Unstoppable (Their Shifter Academy #6) - May Dawson Page 0,17

sparkly kind. The terrifying kind that use mind control and feed off people.”

“They keep mortal servants,” Arlen said. “Unlike anyone in our courts, except for Summer.”

“Another thing that makes us think Herrick aligned with the blood Fae, because the other seasonal courts all rejected the idea of mortal servants and living tithes a long time ago,” Raura went on. “Anyway, somehow Herrick became the most powerful Fae—he had more magic than any of us—”

“She hates to admit that,” Arlen said.

Raura might’ve taken offense, but she flashed him a cool smile. “I do. But our new king here has to understand how well and truly fucked we are, to borrow one of the best of mortal words.”

“And now his asshole son, Faer, is supposed to be High King as well as the king of the summer court. The High King rules over the other seasonal courts. But his sister, Alisa, has been ruining his plans,” Arlen went on as the three of us trekked up the long hill. I could barely see the castle ahead of us through the mist.

“I love that girl,” Raura said.

“You almost murdered her,” Arlen reminded her flatly.

She raised her hands. “It’s in the past. We’re besties now.”

Arlen snorted. “Poor girl. As if she didn’t have enough trouble.”

“Anyway, ever since she went off and started a rebellion, Faer has been trying to make everyone swear allegiance to him. Sooner or later, the two of them will duel for the high throne and he wants every bit of power on his side he can amass.” Raura smiled up at me. “Enter you.”

“I see,” I said, and raked my hand through my hair. “Can I go home now?”

I didn’t mean it. I’d promised to stay long enough to see things set right in my kingdom. My plan was to have Raura take the throne and rule as queen of spring, though; she was a natural leader. I just couldn’t leave this kingdom behind while it was still in tatters, not when the people thought they needed me.

“You really want to live in another world when you could be a king in this one?” Arlen asked me skeptically, crossing powerful arms over his chest.

“This world doesn’t have Maddie in it,” I said.

Raura said to Arlen, “God, I love him. He’s so cute. Why can’t you be more like him?”

Arlen gave her a long look. Then to me, he said, “You don’t want to go anywhere near Faer’s court right now.”

“Tell me what stringers are,” I said, still stuck on that part of Faer’s threat.

“Nickname for Faer’s guards,” Arlen said briefly, and mimed a noose around his throat. “When villages rebel, they kill everyone in it and string them up from the walls outside the keep.”

“Everyone?” I asked. I knew the Fae world was brutal as well as beautiful, but my mind stuttered over the image of innocents hanging from the walls, including children.

“Everyone,” Raura confirmed.

“Why do you have all these vile people running your kingdoms?” I demanded.

“Um, I’ve been to your world. I don’t think you can talk,” Raura reminded me.

“So if I pretend I never received his letter, he’ll start murdering our people?” I was just talking out loud; I already knew the answer. “I’ll go, then.”

Raura and Arlen exchanged a look. We’d reached the mouth of the keep, but they came to a stop.

They were obviously worried, but I said, “Listen. I’ll try to find a way out of it. But if I swear allegiance to Faer, it’s a personal vow, right? I’m not swearing on behalf of the spring court itself.”

“Correct,” Arlen said.

“And his sister, Alisa, seems like she should be a better ruler?”

“Anyone would have to be,” Raura said lightly. “But yes. She’s got some very mortal sensibilities right now, but she’s decent. She cares for her people.”

I regarded her skeptically. “I’ve got some very mortal sensibilities.”

“I know, but we forgive you.”

“Okay,” I said. “Easy day. If I can’t avoid it, I pledge allegiance to Faer to buy us time, we help Alisa take the throne, and then I get to go home.”

“Yeah,” Arlen echoed. “Easy day.”

Our voices seemed to be lost to the fog. It felt as if we were alone in the world.

Then a roar broke the still of the fog. It was hard to tell how far away it was at first, with sounds muffled by the weather, but the next second, the ground shook faintly under my feet.

“Let’s see if we live long enough to write Faer back,” Arlen said, his sword