Page 158 of Court of the Fae Princes

The House of Death’s castle looms before me as our horses race closer, and my breath hitches at the sight of it. The castle is an imposing fortress, with ebony spires cutting a stark silhouette against the sky. But more than how it looks, the way I feel when I look at it troubles me. There’s a deep sense of emptiness that radiates from the structure, like it’d been abandoned long ago.

If I didn’t have to come to this place, I wouldn’t. I’d avoid it like the damn plague.

Our horses' hooves clatter against the worn, crumbled cobblestone path that leads to the castle's gates, and the sound rings inside of me awakening a sense of fear that I don’t understand. Or perhaps I do. Through my dreams, I know this place. I know some of the horrors it contains and what the people within it are willing to do in order to achieve their own goals. Which is terrifying.

But it’s not just that I know I have to face what’s coming. The enormity of the task ahead sits in my stomach like a hot brick. My men are in there, and I can’t leave until they’re out, no matter what it costs me. For some reason, a reason I don’t understand, I’m willing to do anything I have to in order to get them back. Even face dangerous fae.

I won’t feel good again until they’re safe. What happens from there, I don’t know.

It’s strange, just a short time ago the fae were above me. As much as I sometimes mocked them, as much as a part of me hated them, I’ve also come to realize they frightened me. They had so much power over me. One wrong move and my life was over. It wasn’t good for me to think that way, so I tried not to, but since coming out from under their feet, I’ve begun to realize just how exhausting being afraid all the time was.

Now, I’m afraid, but for different reasons. I might have been a powerless human at one point, but now I’m a fae too. Engaged to four princes. And I might not have awesome powers, but I think I can figure out a way to save the princes.

I hope.

Next to me, Lady Nova slows her horse, and I follow suit, until we’re nearly at a walking pace beside each other. I’m breathing hard, but I don’t know why. I’m waiting for her to say something, but I’m not sure what.

“Is there a reason we slowed?”

She glances at me, her expression thoughtful.

“Not sure about my choice of outfit? Or is my hair all wrong? I’ve never met an evil Keeper of Death before.”

She huffs out a breath and rolls her eyes. “I was trying to decide how best to approach this, but I’m just going to dive right into it, since I want you to survive.”

“Comforting.”

She pushes on, ignoring my sarcasm. “You must enter as the queen of the four courts. Carry yourself like you already own the title. If you don’t assert yourself from the start, they’ll devour you. You must be the most powerful, most regal, most untouchable queen they’ve ever seen. Show them you’re not someone to be fucked around with.”

I feel it then, that familiar rush, that surge of energy building inside me, thumping like a heartbeat. My magic. I pause. It’s much stronger right now than it’s been, and the feeling is disorienting.

“My magic… feels stronger.”

She lifts a brow. “Not surprising.”

“What do you mean?”

She shakes her head. “Just a theory.”

“Care to share?” I ask, trying to hide my annoyance, and failing.

“Not yet. Just focus on what I said. There’ll be time for conversations later. Be the queen of the four courts. Demand what you want, or you won’t get it.” Then she gives me a look. “Demand it, politely, with all the honeyed words of a fae royal.”

Honeyed words? Shit. I don’t have any of those. I have sarcasm. Can I dress that up?

But I don’t say that. I just nod at Lady Nova and turn to face the castle. With each step the horses take closer to the castle, the surge and rumble of my power grows. At least, I think it does. Whatever the feeling, it’s strange and uncomfortable.

At the gate to the castle, two guards stand on each side. I glance at them, then back to the road ahead, then do a double take. Holy hell, the guards are… dead?

“Lady Nova…?”

“Yes,” she says, not even looking at them. “Because of the House of Death’s ways, humans fear them. More and more have fled their village, leaving no one to serve them. And because they kill their young if they don’t show considerable powers at birth, their numbers have dwindled too. They used to use the dead just as needed, but rumor is that most of their castle is made up of the dead now. Be prepared to see a lot of them.”

“But, how do they…?”

“Just like you started a fire. It’s effortless for the most powerful of them. I’ve heard it said when they’re emotions are strong, they can make any dead around them rise.”

Suddenly, something occurs to me. “When I was kidnapped, dead creatures were following me. Could the Keeper of Death have been involved?” Or what about the raven?

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