CHAPTER EIGHT
He’d been in the cell for about eight hours now, with nothing but a platter of food and a bowl of water to sustain him. Of course, that wasn’t counting the time he’d spent at the fairy party, where he began to feel anger seep in his bones, to be followed by what had to be the most humiliating experience of his life. But all the humiliation soon died down as pain took its place, and Isaac felt himself have an out of body experience just to try to get through it.
He couldn’t even lift his hand, and he was pretty sure he’d broken too many bones to count. Still, he tried to sit up and lean against the wall, gritting his teeth as his ribs protested at the movement. But his pride screamed that he wouldn’t be caught dead just lying there helpless.
The platter of food was within his reach, and he remembered how one wasn’t supposed to take food from any of the fairy courts unless they were fruit, because doing so would only make him more susceptible to fairy charms. The same applied to fairies—whenever they took in food from Isaac’s world, they grew weaker and more distanced from their powers.
He eyed the foreign selection critically, realizing the King probably had no plans to feed him well considering there was not a single piece of fruit. He barked out a laugh, but the laugh turned into a groan as pain sliced his abdomen. He stared hatefully at the icicles on his wrists and ankles that prevented him from shifting and slowing down his healing process.
These creatures were going to pay.
An image of Roxie’s guilty expression entered his mind, and anger surged powerfully and gripped him like a vise.
She was going to pay, too.
An hour later, he felt the pain in his body increase clearly not getting better, and an alarm ran through his mind as he wondered how much longer he could take it. He needed to get out of there, and he needed to do it fast. But how?
He was so preoccupied with his own thoughts that it took him a while to sense someone else beside him in the prison compound. The moment he did, he felt his body tense as he looked towards the prison bars at the front made of icicles. A shadow came, then a foot. Isaac let his eyes linger on the figure that stepped into sight—ethereal skin, knockout body, golden hair that fell down her waist. Up, a face that could stop and sink a thousand ships appeared, along with purple eyes that regarded him thoughtfully.
Pine K'Lashtama was as beautiful as ever, and he felt nothing but contempt.
“Oh, my. This certainly wasn’t what I was expecting.” Her smoky voice filled the air, melodious and seductive at the same time. She eyed him from head to toe, taking note of his wounds in what could only be amusement. It was the exact reaction he expected from the Autumn Queen, who loved nothing more than seeing those who rejected her in misery.
Him, among other things.
“And here I thought you would never return to our world again,” she murmured. “What, pray tell, have you been doing dabbling with the formidable Winter King?”
So she didn’t know yet. Unable to help himself, Isaac bared his teeth. “I’ll kill your daughter in her sleep. Mark my words.”
Pine wasn’t stupid, and she managed to take all but a few seconds to figure it out. The moment she did, she smiled at him so beautifully that repulsion filled him. It was her fairy charm at full blown capacity, and he was one of the few who never really got caught up in it.
But he didn’t let on now as she kept talking.
“So, my daughter has actually traveled to your world to fulfill Asha’s wishes and set me free? That’s pretty impressive. I wouldn’t have expected it…” she trailed off. Watched him again. “And you agreed?”
He remained silent. Her eyes lit up.
“Oh, so she promised you she’d help you get the curse lifted off if you rescued me successfully.” She laughed—a high, tinkling sound that filled the air with magic. It flowed from her so freely, and he had no doubt that meant whatever restrictions she had had already been lifted by the Winter King, and she was only here to visit him. “Oh, this is very inconvenient. Now she got herself tangled up with Asha, and he’s not going to let her go so easily. Or you.”
“Remove the curse, and I’ll get myself out,” Isaac clipped out.
She laughed again. “Did my daughter really promise I would?”
“Yes.” And fairies couldn’t break free from their promises.
As if she read his mind, she shook her head. “You’ve been duped, Isaac. You see, my daughter isn’t who she’s been telling you she is.”
What?
“I’ve made the mistake of sleeping with a human in the past—hence, her creation. So, she’s half-human, therefore only half useful. And as you know, only real fairies have to keep their promises.”
The rage came back two-fold as he realized exactly how deeply he’d been betrayed. Pine kept watching him for a reaction, and he knew she was going to rejoice if she saw any.
So he gave her nothing, keeping his expression carefully blank and wrapping a tight fist around his emotions. Pain kept sizzling, and he refused to look down and check on his body while she watched on.
A thoughtful look flashed on her face. “You know what? Since my daughter failed you, I will make you one promise.” She stepped closer, eyeing him almost hungrily. “Bring my daughter back to Autumn Court, and I’ll remove your curse. That’s my promise.”
Go to hell, his mind screamed.
“Now I have to leave,” she sighed. “Court duties and all. But remember my bargain.”
Then she was gone, leaving him baffled and trying to absorb her words.
Her magic still filled the air, and he almost felt suffocated at the power of it. It wasn’t as strong as the Winter King’s, but it was still there. When it left in gradual seconds, the pain in his body increased, and he realized that it was keeping the severity of the pain at bay.
He didn’t know Pine’s game. He could only remember the mistake he made ten years ago when they had met as he accidentally ventured into her world. She had offered herself to him freely, enchanted by his newness. Having found her magic overpowering, he had rejected her, not even thinking of softening the blow.
And she hadn’t taken it kindly.
His sister was the only person who knew about it, and even she thought he’d actually had sex with Pine and gotten in trouble because of it—he hadn’t bothered correcting her. The thought of his sister had a surge of emotion coming out again, trailing off as he remembered the clan he left behind for his own selfishness.
He needed to get out of there, no matter what.
As Pine’s magic disappeared completely, the pain doubled. Then, it tripled. Isaac felt his thoughts slowly leave his mind, along with his consciousness. He tried to keep sitting up, but his eyes had become so, so heavy…
Darkness filled him. Darkness encumbered him.
*****
“Isaac, wake up.”
The voice filled his mind, soft and cajoling. He blinked a couple of times to adjust to the darkness. Slowly, he began to realize that he could only see ice.
Everything that had happened came back to mind in a rush—and so did the familiar voice. In an instant, Isaac was up and ready to attack the one person he currently hated the most.
Roxie looked back at him expectantly, her hands held up, as if she was expecting it. She winced as he leaped, with only the icicle chains preventing him from getting at her throat.
“I’m sorry,” she blurted out. “I’m sorry for everything.”
“You’d better get far, far away, or I will fucking kill—”
“Don’t kill me, and I’ll get you out of here in time,” she said in a rush, her voice dropping low. “It was a mistake to bring you here. I didn’t know the Winter King wanted you as his plaything.”
“As opposed to being his prisoner?” he snapped.
“Quiet,” she hissed. She looked around as if trying to sense movement. He automatically did the same, straightening up.
And that was when he realized something new.
He was feeling no pain. At all.
Shocked, Isaac looked down. His wounds were gone, leaving only faint scars behind. He inwardly cursed himself for being slow to realize it.
Then his head snapped up.
“You healed me,” he accused.
“And I’ve used all my magic for it,” she shot back. “If you kill me now, it would be all for nothing.”
“You’re the cause of all this.”
“And I’m trying to make amends. I need to get back. Asha wants to have dinner. I’ll come back for you after.”
“Why?”
A determined expression crossed her face. “Because I’m getting us both out of here. We’re returning to Autumn Court. Then I’m returning you to your home.”
“And why should I believe you this time?”
“I’m the only choice you have,” she said simply. Silence passed, then, “I really am sorry.”
She stood up, reopening the icicle bars and slipping out. He didn’t say another word as he looked at her retreating back, watching the white robe flow all around her tiny body. He would be stupid to trust her ever again, knowing what she’d done. But she was right.
She was his only choice left.