Page 33 of Dark Fae's Destiny

It’s the very best of Summer Fae and Vampire magic, thanks to the Dark Fae in the Hidden City of Venice who made it. It feels like I’m barely dressed as it settles around me, the cascading skirt leaving a long swath of my left thigh bare, yet hiding a shortened Faeanic spear strapped to my thigh. The tight corset hides knives, the long sleeves tight for fighting; my middle fingers slip into loops so the sleeves cover my hands.

Hiding more knives at my wrists—for battle today.

Because this is my armor, as the United Haven of Florence makes a run on the Summer Fae Palace of Light to rescue Lucca today. We will liberate him from King Archivolio Bellari or die trying; as I glance in the mirror, I see certainty shine in my dark jade eyes.

As I step into tall heeled boots so comfortable I could run for days in them, I open a jewelry case on Quinn’s bed. A massive sapphire pendant is within, set in platinum, plus a matching sapphire ring. Both are ringed by onyx stones and black diamonds, the symbol of my bond to Quinn and the Dark Haven of Florence.

The United Haven of Florence now—that will fight today to save our own.

I finish settling the massive gem around my neck as I hear Quinn enter his rooms far below. He treads quickly up the corkscrewing wrought-iron staircase; dressed in an all black silk and lace ensemble encrusted with as many gems as mine, Quinn’s Dark Fae outfit is just as much armor as mine is.

Done in a high-Victorian Fae style, it’s still somehow Vampire in its lustrous, dark shimmer, with its wealth of onyx, sapphire, and copious diamonds.

But a large, fire-red ruby is in Quinn’s cravat pin. It’s like the eye of hell as it swirls with his dark magic now, his black aura seething around him with flickers of red and gold flame as he comes to me. Quinn made that ruby these past two days as we firmed our plan to march on the Summer Fae Palace.

Flooded with his Dark Fae fire—for battle.

“Everyone is ready. We depart.” Quinn extends his arm to escort me.

I nod as I accept his arm. Together, we step down the staircase, then egress from Quinn’s suite. Devi and Curio are on the other side of the door; with twin nods, they step in to follow us as we walk through the bowels of the Red Letter Hotel Florence, back up to the light.

Curio wears a stunning ensemble like Quinn’s, but pure winter-white. Devi wears a gown like mine, though hers is scarlet with furious black knife-slashes all over its ruthlessly sexy design. Their gear is armor also, hiding Fae-spears and knives, as well. Our plan to get Lucca back does not precisely include battle at the Summer Fae Palace today.

But if Archivolio Bellari attacks, we will give him the fight of his life.

As we exit the hotel at the grand main doors, stepping down through the vaulted front portico, I see a massive force awaiting us. We’ve emptied the hotel of all who can fight; the ingress swarms with Quinn’s Dark Fae, and Vampires Kissed to him who can withstand the bright autumn morning, thanks to Quinn’s daywalking powers.

The entire street is full; thousands of our people are here, not just from Florence but also from Pisa and Monaco, assembled over the past two days. I see a few faces from our allies in Venice; none of the Dark Fae Sages have joined this battle, but they’ve sent a cadre of fighters five hundred strong.

In addition to our new couture-armor, which all are wearing today, it makes a difference as I feel Venice’s mighty power seethe with us in the bright autumn day. Gunther’s Vampire-Giants are with us also, and Eiseth has sent a retinue to us now that she’s finally beaten the Vampire Council that assailed her up in Britain. Like Gunther, she was wounded and can’t be here now to save Lucca.

Though she’s promised to come herself, the moment we’re ready to make a run on the Vampire Council.

But that’s then, and this is now; as Quinn and I gaze up the street, ready to take our massive force to the Summer Fae King, I feel history turn. Because such a force has not marched on the Summer Fae since the War of Rome; I feel it as Quinn’s satisfaction surges at our muster, the general inside him approving.

Though our force is small compared to the full might of the Summer Fae, we have power on our side. As Quinn reaches deep inside himself, closing his eyes and pulling up the Music in a shimmering wave of intent, I feel it surge not just through me but through all those we are bound to.

That tremendous power seethes through our army, wielded by everyone who is bonded to us now. There are many it can’t sing through, like the Summer Fae rebels now with us thanks to Lucca’s battle at Valorhome, or my parents, or Gunther and Eiseth’s people. But we’re of a single intent anyway, as that massive power even sings inside the three once-Revenants now bonded to Quinn.

The once-Revenants seethe in black smoke through the crowd, as they come to join Quinn and me. The tall, gaunt man with red eyes, the tiny Pict woman with her long cascades of ebony hair, and the willowy Spring Fae Vampire, the returned Revenants walk with us now as Quinn flares his power and we move out through the streets of Florence.

We could have used a portal to move our people across Florence this morning; but it feels right to be marching in our silent parade as we fix our thoughts on the fight ahead.

Few want bloodshed today; I feel the emotions of the Summer Fae as we march, fear in their hearts that they may have to slay kinfolk. Sadness fills the Dark Fae from Florence who were once part of families still loyal to the King, his Brightwatch, or his yet-loyal Darkwatch.

I know Quinn intends to try a magnanimous approach once we get to the palace; his plan today does not focus around fighting. That all depends on the reception we get at the palace when we arrive, however. It’s up to Archivolio Bellari if he wants a battle today.

Though if he does—we’ll bring it.

Some of those with us do not care if we save any Summer Fae today. The tall, willowy Autumn Fae Vampire, Lumeria, seems nothing but calm as we move out towards the Summer Fae Palace.

The tiny Pictish Vampire, Bredei, has eyes nearly as black as Quinn’s as she meets my gaze. With plain leather bracers at her wrists, her rough spun garb is wrapped close, as if for moving silently through ancient forests.

As her calm gaze holds mine, I feel a sudden searching inside my mind like a dark forest wind. She lifts an eyebrow, as if curious that I wish to spare as many Summer Fae today as I can.

Then she looks ahead again—marching quietly to war.

The tall, gaunt returned Revenant man whose name I still do not know glances my way now, and I feel nothing but death in his scorching red gaze. He has only a wild sort of focus, as if some part of him never quite came back from being a Revenant.

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