Chapter 6

THE SEVEN REALMS OF HELL

 

 

 

"Don't let the pretty baubles fool you, Princess. We are still demons. This is still a dangerous place."

—Fenris Vane

 

I rush out the door and into the arms of Fen.

The air immediately cools, and I suck in a breath and sag against Fen's chest. He stiffens in surprise and I realize what I'm doing and pull back. "Er… sorry about that. The, uh, guard in there scared me and… " My voice trails and I really have no idea what to say next so I take another step back, but end up bumping into the stone wall behind me. Fenris is still staring at me, his blue eyes pulling me into him as he steps closer. His wolf is by his side and scoots forward with his master, his eyes on us both.

Fen is so close to me now I can smell the wildness that clings to him like a cologne. He inhales deeply, his eyes unreadable, and his eyeteeth elongate. His eyes drop to my neck, and I know I should be scared. A vampire is checking me out like I'm dinner. But I'm not scared. I'm… entranced. A low growl vibrates in his throat as he leans in. "You should be more careful, Princess."

His breath brushes against my neck, sending a chill down my spine. "My name isn't Princess, or girl, it's Ari. Arianna if you want to be formal."

Fen looks at me with a strange expression, like he's trying to figure out what I am.

"Time to go," says Asher from the top of the stairs, once again interrupting something that feels heavy. The wolf, whose name I really must learn soon, reverts into his defensive position.

"Does your wolf basically hate everyone but you?" I ask.

Fen looks down at him. "Usually, yes. You seem to be the exception."

Asher clears his throat. "Sorry to interrupt you two, but Dean is waiting and you know how patient he is."

Fen pulls away from me and turns to face Asher. "Dean can wait as long as needed. I care little for whatever so-called demands he has on his time."

"Be that as it may, we still must go. Unless you two are planning to stay in the dungeon all night?"

I shiver at the thought, and the wolf steps away from Fen to come closer to me, pushing his large head against my leg until I pet him. Both the princes stare at us, open jawed, for several seconds.

Asher is the first to break the silence. "What the—?"

Fen crosses his arms over his chest. "He's been like that since she got here. I've never seen anything like it."

"The other brothers are not going to like this, Fenris. They will feel you are taking liberties to weigh things in your favor."

Watching the two of them is like watching the North and South Pole in an odd dance. They are so different—Asher with his fine suits and refinement and Fen with his wildness and leather—but somehow they compliment each other in a strange way.

Fen scoffs at Asher's words. "I care as much about that bloody throne as I do about Dean's latest conquest, which is to say not at all. They should know that. This isn't my game, it's all of yours."

"Be that as it may, this will ruffle feathers."

Fen pulls his eyes from me and the wolf to turn to Asher. "I'll do more than ruffle feathers if any of them dare challenge me."

The warden's warning echoes in my mind. Is Fen one of those displeased at my presence?

Asher holds up his hands in surrender. "I'm on your side in this, brother. You know that."

Fen nods his head once sharply, and begins walking up the staircase back to the main castle. His wolf stays by my side until Fen turns, face puckered with irritation. He whistles, and the wolf rubs against me again, whining. "Oh for the love of all that's unholy, what is wrong with you, Baron?"

I'm starting to feel bad for Fen, so I nudge Baron with my hand. "Go on. I'll be okay."

He looks up at me, his eyes so intelligent, and almost nods, then slowly moves to Fen, but keeps looking back to make sure I'm coming. I stifle a grin and hurry up the stairs as Fen curses and turns away from us. Asher watches with a mix of amusement and worry on his face.

As we make our way to wherever Asher is taking us, I ask the question I've been wanting an answer to for some time. "Are we going to talk about the fact that these Fae keep attacking me?"

"No," Fen says gruffly. I think he's still mad about his wolf not obeying him.

"If they do manage to kidnap me, what are they planning to do?"

"Shut you up, hopefully."

Yup, he's still mad.

"Look, I'm sorry your wolf likes someone else for the first time ever, but that's no reason to act like a petulant child. There are serious matters to discuss here."

Asher laughs out loud. "She's got your number, brother!"

Fen turns and grabs him by his collar, shoving him against the stone wall. "That is quite enough from you, brother. I've done everything you've asked. I kept her safe. I got her here. I'm done." He releases Asher—who doesn't look the least bit scared—and storms away, leaving us alone in the passageway. His wolf does follow this time, though reluctantly when he sees I'm not joining him.

Asher adjusts his clothing and brushes away the wrinkles caused by his brother's rough handling. "Fen has a bit of a temper," Asher says calmly. "Prince of War and all. You understand."

"I understand that a family of immortal vampires has all of eternity and still can't figure out how to grow up," I say. I'm tired of the bickering, so I walk ahead, but once we come to the door that brought us here, I pause, unsure of where we're going.

Asher grins, winking at me, and leads me through hallways lined with gilded doors and gold trimmed paintings and elaborate doorways carved out of stone or marble or wood into beautiful shapes. We stop in a hall with a fire blazing in the largest stone fireplace I've ever seen. There are pillows and rugs in front of the fire for lounging, with tables filled with drink and food, and plush, elegant furniture artfully placed throughout the room to create reading and conversation nooks. One wall is lined with books and another is a painted mural of a beautiful landscape with a Pegasus flying through a winter storm. In the center of the room stands one of the most beautiful men I've ever seen.

He has the kind of physical beauty that is literally stunning.  Golden hair that falls around his shoulders in thick waves. Eyes so piercing blue they hurt to look at. Skin carved of golden marble. A face that could slay armies with its beauty. A body that is so perfect he looks unreal. Like, I can't walk anymore, because I'm literally stunned into place.

When he sees me, he smiles and I nearly choke on my own tongue.

Asher sees my response and just sighs. "Arianna, this is Dean. Dean, this is the princess."

Dean reaches for my hand and brings it to his lips. The kiss is soft, tender, and stays on my skin like a gift. "Hello, Princess Arianna. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I look forward to our time together and trust you will enjoy yourself in all ways."

Parts of my body I've neglected most of my life are set on fire by his words, and I have no response but to stand there, weak-kneed and shaking.

Dean is still holding my hand, and I don't pull away until Asher nudges me. "Arianna, the council has chosen Dean, Prince of Lust, to be your first guide in our world. You will spend a month with him, and then move to the next realm with another prince."

I blink, reminding myself who I am and why I'm here. "Of course. It's nice to meet you Dean." I take a deep breath to steady myself and finally pull my hand away. It still burns with his lips, and I find it very disconcerting. It's not as if Fen and Asher are slouches. They are prime male specimens in their own right. But I can see why Dean got the title Prince of Lust.

A growl diverts Dean's attention from me, as Baron approaches us. He nudges against my side and my hand falls on his head. His presence clears my mind, saving me from whatever fog of desire Dean casts by mere proximity.

"Actually, that is incorrect," Fenris says, joining us. "The council chose me as her first escort, so she'll be coming to my realm."

Dean scowls at Fenris. "You relinquished your rights to being first. I believe your exact words were, 'I'll not be a pawn in this game you are all playing, so sod off and have at her.'"

"Have at her?" I ask, fire burning in my stomach. "I'm not a thing to be had at by any of you! Not by charm," I say, looking at Asher, "or brute force," that was for Fen, "or by a pretty face." I glare at Dean who looks as shocked as Fen did when his wolf snuggled up to me. "You lot have got to stop acting like asses and start behaving like reasonably intelligent men, or I have no idea how I'll fulfill my contract of picking any of you!"

"Well, brother," Asher says to Fen through a smirk, "looks like you have an interesting month ahead of you."

"Wait a second now, I haven't agreed to relinquish my turn," Dean says.

Asher shrugs. "You don't have to. Fen is right. The council chose him and he has the right to reclaim her."

Dean turns to Fen, his face in a scowl. "You're an ass, you know that? There's a reason no one likes you."

Asher laughs as Dean storms out of the room, but Fen's face is all serious. I think his brother's words bothered him. Or maybe he's regretting his 'claim' to me already.

When Dean is out of earshot, Asher calms himself and turns to Fen. "What's going on? This isn't like you."

"It's my job to keep her safe," Fen says.

"And you've done an admirable job," Asher says. "But despite Dean's arrogance and frivolous life, he's as capable as any at fighting. No harm will come to her in his realm."

Fen sighs. "Have you not pieced it together yet? How did the Fae get all the way to Envy's realm to attempt another kidnapping? For that matter, how did the Fae reach the High Castle to assassinate our father? Have you not wondered?"

Asher frowns. "Of course I have but—" his eyes widen. "You're not suggesting what I think you are?"

Fen nods. "The only way is if one of us let them in."

"Fenris, this is a serious accusation. You're suggesting that one of our brothers not only plots to kidnap Arianna, but also helped aid in our father's murder?"

"I'm not suggesting it," Fen says. "I'm saying that's exactly what happened."

"If you're right, then why share your suspicions with me? How do you know I'm not the guilty party?" Asher asks. "For that matter, how do I know it's not you?"

"You know it's not me because I don't want to be High King. And I'm pretty sure it's not you because I trust you more than most. That and you had plenty of time with Arianna in her world and never made a move. You could have made it much easier to kidnap her, but you didn't. So it must be one of the others."

The princes lock eyes with each other. I might as well not be here but for Baron standing by my side. The ramifications of what they are saying slowly sinks into my mind. I have to spend a month with each brother. If one of them is a traitor, then like it or not, I will eventually be kidnapped. And I still don't know why the princes wanted me here to begin with.

"I get why the Fae are after me. Basically you put a target on my head when you decided I, and only I, could decide the fate of this kingdom. But you still haven't explained why you chose me.  Why am I so important to you?"

Asher frowns. "To answer that would require bringing our father back from the dead. He dictated the terms of the ascension in his will. He is the one who negotiated the contract for your mother's soul. And he is the one who demanded you be brought here to marry one of us before a new reign could occur. We don't know why, and it has caused a considerable amount of unrest amongst our brothers, who are not happy their fate--and this kingdom's fate—rests in the hands of a human girl."

"Which is why," Fen says, "we must leave this place. I need to get you to my realm, where you will be safe while we sort this out and figure out who has betrayed us."

Fenris nods to Asher and turns to leave the room. Asher reaches for my hand. "Be safe, Arianna. I will see you again soon."

I follow Fen out, his wolf trailing by my side, and he takes me to the castle's entrance. A chandelier hangs overhead, made of crystal branches and glowing leaves casting shadows against the walls. The doors are tall, wide, made from thick wood and carved with a tree symbol. Fenris opens them and Baron nudges me through.

It's still dark, well past midnight, and the sky is bright with the moons and stars. Once again I'm taken to a boat. "Is this really the fastest mode of transportation you have?"

"Yes. Get in."

It's a lot easier in pants and boots than a dress and heels. The wolf leaps in next to me and lays his large head on my lap as the boat begins to magically move through the water. It's a warm night, which I wasn't expecting. I slip off my black cloak and lay it by my side. "The air smells different here," I say. "More… dry than your realm did."

Fen raises an eyebrow. "You have a tracker's nose. That could be useful. We are about to enter Niam's land. The Prince of Greed, as you might know him. It's a desert land that doesn't provide much in the way of export, but does manage all the commerce in our kingdom."

"So Niam is the tax collector? He must be popular."

Fen chuckles. "You could say that. He's also the banker. All things money, that's Niam."

We travel through his realm, and though it's dark, I can make out the city hub through the waves of sand. It's beautiful in its own way, with a cathedral in the center made of sandstone and a marketplace littered with colorful booths displaying wares. Right now they are closed up, but I can imagine the bustle of it all.

I have so many questions, but I'm exhausted and too tired to ask them right now. Fen is leaning against the pillows with his eyes closed, but I can tell he's as alert as ever. Does this man ever relax? I'm thinking no.

I mindlessly pet Baron, who snuggles in closer to me, his nose nudging my hand for more affection.

"There must be something special about you," Fen says.

"Because of your father's will?"

He opens his eyes to look at me. "No. Because of Baron. He's never taken to anyone but me before. I found him when he was a pup. Raiders from the Outlands had killed his litter, but he survived by some miracle, though he was nearly dead. Our healer said he was touched by a special magic, but that his condition was grave. I nursed him back to health, never leaving his side for nearly two weeks. If he likes you, which clearly he does, there must be something special about you."

"Is that why you intervened with Dean? Because your wolf likes me?"

"I told you why I did that."

"To protect me? I don't think that's the whole truth. Dean has quite the effect on women, doesn't he?"

Fen grunts. "Not just women. But yes. He does. It's part of his demon charms."

"And what are your demon charms?" I ask.

"Killing."

"Huh. That's less charming than you might imagine."

The landscape changes around us as the desert begins to transform into a more tropical, lush setting. "Who lives here?" I ask. There's a sensual quality to this realm that permeates the sights, sounds, colors. From the boat we can see the city's center, and unlike Niam's realm, this place is still lively in the middle of the night. Women walk around in bathing suit tops of gold, silver and purple, with thin, sheer, colorful scarves of fabric draped around their lithe bodies. The men are dressed in less, bulging muscles oiled and glowing under the lights. Music plays, a deep rhythmic beat, and many dance, the movements nearly sexual as the bodies rub against each other. "Wait, let me guess? Lust?"

"Yes. And the source of most of the entertainment in our kingdom. Dean's is the most useless realm if you ask me."

The air is scented with oils and fragrant flowers, and I inhale deeply. "I don't know about that. There's something to be said for touch, love, laughter, entertainment. At least for humans, these things are important. They nourish us, feed our imagination, soothe our souls. Maybe your people aren't so different."

"These are all distractions, for humans or demons, it matters not."

He falls silent, arms crossed over his chest, but I still have questions. "How are such different climates supported so closely together?"

Fen shrugs. "It's the magic of this place. One could ask the same of your world, where you have snow topped mountains not far from beaches. Ours is just more compact."

I'm beginning to doze off, but the wolf nudges me as we enter a new realm.

Fen is sitting up now, more alert than before.

"Is everything okay?"

He nods. "Just being cautious. We're in Ace's realm now."

His realm is full of marvels. Though it's the middle of the night, there are people up and about tinkering with gadgets that look complicated and impressive. They work in shops under giant lamp posts, and the houses look busy too, with smoke drifting from chimneys and windows glowing with yellow light. It's like the whole realm is one big inventor's workshop. Wood, metal, stone… all of it is used in ways I couldn't have imagined. One device is turning water into steam to power another device that cuts wood. "What's his sin?"

"Sloth."

"Seriously? This looks the opposite of slothful."

"He is a bit of a contradiction. Ace is brilliant. He's also lazy, or so he says. I've never actually witnessed said laziness myself. But he claims if you want to know the easiest, fastest and best way to get something done, give it to a lazy person. Thus, he invents things to make life easier for everyone."

There's a loud explosion in the distance and a pillar of fire and smoke rise to the sky. "What was that?"

"A failed invention," Fen says with affection. "Any closer and we'd hear Ace swearing and cursing about now."

"This isn't what I was expecting hell to be like," I admit, leaning back against my pillows.

"It never is. But don't let the pretty baubles fool you, Princess. We are still demons. This is still a dangerous place. Especially for you right now."

My stomach growls and Baron's head pops up, looking around. "I just realized I'm not sure when I last ate."

Fen sits up and adjusts a lever on the side of the boat, steering it in a different direction. "You'll enjoy Zeb's realm."

"Why's that?"

"You'll see soon enough."

When we round a bend it's like we've gone to Greece. A rocky mountain protrudes from the shore and is dotted with houses and pavilions. At the very top is a castle with an open arena near it. It's a loud city, even at this time of night. People everywhere are drinking, laughing, eating, and indulging in carnal delights. The boat pulls into a small dock. Around us are other people in boats, though they don't seem to be traveling so much as relaxing. One couple smokes something that smells heady and musty. They look quite relaxed. Another couple is making out next to a picnic basket and wine. Seems vampires enjoy the night, even when they have the day.

Fen jumps out of the boat and offers me his hand. It's warm, strong, and I don't want to let go once I'm out. He doesn't seem to want to either, because we hold hands for several moments longer than necessary before someone bumps into us on the docks.

"Sorry about that!" The man laughs with his buddies and drunkenly saunters off in search of something else to entertain him.

"I take it Zeb is the Prince of Gluttony?"

"He is. And he provides the bulk of the food for our kingdom. Come, let's get you fed and get home."

I stay close to him as we walk through the town. It's crowded with finely dressed people who all look ready to party. Fen seems to know where he's going and leads us through winding streets up the mountain until my legs burn and I'm hungrier than ever. Finally we reach a tavern that doesn't look like much, but the smells emanating from it make my stomach rumble again.

When Fen walks in, the noise and chatter of the place dies down and they all turn to stare. It seems the Prince of War is recognizable on sight.

A woman with an apron tied around her waist approaches Fen, her painted lips bright and her eyes dropping to admire all aspects of Fenris. "My Prince, it's so good to see you. How might I serve you this evening?"

The woman doesn't even look at me. I might as well be invisible. She is ogling the prince so blatantly I'm almost embarrassed for her, except he doesn't seem to notice. "A table for two, Dora. And please let my brother know we're here."

She nods, golden ringlets of hair falling into her tan face. "Two?"

Fen puts an arm around my shoulder. The weight of it throws me off balance and I stiffen my back to remain standing straight. Baron stands between our legs, seeming to enjoy our proximity.

Dora frowns. "Of course. Let me find you a table."

"A private table," Fen says.

"A private table, then."

She escorts us to the back of the tavern, and as we disappear into shadows, the laughter and banter starts up again. We end up at a booth removed from the main dining area, tucked into a corner with candlelight and nothing else. I slide into one side and Fen sits opposite me. Baron crawls under the table and lies on top of our feet.

"Do they have menus or…?" I have no idea how demon taverns work.

"Not usually. I'll order for you." I'm about to protest, but he holds up a hand. "If that's okay?"

"Uh, sure. Nothing too spicy, though."

Dora comes back with large mugs of red liquid and places one before each of us. "Do you know what you'd like?" she asks.

"Two falafels, a greek salad, pita bread with hummus, and a chicken breast for Baron."

I raise an eyebrow at him. "So it doesn't just look like Greece then? Is this a replica or something?"

"Many of our foods and cultures are inspired by your world, mixed with new elements that are unique to us. It's technology we can't copy." He sips his red drink. "My people come from another world entirely, but we were cast out and banished here. We've worked hard to create a new kind of world, one where we are as free as we can be under the constraints of the curses placed on us."

"Is everyone here a vampire?" I ask.

"No. But many are. Some might look more monstrous because of their particular charms."

"Like the dungeon demon," I say.

Fen smiles. "Like him, yes. There's also a heavy population of Fae here. Many are Shades… mixed bloods, the byproduct of a Fae and vampire union."

"Aren't Shades like spirits or ghosts?"

He shrugs. "Mixed bloods have some freedoms, because of their vampire blood, but they are still under many restrictions, particularly in regards to their use of magic. They have little rights. They live in hell. What are they if not Shades?" He drinks again. "Then there are full Fae, Outlanders who are now slaves to their vampire masters here."

"That's awful."

"It's better than the alternative," he says, taking a drink from his glass.

"What's the alternative?"

"Execution."

I sniff at my drink. It's sweet, so I take a sip. A cascade of flavors washes over my tongue, first sweet, then a bit tangy, then sour. The aftertaste returns to sweet, and I feel an instant lightness in my body as my blood warms. "Is this alcoholic?"

He grins. "Not the way you're thinking, but it will have a similar effect. Drink cautiously."

It's so good I can't help but take another drink.

Dora brings us food and it looks as good as it smells. I dig in, eating voraciously. I didn't realize how hungry I truly was until now.

"It seems we've been starving you," Fen says.

"I just haven't eaten much since my mom got sick," I say between bites. "It seems my appetite is coming back with a vengeance."

I eat everything on my plate and then finish Fen's falafel, before I'm finally satisfied. Dora brings us a plate of little balls of deep fried pastry dough soaked in honey syrup and cinnamon.

"These are loukoumades," Fen says, picking one up and popping it into his mouth. "You'll like them."

He's right. The sweet, flaky treats practically melt in my mouth and I devour them quickly.

As I lick the last of the honey off my fingers, a man approaches us, and Fen rises to greet him. Baron shifts at our feet, a very low growl in his throat.

"Fen! It's good to see you. And you brought the girl. Oh my!"

I stand, hoping I got all the honey off my fingers and shake hands with the man. He's not as tall as Fen, but he's very handsome in a softer sort of way. He has large brown eyes, a shock of dark hair that flops about on his head, and a kind face. "It's nice to meet you," I say.

"And you," he says, covering my hand with his as we shake. "You're prettier than Asher indicated. I think he was trying to keep you to himself."

I snort. "I'm pretty sure I annoy him too much for that."

Zeb sits with us, turning to Fen. "I have information on the matter we discussed." His voice is quiet, and he glances at me.

"You may speak in front of her," say Fen. "After all, she will be Queen one day."

Zeb nods. "I had my alchemists look into the poison found in father's room. It's, well… it's not a poison at all." Fen's eyes go wide, and Zeb continues, his voice growing more animated. "Someone weakened our father, then killed him."

"There were no wounds," says Fen.

"None that we noticed. If we reexamine the body, perhaps we'll find a small gash. Maybe they used a small needle-like weapon or—"

"You would have our father dug out from his grave?"

Zeb shrugs. "I'd consider it. Ace is keen on the idea. Don't you want to figure out what happened?"

Fen looks down and sighs. "We'll have to take this before the others."

"Ace and I are already drafting the proposal," says Zeb, smiling. He clasps his brother on the shoulder.

Fen shrugs him off and signals his wolf to stand by him. "We have to go, Zeb. But the meal was great, as usual."

Zeb frowns. "So soon? I'd hoped you'd stay for drinks. Maybe more dessert later."

Fen shakes his head. "I need to get her settled into my place so I can get back to work."

"Right. We will find out who did this, you know. They will pay."

Fen nods, and we leave the tavern. I don't ask the question that's burning in me until we are back on the boat. "Why didn't you tell him you suspected one of the princes?"

The boat begins to glide through the water and Fen stays alert and focused until we are away from the city. It seems the canals have different paths depending on where you are going: direct paths to move through the realms quickly, and side paths to travel within them. We are back on a direct path when Fenris finally answers me. "Until I know who to trust, I have to be careful. You should too. I plan to find out the truth before our month is over, so you don't end up in the wrong hands, but if I fail, don't tell any of them what you've learned. It will only put you at greater risk."

The red drink we had is making me sleepy, and despite my best efforts to stay awake, sleep claims me. When I wake, we are slowing, having already arrived in Fen's realm. The sun is rising over the mountains, a large golden globe in the sky that doesn't seem to do much to warm the land we are now in. I hadn't noticed that the further we traveled the colder it got, but now I'm shivering and Fen hands me my cloak.

"Is it always this cold here?"

"No, we have four seasons. This is the beginning of winter. We haven't seen cold yet. But it's coming."

"So… is that when hell freezes over?"

The look he gives me is funnier than my lame joke and I can't help but laugh. He remains stoic, and I nudge him with my foot. "Oh come on, you know that was funny. Lighten up."

"I am the Prince of War. I do not 'lighten up'."

We climb out of the boat and hike up a winding stone path carved with glyphs reminiscent of the mark on Fen's wrist. Dark trees loom over us, and something shuffles in the shrubbery. A squirrel runs out from the darkness, cheeks stuffed with food. I say hello to the critter at my feet. Fen grumbles something about "squirrels" and "just meat". Baron licks his lips. In a second, the squirrel disappears back into a bush, leaving behind tiny prints in the snow. I chuckle, a slither of early morning sun hitting my face, and we move on. The forest begins to part, letting more light flow onto the steps. We reach a tall wooden gate, one sentinel on either side, clad in silver steel, wielding spears, their faces covered in white fur hoods. Large trees arch over the entrance to form a shaded path beyond the walls. When Baron walks up and scratches at the gate, the guards open for us.

The city beyond the walls is just waking up. There's a scent of freshly baked pastries and breads stirring on the air, and the sounds of stores opening and people greeting one another.

The castle is in the distance, beyond the city, a sharp and jagged extension of the mountains that surround the area, forming three of the fortress's four walls.

Waterfalls cascade down the sides of the peaks, pooling into ponds and lakes that line the outskirts. I hear them before I see them, feeling their deep rumbling. They give the air a clean, fresh scent.

We walk under the trees that stretch over us, and as the sun hits the bark, something catches my eye. I walk toward one of the trees and run my hand over it. The trunk of the tree, of all the trees, is embedded with crystals of all shapes and colors. My hand lands on one particular crystal that pulses with its own light, like a bursting star set aflame in opaque quartz.

"We call that a Shooting Star Crystal," Fen says from behind me. "Many of these crystals can also be found in your world, but that is one unique to ours. It's said that it brings great power to those who know how to wield it, and can bring out great power within one for whom it is trapped. Some say it's also the knowing eye of truth, seeing through falsehoods."

"It's lovely. Do you believe it's that powerful?"

He shrugs. "I don't fancy myself an expert on such things."

"Fen here is more a steel and brawn kind of guy," a woman's voice says.

I turn and find a tall, slim, graceful woman link arms with Fen. She is stunning, with long blue hair, striking silver eyes that are shaped almost like a cat's, and… pointed ears. She wipes a dirty hand on her leather apron and holds it out to me. "I'm Kayla, this oaf's sister. You must be Arianna."

His sister? I shake her hand, surprised at the strength in someone so petite. "Yes. It's nice to meet you."

I try not to stare at her ears, but clearly I'm failing, because she laughs and touches the tip of one. "I'm half Fae," she says, by way of explanation. "Our father had a dalliance with one of his slaves. My mother."

I nod, pretending to understand.

Fen puts his arm around his sister and grins. "Kayla here is the best blacksmith in the kingdom, and our official royal blacksmith at Stonehill," Fen explains. "Swords, knives, even jewelry. She's the best in all the realms."

"How fascinating," I say. "I'd love to see what you do sometime, if you don't mind."

"Not at all." Kayla tugs on her long blue braid, her eyes crinkling in genuine happiness. She points to a building not too far from us, where black smoke rises from it. "That's my forge. Stop by anytime."

Kayla turns to Fen, her smile slipping. "I came to let you know we need a larger supply of steel if you want so many swords prepared so quickly. I'm running low."

Fen nods. "I'll see to it you have what you need."

"Good enough." Kayla turns away from us, waving as she does, and heads back to her forge.

"So if you’re a prince, does that make her—"

"A princess? No. She's a bastard. A Shade. Everything she has in this life she's had to work for." His eyes grow dark. "My father… my father did not treat her kindly."

I take his arm, hoping to cheer him. "Show me more of your city."

Fen walks us through the mountain paths. Many of the shop owners and people greet us, but Fen is so lost in his own thoughts, he ignores them. I frown, seeing how they turn away from him, disappointed. Fen needs to work on his people skills.

We arrive at a drawbridge that crosses a stream of water made by the many waterfalls, and we cross over, into the entrance of the castle. Up close it's even more beautiful, in a fierce, defiant kind of way.

"This is Stonehill Castle," Fen says, an edge of pride in his voice. "Your home for the next month."

I nod, staring at the castle, then I turn to him, a question on my mind from his talk with Kayla. "Fen, why do you need so many swords so quickly?"

"Because war is coming, and it's my job to be ready."