Between Dawn and Dusk Page 9

  I sit on the bed, but when he turns his back to me, I let out a disapproving sound. “Kirian. You didn’t even try to unknot these.”

  “And deprive you of the experience of doing it for me? What kind of son do you think I am?”

  Well, he certainly got his cockiness from his father.

  I never thought I could love someone as much as I love Keryth, but my children are an extension of me. Of us. While Keryth is my soul, my children are my heart.

  Snickering, I shake my head and get to work on Kirian’s shoulder-length hair. The light brown color is a perfect compromise between my blond and Keryth’s black. And Kirian ended up with the most beautiful lavender eyes. Toned down by his father’s light blue, they’re not quite as purple as mine.

  Gia has similar coloring to Kirian, and I’m glad for a little variety in our realm. I remember back to my first glimpse of the nobles all those years ago, and how I’d hoped to mix with the Day Realm.

  However, my initial excitement about socially merging our kingdoms was quickly squashed. In fact, the whole thing was an epic failure.

  In an attempt to help men from the Day Realm meet women from here, we put together a meet-your-mate party in Dawn and Dusk.

  But desperate men do foolish things. Some were so worried they wouldn’t get a female, they panicked. That panic turned into a riot. Fights broke out. Women were stolen. Blood was spilled. Keryth and his soldiers had to go on a mission to get our citizens back.

  It left the state of our realms in a worse place than when we started.

  Since then, we’ve allowed men from the Day Realm to apply for citizenship in the Night Realm. If they want to seek a mate here, they must prove their loyalty first. They have to serve at least five years in our military and pass a test on our customs.

  I’ll admit I was pleasantly surprised by the number of males who jumped at the chance.

  Our women, however, are not to cross over to the Day Realm. Ever. It’s not safe.

  Of course, the laws don’t stop the occasional bandit from sneaking past our borders and stealing a female. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, our justice is swift and harsh.

  Kirian isn’t oblivious to our troubles. Although I wish I could shield him from reality, he’ll be king someday. He’s watching his father and me. Learning how to be fair and responsible.

  If only he could brush his own hair.

  I run the comb through one more time. “There. Snag-free.”

  “Thanks.” Kirian reclines on the pillows, and I’m taken aback by how mature his face is starting to look.

  His baby fat is melting away and I can tell he’ll have high cheekbones and a jaw like Keryth’s.

  “Your birthday is next week,” I say, fighting off sudden nostalgia. “Where will you go this year?”

  He taps his chin. “Dawn and Dusk?”

  “No.” I boop his nose. “Too dangerous.”

  “Aw, come on. It was fine last year.”

  I purse my lips at the reminder. “It wasn’t fine when you got back and you were grounded for a month, was it?”

  Frowning, he grumbles, “I guess not.” Then his lips tilt up. “But it was worth it, though.”

  Oh, this child. Always keeping me on my toes.

  The wizard came back on Kirian’s tenth birthday, just like he said he would. He came bearing a gift—a treasure trunk full of portals. They could only be used once a year on Kirian’s birthday, and he could go anywhere he wanted, within reason.

  Like the rebel he is, he promptly used his first to visit Dawn and Dusk, which was strictly forbidden. This year, I’m hoping he’ll go somewhere safer.

  “What about the Dream Realm?” I suggest. “Uncle Silas and Queen Tehya wrote to us recently. They’d like to meet you.”

  “Eh.” Kirian gives a noncommittal shrug.

  Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the most interesting idea. Kirian probably doesn’t want to waste a portal on strangers.

  Although Silas and Tehya have kept in touch over the years, we haven’t stayed close. After the almost-deadly challenge, several council members and palace staff followed Silas, so he had a built-in team when he left. While he was busy building a castle and forming his military, his head Councilman worked out the details of where the territory would start and end, and what resources we would trade.

  The outcome was successful, but I know Keryth misses his brother sometimes.

  I understand how he feels. I’d give anything to see Zephina. We contact each other a couple times a year, either through letters or a messenger sprite. But under my brother’s orders, she’s not allowed to leave Hailene.

  “Well, you have time to decide,” I tell Kirian, placing a kiss on his head. “Lots of places you can go.”

  His face brightens. “I could visit the gnomes in Ailee. Maybe they’d give me some honeysuckle for your wine.”

  My heart melts. “You’d use your portal for me?”

  “I’d do anything for you.”

  Mist fills my eyes, and I blink rapidly to clear the wetness. Averting my gaze, I smooth the yellow baby blanket I finished knitting during my pregnancy. Kirian never cuddles with it anymore, but it’s always slung over the end of his bed.

  “My sweet boy.” I affectionately ruffle his hair. “Get a goodnight’s sleep, okay?”

  “Okay.” He yawns, and I leave his room with a smile on my face.

  All night long, strange nightmares come and go. I slip in and out of restless sleep, tossing and turning in the bed. I dream of screams, darkness, and the glint of a knife.

  Something isn’t right.

  Several times, I wake to peek into the bassinet beside the bed. Gia’s eyes are closed, and her breathing is normal. She seems to be sleeping just fine, and Keryth is out cold. The palace is quiet, so I must be the only one having problems.

  I take solace in Keryth’s arms, letting him hold me as I try to shake the bad feeling away.

  Dawn is on the horizon when I finally sink into a deep sleep. It doesn’t last long, though.

  “Mother!” Crash.

  Kirian’s scream wakes me, and Keryth and I shoot up from the bed.

  “Mother! Father!” More knocking and bumping.

  I’ve never heard Kirian sound so terrified. When he was a toddler, he was scared of frogs. He’d screech and cling to me whenever we saw one.

  But I’ve never heard the gut-wrenching shout he’s yelling now.

  I run down the hall, thinking maybe he had a fitful night of sleep, too. Maybe he’s suffering from some horrible nightmare.

  When I throw his door open, I find him on the floor. He’s groping at the rug, his hands patting the colorful surface in a wide arc. The nightstand is knocked over, and the blankets are tangled around his feet.

  “Kirian, what’s wrong?” I drop to my knees next to him. “Are you hurt?”

  “I can’t see,” he sobs, his fingers bumping my knee before grasping my nightgown. “I can’t see anything.”

  “What?” Shocked, I cup his face and turn it toward me. “Look at me.”

  “I can’t. I can’t.” He’s blinking, but his gaze is blank. Unfocused. “There’s nothing. It’s just blackness everywhere.”

  “How could this be? Keryth!”

  “I’m here.” His deep voice comes from right behind me. I glance back to see him standing in the doorway with a sleepy Gia in his arms. There’s a look of bewilderment and fear on his face.

  I scoot closer to Kirian. His whole body is shaking, and I feel helpless as I rub his back.

  “This must be temporary, sweetheart.” I hug him, then send another worried glance to my husband. “He was fine ten hours ago. Everything was normal. People don’t just go blind overnight.”

  But even as I say it, I know I’m wrong. Something happened last night. I just don’t know what it was.

  I don’t have to wonder for very long.

  A few seconds later, the balcony doors fly open, which shouldn’t be possible since only three people have
the ability to unlock them. I can’t see beyond the railing because there’s a thick fog.

  “Are you doing this?” I whisper to Keryth and Kirian, since they both have the power to control the weather.

  “Doing what?” Kirian cries. “What’s happening?”

  “No,” Keryth replies. Coming over to lift us off the floor, he backs up toward the hall. “It’s not us.”

  “Listen to the king,” eerie voices speak the answer before nine trolls emerge from the mist. “And now listen to us.”

  Moving toward us with synchronized movements, they file into the room.

  They wear dark gray cloaks, and the top half of their faces are hidden in the shadows of their hoods. Judging by the exposed skin on their hands and their various heights, I’d say they range in age, anywhere from preteens to elderly.

  “Witches,” I breathe out.

  “Oh, yes,” they say. When I see all their mouths moving in tandem, I realize why it sounds so creepy—they’re all speaking the same words at the same time. “And we have a message for the young prince.”

  They step closer, and Keryth passes Gia to me before putting a protective arm out in front of us. “What’s your message?”

  “The prince must ask nicely.”

  “Tell me?” Kirian asks, trying his best to keep his voice from quivering. “Please.”

  “A curse has been put upon you,” they reply.

  “Why me? What did I do?”

  “Not just you. Every firstborn of the royal families.”

  “Zander?” I speak up.

  Five years ago, my brother produced an heir with a kidnapped female. Although she wasn’t his fated mate, he took the unwilling woman as his wife because she was able to give him a son.

  “Yes.” They nod in unison.

  For the first time ever, I’m actually glad Tehya wasn’t able to conceive. I’m sure it’s caused her great sadness over the years, but at least they don’t have a child to be affected by this.

  As if reading my mind, the witches shake their heads. “King Silas is not safe. His child is cursed, too.”

  “They’re expecting a baby?” This is news to me.

  “Not yet,” they answer. “Soon, though.”

  “Why?” I demand, my anger coming through. “Why would you do this?”

  All nine trolls lift their hands and pull back their hoods.

  Keryth’s hand tightens on my waist, and I whimper.

  Every one of them has deep slashes over their eye sockets. Empty eye sockets.

  Someone cut out their eyes. Recently. Blood still oozes from the wounds, leaving a trail of red down their cheeks.

  “Who did this to you?” Keryth’s voice is hard. “I’ll get justice for you. There’s no need to retaliate on my son.”

  “Day Realm soldiers.” They point at us. “They blamed you for the plague. Said we cursed them on your behalf.”

  “Are you the coven my brother hired?” my mate asks.

  “Does it matter? Did we deserve this?”

  “No one deserves what happened to you. If there’s a deal we can make—”

  “Don’t bother.” They put their hoods back up. “You’re all guilty, with your fighting and your pettiness. Everyone will pay.” Although they can’t see Kirian, their heads turn slightly, as if they’re looking at him. “Young prince, listen carefully. You will be blind for all your days, unless you can find your fated mate and consummate the bond. You must be patient. If you so much as kiss someone else, the curse will be permanent.”

  “Wh-where can I find her?” My son straightens his shoulders, and I see a glimmer of the brave king he’ll turn out to be. “I’ll do whatever I have to.”

  “She is marked by the sky at night,” they sing. “You’ll know her by love at first sight.”

  The tune makes Gia giggle, and she reaches for them.

  “What a delightful baby girl.” They all take a step forward.

  I throw a hand out with threatening flames licking up my palm. “Stay away from her.”

  “We can bargain,” Keryth tries again. “What do you want? We have gold, stardust, anything.”

  Shaking their heads, they back away. “Nothing.” Just as they’ve disappeared into the fog, they remind Kirian, “Remember the clues.”

  And then they’re gone. The air clears, the stars twinkle, and it’s as if they were never here.

  Except for my poor son.

  “Let’s get you to the bed,” I tell him, keeping an arm around his trembling shoulders.

  Unsteady, he puts his hands out in front of him and he moves forward with stilted footsteps. As he finds the mattress, his eyes are filled with tears. “I’m scared.”

  Keryth lifts Gia from my arms so I can sit with Kirian and hold him. “I know, I know. But we’ll find a way out of this. We’ll contact Dermot. Or maybe we can find the witches and convince them to reverse the curse. Maybe they need some time to forgive what’s happened.”

  “She’s right,” Keryth chimes in. He’s trying to sound as positive as possible, but I can see how shaken he is. “We’ll do whatever it takes to get your sight back.”

  “Yes, we’ll fix this.” I’m a mother. Fixing things is what I do.

  And as I rock my traumatized child, I hope to all the stars that it’s true.

  NOT THE END

  You can read Kirian’s story in The Fae King’s Curse, releasing April 17th! To get updates on my books, please subscribe to my newsletter.

  THE FAE KING’S CURSE BLURB AND SNEAK PEEK

  Kirian and I were just twelve years old when I pulled him from the icy waters of the creek behind my house. As he looked in my direction with unseeing lavender eyes, I quickly realized our age was just about the only thing we had in common. He spoke with an accent, he had pointy ears, and he was so beautiful it made my heart ache. Oh, and he claimed to be a fae prince cursed by witches who stole his sight.

  I thought he was crazy from hypothermia. Turns out, he wasn’t, and for some reason he keeps coming back. But a day in my world is a year in his. Every time I see him, he’s older. Wiser. Hotter.

  Over the past six years, I’ve tried not to fall in love with him because the terms of the curse are clear: If he doesn’t wait for his fated mate in all ways, including an innocent (or not-so-innocent) kiss, he’ll be blind forever.

  So when Kirian kisses me and pulls me through the portal to his realm, I make it my mission to do some damage control. It’d be a whole lot easier if he wasn’t determined to marry me… And if someone wasn’t trying to murder me every step of the way.

  Quinn

  12 Years Old

  I sigh out a frustrated huff as I plop down on the dock. No fishing today. My pole sits pointlessly at my side, and I prop my head in my hands as I look out at the dripping branches and wet mud.

  The big snow from last week has been melting, flooding the creek. Peeking through the wooden slats beneath me, I watch the rushing water that’s just a few inches away from my face. Any higher and I’d be sitting in it right now.

  Oh, well. I’ve got about a dozen other things I can do out here.

  Tilting my face toward the shining sun, I close my eyes and take the pair of marbles out of my overalls pocket. They’re smooth as I turn them in my palm. Round and round they go, occasionally clacking as they knock against each other.

  It’s a soothing habit. The kids at school don’t understand why I do it. Then again, they don’t seem to understand me at all. Even when I try to fit in—wear the popular clothes, say the right things—they still make fun of me.

  So I don’t try anymore.

  Just as I open my eyes, I hear a shout. Frowning, I glance out at the woods on the other side of the creek. Left, right, behind me.

  Nothing. I’m alone. Like always.

  People say these woods are haunted. No one else is brave enough to come here. Rumors in town tell tales of ghosts, mysterious flashes of light, and strange sounds.

  And yelling, like what I thought I hear
d.

  I’m about to write it off as a bird when I see movement in the water.

  I shoot up to my feet when I realize it’s a person. A kid. Caught in the powerful current, he’s coming straight for me.

  “Oh, shit.” The cuss word slips from my mouth without thought. It’s exactly what my mom says when she realizes she forgot to switch the wet laundry to the dryer before it got musty.

  When I see he’s going to miss the dock by a few feet, I think fast and grab my fishing pole. Lying flat on my stomach, I extend it out to the water. “Grab on!”

  His hands grope wildly, and I think he’s going to miss it, but just as he’s about to rush past, his fingers close around the end.

  “Don’t let go,” I say, holding tight to the plastic while scooting away from the edge.

  If I get pulled in with him, we’re both toast. My parents have warned me many times about not getting in the creek when I’m alone, no matter how shallow it is. The only reason I’m allowed to come out here by myself is because I promised I wouldn’t. That, and the fact that they know they can’t keep me away. But seriously, what would be the point of owning twenty acres of nature if you’re never going to enjoy it?

  The boy is close enough to the dock to reach it, but he doesn’t. I wonder if he’s in shock. It’s March in Wisconsin. The temperature of the water has to be forty degrees or lower.

  “There’s a ladder in front of you. Right there, on the side,” I tell him, then nod encouragingly when his hand lands on the weathered wood. “Yeah. Climb up.”

  I shed my jacket and my hat, ready to give it to the soaked kid. But as he rolls onto his back, panting and exhausted, I realize he’s not a little boy. He’s probably my age.

  And so freaking beautiful.

  It’s like time stops as I look at him.

  His light brown hair is plastered to his forehead and cheeks, and his dark eyelashes glisten in the sunlight. His skin is perfection, not a freckle or a blemish on his gorgeous face. Lips the color of my mom’s prized pink roses are parted as he breathes.