Trial by Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #1) - Linsey Hall Page 0,1

who could make new magic. Any kind of new magic—stuff so powerful it could destroy the world. So rare that we were myths to most people.

The downside was that the government would happily toss us in the Prison for Magical Miscreants because we could be a threat. That was, if they didn’t try to capture us and force us to use our powers for their own benefit. Turning us into weapons that could potentially destroy the world. Just like my aunt and uncle had tried to do before we’d escaped. Just like our childhood friend had tried to do when we were teenagers. My first real friend on the outside world, and she’d revealed our secrets to those who would hurt us.

Because of that, no one outside of our tiny, trusted circle knew what we were. No one could ever know.

I’d lived that life before, and I’d die before I’d go back.

“I’ve got time for a quick drink,” Aeri said. “Then I’ve got to meet Declan.”

I turned to her and waggled my eyebrows. “Big date?”

She grinned. “Yep. Brunch.”

Last month, Aeri had met the love of her life, a fallen angel. I liked him a hell of a lot, and if I missed Aeri when she went on her dates, I sure as hell didn’t say so. She deserved to be happy.

“Then come on. One quick one and you go get cleaned up for your date.” I shuddered dramatically. “In the morning.”

“Just because you’re nocturnal doesn’t mean we all are.”

I laughed and led her toward my apartment, which hid behind a door that no one but she or I could see. Inside, each piece of furniture was a random antique and every bit of fabric a different color. Since I generally wore all black when out in the world, it was a nice change. There was a pile of knitting on the couch, which was one of my closest held secrets. It really didn’t fit with my outside image, but everyone needed a hobby, right?

Aeri and I settled in the cluttered little kitchen, and I whipped up our drinks. I grilled her on her plans with Declan, enjoying our time together. For years, it’d just been me and her against the world. I was glad Declan was around, but I liked our sister time as much as ever.

By the time we’d finished our drinks—a Manhattan for me, a martini for her—I was ready to get my beauty sleep.

Aeri split for her place, and I headed into my bathroom, then stared into the mirror.

Fates, I look rough.

Though my eyes were tired and my skin pale, my black eye makeup was still impeccable, thanks to a special spell. It streaked around my eyes and over the bridge of my nose, sweeping back toward my temples like a mask.

A bit like Zorro, really.

And that was the point. It was meant to hide me.

Hide me from the past. From the family who had kept me and Aeri captive as children because of what we were. They’d forced us to use our Dragon Blood powers for their purposes. They’d try to do it again if they found us. Others would as well—we knew that from experience. We were the perfect weapons.

I shook away thoughts of the past and climbed into the shower. It was the one part of the apartment that I’d cared enough to modernize—all stone and chrome with a waterfall showerhead.

Ten minutes later, I climbed out of the shower, hearing Aeri shout goodbye and slam out of the house. How she had any desire to go places in the morning, I had no idea. I slipped into a robe and headed for the bedroom. I took my time putting away my fight wear and finally settled into bed. I fell asleep almost immediately.

For some fate-forsaken reason, the dream came almost immediately. On the bad nights, it always did.

I’d done everything in my power to forget the past. Aeri and I had left it behind in Grimrealm when we’d escaped at fifteen. I wanted it to stay there.

But it would creep out in the night, when my defenses were down.

It started how the dreams always started…me, kneeling in the cold stone cell. Grimrealm was underground—right beneath Magic’s Bend—so everything was cold and dark. All the time. But the cell was the worst.

The only light came from the window in the door, and most often, it was blocked by my aunt’s leering face.

“Do it,” she hissed. “Do it, or I will tell her what you really