The Sidekick Chronicles: Sixx and the Fae Page 15

  “Where is she?”

  “I left her and Ana for a moment to attend Erebus. Ana is on the dance floor, but Sixx is not where I left her.”

  My stomach pitted, and my mind raced through a dozen scenarios, each wilder than the last. My gaze flickered over the room, glancing across each fae as if they didn’t exist, but did not catch a glimpse of her sweet face or the rich maroon dress that should have made her easy to spot. My frustration mounted when I noticed one of the side doors stood wide open.

  “Timur.” I jerked my chin at the opened door, and he gave me a look that echoed my concern. We both raced toward the door where Sixx’s scent bloomed, a mixture of unease and fear. A red haze enveloped my mind with the teasing memory of a similar scent at the Nova warehouse.

  Who would have dared to follow her from the human world to here? It didn’t matter. Peeling my lips back, I released a snarl as Timur and I stepped out into the courtyard. My mate’s scent filled the area, mingled with a plethora of other scents, none of which smelled familiar.

  Then again, there was that slight whisper of the familiar scent again.

  “Where is she, Timur?”

  “Olezka, we should grab Erebus,” he said carefully.

  My gaze shot to my brother. The look in his eyes told me he recognized a scent. “Tell me.”

  “You need to remain calm.”

  “Not when it concerns Sixx.” She was my life, the only reason I continued to strive for a better future and forget my past. She brought me peace.

  “I’ve been patrolling the borders recently and stumbled across a faction of Light fae who have been edging closer to the border. Olezka, we need to get Erebus.”

  My roar echoed through the courtyard as my body exploded into flames, my hellhound form blazing to the surface.

  Chapter 21

  There was no feeling quite as horrifying as wanting to scream, run, or lash out against your attacker but being unable to do so because your body was being used against you. While I raged inside my mind, I walked complacently beside the fae I’d come to loathe. My mouth felt wired shut and my muscles had no will of their own. Even more frustrating was the tear that slipped down my cheek, blazing a liquid trail I couldn’t even wipe away. Key walked ahead of me without fearing I would run off, secure in the knowledge that his magic kept me trapped in a prison of his making.

  Key wore a dark cloak wrapped around his body, the hood hiding his bright white hair and half of his face. As soon as we left the palace grounds, he stripped off my ballgown and clothed me in a plain black shift that barely brushed mid-thigh. The frigid night air bit at my exposed skin. Chilled to the bone, I couldn’t even shiver or cross my arms over my chest to conserve warmth.

  My memories were unclear, but I remembered Key pulling me outside the ballroom an instant before my head practically split open from pain. I blacked out, and when I regained consciousness, I was following Key. When I tried to speak, I realized I couldn’t. When I tried to stop walking, my feet kept moving. Key didn’t even stop to explain. He just moved along, pushing our pace faster and faster away from the palace and from safety.

  “Quickly, human; we are nearing the border.”

  As if that meant anything to me. Our punishing pace continued as night faded into morning and the black sky turned dusky purple, lightening to a watery blue. Key waved a hand in front of us, and a window to a different place materialized before us, bursting with glittering skies and vibrant colors. The Kingdom we were in felt dark, full of moody blues and grays, nothing like the vivacious colors exploding inside the window he created. As enchanting as it looked, everything within me said Don’t go through.

  “Move,” Key snapped, looking past my shoulder and peering into the forest along the path we’d just walked. I wanted more than anything to look behind us. Was there a friendly face just inches away? Or perhaps close enough where, if I could break his spell, I could make my way to them? Was there anything to provide hope?

  But the magic trapping me was impossible to break, and to diminish my hope further, Key gripped my arm and pulled me through the opening. Sun kissed my cheeks, but so did the touch of a blade.

  “State your business here, Dark fae, before we kill you,” an angry voice commanded.

  “I request an audience with the King.”

  ****

  Swords poked in the small of my back as we were marched down a winding trail that led to a gleaming palace perched on a hill, overlooking verdant forests and lush gardens. I barely had a moment to admire it before we were prodded along quickly to the throne room. As enraptured as I was from Key’s spell, I didn’t have the liberty to look at anything but what stood before me. As such, I noticed the walls of the throne room were made from the same opalescent walls that beckoned from the outside of the palace. Unlike the Dark fae Court where dozens of High fae cloistered around the King, only a few fae were present when we arrived in the Light fae Court. A staggering contrast to the swarthy complexions of their rivals, these fae boasted flowing hair that ranged from chestnut blonde to the brightest gold. Standing in two lines at the bottom of the throne, they wore outfits that were even more revealing than those of the Dark fae Court.

  Ahead of us, a gaudy-as-heck, ornate throne sat on a raised dais at the top of five wide steps. Where the Dark Court’s throne was understated and blended into its surroundings, this throne stood out, demanding a presence of its own. It towered and imposed. The male who sat upon it had the same bright blonde hair as Ana, echoed in his piercing eyes that burned like the sun, a blistering, bright yellow color. He was regal and otherworldly like something out of a fairy tale. Under different circumstances, the thought would make me laugh, but right now, all I felt was fear. This fae was far from some Prince Charming or a knight in shining armor.

  Erebus emanated a bewildering amount of power, but there was a sense of familiarity with him that made it easier to see him as just him. The King in front of me was very different. His power pressed against my skin, suffocating the bit of freedom I had left. Worst of all, there were no allies here. No safety nets.

  No Olezka.

  No Ana.

  My attention was quickly drawn away when Key broke the silence.

  “My Lord.” Key bowed respectfully while I remained frozen under his command. Even if I weren’t magically tied, fear probably would have rooted me in place. My heart hammered in my throat as I wondered, What was this crazy fae up to?

  “What are you doing here, Dark fae?” the King asked, indifference lacing his voice.

  “My Lord, I have come to you, seeking shelter. The false King is beginning to make his march yet again.”

  The Light King looked bored by the desperation in Key’s tone. The white-haired fae wasn’t deterred, though; instead, he took a brazen step forward.

  “My Lord, I beg you to hear me out.”

  “I have not yet killed you or sent you back to your traitorous lands, though I urge you to speak quickly before I change my mind.”

  Key reached up and tugged his hood down, revealing his white hair. The King didn’t flinch, but several in the room didn’t hide their shock as well. A few startled gasps filtered through the room. I noticed one fae woman from the corner of my eye take a measured step back.

  “Kesital, are you not the cousin to the Dark fae King?”

  “The false King, my Lord,” Key corrected vehemently, “and yes. It is why I come to you today. I seek sanctuary.”

  A few of the fae tittered, their tinkling laughter ringing like delicate windchimes rustled by an early spring breeze. I wished I could join them because even I had to admit this was insane. I didn’t understand why I was there, in the first place. So far, no one had paid any attention to the human standing in only a slip, even though it covered more than what some of the others revealed. Feeling utterly exposed, I wished I could cross my arms over my chest.

  “You seek sanctuary in your sworn enemy's land?” the King asked, ridicule lacing his words.

  “Yes, my L
ord. I believe my life will be in even more danger within my lands. The false King has brought back his favored assassin.”

  A flash of anger crossed over the Light King’s face as his power blossomed and became stifling, sucking the light from the room. “When?”

  “Recently, my Lord. I believe he means to finish what he started all those decades ago.”

  The King’s fists tightened on the golden arms of his throne. “And you bring me this information in exchange for your safety?”

  “No, my Lord. I bring you this human.” Key gestured to me. If I could have stiffened, I would have. Thankfully, the King didn’t even glance in my direction; otherwise, I would have shrunk under his powerful gaze.

  “You insult me as well?”

  Key bowed low.

  “No, milord. If we may speak in private concerning the human, I will tell you why I brought her to you.”

  The King leaned back with disgust curling his top lip. “So you may win your cousin’s favor by attempting to kill me? I think not, Kesital. I know of your powers of Lure.”

  “The human was only being used as bait,” Key offered even as my confusion grew.

  “A useless endeavor since my fascination with the beasts ended some time ago,” the King answered mockingly.

  “Yes, about twenty-six years ago, to be exact,” Key said a little more bravely this time.

  The King didn’t twitch a muscle, but the air in the room seemed to thin. If I had the power to move, I would be gasping. As it was, my lungs spasmed, and a choked noise came from me. Key looked like he was struggling as well, but he refused to give ground and stood tall.

  A dangerous glint shone in the Light fae King’s eye. “I suggest you use what remaining air you have to speak quickly.”

  Key’s rage flashed over his features, but he spoke quickly. “This human is close to the halfling that is rumored to be your daughter.”

  “My daughter is dead. Ifrinn killed her when she was just a babe.”

  Ifrinn is what Tess called Olezka! My head spun as my stomach dropped to my feet.

  “No, my Lord. The false King wanted you to believe that, but he planned to use her to cement his title and gain your throne once she came of age.”

  No! None of this is true. Is it?

  Erebus seemed to care about Ana, but even if that weren’t the case, Olezka would have told me. He would have. I wanted to speak in defense of both my mate and Erebus, infuriated about his claim that Olezka had killed a child. If Ana truly was this lost princess, it proved that. Besides that, I knew Olezka would never harm a child. Never.

  “And what makes you certain this halfling is my child?” The King tried to keep an air of indifference, but I could tell his curiosity was piqued.

  “My Lord, she bears your coloring, as well as your… unique powers.”

  “You say this human knows my daughter?”

  “I’m afraid, my Lord, that the false King has been using her to convince your daughter to ally with him.”

  “I would have you release the human so I may ask her these questions myself.”

  “I cannot, my Lord. She has been spouting lies since I freed her from her prison. The idiot creature believes that the false King’s assassin is in love with her.”

  Wait, how does he know about me and Olezka, and where did he get the ridiculous idea that Ana is this long-lost princess?

  All of it became more preposterous by the minute. He was right about one thing, though. If he released his spell, I would tell this Light King that Key only spoke lies.

  “Stupid creatures,” the Light King agreed with an airy wave of his hand.

  Rude.

  “I will consider what you have said. However, because the night is ending, I will allow you to remain until I make my decision. Your human will remain in our dungeon.”

  “Of course, my lord.”

  “Release her from the spell. You are in my kingdom now. If I want to question her, I will do so. And I will do so without your binding spell on her.”

  Key’s cheek ticked as if he disliked the idea of freeing me from his spell. Even if he freed me, I didn’t know that I could find the courage to speak up. What information could I possibly offer this imposing king? I didn’t know Erebus well enough to recognize if he was using Ana or not, but I knew Olezka. He would never harm a baby. Besides that, if he had been sent to kill Ana, the suspected fae halfling princess, he would have told me. He would have told us about her being a lost princess.

  Right?

  “Of course, my Lord.”

  I sighed the moment the spell broke, giving me an inch of freedom and alleviating the bound-up tension from my limbs. Hopefully, it would be enough to save my mate, my sister, and an entire Kingdom.

  Chapter 22

  Picture a dungeon in your mind. Imagine the scents, sounds, and sights. That was exactly where I was placed. We descended an impossibly long, narrow, winding staircase into a subterranean cavern filled with noxious smells and stagnant water that dripped from the dark rock walls that seemed to close in on me with each step I took. The bars on the cells were dull, thick metal. As I was pulled along a row of cells by a sturdy guard who grabbed my arm hard enough to leave bruises, I noticed several other unfortunate souls shoved inside small, dank cells with nothing but a bed of moldy straw and a wooden bucket to use as a bathroom. Even though I should have been struggling to escape his hold, I felt lost. Terrified.

  I was the sidekick. I waited on the sidelines and gathered the information the ones with the muscle needed to get through their mission with as few incidents as possible. Yet, there I was, in the thick of danger.

  Nope. Don’t care for this at all. As much as I tried to hold it back, I felt my lungs seizing as panic riddled my mind. The guard opened a cell door and flung me inside. I barely had enough time to throw my hands out to break my fall. The door shut soundly behind me. My neck tingled with the awareness of someone in the cell with me.

  “He must like you,” a raspy voice laughed. I pulled my hands away and revealed that they were bloodied from my fall. “Or not.”

  “Don’t think he particularly cares what happens to a human,” I muttered, smothering my fear.

  “Oh, he doesn’t like you at all, then.”

  I turned to face the other occupant of the cell. He was so dirty that it was hard to tell what color his greasy, matted hair was supposed to be. His cheeks were hollow, and tattoos spiraled from shoulder to wrist on both arms. His frame was broad, but he was all skin and bones. There was a thick, heavy collar fastened around his neck and connected to a short chain attached to the rock wall, also heavy duty. When he lifted his chin to stare at me, I faltered and took a step back.

  His eyes were a vibrant shade of green with a black rim, his pupils slitted like a snake’s. After my experience with Spider, I didn’t want to take the chance this male could actually be part snake with serpentine qualities. Backing away a couple more steps, I maintained eye contact as he watched me with those unnerving eyes.

  “Are you a High fae?” I asked.

  If he weren’t so dirty, he would definitely be beautiful enough if not more so. Even with all of the grime on him, his features were delicate and handsome. The layers of dirt couldn’t disguise his long lashes, strong jawline, olive skin tone, and symmetrical features that were pleasing to look at.

  He barked a loud laugh at my question. Leaning his head back against the wall, he closed his eyes before answering.

  “No, human, I am not High fae. They wouldn’t treat me so well if I were.” Sarcasm painted his voice as he waved his hand around at our surroundings.

  I moved to the opposite wall and sat down. Exhaustion weighed on me, and even though all I wanted to do was sleep, my cellmate made me nervous.

  “My name is Sixx.” Hopefully, he would offer his name, and we would be on more friendly terms. You know, in case he decided he didn’t want a roommate.

  “That’s a unique name even for a human. Were you the sixth child?” he asked
with a smirk. Though his eyes remained closed and he seemed relaxed, I didn’t trust him or his relaxed state. My muscles were tensed, ready for him to attack at any minute.

  “Nope.”

  He opened one eye and stared at me. “Don’t care to elaborate?”

  “Why would I?” I asked, suspicious. Though dirty and malnourished, he was a stunning creature. I didn’t know what he’d done to get thrown in here, just as he didn’t know my story. It was better to keep my mouth shut.

  “Why did you give me your name?” He opened his eyes and stretched his neck from side to side, rattling the chains that bound him.

  I swallowed and began to re-think my situation. He was chained to the wall. Who the hell did they put me in here with? What did he do that was so bad that powerful fae felt the need to chain him by the neck? As much bravado as I tried to pretend I had, I was locked up with a dangerous male in a cell so small that if I stretched my legs out, he could touch me. With that thought firmly planted in my head, I pulled my legs closer to my body and wrapped my arms around them to keep them in place.

  “Human?” he prompted.

  I pressed my forehead against my knees. “It’s stupid,” I mumbled.

  My cellmate sighed heavily, and I heard his chains clang together. Remembering the chain had slack that would allow him to move closer if he wanted, my stomach clenched in renewed fear.

  I felt a whisper-soft brush of fingertips on my exposed legs, followed by a heady warmth. I tightened my legs together, trying to stifle the desire that pooled low in my gut. Where the heck did that come from? I glanced up to see the creature’s eyes glowing a luminescent shade of mossy green.

  “You’d taste divine, little human. Why don’t you come closer?”

  His voice took on a new tone, one that was hard to resist, but just as quickly, Olezka’s face flashed in my mind. This is wrong.

  “Pl-please, stop.”

  “Answer the question. Why did you give me your name?”

  I met his eyes unflinchingly. They were hard like granite, compressed as tightly as the full lips clenched in a thin line. Mistrust and anger radiated from him.