King of Always: A Fae Romance (Black Blood Fae Book 2) by Juno Heart

Author:Juno Heart [Heart, Juno]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-23T18:30:00+00:00

14

THE BLACK TOWER

Raff

Day and night the poison whispers vile and hateful lies.

The girl is here, it tells me now. Look and see; your fire queen has finally come.

More lies.

Regardless, I crack my eyes open, flinching against a flare of bright light near the door. Sitting in the corner of this dismal cell, knees drawn to my chest, I cannot tell if it is night or day. Shrouded in darkness, to me, it’s all the same.

The poison has sent another vision to taunt me, but I am still desperate to see it. Slowly, I lift my head, temples pounding. And there she is, her sunshine hair shining in the dark. Eyes twin blue flames. A creature of warmth and light materializing from the shadows.

Save yourself and look away, the poison says. She can never be yours. Look away while you are still able to.

“Raff?” says the ethereal specter, moving closer.

Interesting. The phantoms don’t normally speak. Today, the poison seeks to torture me severely.

“Isla,” I say, pretending for a moment that she is real. “You came. The poison told me you would.”

The vision kneels beside me. “Your voice sounds terrible.”

When she touches my face, I draw a sharp breath, my throat aching. “You’re real.”

“Of course I am. When did they last give you something to drink?”

I shake my head, my memories muddled. How long have I been here? Days? A moon’s turn?

“I cannot remember.” My throat burns. My eyes too. Not enough water. No warmth. No light. Chains clink as I reach and stroke her cheek, the skin so soft. So fragile. “You are well?” I ask. “They have not hurt you?”

“I’m fine. Compared to your situation, the Merits are treating me like royalty, which is ironic since you’re the prince, and I’m the pauper.”

Relief courses through my blood, quieting the vile whispers. “I have considered our situation from all angles, and I cannot fathom how to get you out of this land… These chains of iron, the curse. I am no longer the warrior I was. I wished to rescue you, Isla, but instead, I have failed you.”

“No. I failed you. And Lara and Ever. I should never have wandered into the forest by myself. It was so stupid.”

My blood stirs. You are filth, says the darkness in my veins. No longer worthy to look upon the girl with your inferior gaze—you are a Prince of Five no more.

At last, the poison speaks the truth. I am done for. Finished.

But I cannot help wondering what Isla sees before her. A broken warrior, ruined and trapped, unable to stop the shadows consuming him. Certainly not a worthy mate.

Kill her, then, says the poison. Wrap her neck with chains. Pull them tight. Take her last breath, make it your own. End her now.

“Be gone!” My head falls back against the cold wall. “I will not listen to you.”

“What?” She grips my chin and tries to turn my head. “I’ve hardly said a thing! And I’m not going anywhere yet.”

“I did not mean you. The curse lives and breathes inside of me.

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