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

13. Unnervingly Lethal

thirteen

Unnervingly Lethal

Alessia

B y the time we get back to the ballroom, my feet scream and my back aches. The wishing ritual at Laguna Fortuna was anticlimactic, but long. I stood at Eoin’s side for hours, smiling politely at the fae as they entered the waters and presented their offerings.

The line of fae winding from the palace, alongside the river, all the way down the hill to the laguna moved at a snail’s pace.

It baffles me that they have the energy and desire to dance after all that. I’m ready for bed. Then again, I’m always ready for bed.

A few guards mill about the lobby, their chatter cutting short when they notice me. I offer them a soft smile, and they nod in return.

String music and laughter carry down the hallway, seeping out from the revelry hall. The quick pace of the tempo matches my beating heart. Anxiousness bubbles up in my throat as I draw nearer and peer inside.

Many of the fae have changed for the Prosperity Ball, donning what looks like their best. Each court has their own attire, I’m learning, and it’s becoming easier to pinpoint who is from where.

Terra Court’s garb is reminiscent of nature and her bounties, whimsical and flowy, which is what I’ve grown accustom to. Aer Court enjoys their heavy fabrics, like velvet, in rich shades of blues. Similarly, Aqua Court appears partial to blue, however, their fabric is thin and skin-tight, showcasing all the bits and bobs.

Lux Court loves their gold and silk, with all genders and sizes of folk proudly displaying their midsections.

The most interesting to me is Ignus Court. They stand out with their leather and metal outfits, looking more like warriors than revelers. Some of the folk even wear dresses made of leather, with chains around their waists.

Based on the energy in the air and the amount of glittering jewels decorating the faeries from visiting courts, this event will be the most uptight and tiresome yet.

The buzz in the air has me extra on edge tonight, and I can feel every stinking drop of my fear, agitation, and resentfulness in the way my hands tremble as I smooth my skirts.

The need to calm my mind propels me past the open ballroom and further down the hallway. I shoot out the back doors into the gardens rather than head to the party where I’m to meet Eoin.

I’m unsure how long our deal will allow me to evade him, but I figure I’m early enough to steal a few minutes alone.

My body instantly relaxes under the night sky. I suck in a few deep breaths as I walk, and the delightfully warm air comforts me without suffocating me.

After a few twists and turns, a humming noise fills the air—off-key notes I don’t recognize. I emerge from the garden labyrinth, and the wine statue comes into sight. Someone stands on the rock base, facing the wine basin.

The trickling grows louder, and the stream ebbs and flows with pressure, eventually tapering off completely. A belt buckle clanks. I squint through the dimming twilight.

That isn’t the sound of wine splattering.

It’s someone peeing .

I gasp as I recognize those broad shoulders and that mess of thick, dark hair tied into a bun at the nape of his neck.

He whips around. “Little human?” he says while I yell, “Ken!”

I bolt to him and jump up, wrapping my arms around him. His body shakes with laughter as he squeezes me tight. With ease, he picks me up and spins me around.

“I missed you,” I say when he stops. He smells familiarly of sweat and leather. “Wait.” I pull free from his arms, backing up and scrunching my nose. “Were you just peeing in Eoin’s wine?”

He slaps his knee, chuckling gleefully. “Our little secret?”

I shrug, at a loss. I’ll have to remember not to drink it ever again, which shouldn’t be too hard. “What are you doing here?”

“I heard there was a party. You know I love a good party.”

He tucks his thumbs into the loops of his suspenders, and it takes me a moment of staring to realize he’s not in his usual warrior garb. Instead, he’s in a beige button-up with dark-brown leather pants and suspenders. His familiar, worn boots are on his feet, a few daggers strapped to his waist, but everything else looks too new and clean for the Ken I know.

“Why do you look like that?” I ask.

“Why do you look like that?” he counters with a toothy grin. “It’s a nice dress, but it doesn’t feel like you.”

I scowl at the skirts one more time. “I know.”

He pats my head, and I duck—he hasn’t washed his hands after relieving himself.

“Whoops.” He reaches down, wiping his hands on the grass while I watch, shaking my head.

“You’re here,” I repeat, stunned.

Ken gives me a sly smile. “Normally, I don’t attend to the traitor’s happenings, but I couldn’t miss the chance to see my favorite little human. Could I?”

This makes me smile. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I wasn’t sure I’d make it. Rainer and I had a long day,” he says.

At the sound of Rainer’s name, my pulse doubles. Then I remember he told me he wasn’t coming tonight. The surge of excitement gives way to a bone-chilling emptiness, draining the joy out of my lungs. If Ken notices, he doesn’t say anything.

“Hate this thing.” Ken kicks the fountain’s base with his boot. “Awful, right?”

I snort. “That’s putting it lightly.”

“He’s not even original. He erected this”—Ken laughs—“after seeing mine, and of course, he had to make it bigger and grander in all ways. The wine is wholly unnecessary.”

It takes a few silent blinks for me to process. “You have a naked statue of yourself, too?” I can’t say I’m surprised. Of course he does; he’s Ken.

He beams proudly. “Mine’s a little more rugged. A little less winey.” He strokes his beard thoughtfully. “Not sure little blond prince is honest about the proportions here, though.” He gestures at the statue, and I don’t have to turn and look to figure out what he’s referring to. “Unlike him, I don’t need to embellish. You saw for yourself I’ve got a—"

“Ken!” I close my eyes, gently slapping my forehead. I can hear him snickering. When I reopen my eyes, he gives me a shrug. “You and Eoin have much in common, now that I think about it.”

“Hey, I resent that, little human.”

I stride through the flower maze, heading back toward the party. Ken catches up with ease. He pokes my shoulder, and I glance at him without slowing my pace.

“Yes?”

His face is more stern than I’ve seen it before. “Do you really think that? About me and the Terra prince?”

“Fae or not, I don’t think nude statues of oneself are common. Yet somehow you both have one, so yes.”

“Because he copied me! I told ya already—”

“Don’t get me wrong, you’re vastly different—I prefer your company and humor. The prince is a massive arse—but the similarities are there.”

We walk in silence until Ken pokes me again.

I side-eye him. “Yes?”

“Do you think he looks like me?” he asks, a hint of worry in his voice. “He’s a lot… blonder and has a much less impressive physique, but he’s a fairly handsome fellow.”

This stops me in my tracks. My brow furrows as I study Ken. “Now that you mention it...” His face pales, and his jaw goes slack. I can’t help but laugh. “No, Ken, I don’t think you look alike. If you’re worried he’s your secret brother or something, why don’t you confront your parents?”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” he mutters.

We exit the maze, and Ken picks up speed, practically jogging back to the party.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

Without turning, he lifts his hands over his head. “I have to take a shite, and I probably shouldn’t do that in the fountain.”

Not for the first time tonight, I laugh real, belly- tickling laughter.

If I thought the ballroom was lavish for the previous events, it’s incomparable to how glorious it is this evening. Luminescent moss hangs suspended overhead, casting a soft glow around the faeries. Rich, earth-toned tapestries embroidered with intricate floral patterns hang from the walls. Thin tree branches twist around the columns, with glistening fairy lights serving as an illusion of fiery blooms.

Instead of the regular goblets, each one tonight appears made of gold, emerald, or sapphire—a fusion of luxury and nature’s splendor.

A tall fae female walks by, looking me up and down. Her dress is so tight it’s as if it’s painted on. My eyes flit down her body, then back up to her face. My cheeks heat but she gives me a wink, tossing her shiny black hair over her shoulder with a coy smile.

After she passes, I scan the room, taking in the splendor and excess.

Unease prickles my neck. It reminds me slightly of the lord and lady, using opportunities to celebrate themselves and flaunt their wealth before the folk.

My skin burns with awareness, and I glance to my left. Prince Ezamae leans one shoulder against the wall beneath a tapestry showcasing a seven-pointed star.

“It’s the symbol of Avylon,” he says.

“What?” I squint, confused.

He jerks his head up. “The star. One point for each of the courts.”

My eyes shift upward, and I count the points again.

Seven .

“I thought there were only six courts?” I ask.

He doesn’t get a chance to reply.

A faerie steps in front of me, reaching over to squeeze his arm. She begins talking animatedly, overtaking our conversation.

His eyes linger on me, though, and we hold each other’s gaze. When he winks, I quickly turn away, cheeks growing even hotter. My eye catches on Sera, who stands in the doorway staring longingly at Ezamae. When her eyes shift to me, we share a wave, but she hurries away before I can speak with her.

I deflate, feeling lonely despite being in a room full of others. Even though Rainer said he wasn’t coming, I couldn’t help but scan the faces, hoping to catch his familiar scowl and those ethereal eyes.

It’s another few minutes before I spot Eoin instead. He sits on a stone throne near the back of the room. A circlet made of golden branches and leaves perches atop his head. It would almost blend seamlessly with his hair if not for the light glinting off it. Guards flank either side of the throne, the butts of their spears resting on the ground.

There’s another dais a few paces away from Eoin, a few steps higher and with a slightly bigger throne. Sennah’s, I would assume. But she’s nowhere to be seen.

“Ah, there she is,” Eoin says with a boyish grin when he spots me, his voice carrying over the crowd. He raises his goblet, tilting his head. A few of the nearby faeries whisper among themselves, turning to look at me .

I shift awkwardly under their gazes. Did I choose the right dress for this event? Even with its many layers, I feel stripped bare with the attention on me and somehow overdressed and underdressed at the same time.

Always in between. I never quite fit in.

Eoin raises a fist, and with synchronized precision, the guards firmly slam the base of their spears onto the floor. I cringe as the resounding echoes pulsate three times throughout the room, silencing everyone.

After a few beats of silence, Eoin lowers his fist and clears his throat.

“Cherished revelers of both noble and common birth, greetings. I’m delighted by the convergence of refined tastes and spirited exuberance as we gather beneath the Moon of Abundance.”

I watch the Terra Prince continue his speech with my mouth agape. I’ve never heard him speak with such articulation or such poise. He possesses all his usual charm but with a newfound authority.

Eoin pauses, and tittering and applause go up around the room until he lifts his fist. The room grows quiet once more. “Hold your applause, my good folk, for I possess news that brings brilliance to our merriment.”

His smile grows, and he reaches a hand, beckoning for me. I can feel the eyes of the entire room on me, and rather than attract more attention for causing a scene, I hesitantly stride to Eoin. He stands, gripping my hand in his.

He leans in, his breath on my ear unsettling me. “I am quite pleased with how easy you made this. Your deal was to agree to my proposals, after all. ”

My stomach drops. When I agreed to his proposals, I was desperate. I hadn’t stopped to think through the stipulations.

What did I accidentally agree to?

“We have a little twist to our revelry tonight!” His voice drowns out my thoughts. My breaths come quick and shallow, and I stand frozen, fearful for what he’ll say next. “I’m thrilled to share a faerie engagement that’s not made solely of heart, but of heart and alliance. A clever move for the good of our realm. I present to you—my betrothed.”

The room breaks into an uproar, and it takes me thirty seconds to catch up.

Betrothed.

Me?

Waves of shock and anger ripple through me, leaving dark spots in my vision. The sheer force of my fury causes my hands to shake. The moment stretches on as I scramble to make sense of my thoughts—to react without making things worse.

“Eoin,” I finally say, trying hard not to snap in front of the many onlookers. “What are you—”

A dark blur surges from the crowd, cracking Eoin in the face quicker than I can register. The crowd gasps and pulses with excitement.

Everything happens so fast. The crowd screams, creating space between their prince and the assailant while the guards surge forward.

Before Eoin’s guards can assist him, they drop their spears and fall to their knees, eyes wide. I glance between their trembling faces and back to the attacker.

“You feckin’ bastard,” a familiar voice growls out. It spears me in the heart. “I will murder you.”

My mind goes silent as my vision zeroes in on the dark faerie prince pummeling Eoin on the ground.

“Rainer,” I whisper.

His gaze whips to mine as if he can hear me over the crowd. Those ice-blue eyes I love dearly, usually as cold as a clear winter sky, are now as dark as midnight. It sends a shudder down my spine.

Eoin smiles from his position on the floor as blood drips down his face, staining his teeth. “Attacking the prince in his court?” He faces the crowd. “You bear witness!”

Rainer turns his attention back to Eoin, and I realize what’s happening ten steps too late.

The Terra Prince set this up.

What a fool I was. I never had the advantage with our bargain. This was all a set-up to provoke Rainer into attacking him publicly in front of the other courts on a sacred night.

Eoin strikes back, and the two roll around the floor, trading blows. Blood flies and the faeries—savages they are—cheer and holler as if this is some entertainment for the evening.

“Incredible spectacle,” a red-haired male yells. “This rivals Prince Laisren’s celebrations!”

“Are we at Ignus Court?” another fae jokes.

Their humor at the situation causes me to grind my teeth. I duck behind the throne, my heart thumping wildly in my chest. I need to stop this and get Rainer out of here. Scanning the crowd, I notice Sennah standing nearby with a grim look that contrasts darkly with her pink-and-white gown .

“Stop them!” I yell. I know she’s capable. She’s used her power on Rainer, bringing him to his knees. If anything, she can cut them off.

She joins me at my side a second later. “I tried to help you avoid this.”

I can barely hear her over the clamoring.

“I didn’t know he was trying to marry me!” I gasp as Eoin’s fist lands on Rainer’s cheek, and his head whips backward. “We need to stop this. Now.”

“I can’t,” she hisses. I strain to make out her words. “As a sister and friend, I would love to. As the ruler of this court, I cannot. They need to resolve their dispute.”

The fists continue to fly between the princes, but soon, the fight spreads to the nearby spectators as if the violence is contagious. The air fills with a cacophony of war cries and cheers.

It’s chaos unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

The guards writhe on the ground, their faces pinched in fear. My hand flies to my mouth as I gasp.

Rainer’s fearcaller power holds them captive.

Sennah gives me a stern look, shaking her head. “I warned you about making bargains.”

My mind flits back to our conversation a few nights ago in this same room. “That’s not the message I got!” I snapped, angry at the riddles and tricks. “You should’ve been straightforward.”

Her eyes drift to something behind me and she pales.

I glance over my shoulder and then back to Sennah. “What is it?”

“No!” Her eyes glaze over, and she drops to her knees, a victim of Rainer’s fearcaller magic .

The roars of excitement from the crowd quickly give way to bloodcurdling screams. The sheer number of fae trapped within Rainer’s fearcaller power is staggering. His power leaves me in awe, astounded by its sheer strength.

As I search through the chaos, my eyes finally land on Rainer right as he loses control. Amidst the cacophony, his growl resonates with chilling intensity, and my heart quickens.

No!

As his mouth widens, his canines sharpen into lethal fangs, reflecting a sinister glint of predatory hunger.

Gripped by terror, my body becomes immobile, as if encased in ice.

Eoin never needed me or our bargain. This was his plan: make Rainer lose control and expose his true nature to the court, unraveling his carefully crafted image in the most destructive way possible.

It’s too late to stop, but I need to intervene.

I shove past Sennah, lunging forward when Rainer’s teeth sink into Eoin’s neck. The boisterous crowd instantly falls into hushed whispers as if his fearcaller hold has dropped. As if he’s succumbed fully to the demon side of him, harnessing his darker, deadlier abilities.

“Vampyr!” a fae screams.

“Demons in the realm!”

“Run!”

Fae clamor for the exits, no longer interested in sticking around for the show. I call for Ken, searching the ballroom. But I can’t locate him. I’m unsure if he made it back from the bathroom, got tangled in a fight, or was affected by Rainer’s magic. And I don’t have time to seek him out.

It’s up to me. Only me.

“Rainer!” My ineffective command echoes off the high ceilings, mocking me. “Stop, please , stop!” I don’t care how weak it makes me sound to beg a faerie—a demon—to stop .

Despite Eoin’s best efforts, Rainer continues to overpower him effortlessly. He winces as Rainer’s fangs bury deeper into his skin. The nauseating slurping noise reaches my ears over the crowd, followed by beastly growls. The air is thick with a sickeningly sweet metallic scent, making me grow queasy.

Rainer clenches the Terra Prince tighter, his knuckles turning white as his intent becomes unmistakable.

He’s going to kill Eoin.

There’s no stopping him now that he’s unleashed.

Every nerve is on high alert, preparing for imminent threat. The intensity engulfs me, leaving me exhilarated and unnerved.

For the first time, I understand Rainer’s warnings. Until now, I hadn’t seen the monster he kept caged within. This is the demon he warned me about.

This creature strikes fear into the hearts of all who encounter him. He’s ruthless, violent, and unnervingly lethal.