we going to stand back to back and take twenty paces?” No, that was for a Wild West showdown. Not a Faerie duel. “What are the rules?”
“Deep breath, Alex,” Falin whispered. “You can use any weapon or magic that is yours to use. No one may help you or lend you anything. This fight is to the death, so . . .”
“I have to kill her to win,” I finished for him, a cold sweat breaking out over my entire body.
“Mind your shadow,” Dugan said, stepping up beside me.
I glanced up at him. “What?”
“She is recently of my court, so her magic will still be that of shadow.”
Right.
“Any other tips?”
He seemed to hesitate, his eyes moving to where Teaghan still conversed with Ryese. Then he said, “She is a formidable fighter, skilled in both magic and blades. Many of her weapons are enchanted, so be wary.” His frown deepened. “The blade found with Kordon’s body? It was a courtship present from her many centuries ago.”
I blinked in surprise, more pieces of this puzzle falling into place. We’d known Dugan’s dagger had been planted at the scene, and I’d assumed it had been done to further implicate shadow. But if Teaghan was our shadow connection—and she almost certainly was—the choice of stealing her own courtship gift, one Dugan still kept in his private rooms, seemed very personal.
Also, I was about to duel to the death one of my ally’s former lovers. This wouldn’t end well. Even if I somehow survived.
“Clear the space,” the queen yelled, and Dugan stepped back.
Falin hesitated a moment longer. Then he leaned down and kissed me. Magic fluttered from his lips into mine. I jerked back in surprise, both by the kiss and the magic, but he held me close, pressing the spell into me. “It’s a truth spell,” he whispered directly into my lips. “It won’t last long, and you have to be touching her to make it work, but she will be compelled to answer any question you ask. If you can, try to get her to confess. But be careful, you will be compelled to answer any question asked as well.” Then he kissed me again, and this time there was no transfer of spells, just concern, affection, and desire. “Survive this,” he said as he pulled back.
Then hands locked on his upper arms, drawing him back, away from the makeshift dueling ring, and I was left alone in the opening void of space. Well, almost alone. My deadly-looking opponent studied me, her hands hovering over weapons strapped to her sides.
I licked my lips, still feeling the heat of the kiss, but also the small tingle of the spell. I was familiar with this particular magic—Falin had used it on me when we’d first met, and it definitely cut both ways. I’d have to be careful. I stared at the arsenal of blades strapped to Teaghan. Oh yeah, get close enough to touch her and ask questions—no problem. This sucked. But I’d try. If I won, she’d be dead and I doubted the queen would allow me to question her shade. If I was going to find answers, it would have to be during the fight.
“Prepare yourselves.” The queen sounded far too cheery considering two fae were about to try to kill each other in front of her.
I wiped my damp palms on my pants and pulled my dagger from my boot holster. My sweat immediately slicked the hilt. This was ridiculous. Barbaric.
“Go!”
Teaghan sprang forward, rushing across the throne room toward me, her sword arm crossed over her chest, elbow out, ready to slash. The dagger I held jerked upward, guiding my hand. I let it. The bloodthirsty enchanted blade knew more about fighting than I did.
My dagger caught the longer sword by the blade before it could slash through me. The enchanted blade sank into the sword as if the other metal was made of nothing more substantial than warmed butter. I reached up with my other hand and grabbed Teaghan’s bare wrist, letting the spell Falin had given me flow into her.
“Were you involved with the deaths of Kordon of shadow and Stiofan of winter?”
Teaghan’s eyes flew wide. “Yes,” she barked out, unable to help but answer. A gasp sounded around the throne room at her confession.
“What are you doing?” she hissed.
“Investigating.” The answer sprang from my lips before I could stop it, the spell compelling me as well.
Her lips curled in rage and she ripped her arm from my grasp. “Well,