My feet felt the solid cold ground under them, the frost biting into my boots.

  A gasp echoed as Sarsia noticed me, instantly grabbing hold of Larnika, who had been studying a rock formation on the ground.

  “Isn't this a nice surprise,” I said loudly as I stepped forward.

  They gathered together, drawing their swords in unison. My own weapon sat on my hip, waiting to be discharged. I wouldn't hurry my attack, instead savouring the fear that etched their features. There was the human, standing close to Layanna, his frame blocking my view of her.

  “You're not real,” Sarsia said.

  Smirking, I paced to the right, trying not to laugh when they moved away from the stones. Liliya had told me that the entrance to Dragonscale was accessed by arranging the stones into the Dragonscale crest. I would not allow them to get near to the very thing that might take them away before my pixie army could reach them.

  “I'm very real, although I'm not really here, if that's what you mean. Just to warn you, a little army is on its way.”

  “Jordeek!” Layanna moved out from behind everyone. “This is insane.”

  “Insane?” I asked, tilting my head to the side. “I agree, so why don't you ask your witch friend to cast a spell to forget that Althea exists and go back to where you came from? I would allow you to live.”

  Putting one hand on the hilt of her sword, she scowled at me. “Nothing is going to stop me from ruining you.”

  A shudder went through me, but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. Ever since I had dreamt of us kissing in the baths of the palace, I had struggled to get the wench out of my mind. Her long dark hair fell in soft waves around her face, the edges brushing the curve of her breasts under her dress. I had to resist the urge to allow her to manipulate me.

  “You can try, but I do have something in my favour.”

  Layanna's chest rose, a sign that she had taken a deep breath. The small details told a lot about a person, and her sharp intake meant that she was afraid of my weapon.

  “Don't believe him,” Sarsia barked, her dark blue eyes widening when I smirked.

  Inclining my head, I rubbed my chin and looked to the sky. It was partly to distract them, partly to see if any dragons were on their way down from Dragonscale.

  “I'm to marry the witch Liliya in less than fourteen days. We will produce an heir to the throne, which will strengthen my claim to it.”

  As Layanna hesitated, something inside my chest squeezed. Was she worried that it would be harder to rid me from my throne, or was she affected by my marriage confession?

  “You think that having a child will make you a better ruler?” Larnika said quietly. “Everyone hates you, Jordeek.”

  Heat seared my skin, running up and down my arms. A fake laugh escaped my mouth before I spun, throwing the tiny knife that had been grasped in my hand. It circled around, barely missing Larnika's head before it flew off the edge of the hill.

  Charging, Larnika cried a battle cry, his sword slashing towards me. I took out my own weapon, blocking his attack with a thrust. A light haze descended around us, making it hard for me to see where his sword was. I snarled as his fist plunged into my side, the hit catching me.

  “Give up!” Larnika’s hiss breezed past my ear.

  A light touch of something flicked on my cheek, forcing me to jump back. The mist cleared and revealed Larnika. Or what had been Larnika. Now a human size snake, he bared his teeth before lunging.

  “No!”

  Layanna’s shout echoed around us as Larnika’s fangs sunk into my arm. The sting caused me to suck in a breath as I winced. He instantly ripped them out, taking my skin with him. The metal clang of his fae armour rattled against his scaly skin as he reared up, ready to come forth again.

  “I said no!” Layanna ran between us, her hand held up to the transformed former guard. “You will cease this now!”

  Sarsia stepped out from behind the huge snake, her arm extended. She watched Layanna, a frown on her face. Shaking her head, she raised her lip.

  “What are you doing? We can end him now.”

  Laughing loudly, I drowned out Layanna’s reply. They seriously believed that they would defeat me when I wasn’t actually in their presence? Liliya’s magic was too strong to allow that.

  Spinning to me, Layanna marched closer. I allowed her to get in my face, my curiosity too strong to attack her. What would she do?

  “Did you dream of me?” I whispered as her mouth opened to speak.

  The others didn’t hear me as they tried to join their princess. She held her arm behind her without turning to them, the command obvious. Her teeth caught her lip, biting hard. Had my question hit the mark?

  “Show me that there’s something in you,” she whispered. “Something redeemable.”

  Narrowing my eyes on her, I sucked in a breath. For a silent moment, I wanted to be redeemable. For her.

  Shutting the feeling down, I grinned, the corners of my mouth curling into my cheeks. “You believe that I’m evil, that the land is dying because of me. The Unseelie are not as bad as your friends are letting you believe. Let me show you.”

  Offering my hand, I kept it soft, hopefully inviting. Her nose rose in the air, her head turning away. Her snub was clear, but I wouldn’t give up that easily. Stepping closer, I kept my arms by my side, my sword hanging limp from my palm.

  “Layanna,” I breathed. “Do your lips taste as sweet as the dream allowed me to believe?”

  Her hands came up, pushing me hard in the chest. The snarl that growled up her throat made my skin warm. The dark of her eyes stared as I stumbled a step or two, allowing her to believe that she had moved me, when really, I had gone with the flow, letting the movement take me.

  “You...!” Throwing her hand in the air, she opened her mouth and screamed.

  Thunder exploded around us as an invisible force pushed me backwards, sending me flying to the ground. My body grazed against the dirt as my sword clattered to the floor next to me. Propelling myself up as soon as I had landed, I grabbed my sword and went to run for my enemies.

  “You will never win!” Her shout was almost whipped away with the wind as she took out her sword and threw it at me.

  Ducking just in time as the wind carried it towards me, I dived away from her, in the direction of the others. Her pretty face was screwed up, her hair flicking around her head as she opened her mouth and screamed again. The sword changed direction, heading straight for my back.

  Daniel came into view just as Layanna’s voice died down. He held a dagger, his fighting face ready. He was a human, one who would never compare to a fae king.

  In two jumps, I reached him. His eyes widened when I stared into them. The blue irises bled into the black of his pupil as I grinned. He dropped his weapon as I grabbed his shoulders.

  Layanna’s scream exploded in my head as I spun with the human, using him as a shield. The thump that moved his chest was followed by a deep grunt as the sword embedded into his shoulder.

  “Layanna, stop!” Larnika’s voice echoed in my head as he tried to hold her back.

  “Let me go!”

  He had no choice but to release her, freeing her to run towards us. Daniel’s body went limb in my arms. The blood from his wound started to seep into the arm of my tunic, marking the light blue material. Letting him fall to the ground, I watched in slow motion as Layanna threw herself at the human, her knees smashing into the ground.

  “Please, don’t die,” she whispered as she gripped her sword and slowly took it out of his shoulder.

  He gritted his teeth as the weapon was removed, blood replacing the blade. It had wedged just above his heart, probably severing several important veins. Why did she care so much about the human?

  Taking her hand when she went to place it over his wound, Daniel pulled it to his mouth. Kissing her knuckles, he smiled up at her. “You cannot use your power on me, I’m merely a human.”

  “It can’t be.” Tears dripped down her cheeks as she gazed at him.

  Fury filled me as I watched them, gazing affectionately at one another. What did they share? How could the princess allow herself to get attached to a human? One who wasn’t even that handsome?

  “Sire,” I heard in my head. Liliya. “You must come back, I’m weakening.”

  My hands clenched into fists as the woman who was threatening my reign wept over a human man. How dare she... what? Love someone else? Why did I care?

  “This isn’t over,” I muttered as I braced myself to leave her.

  Looking up at me from under her eyelashes, she glared, her teeth bared. “No, it’s not over. You will pay for this... with your blood.”

  Chapter Ten

  As Jordeek’s image flickered away, I bent to Daniel. My chest was tight as he struggled to breathe. His eyes were still completely blue, the black pupils gone. Was he blind?

  “Can I heal him?” I called to Larnika, who joined me.

  Grasping my hand, Daniel pulled me closer to him. His body was convulsing, the blood now gushing from the gash in the top of his chest. My heart beat fast as I looked into his eyes, searching them.

  Larnika put a hand on my shoulder, squeezed and then walked away. He didn’t need to speak, his action let me know the answer to my question.

  “You can defeat him,” Daniel whispered.

  Putting my hand over his eyes, I tried to push my magic into him. When I pulled away, his eyes were back to normal. I placed my free hand on his wound, pushing into the bloody mess.

  “I can try to save you.”

  Closing my eyes, I did the same, allowing my magic to flow. Nothing happened as the magic refused to leave my body. I had taken away Jordeek’s magic from Daniel’s eyes, but I couldn’t heal him with mine.

  Swallowing hard, I licked my lips as I went to pull away. Maybe we could stitch up the wound, maybe we could-?

  “Layanna,” he snapped, grabbing me back. “It’s too late. Stop being so stubborn.”

  His eyes watched me, the corners pinched in pain. He held my hands in his, refusing to let go. I gripped his fingers as the tears returned, the liquid pushing out of my eyes as I tried to regain control of myself. We hadn't known Daniel for long, but he had become a part of the family. We had bonded together by his helping us to escape Loridon. He had proved himself trustworthy, and an ally for our cause, even though he had no stake in the fate of Althea.

  “Don't cry for me,” he whispered, burying one of his hands into my hair at the back of my head.

  Dropping my gaze, I sucked back a breath in an attempt to stop crying. Instead, I choked, coughing when Daniel laughed. I smiled, unable to resist his charm.

  “There's one thing I promised.”

  The words were almost silent, but I heard them. Bending slowly as he pulled me closer, I looked into his gaze. The blue of his eyes pierced me as the pain eased in them. I couldn't look away as my skin tingled and my tears dried up. He was looking at me so intently, it felt like he was searching my soul. What did it look like to him?

  “I want to be your first kiss.” His words wound themselves around my heart, warming it despite the cold of the air.

  Nodding once, I touched my lips against his. My eyes instantly closed as his warm breath fanned me, his lips moving gently against mine. A deep unfamiliar feeling unfurled within me as his tongue pushed into my mouth, moving around mine. Heat blasted me, my whole body rocking from the shock of it as Daniel held me tight.

  Just when I thought I would explode from sensation, Daniel let me go. He smiled, his wet lips glistening in the sunlight as it shone on him. Frowning, he coughed suddenly. I held him tight as he winced, his teeth gritted and his breath laboured.

  “I will never forget you,” I breathed into his ear.

  The others came forward to kneel beside Daniel. Taking his free hand, Larnika looked down at the human. Tears hovered in his dark eyes.

  “I'm sorry you were dragged into our fight.”

  Shaking his head, Daniel smiled at the same time as flinching. “I made it my fight. I pledged my allegiance. You must stay loyal to the princess, she needs your support. Plus...” He looked at me, a glint in his eyes. “...She won't stop you from marrying Sarsia when she's queen, she's too soft-hearted.”

  Glancing at me, Larnika nodded. “I promise to keep my official allegiance to Layanna.”

  Coughing, Daniel released our hands and grasped his chest. I was about to try and comfort him when he took a shaky breath, reached up for me and cupped my cheek with his bloody hand.

  “Open your heart to those who care for you,” he whispered. “Sometimes, we don't realise that we're afraid to be ourselves because we think that there's something wrong with us, but you... Layanna, you are special. Embrace that.”

  Droplets of water trickled down my cheeks as he gasped one more time. His body went soft as his hand fell from my cheek and to the ground. The bright blue of his eyes dulled as they stared at the sky above.

  A sob escaped me as I laid my forehead against his chest. His tunic smelt of salt from our trip into the sea. At least the human had left the world after an adventure. One that he should never have been on. It was my fault that he had died. My sword had been the weapon to take him out.

  “Layanna?” Trenton's voice was tight, almost distant. “I hate to do this, but... we have a problem.”

  Looking up, I wiped my face on my cloak. Trenton was standing on the edge of the hill, pointing over the Northern Sea. My gaze followed his indication, my heart jumping into my throat when I spotted what he was pointing at. A cloud of green was off in the distance, not far from the other side of the sea.

  “That's the pixie army Jordeek warned us about.” Larnika was on his feet, joining Trenton.

  Sarsia bent to me, pulling me away from Daniel's still body. I wanted to stay with him, not leave straight away. Why couldn't we just have a moment to grieve for our friend?

  “We have to bury him,” I cried.

  The others turned to me, their expressions sour as I glanced between the oncoming army and Daniel. My whole body shook as I tried to wipe the blood from my hand. I hadn't been able to save him. What good were my powers if I couldn't save those I cared about?

  Sarsia went to Larnika. “He's not like us, he won't be absorbed back into the earth as quickly. We have to bury him.”

  The fae tucked his dark hair behind his ear before glancing at Trenton, who shrugged. The green cloud was still in the distance. We had time. Without waiting for them to agree, I surged away from Daniel and headed towards the edge of the hill.

  “Where are you going?” Sarsia tried to grab me back.

  “Down there...” I pointed at the copse of trees. “... That's the first place he claimed to have seen a dragon. Bring his body.”

  The last part of my sentence wasn't a request and they knew it.

  Larnika went to Daniel, easily hoisting the human into his arms. I started back down the hill, my cloak fluttering behind me. Larnika said something to Trenton, who immediately went over to the stone formation as Sarsia and Larnika followed me back to the trees.

  “Let me,” Sarsia whispered when I pointed to a clear spot under an oak tree.

  Pine cones and acorns adorned the ground, but the silence under the small canopy made it the perfect resting place for Daniel.

  My chest tightened, the pain of loss engulfing me as Sarsia knelt on the ground. Closing her eyes, she placed her palms on the earth and started to chant a spell. The words rolled off her tongue, but I didn't hear them. I was staring at Daniel. Larnika still held him aloft, waiting for Sarsia to finish preparing the human's grave.

  Sarsia fell quiet as the earth beneath her hands started to rise, spiralling into the air and piling up beside her. My gaze watched the dirt dance as peace descended on me. Where had the calming emotion come from? I should be angry, sad... I was...

  “You can place him here now,” Sarsia said to Larnika.

  Doing as he was asked, Larnika laid Daniel's body in the hole in the ground. Reaching in, he closed his eyes and whispered a farewell. Sarsia touched the human's hand before sitting back on her heels, waiting for me. I closed my eyes as grieve rocked through me. The handsome human man had given his life for our cause. We would have to honour him. We would seek vengeance for his death.

  “This will not go unpunished,” I whispered, keeping my distance from the grave. “Farewell, my friend.”

  Closing her eyes, Sarsia replaced the dirt with her magic. As the last piece of Daniel was covered, she fought back a sob.

  I swallowed hard as the earth levelled out. Crouching, I touched the ground with the tips of my fingers and closed my eyes. An image of beautiful roses came to mind. When I opened my eyes, a sprout pushed its way through the ground where Daniel's body rested, quickly growing into a rose bush. The red flowers blossomed, their petals opening wide.

  “Your powers are limitless,” Larnika said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

  We stayed silent for a moment, offering our prayers to Mother Nature. She would look after Daniel for us, making sure that no one could disturb his final resting place. The human deserved peace in his death.

  Taking a deep breath, I got to my feet and shook out my skirts. The memory of Daniel's kiss would be imprinted on my mind forever. He had given me a part of himself, and I had given him a part of me. No one else would ever take that from either of us.

  “It's time.”

  The others followed as I led us to the hill, not looking back as I ascended. The hum of wings reached us as we reached the top, the green cloud now much clearer. The pixies were coming, their small bodies almost across the Northern Sea. There were so many, they blended into one another.

  “We'll never win against them,” I said as I started to run up the side of the hill.

  Trenton was bent over the stones, moving the small boulders into a pattern. I joined him, the others close behind me. He was huffing, his cheeks tinged with red as he glanced over his shoulder.

  “The fairies in the secret village told me that we had to call the dragons with fire after forming the symbol of Dragonscale.”