A Dream of Fate & Flesh (Courts of Malice #2)

11. Decide Their Fate

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Decide Their Fate

Rainer

W hen I wake from my dream with Alessia, I launch myself out of bed with renewed vigor. The more she pushes me away, the more it tempts me to become better—for me, for her, for us .

She deserves someone confident and unwavering. Someone who doesn’t need to protect her from himself.

My new aspiration is to become that for her, to grovel for my missteps and win back her affection. She’s only pushing me away because I’ve fractured our trust.

For now, I have a long day ahead.

I dress in durable, form-fitting trousers and a snug, lightweight tunic, both in the color of shadows, so I can move nimbly while remaining mostly unseen. Not wanting to take any chances on this morning’s adventure, I slip an impenetrable, inky leather vest over my shirt for extra protection. Instead of my regular boots, I choose ones with enchanted leather to muffle footsteps for silent navigation.

I load up a couple of sharpened daggers, sheathing one at each side. Then I grab a coil of vines, spelled with Sennah’s magic, to use instead of rope. I drape them over one shoulder and across the chest, allowing the coil to rest against my body without tangling while keeping my hands free. They tighten around me, as if conscious and responding to my silent command .

When I make my way across the damp lawn, Kenisius is waiting by the edge of the forest. I’m relieved to see he’s in his bespelled leathers today, adorned with weaponry. He’s prepared for battle, which tells me he takes this as seriously as I do.

A subtle melancholy hangs in the air, and the sky is a muted tapestry of dark, deep blues. It’s as if night is reluctant to release its grasp on the world, fighting to keep dawn at bay.

Kenisius scans the sky, presumably for Viv. I sent the owl shifter ahead to ensure the woods were clear before we set out.

After a few silent minutes, Kenisius pries his eyes from the sky and faces me. “You don’t think it’s the little human’s revenge to get? Think she’s capable?”

“Of course she’s capable.” I scowl. “I don’t underestimate her strength… but I also do not underestimate her heart.” I push my hair out of my eyes, staring at my oldest friend. “She will get what’s owed to her.”

Alessia is perfectly capable of seeking revenge, but to do so will ruin her.

Her cries in the night still haunt me. She’s much too pure for either world—human or fae. This revenge will still be hers if she wants it. If she declines, I will deliver it for her, gifting her closure while sparing the memories and guilt. I’d rather she resent me for taking a life, rather than hate herself for the same reason. It’s a price I’ll pay to ensure those who have harmed her no longer breathe the same air that graces her lungs.

Either way, it’s her choice to make.

“It’s been over a week,” I growl. “I’m not waiting any longer. Let’s get this done so I can get her back.”

Kenisius nods, turning to the woods.

The only reason I’ve been patient for as long as I have is because I’ve had to reassure my court that all is well. Of course, rumors of vampyrs are already circulating because of Tynan’s recklessness with leaving the body to be found, but I’m doing my best to ease fears of demons—doubly ironic.

It’s for the best that most are too fearful to trek through the Cursed Wood to my home. It makes the business I tend to in the woods easier.

With the rumors settling and the minds easing, I’m done wasting time.

“Tynan is set up in his room like you asked,” Kenisius says. “Das Celyn gave him something to keep him unconscious while he works the alcohol and berries out of his system anyway.”

My lips press together tightly. I knew Das Celyn wouldn’t take his shite. “When he wakes, send him back to Shyga.”

Kenisius plants a hand on shoulder. “Everything will be okay.”

While I appreciate my friend’s optimism, I tend to disagree. Things will not inherently be okay . If they’re okay, it’s because we forced things to work out ourselves.

But when it comes to Tynan… I’m willing to take the risk of being the bigger fae. If I make a conscious effort to include my brother more and prioritize his needs, maybe we can prevent these issues from happening again.

It feels unjust to punish him further, knowing the burdens he’s already faced in life, and who am I to pass judgment on his choices?

An owl hoots overhead. I turn my gaze upwards, catching sight of a snow-colored owl as it swoops down, wings spread wide. Kenisius fist bumps the air, clearly excited to see her .

Seconds later, the owl lands beside us, shimmering with an ethereal glow. Its little body cracks and contorts as it changes shape, growing larger and more fae-like.

A few seconds later, a warrior stands before us. Her short, white hair matches the feathers of her animi form, offering a stunning contrast to her rich, brown skin.

A smile forms on her lips, and I exhale in relief. It’s a good sign.

“All clear.” Viveka rests her hand on the hilt of her sword. Unlike the bear shifter, she enjoys using her bespelled leathers and weapons, ensuring she’s ready for combat when she changes forms.

“Both sides of the Gleam?”

“All the way to the house. Nothing amiss.”

“And the woods?” I glance past her toward the trees.

She beams. “Not a single issue today.”

I nod, fighting my own smile. Pride flickers to life in my chest, knowing how much Viveka has overcome quickly. “Keep training, regardless. Don’t get complacent now.”

“I won’t.” She turns to Kenisius and gestures at his matching outfit. “Not going naked today, I presume?”

“Nope.” He adjusts the dagger holster at his side. “I’m dressed for war, babycakes.”

She slaps his chest, and he lets out an oof .

“Don’t call me that,” she says. Turning to me, her humor melts. “Are you going to the Prosperity Ball?”

“Unlikely.” I grind my teeth together. I have too much to do today. The sooner I get my affairs in order, the better. “You?”

She shakes her head. “I’m not leaving you during a time like this for a ball . ”

The tension in my shoulders releases slightly, and I nod in appreciation.

“We should get going,” I say to Kenisius, trudging to the iron gate and opening it. I pause, calling over my shoulder, “And nice job today.”

I cringe, averting my eyes and quickly turning. I head toward the woods as the gate slams closed behind me.

Nice job .

Who says that?

I should do something nice for Viveka later… as a wordless thank-you . Maybe Alessia can help me with that.

The iron gate creaks open and clangs shut again. Kenisius catches up to me a moment later. “It’ll suck arse-cheeks when Viv goes back to her court. I’ll miss her.”

“She’s staying with us,” I tell him. In all the chaos, I almost forgot about my conversation with her and Sennah the other day.

His smile grows tenfold. “Really?”

I nod. “I offered her a permanent position. She accepted.”

He lets out a whoop . “That’s a damn relief!”

We walk a few more steps before he looks at me with a smirk. “So, you gonna ride me?”

My lips tighten in displeasure. We enter the woods, and the temperature drops slightly around us as we’re encased in deeper shadows. “No, Kenisius, I’m not.”

“It’ll be faster.” I catch a flash of his bright teeth amidst the dim trees and know he’s grinning. “If ya wanna make it before dawn, I highly recommend—”

“Not happening.”

He snickers. “If you change your mind, just give me a holler. ”

Bones crack as Kenisius shifts and contorts. His skin morphs into dark, thick fur. The features of his face stretch into a snout until he’s in his animi form beside me. The Cursed Wood shouldn’t affect him significantly in his bear form—especially with all the training we’ve done together over the years—and it’ll be quieter this way, something I’m grateful for. It gives me time to rein in my emotions and process my thoughts about what’s to come.

I move briskly through the trees with confident strides. Leaves rustle under Ken’s large, furry frame as he walks ahead on all fours. He pauses to sniff the air and munch on something.

I pass him, keeping my pace steady. I want to get to Dovenak before dawn, but since the stars are fast fading and the deep blue of night begins to brighten as we walk, I worry we might not make it.

We cross the Gleam, entering Avylon with a sizzle of heat and color. Wanting to speed things along, I take Kenisius up on his offer.

“Don’t make it weird,” I mutter as I climb atop the bear’s broad back. It’s not my first time doing so, but it’s also not my favorite.

Thankfully, he can’t tease or taunt in his current form.

I wrap my arms around his broad, furry neck, keeping a tight hold as Kenisius picks up his pace. He presses off with his hind limbs, landing on his front limbs in a way that jerks my body up and down. It’s not as smooth as riding a horse, and the only way I avoid tumbling off is by pressing my entire body against his back, clutching him tightly.

The vines I carry around my torso bite into my chest with each lurch. I curse into his fur the entire way.

The trees eventually give way to a field just as dawn breaks through, sending streaks of deep pink through the sky.

Kenisius pauses at the tree line. I dismount, shaking my legs and spitting the fur that accumulated in my mouth. I wince as I adjust my pants, giving my groin breathing room.

There is no way I’m riding him back home.

Kenisius shifts back beside me, his joints cracking and snapping into place. As soon as he’s in fae form, he chuckles.

“How are the crown jewels?” he asks.

I glare at him, shifting the vines on my shoulder. “Not the best they’ve ever felt.”

Around us, birdsong litters the air as the world around us awakens. Squinting across the field, I spot the estate. It’s rather lackluster for a lord . I had expected something to rival my dwelling, but this comes nowhere close. The dreary, brown, two-story house is rather dull and unassuming. A few smaller structures rest on the property, including what appears to be a stable, but nothing portrays a sense of wealth or power.

Pathetic.

“You know the plan,” I whisper to Kenisius. “Keep them alive .” The reminder is more for me than him.

He nods, his back going ramrod straight, and squints across the field. For all his humor and joking around, he’s a damn good warrior when the time calls for it.

Together, we skirt the perimeter, passing stables and groom’s quarters. There’s a lot that can go wrong, like encountering more people than we anticipate, running into another of the queen’s assassins in the woods on the way back, or worse .

But I’m not concerned. I possess three superior qualities: the power of fear, the thirst for blood, and the need for vengeance.

By the time we make it through the grass to the house, rage spirals from the pit of my stomach, and I have to battle it from spilling out. I clench my jaw so tightly my teeth ache.

This is where Alessia was raised.

This is where she was broken, bruised, and belittled.

Alive , I remind myself again. I am keeping them alive.

Despite my feelings toward these humans, it’s not my vengeance to take. I have a plan, and they have a purpose. And one day, when she’s ready, Alessia will have her revenge to reap.

Movement in an upstairs window catches my attention.

“Shite,” Kenisius whispers under his breath. We step closer to the house, squatting in the lingering shadows there. Soon, the bright morning sun will be upon us.

I knew we should’ve left earlier.

“New plan,” I say. “You round the front and make sure they don’t escape. I’m going in. Alone.”

He grunts a noise of disapproval but silently treks around the side of the house. I take a deep breath and grip the rope-like vines around my chest.

I sneak to the backdoor, pausing to listen for any noises. My recent feed heightened my senses, allowing me to hear soft heartbeats overlapping from somewhere deep in the house. I smirk to myself, but then I quickly work to shut out the sound. It can easily become a distraction, and I need to focus. My bloodlust needs to stay tampered down.

Slowly, I open the door, step inside the kitchen, and softly click it shut behind me.

A hint of cigar smoke invades my nostrils, poorly masked by the scent of lemon soap. I’m surprised it’s as clean as it is without Alessia and the other Tradeling here to look after it.

I stealthily move through the house and up the stairs, pausing when a step creaks beneath my weight. Holding my breath, I wait for any sounds. When the house sits silent, I continue moving down the hall toward what I assume is the main bedroom. Placing an ear against the door, I listen for the steady thrum of pulses inside the room.

My gums tingle as my canines threaten to elongate. My anger and the temptation to taste human blood awaken my thirst.

I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths, focusing on the feel of the wood door beneath my palms. Once my cravings subside, I reach for the handle and open the door.

The room is dark, the curtains drawn. Two lumps shape the bed. One of them snores.

I stride across the hardwood floors, letting my steps fall noisily now that I’ve found my prey.

Ripping the curtains open, I say, “This meeting is long overdue.” I turn toward the bed. “Wake the feck up.”

I kick the mattress, and the lady sits up with a grumble. She rips off her eye mask, and when she spots me at the foot of her bed, she lets out a bloodcurdling scream.

The thumping sound of her pulse intensifies, the rush of blood in her veins becomes more pronounced, and my adrenaline levels skyrocket.

“Wake up!” She smacks her husband in the face with her mask. “Wake up, Edvin, now! ”

He groans, scratching his chest, while his wife continues to scream and shake his shoulders. “Knock it off you—” He chokes on his words when he spots me. His eyes widen, and he scoots back to his headboard, clutching his wife.

“Morning,” I drawl with a cruel smirk. I take in his bloated face and bloodshot eyes.

This is the human responsible for much of Alessia’s suffering.

My vision goes red, and my canines finally pop out. It takes every ounce of self-control to keep myself from pouncing on him, from ripping his intestines out inch by inch and feasting on them.

“What do you want?” Edvin spits. “If it’s money—”

“I don’t want your feckin’ money.” A bitter laugh comes from me. He must see my canine teeth, know what I am, because his face pales, and his wife starts crying. She mutters some prayer as she closes her eyes.

Unraveling the vines, I whip the ends toward the revolting humans. Propelled by earth magic, the vines seem to come alive, autonomously winding their lengths around the lord and lady until they’re each bound tight.

They continue whining and begging, but neither puts up a particularly worthwhile fight.

“Please, please, please,” the woman chants, snot dripping down her face. Her body shakes as she sobs. Beside her, her husband grunts and groans as he thrashes against the vines wrapped around him. They tighten in response, further restricting movement.

“What are you?” The lord yells. “What do you want?”

“I want…” I step forward, leveling my face to his. My eyesight darkens. I know that sensation well enough to know my irises are flickering, warning of my impending bloodlust. I wrap one hand around the back of the man’s neck. With my other hand, I strategically placing my fingers on his carotid arteries. “I want you to shut up.”

Pressing hard, I chuckle as the lord goes quiet, slumping to the side. Ignoring his wife’s pleas, I do the same to her.

A floorboard squeaks behind me, and I whip around, ready to send a surge of my fear magic outward.

The sight of a trembling girl with olive skin and a braid on either side of her head causes me to pause. My body softens, and I exhale heavily.

Well, that explains why the estate is so well cared for. It took them no time at all to find a replacement for Alessia.

“I want to live,” she whispers, eyes wide and glossy. “Please.”

Shite .

How did I miss the third heartbeat?

I was too focused on pushing the distraction of my bloodlust down that I didn’t work with it to my advantage.

I frown, wipe my bloody hand on my slacks, and study the girl. The dark, inked lightning bolt stands out harshly against her heart-shaped face and soft features.

A weird, nagging ache blossoms in my chest. She reminds me of Alessia when I first met her—scared and sorrow-filled—a timid thing with a crushed soul.

This girl is even younger, only a teenager.

My jaw clenches. “I don’t kill innocent girls.”

Kenisius appears in the doorway behind her. “I was going to warn you I heard a third heartbeat in the house, but… here we are.”

The girl glances over her shoulder and flinches. She steps sideways, her back against the wall as if trying to keep space between us. I watch how she trembles, how the tears streak down her cheeks, and my mind whirls.

Turning to leave, that weird niggle in my chest grows, and I pause. Alessia wouldn’t leave the girl here, and I would never leave Alessia here.

Double shite .

Kenisius chuckles, drawing my attention. “Rai, I don’t like that look.” He tilts his head, scrunching his nose.

I turn back to the girl. “Have you ever ridden a bear before?”

Her eyes widen, and she quickly shakes her head.

Flashbacks of Alessia flit through my mind. How timid she was near me. How afraid she was of the fae. She’s strong and unbreakable, but it doesn’t mean everyone is like her. This girl has probably never met kindness. Perhaps I should soften my sharp edges just a touch.

What would Alessia do?

I push the inky strands out of my face and relax my posture. I try to soften my default scowl. By the way, the girl flinches, I’m not sure it works.

“I’m Rainer,” I say carefully to the girl, placing a hand on my chest. “This is Kenisius.” I beckon in his direction.

“Just Ken,” he chirps. He strides to me, leans in, and whispers through his smile loudly enough that I’m sure the girl can still hear, “What are you doing, Rai?”

Ignoring him, I continue addressing the girl like a timid pixie. “The lord and the lady are not very nice to you, are they?”

She shakes her head, eyes watery .

“The woman who worked here before you lives with me now.” It’s an exaggeration, in a way, but Alessia will always have a home with me. “She’s like you.” I gesture to the side of my face, where their Tradeling tattoos lie. “She’s safe.”

The tears streak down her face as she worries her bottom lip between her teeth. She glances at the bed, where the lord and lady lie slumped. “What are you going to do with them?”

“Nothing they don’t deserve.”

She nods but doesn’t press the issue. “The other girl… she’s safe?”

“Her name is Alessia, and I think she’d like to meet you. She’s safe. Kind. Strong. And you are welcome to come with us if you choose.”

She seems to mull it over, looking from me to Kenisius toward the unconscious frames of the lord and lady.

“You decide,” I say. “Pack your belongings and meet us downstairs in fifteen.”

I throw the lady over my shoulder, then grip the lord by an ankle, dragging him. His head thuds on each step as we make our way down, but I take it slow, careful not to kill the bastard.

Alive , I remind myself.

Outside, I toss their frames onto the grass.

“Rai,” Kenisius says. He gives me a stern look. “Do you think this is wise?”

I cock a brow at him. “Weren’t you the one recently imploring me to help Alessia?”

“Yes… but that was different. She was already in Avylon.” He jerks his head toward the house. “Another human? Now ?”

“It’s a better fate than what Dovenak holds in store for her. ”

“But your”—his eyes dart around, and he leans toward me—“ bloodlust .”

“The child does not tempt me.” I sigh, wishing I didn’t have to explain this aloud. “It’s the… things I feel for Alessia that make me a danger. The anger. The attraction. The lust.” It’s as if she draws my demon side out, awakening the monster I’ve worked hard to tame.

Kenisius smirks, his eyebrows waggling. Immediately, I regret saying anything. “Maybe she’ll be into that if you—”

I sigh, rubbing my temple. “Not the time.”

“Okay, okay.” He raises his hands in surrender, but his smile only grows. “If you know what you’re doing, I support ya.”

The door creaks open, and we turn. The girl exits the kitchen hesitantly. She’s dressed in a cleaner version of what Alessia once wore when I first encountered her. Only this girl is taller than Alessia, and the dress is ill-fittingly short on her spindly limbs.

They didn’t even bother to provide her with appropriately sized clothing.

“Where’s ya stuff?” Kenisius asks.

She looks from him to me, then the ground. “I don’t have anything.”

I elbow my friend, giving him a stern look. “Leave her alone.”

“My, my, my, how the turns have tabled.” He chuckles.

“Tables have turned,” I correct, pinching the bridge of my nose.

His laughter only grows. “ I’m usually the nice one.”

I address the girl, “I don’t have time to earn your trust. I can only offer my word that we won’t harm you.”

Kenisius begins shifting off to the side, his body contorting and cracking as he stretches into his bear. To my relief, the girl doesn’t react except her face paling and her eyes widening. The fear radiating off her is potent, but I can only imagine what she must’ve endured to trust a couple of callous faeries.

“It’s your choice to trust us or not,” I say.

The girl nods.

I coax her onto Kenisius’s back and send them back to the castle.

Meanwhile, I take my time, dragging the lord and lady through the forest behind me.

Surprisingly, despite the blood leaking from various scrapes and scratches, I find it much easier to resist the bloodlust than I thought, knowing this is Alessia’s vengeance.

She can decide their fate.