Fae of the South (Court of Crown and Compass Book 3) by E. Hall (libby ebook reader .txt) 📕

Kiki rescued me, Tyrren said that he loves me, and the others are willing to fight by my side. I’m torn between what I am and who I am. I focus my thoughts on the light and the promise I made never to forget no matter how dark it gets.

“What a delightful surprise. Guests, welcome to my new home.” Glandias holds her hands out wide.

Val snorts. “You should take some pointers from my great-grandmother. Even she has better hospitality than you.”

“Ah, is it Nathina of whom you speak? After the difficulty in Terra, I recently paid her a visit. Got some information from the Library of Memories.” Glandias cackles.

“See, I told you it was true,” Kiki mutters.

“I’m only sorry that the former king of the Southlands didn’t invite me over sooner.” Glandias adjusts the crown circling her head.

“You mean Emeric, your son?” Lea asks.

Glandias, ignoring me, taps her chin. “Now, what to do with the raven shifter, the wolf shifter, and the vampire?” She turns to my sisters and me with a wicked sneer. I know all too well what she’ll attempt with us.

The one rule I always had was to forget the past. I have to break that rule, which means pushing out all the bad thoughts, the regrets, the fears, and let in the light.

Glandias approaches Tyrren and draws a longsword.

In eighth grade when I saw him across the hall, I fell I love. He was walking with some guy from our math class. He tilted his head back and laughed. He always saw the good in people. Even me, even when I wasn’t particularly good. It was an unremarkable moment, but I realized then that he was my person. He proved that and more in tenth grade after the attack and every day since.

I may be lost in shadow, but I’ll tell Tyrren that I love him when this is over, which means we have to survive.

I don’t let myself think about anything other than the plan. Not the past even though it’s fodder. Not the future, even though it’s fuel.

Glandias waves her hand, restraining our magic. It’s a heavy, shackling sensation, and much like at RIP Jr.

I straighten and my pulse quickens. I have to do something and do it now. “Glandias, I’ll come into your order if you let my friends go. Grant them freedom and I will do your bidding.”

She tilts her head as though considering this.

Kiki watches the crown carefully.

Glandias’s gaze narrows. “The vampire could be useful in the forge. The shifters are useless, but you three—” She eyes my sisters and me.

I inhale deeply as fiery rage builds within. The thing about fire is it casts light. Just what I need to fight the shadows.

Glandias’s dry laughter fans the flames. I prepare to tackle her, to destroy her even without magic if I have to.

“Don’t get any wicked ideas, shadow fae. You’re no match for me without your magic. Listen, the three of you plus one more are part of the prophecy to be the count’s undoing.” She shakes her head slowly. “No, it’s not a prophecy but a promise. You, see, I have no interest in him ruling.”

“Yet, you wear his crown.” The stone almost looks black in the half-light.

“This was Emeric’s crown, but I suppose it suits me better as the stone amplifies my power.”

Kiki eyes it hungrily.

“Not too long ago, I formulated a substance to gain control over the vampires and use their strength to my advantage. I wonder how much it would take to get him to rip out your throats.” She angles the sword at Tyrren.

“Why are you doing this?” Kiki asks.

Ah, the old get the villain to explain their shady morals trick. I’m guessing Kiki and I have the same taste in movies.

“Since the three fae are instrumental in my rise to power and one of you added to my collection of scars, I’ll tell you. When I was young, I was in a fire. My parents didn’t survive. I was put into the care of my uncle. Sound familiar, Lea?”

I shiver and try to find some warmth.

“He was a cold, calculating man, but saw to it that I received the best medical care to improve what he referred to as my upsetting appearance. Scars covered nearly my entire body and when I was well enough to go in public, people would whisper and tease. They’d stare and ridicule.” She turns sharply. “Now, I have you faetchers to thank for new scars. After one of the more difficult grafts on my face, I fell ill and had to spend a long time convalescing. My nurse moved me into the library of my uncle’s home because she felt the sunshine in that room would do me good.” Glandias paces in front of us, gazing at her troops as though they’re her happy ending.

“You grew up in Terra?” Tyrren asks.

Glandias nods. “The rays reminded me of the fire that licked and then devoured my skin. But the books—the stories of military tactics and warfare sparked my attention. I consumed them much like the blaze and ridicule consumed me. The books were my antidote, in fact. I began to devise a plan to build my own empire. The poor kid who lost her parents. The freakish girl with the melted skin. The one who discovered a rune in a book that led to another realm. It made me believe that my triumph would come from strategy and power. There were a few detours. I studied to be a mage, had a son, returned to Terra for a time—”

“And now you want to destroy it and rule the Borean realm.” Kiki narrows her eyes.

“That puts a tidy little bow on things, doesn’t it?” Glandias says. “I will see these troops rise to their potential.” She gazes out