Dark Fae Freed (Broken Court Book 2) Read online

  She beamed, wrinkles forming around her unnatural lavender eyes. “I’m going to take that as a compliment. Now, let’s get back to it. Where did my mate leave off? I’m sure I can finish it from there and make this less painful.”

  I had so much happening in my life that I didn’t agree with. So much that I thought I needed to be leery of that I decided in that instant, regardless of her past choices, Olida and I were going to be friends. She emitted a powerful aura even I couldn’t ignore. There was something soothing about her. After the shitshow that had been happening, I wasn’t going to deny that I needed more of a calming effect in my life.

  Finn set his now-empty cup down. “He just finished telling us how he did nothing to save my sister when he knew what was happening.”

  Olida glared at Mosi and waved her hand. “You’re fired from storytelling. Finn, your sister is going to be okay. Don’t you worry about that. She is strong. I have seen it myself. Now, what is really important here, is that all of those past choices made it possible for the two of you to find each other. Can we accept that and move on?”

  I shrugged and glanced at Finn. I wasn’t the one upset. Olida was right. Ivy was stronger than I think Finn had ever given her credit for, and she’d acknowledged her fate long before I showed up. Finn just had to accept it as well.

  One of the ways I’d been able to move on so easily after I’d been banished from the fae realm was because I took the worst of those memories and moved on. I didn’t dwell on them. Tucking them far into the recesses of my mind helped me to become the person I was today.

  Although, I wasn’t completely oblivious to how not dealing with those things was biting me in the ass now.

  When neither of us responded to Olida’s question, she repeated herself. “We will move on, correct?”

  “Sure. Whatever,” Finn muttered.

  Or he could just pretend to agree and stew about it by himself. That worked, too.

  Olida didn’t seem deterred by his flippant comment and carried on. “So, Lucinda. You have a magic within you that was placed at birth and again when you were ten. From what I could tell when I healed you, that voice you no longer hear inside your head was from that magic. I believe Zephyr placed it there in hopes of using it to control you, but little did he know, you’re stronger than that.”

  My jaw tensed as I considered her words. I wanted to tell her she was wrong. The voice had been a vital part of me. It was my own conscience taking on a more powerful role. There was no way it could have been fabricated. But then, I thought about everything Zephyr had done, all that he was capable of, and I couldn’t deny the plausibility of her statement.

  When I didn’t respond, she continued, “When Finn showed up, the natural bond between the two of you began to form and threatened the power within you. Again, just going off speculation, I assume the voice you heard had already begun trying to guide you in certain directions. As you got stronger by being near Finn, the dark magic became more desperate. Did you sense that happening before you lost control after the fight at the castle?”

  As I met her gaze, it was as if she could see into my soul. I didn’t like that one damn bit. I opened my mouth to lie to her, and she smirked, giving her head the slightest shake.

  I turned toward Finn. “Where the hell did you find these people?”

  He shrugged. “They found me.”

  As much as I liked her no-nonsense attitude, I wasn’t telling her anything else. Olida could roll with her “speculations” and I’d just keep listening. For now.

  “I will take your non-answer as answer enough. Well, now that you’ve bonded with Finn, the foreign magic within you has been destroyed. You are, for the first time in your existence, completely in control of yourself,” Olida said, leaning back and still grinning.

  Gods, she reminded me of myself and Neva put together. It was annoying and intriguing all at the same time.

  I pointed a finger at Olida then Mosi. “You two are something else. I’m not sure what, or if I even care to figure it out, but regardless, thanks for the story time. Now, while I decide if any of it makes a difference to me, why don’t you tell me how it all factors into destroying Zephyr?”

  Mosi sighed, glancing at his mate. “She’s going to be even more stubborn than we foresaw, isn’t she?”

  Olida patted his knee. “Not stubborn, dear. Strong. Magnificent. Resilient.”

  A part of me still wanted to dislike Olida, but the fae was making it damn hard. I’d never had anyone look at me with such hope. Though, I wasn’t going to take that wistfulness and pretend it didn’t mean they might be using me for their own benefit. I’d be nice to both of them, but my guard would remain up.

  Finn refilled my cup, then his own, with more hot toddy. “So, what now? When do we head back to the castle? I won’t leave my sister there forever. My patience will only last for so long.”

  “I understand, and I appreciate your trust in me with my plans. I promise it will not be for nothing. Our time to face Zephyr is coming soon. First, you must find Maddox, and Neva needs to come back.”

  Maddox. I’d completely forgotten about him and probably owed him an apology, even if he didn’t realize it.

  “Is he even alive?” I asked, and Finn flinched beside me.

  Mosi nodded. “Yes, but he won’t be for much longer if the two of you don’t act at just the right time. You will find him on his farm, but be wary. Not all of the Renegades were captured by my people, and the guards still hunt for the both of you. We won’t know for some time who is truly on our side.”

  My wings twitched under my shoulder blades at the thought of the guards. I pictured Gabriel’s face and the shame for not slicing his head off when I had the chance rolled through me, causing a shudder.

  “We find Maddox, get Neva back here, and then we can save my sister and kill the king?” Finn pressed, still hoping for confirmation.

  Mosi sighed. “I cannot say for certain, but that is my hope. The future is not as sound as one would hope. I will keep watching and guiding as best I can, but my gift is not without its faults.”

  Finn grimaced beside me while I finished the warm whiskey. Once I set my cup back down, I decided I was done with this meeting. “Well, I need some air. How far are we from North Island?”

  “A day’s flight. We are at the furthest point from the castle. You will need to teleport to Finn’s farm, but not just anywhere. Only certain spots are safe,” Mosi answered.

  “While the rest of you figure out the details of our next move, I’m going to stretch my wings. And don’t take too long, or I’ll leave without you and deal with whatever risks come my way.” I winked at Finn when he glowered at me.

  I wouldn’t really leave without him—we were in this together at this point. But I would go without Mosi’s permission if I felt it was right.

  I might not fully accept the bond with Finn, but I wasn’t stupid. I’d heard Olida, and I did feel stronger without that incessant voice inside my head. Whether I liked it or not, I was beginning to see that maybe bonding hadn’t been the end of the world for me.

  My stubbornness was bad enough that I wouldn’t admit it to him. I would still be me, and Finn would either be okay with that or not. I likely wasn’t going to make it easy on him, either. I needed to know that nothing could make him regret being bound to me. That he would be in this no matter who I was or what my beliefs were.

  If I could be certain of that, then maybe everything would work out, but I wasn’t holding my breath just yet.

  Chapter 5

  When I exited the hut, my head spun a little. There must have been more whiskey than anything else in those hot toddies, which made me appreciate Olida even more. Sneaky fae.

  Once I had my bearings, I looked up to find five fae staring at me. I held my head high as I glared at each one of them. That was, until each of them bowed their head and placed a fist over their chest in respect.

  The eldest male stepped forward. “We are glad to see you are safe,
Lucinda Morrow. Please accept this gift.”

  His arms stretched forward with palms up. Within his hands was a feather carved from wood and possibly colored with charcoal. I gently picked it up, the tip sharp, much like my own feathers when I wanted them to be.

  “Why?” I asked while marveling at the craftsmanship of the object.

  “Because we believe in Mosi, and he believes in you. We will fight with you when the time comes.” He lifted his head just enough so that his azure eyes met mine. I saw nothing in them but sincerity.

  “Thank you,” I said in earnest, my gaze moving back to the feather I spun within my fingers.

  By the time I glanced back up, the five of them were gone and nobody else was around. I had no idea how many fae lived on this island or what they did all day, but I was suddenly okay with being here.

  There were very few times in my life when someone looked at me with respect. More often than not, fear and disgust were thrown my way. I’d pretended not to care for a long time, but without the voice inside me, I was beginning to worry I wouldn’t be the same confident fae I’d always portrayed.

  Unease settled in me as I spread my wings and pushed into the sky. Considering the island was supposed to be a fortress and hidden from anyone who didn’t belong, I took my time soaring around the island, trying to leave my worries behind.

  The huts below me disappeared under the treetops of the jungle, and I flew high in the air until I sensed the barrier. A warmth coated my skin, almost as if cautioning me from proceeding. When I was as far up as I was going to get, I hovered in the clear blue sky.

  The island was a small oval shape, and the jungle-forest took up three-quarters of it. Beyond the trees was a sandy beach, continuing all the way around. I flew across the land, searching for more fae, but not finding any through the thick covering of branches.

  When I was done stretching my wings, I drifted down to the shore and settled on a fallen log. The waves were calm, and the birds were plentiful. Their songs kept most of my thoughts at bay, but only for a short time.

  Mosi had revealed more than I expected. My entire life wasn’t what I thought it was. I wasn’t who I thought I was, yet I was certain I didn’t want to change. Most of it didn’t make sense just yet. I had a feeling it wouldn’t for some time.

  On top of all that, I was mated to Finn.

  “Mated.”

  Saying the word out loud made my skin shiver along my spines and down my arms. Though, I couldn’t decide if it was in fear or disgust of the emotions I couldn’t comprehend.

  Neva had been the only person to show me some semblance of friendship, and I’d never truly accepted it. I’d always fought against letting her get close, because if I cared too much, that gave her the power to destroy me. Even if it wasn’t her intention.

  Now, I had Finn and this bond between us. Something very permanent and not easy to avoid. Even as I sat staring into the waters of the fae realm, I could sense him when I searched. I instinctively knew he was safe, but I couldn’t tell what he was doing in that exact moment.

  “Gods, this isn’t me,” I muttered to myself.

  “Are you sure about that?” Olida’s voice sounded right before she took a seat next to me.

  My body flinched, but I held back my natural reaction to strike out. “It’s rude to eavesdrop on people.”

  “Well, I didn’t expect you to be talking to yourself,” she countered. “I’ve been around for a couple centuries, Lucinda. I’ve seen all kinds of people, watched the worlds change, and had my fair share of hurt, but never before have I sensed what I do in you.”

  I side-eyed her. “And what would that be?”

  “Exactly what I told Mosi earlier—strength, magnificence, and resilience.” Her wrinkled hand grabbed on to mine as she sat down. “You have suffered much in your short life. You are still just a child in my eyes, but you have the mind of someone far beyond your physical years. But don’t hate the path you have taken. Everything that you are is what will get you through the trying times to come.”

  I laughed. “I think you’re the first, and only, person to ever think that way about me.”

  “No, I’m just the first person you’ve believed. The important question is why is it that you’ve failed to accept these things about yourself before? You know you’re powerful. You know you can handle plenty on your own. Why can’t you see your own self-worth?”

  Olida wasn’t pulling any punches, and I didn’t like it. I’d come out here for air and to get away from the heavy, but she wasn’t letting that happen.

  “A part of why you trust me is because there is no longer a darkness within you that is telling you not to. I’m sure you might miss its companionship. You were alone for so long. But remember, you have that with Finn now. You don’t ever have to be on your own again. Finn accepts you for who you are.”

  A splash in the water caught my attention, and I used it as a distraction to avoid responding. Not having the darkness within me wasn’t going to change all of my thoughts and views on life. I still didn’t believe Finn could truly accept me for who I was. He might have gone along with what Mosi said, but that very well could have been to save his sister, even if he’d said otherwise.

  “What are you?” I asked, needing a change in subject.

  “I’m assuming you mean besides the obvious.” I nodded, and she continued. “Well, even that I’m not really sure of. You see, the two of us, we’re a lot alike. There is much unknown about me, as there is you. I can heal people, but it doesn’t always work the same way every time. I can sense emotions, and even sometimes relieve the pain of the past. But each time I use my abilities, it’s always a little different.”

  “At least you’re a light fae. People don’t fear the unknown when it comes from fae like you,” I replied, my voice drenched in bitterness. We weren’t alike. She had no idea about the life I’d lived.

  She tsked. “That’s where you’re wrong. I was nearly killed for my abilities only a century ago. That’s when Mosi found me. He saved my life and brought me here. I haven’t left since.”

  “The world is different now. Your kind of powers would be sought after and praised,” I said.

  “Fear makes people do crazy things, Lucinda. What astounds me about you, and even makes me a little jealous, is that you don’t let your fears keep you from doing what you want. That is something you should be proud of.”

  I nodded, taking in her words as we both stared out into the waves until the sun began to set. The rays cast shades of orange and red onto the water, and when they’d nearly disappeared, Olida stood.

  “I’m going to leave you be now. You know where I am if you decide you want to talk more, and I hope you’ll remember that you’re not on your own anymore.” Olida’s gossamer wings spread, reflecting off the setting sun with a rainbow of colors.

  Deciding it was likely time to head back myself so we could find Maddox, I extended my own wings and followed her to the main area of the island. When we landed outside their house, I waited several feet beyond the door as she headed inside the hut.

  I was missing my apartment badly. I needed my own space to escape to, and it had been two weeks since that existed. Two weeks too long.

  Finn stepped out of the hut just moments after Olida entered. When our eyes met, his shimmered with passion and I wondered—not for the first time—what he saw when he looked at me. Was it different than before? Could he really forget the contempt he’d felt for me just days earlier? His eyes said yes, but my thoughts believed otherwise.

  I also wondered, if I asked myself the same questions, would I be okay with the responses? It was a lot to worry about from both sides. I’d felt like a war was raging within me ever since I woke up on the beach, but that was a problem to deal with later.

  “Mosi gave us a place to stay while we’re here. Come on.” Finn reached out a hand to me.

  When I hesitated to take it, he sighed and stepped forward to hold on to me anyway. It made me smile that he took
charge.

  He led us down a dirt path between the huts and further into the dense jungle. We walked for several minutes until trees began to thin once again and a singular hut came into view. Finn held his hand out, gesturing for me to go first.

  I pushed open the wooden door, tensing slightly as the hinges creaked. Stepping inside, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it sure as hell wasn’t a large bed, dresser with a mirror above it, and small kitchen area. It was smaller than Mosi and Olida’s place, but just as nice. The walls were made from the same bamboo and when I inhaled, all I got was stale air.

  “Nobody has used this place for a while,” I stated, moving toward a hanging curtain to find a shower, small sink, and toilet which was really just a wooden box set over a hole in the ground with a seat on top of it. The only plus was there were no smells coming from it, probably thanks to magic, and I couldn’t see the bottom of the pit below.

  Finn hummed as he took it in as well. “Mosi said our best chance at finding Maddox was going to be in the daylight. Since it isn’t safe to sleep at my farm, he also suggested we stay here for the night, then leave an hour before sunlight. Hopefully, it won’t take us long to find Maddox. Then, we can get Neva and head back here by the end of tomorrow.”

  I grinned. Neva would love this place. She’d enjoy Olida as well. Though, I didn’t miss the urgency in Finn’s voice. He was eager to get these tasks done with and head to the castle. The worry for Ivy didn’t seem far from his thoughts, and while I didn’t understand the kind of bond they shared as brother and sister, I was beginning to accept the importance of it.

  My eyes landed on the bed. The comforter was white and covered with several pillows. My body relaxed at just the sight of them. Finn was suddenly much closer than I expected him to be, and my pulse increased. His hand cupped my elbow as he pulled me against his hardened body.

  “Lucinda.”

  “Finn.”

  “We should probably talk about what happened earlier a little more now that you’ve had some time to think about it,” he said.