.

  “Renée?” Mom’s voice called from far away.

  My head snapped back. I gasped. When I opened my eyes, Mom’s concerned face hovered over me. Relief poured from her as I blinked away the spots. Nausea rolled in my gut, but the pain in my head eased.

  “I saw it. I know where the Raj’ani is hiding.”

  Aunt Cindra’s chin lifted. “Let’s go then. The sooner we capture the creature, the sooner we can get back to Feylin.”

  “Yes, and with everyone asleep on the other side, how are we going to get back to Feylin?” Mom murmured.

  I reeled at her words. I hadn’t thought about that detail. Had any of us? I glanced at Aunt Cindra. Her lips pursed together, but she offered no suggestion.

  “Wait. Are you saying we don’t have a way back to Feylin?” My eyes flicked from her to Mom.

  Mom sighed. “Not without the help of the GRIMMS or hopefully one of the fae here know of an unwatched portal. I remember there were rumors of someone who knew how to slip through.”

  Aunt Cindra scoffed. “Maybe Des’s acquaintance knows of a way.”

  I bit back a smile. Yep, definitely jealous.

  “That leaves another problem. A graver problem at hand.” Mom’s eyes drifted over the forest.

  I frowned. “What is that?”

  She turned to me. “When we find the Raj’ani, how are we going to capture it?”

  My mouth dropped open. “Wait, so we don’t have any kind of plan? You guys are supposed to be the adults! I thought you had something planned.”