Between Dawn and Dusk Page 2

  Zarid, on the other hand, was twelve when I was born. He was never nice, always playing tricks and teasing us. Growing up has only made him crueler. It’s a shame Zephina wasn’t born first, because she would’ve made a wonderful queen.

  “This isn’t your fault.” She peers out the window at the thick fog clouding our vision. “Yes, Father will be angry. Yes, there will be backlash. But the only alternative is your death from heartbreak.” She grips my shoulders as our eyes lock. “Go. Be the leader I know you’re meant to be.”

  I sniffle. “I will, I swear it.”

  My heart flutters, solidifying my words as a magical promise. An unbreakable oath I have to see through.

  Wind blasts this side of the castle, rattling the windows and making the floor tremble.

  And I know it’s time.

  He’s here.

  Keryth

  The urgency I feel makes it difficult to hold my powers back. I don’t want to decimate the city. All I want is to retrieve my mate and be on my way.

  But I’ve never felt this rage before. This burning need inside of me. Being away from Zella is like having my heart ripped out of my chest. Like losing my identity.

  Without her, I don’t know who I am. I’m an empty vessel, going through the motions of life without being fully present.

  I’ve lived for a hundred and ninety-seven years, but I wasn’t truly alive until I met her.

  For the past month, I’ve had to keep up the pretenses that I’m okay. That I’m a competent and reliable king—not a madman on the verge of a breakdown.

  Lightning flickers above me as I fly into Hailene with the clouds. They mask me, hiding my presence from the alarmed nobles on the ground below.

  Over the rolling thunder, I hear their cries of fear and shouts of warning.

  They have no idea what’s going on.

  Usually, the Day Realm weather is pleasant. It’s warm, almost too hot for my taste. I’m used to the crisp, autumn-like air of the Night Realm. My home. Soon to be Zella’s home as well.

  Although I can’t see more than a few feet ahead, I know the castle is close by. I can sense the distance by the sound of the wind bouncing off the stone.

  Plus, Zella’s nearness flows through my veins like a drug. I follow the electric sensation, knowing it’s leading me to my love.

  Flapping my wings, I slow and push the fog away. As it clears, I see her.

  She’s inside her bedroom, pressing her hands to the glass of the window as she smiles at me. She’s paler than she was the last time I saw her. There are dark circles under her eyes like she hasn’t been sleeping. Her cheeks are sunken, as if she hasn’t been eating.

  And judging by the iron bars on all her windows, it’s safe to guess she’s been kept a prisoner in her own home.

  My temper flares.

  She’s been mistreated, with no way out.

  If she’d attempted to escape through the window, the iron would’ve burned her badly. I scan the exposed skin of her arms, her chest, and her face.

  No wounds. At least she appears unharmed.

  Her sister is beside her, and the two look very much alike with their long blond hair and vivid purple eyes. Zephina and I interacted just hours ago, but I had to keep up my nonchalant façade. I didn’t want to give away my plans.

  I also knew she’d read my note, which is why I went with a cryptic letter.

  “I love you,” Zella mouths at me.

  I press a hand over my heart. It’s the same sign I used to give her when we had to part ways every month. This is hers. It beats only because she exists.

  I’m about to ask her if she can sneak out when both girls are startled by a loud bang on the bedroom door. They look at each other, eyes wide with fear, before running over to her bed. They struggle to push the solid four-poster frame across the floor until it blocks the only way out or in.

  Well, I guess we’re going to do this the hard way.

  “Get back and take cover!” I shout, motioning Zella to the far end of the room.

  The sisters scurry to the corner before crouching together.

  The commotion on the other side of her door continues, and it sounds like they’re using a battering ram. I hear the distinct split of wood.

  I’ll have to be fast.

  Spinning my hand in a circle, I command the sky to swirl. A cyclone forms, and the roar is deafening. The skinny tail dips down, dancing back and forth as it snakes toward the castle.

  My dark hair whips around my head as the wind increases, and I have to angle my wings a little differently so I don’t get blown away. I keep them horizontal, using the force of the cyclone to hover in one spot.

  Clenching my jaw, my lips press into a thin line as I direct the force to the correct place.

  I have to be precise. One slip, and I could end up hurting my mate.

  Bracing myself for the damage, I flick a finger, pushing the tail to the far wall of Zella’s room.

  It sounds like a wrecking ball against the crumbling stone. Glass shatters. Iron groans as it bends. But it only lasts long enough to make an opening for Zella to escape.

  As the dust clears, I allow the storm to recede a little.

  And then I see her, nothing separating us.

  Zella’s eyes lock with mine as she embraces her sister one more time, then she doesn’t hesitate to leap toward me.

  Her leathery, pearlescent wings unfurl as her feet leave the jagged floor, and I fly forward to catch her.

  Our bodies collide, spinning us in the air.

  A melodic laugh bubbles up from Zella and she’s smiling when her lips meet mine.

  I’m shocked by the suddenness of the kiss, but I can’t blame her for being impatient. We should’ve done this a long time ago.

  Relaxing, I sigh into her mouth, reveling in the softness of her lips. My heart spasms when her tongue slips out to caress mine.

  Her warmth. Her taste. There’s nothing like it.

  My cock responds, stiffening in my pants. I slant my mouth over hers, deepening the contact. She moans.

  Growling, I dig my fingers into her waist, scrunching the silky fabric of her dress in my fists.

  I don’t even realize we’re sinking to the ground until I hear the footsteps.

  Lots of them.

  I look down to realize we’re just thirty feet from the courtyard pavement below, and hoards of soldiers are running toward us from all directions. Many have their wings out with weapons in hand, ready to fight.

  “Hold onto me,” I command.

  Zella obeys, wrapping her arms around my neck.

  As I fly higher, I bring the storm back. The high winds near the ground will prevent anyone from being able to fly and follow us. The clouds will hide our location, but first, we have to get above them.

  Zella gasps when the mist clears, and she glances down at the foggy blanket below. Clear blue skies are above us, and Zella flaps her wings as she separates from me.

  Hand in hand, we go east, heading to Dawn and Dusk where I intend to make her mine in every way.

  Zella

  We don’t get very far before I feel a sharp pain in my right wing. Crying out, I falter and start to fall. Eyes wide with fear, I watch as Keryth becomes smaller. He dives, catching me by the wrist, his eyebrows furrowed with confusion.

  When I try to expand my wing, we both see the iron arrow piercing it.

  I can’t fly. Not like this.

  But that’s not our biggest problem.

  A few of my father’s best archers have made it above the cloud cover with their bow and arrows. I recognize them and feel a stab of betrayal. They shot me, and it wasn’t a mistake. Their aim is always on point, so they were obviously trying to hurt me.

  These men have known me since I was a baby. They’re the ones with the strongest wings. The feathered lengths are twice as big as mine, giving them better speed and control.

  Not all faerie wings are the same. Some are iridescent and see-through, like an insect. Others a
re leathery like mine and Keryth’s, and they come in all colors and sizes.

  And some are made of feathers. While that might help them to fly better, it puts them at a disadvantage when they come up against my power—fire.

  Feathers are highly flammable.

  A roar or rage comes from Keryth as he pulls me up, anchoring me to his side with one arm. Flicking his free hand, he makes a bolt of lightning shoot up toward the men. It splits into sections, hitting three of the four soldiers.

  They immediately fall from the sky.

  The stunned fae will probably break a few bones when they land, but they won’t suffer any long-term damage.

  I can’t say the same for the remaining soldier, who’s nocking his next arrow right now with his gloved hands.

  His name is Sedrick. He’ll pay for injuring me.

  A wing for a wing.

  Keryth turns us so he’s in front of me, and I know he’s prepared to protect me in any way possible. I can feel his power ramping up around us as he summons more electricity.

  But it isn’t necessary. I’ve got this.

  I glare at Sedrick as he pulls the string tight. Our eyes meet, and he realizes his mistake just a second too late.

  Concentrating on where I want the flames to erupt, I send a mental burst of heat at his right wing.

  The ivory feathers ignite, turning to black ash in a matter of seconds. The weapon drops from his hold while he lets out a blood-curdling scream. He tries to stay afloat with the left side only, but all it does is make him spin as he goes down with a trail of smoke following in his path.

  I swallow hard as I look at the dark spiral he left behind.

  I’ve never used my powers to harm anyone before. No doubt, Sedrick’s in a world of pain, and it could take years for his feathers to grow back.

  “I’m not sorry,” I tell Keryth, lifting my chin to meet his gaze.

  “Good.” He grins. “My vicious queen.”

  “My wing,” I murmur sadly, hanging on tight because Keryth takes off again, faster than before.

  “I have no problem carrying you.” He casts me a worried glance. “Are you hurting badly?”

  I let out a sound of confirmation, because the sizzling pain is radiating to my spine. “It burns a little.”

  I’m downplaying it, and from the skeptical twist of Keryth’s lips, he knows. “Once we get to safety, I’ll remove the arrow. Just be strong for me until then.”

  Nodding, I rest my head on his shoulder and hook my legs around his.

  The wind blows through my hair as we get farther away from the only home I’ve ever known. I think of Zephina, the injured soldiers, and the aftermath of this decision.

  What a mess.

  It’s likely I’ll never see my sister again. The life I knew no longer exists.

  But as Keryth presses a kiss to my temple, love washes over me, and I know I’m headed to something better.

  Keryth

  Zella needs me to be level-headed and calm. Rationally, I know this, but my mind is wild with thoughts of revenge.

  They tried to keep her from me. And when she left of her own free will, they hurt her.

  These are just two reasons why the Day Realm is on my strike list. I have many more.

  Decades ago, my parents were visiting Dawn and Dusk for a private getaway. What was supposed to be a romantic vacation ended up being a tragedy. Their caravan was ambushed by Day Realm soldiers and they were murdered for trespassing before they were able to identify themselves as royalty.

  While I was prepared to take my father’s place and rule our kingdom, I wasn’t ready to lose him or my mother. I miss them every day.

  King Zed and Queen Lynea, Zella’s mother and father, issued a formal apology, complete with excuses and denials. They claimed their soldiers went rogue, and they were punished accordingly for their ‘mistake.’

  It wasn’t a mistake. I have reasons to believe they were behind the attack. Zella was an infant at the time, so she has no idea what occurred. Yes, she knows my parents were killed many years ago, but she doesn’t know it was at the hands of her own family.

  I don’t intend to tell her. I won’t tarnish the memories she has of her loved ones. Enough has already been done to grow feelings of resentment between her and her father.

  After my parents’ murders, I retaliated by stopping all trade and banning Day Realm residents from entering my kingdom. We were invaded by their military several times. Many tried to sneak in to steal midnight roses, stardust, and other precious goods. Perpetrators were dealt with harshly, and even when we ran out of day water, I wouldn’t budge on my decision to cut them off.

  It was a dark time for the Night Realm—literally. Without day water, our lamps slowly dimmed to nothing in a few years. We still had candles. We made do.

  The only reason I opened the trade deal again was because of the plague seven years ago. The Day Realm was desperate for the medicinal plants we had, and I was merciful. I gave them aid, even sending our own doctors to help.

  Still, they blamed the Night Realm for the sickness. King Zed thought I put a revenge curse on them, but I would never do such a thing. After his mate died, he threatened war against my kingdom. But war would’ve only weakened all of us, and I met face-to-face with him to say so. They’d just lost most of their women. Did they really want to lose their men, too? When I offered to help him find the cause and a cure for the mysterious illness, he reluctantly agreed to a truce.

  A peace treaty was formed. Although there was still a deep hurt and an extreme lack of trust on both sides, I’m grateful for it.

  That’s how I met Zella.

  It’s obvious now that King Zed’s hatred for me never eased, and it’s an understatement to say I’m not fond of him either.

  But it doesn’t matter anymore.

  Zella and I are together now.

  “How much farther?” she asks, pain evident in her strained voice.

  I look out to the horizon at the darkening sky in the distance. “We’re not quite to Dawn and Dusk yet, but I think it’s safe to take a rest.”

  Surveying the lands below, I see fields of wheat, hills covered in light-green grass, and a few small forests with yellow trees. Everything here seems to reflect the sunlight. I’m not used to this brightness, and it’s giving me a headache.

  Glancing back, I make sure we’re not being followed before descending to the ground.

  “Is your bag bothering you?” I ask, cradling Zella in my arms before gently setting her on a rock.

  “No. It isn’t heavy.”

  Lifting the flap, I take a peek inside her satchel. All I see is a pair of knitting needles and a lot of yellow yarn. I raise a questioning eyebrow.

  “Baby blanket,” she says, pink staining her cheeks as she glances down at her flat belly. “I was making it for… the possibility.”

  My heart thumps.

  Children. With Zella. I’ve always been too scared to let myself hope for it.

  Being soul mates doesn’t guarantee conception. My brother and his fated mate have been trying for three years with no luck.

  I don’t know why I assume Zella and I will have the same problem. Maybe because Silas and I are twins. Our lives have always had many similarities.

  Zella lets out a hiss of discomfort, reminding me why we landed.

  Bending down, I assess her wound. Iron arrows are serious. I’ve encountered them many times myself in battle, and wings are especially sensitive. I’ve seen men three times Zella’s size weep because of an injury similar to hers.

  If she’d been run through the heart, she’d be dying of iron poisoning right now.

  That thought only makes my anger worse, so I take a deep, calming breath as I give Zella a sympathetic look. “I take it you’ve never been shot before?”

  “Not by an arrow, no. One time, Zarid pelted Zephina and me with iron bullets with his sling shot. They never penetrated the skin, though.”

  That bastard. I haven’t heard great
things about her brother. Too bad he’ll be the one I’m dealing with after King Zed steps down.

  “My sweet, I’m afraid this is going to hurt.” Ripping a section off the bottom of my dark-blue shirt, I wrap the material around my hand to protect my skin. “The only way to remove it is to pull it out.”

  “All right.” Clasping her hands in her lap, she presses her lips together, trying to act tough.

  And I love that about her.

  But I don’t love what I’m about to do.

  As soon as I grab the arrow near the quills, Zella whimpers.

  I can literally feel her pain. There’s a dull ache in my right wing, and I know it’s from the bond. We haven’t even consummated it yet, but we’re already so connected to each other.

  I try to keep the rod as still as possible while I inspect the point of entry. The wound is a ring of blisters, and blood seeps from it, marring the pearly flesh with red streaks.

  “Have I ever told you how beautiful your wings are?” I ask. “I swear on all the stars, I’ve never seen a more gorgeous, lustrous pair.”

  “Sweet talker,” she says, calling me out on my attempt to distract her with compliments. “Just do it quick. Please.”

  Carefully, I turn the arrow until the blade is somewhat lined up with the slit it made when it pierced her. Then I pull it back. Fast.

  Zella cries out when it goes through, but her sound of agony turns into a sigh of relief. Now that the harmful metal isn’t burning her, she should feel better.

  Experiencing a mix of emotions, I drop to my knees in front of her. I cup her face, and the tears glistening in her eyes are nearly my undoing.

  “I’m so sorry.” I rub the moisture from her cheeks with my thumbs. “I should’ve protected you better. I never should’ve let this happen—”

  Her fingers cover my mouth, stopping my apology. “You came for me. That’s all that matters.”

  Grasping her wrist, I pull her hand away from my face so I can kiss her palm. I brush my lips back and forth against her skin, loving her sweet scent. My tongue darts out to taste her, and my suspicions are confirmed—she’s like the finest nectar I’ve ever had.