An Isle of Mirrors (A Shade of Vampire #88) - Bella Forrest Page 0,31

clutching the bowl. “We don’t have visitors here. Ever. It’s strange.”

“We wouldn’t have dared to disturb you, but there is something in your village that we need. Something left behind by someone a long time ago,” Unending told her.

“Someone?” the woman asked, a slight frown settled on her delicate oval face. “I told you, no one ever comes around here.”

“He made sure not to be seen,” Unending said. Anunit had telepathically given her an image of the Mixer, so she knew what the object looked like. “Would you be so kind as to take us to your leader? We’d like to have a word.”

The soul fae thought about it for a moment, then looked over her shoulder, noticing how the others had also stopped what they had been doing. All eyes were on us now, and Unending sent out a mental pulse to ease their minds. “Tell me the truth.” The soul fae woman’s voice rang loudly in my head, but it had a secondary, unexpected effect. I could feel her grip on my soul.

Only then did I even remember what these creatures were capable of. Unending gave me a startled look. “Whatever you do, don’t panic,” she murmured.

“Tell me the truth,” the soul fae insisted, the pressure in my chest amplifying until I could no longer breathe.

“We’re looking for the object that the someone I mentioned left here,” I said with my mind. “He left it here, and we need it. I swear that is the truth.”

“Who was your someone, then?” the soul fae asked.

“The Spirit Bender,” Unending replied, unable to fully control herself under the spirit-bending influence. Anunit had been right—these creatures had quite the ability, more than the Spirit Bender, even. Unending was a powerful Reaper, yet this delicate creature was able to at least partially push her. “He hurt me deeply. He hurt the people I love. He caused nothing but harm. Even so, I need that object.”

“What for?”

“To catch a Reaper,” Unending said. It was partially true, in the end, and it seemed to pass the soul fae’s verity test. “To lure her out. She has committed crimes that have led to a command to capture her.”

“It’s our best chance to get what we need,” I added. “I swear to you, we wish no harm to anyone. Just the object.”

Seemingly satisfied with our responses, the soul fae let go, and I felt the cords snapping loose. Her power was impressive and a little terrifying, but I understood why she’d used it on us. We were complete strangers who’d just waltzed into her village, and she and her people knew how to keep their little world safe.

“I’m Sissa,” she said. “I’m the daughter of our king, Loren. I will take you to him.”

“Thank you,” Unending replied.

I couldn’t believe the speed and swiftness with which Sissa had spiritually beaten us into submission. Unending had an exit strategy for whatever the soul fae were willing to throw at us, but for the time being, we cooperated. There was no need for any kind of offense if we could get what we’d come for. From what I was seeing, Sissa seemed open to indulging our request; otherwise, she could’ve simply forced us to walk out of this place. I had a feeling she’d not used the full extent of her power, either. It led me to assume that perhaps it would do some sort of damage to our spirits—or maybe it just wasn’t in her nature to unleash her spirit bending on anyone. As long as we came across as willing and compliant, the soul fae didn’t have reason to doubt us.

I held on to Unending, watching every single soul fae we passed as Sissa guided us to the square building. It didn’t take long to identify it as the king’s residence. A slender man came out, his long white hair caught up in an elegant bun and a crown of nectar orchids adorning his head. He wore a furry coat over his white cotton shirt and pants, giving off a regal yet eclectic feel.

He stepped onto the porch, eyeing us both with concern. Unending reached out to him telepathically before Sissa could introduce us, conveying the same message of peaceful intentions. He didn’t seem impressed, but there was something about his face that I found difficult to read.

“Father, we have guests from the outside world,” Sissa said.

The other soul fae were tempted to gather around his royal residence, but Loren waved them all away. “I urge everyone to