Page 4 of The Reaping Rose

“I’m going into the prison.” I stand my ground.

His eyes immediately narrow.

The Fae prison sits at the center of Alyssium. It’s spelled so that any Fae who enters cannot leave until their death. Since there is no magic on this island, those trapped inside eventually suffer the Beating, where a Fae’s heart drains of magic and becomes mortal so quickly it kills them. Only then does the prison let them out.

Since my Fae blood has woken, Callum worries I won’t be able to escape those walls like I did the last time I stepped inside.

“I know you don’t want me to⁠—”

“Because there’s a chance that you’ll never be able to leave.” Callum’s jaw tenses. “What good does that do anyone?”

I take a deep breath, knowing he’s right but refusing to acknowledge it. “The prison let me out once. It will do it again.”

“The last time you entered the prison, your Fae side was dormant. It wasn’t awake⁠—”

“It’s not awake right now,” I argue, holding up my hand, weaving it without a flicker of magic appearing. “As far as the prison is concerned, I’m as human as I ever was.”

Callum’s eyes fix on me. “Whether your magic is reachable at the moment or not, it’s there. Stirring. You sense it, don’t you? Because so long as you do, the prison can too.”

I drop my hand, clenching my teeth but not letting my expression falter. Callum is right. While I can’t wield my magic here, its presence is overwhelming. It burns hot and endless inside me. I’m not the same as I was the last time I walked those halls, and the prison will sense that too.

A gust has the shingles rattling, pulling my attention to the ceiling. We’ve been reinforcing the windows, the walls. They barely withstand the constant storms.

When it finally quiets, I look back at Callum.

“We can’t sit here and wait for the sea or the sky to claim us. I need to do something. And since we can’t get back to the continent, our only option is to look for answers here—from her.”

He bristles at the mention of my mother. At the source of the unique Fae blood in my veins.

My entire life I thought my mother was a human who died giving birth to me. It wasn’t until I was in the Ley Court that I learned she was not human at all, but a Fae prisoner, trapped on Alyssium for reasons unknown. Maybe that should make me wary of trusting her. But if she’s alive in there, she is the only one who might be able to help me unlock my celestial magic like I did once to bring Wilder back from the dead. If I can find a way to wield here, there’s a chance of healing our realm and finding my mate.

“The prison has a mind of its own; even if your mother is alive, it’s doubtful the prison will lead you to her.”

“It will.” I wish I felt as certain as I sound, even if a beat in the night calls out to me, giving me hope.

“And if the prison never lets you leave?” The hurt in Callum’s voice replaces all the anger.

My throat is sand as I swallow. “Then protect them all for me.”

For Callum’s sake, I’ve been putting off the inevitable, knowing he may never forgive me for walking into the prison if it decides not to let me out. Or maybe I’ve been delaying this for Wilder, hoping he would find a way to get to me so I could see him one last time before I face my fate.

But we’re out of time, and I can’t put this off any longer.

I rest my palm over the rune at the center of my chest, staring into that dark thread inside me with no light and no end. No hint or hope of Wilder’s presence. I leave my thoughts open, knowing they may never reach him, yet holding out hope.

After all, Wilder made me a promise, and that’s what I cling to.

“I will find you.”

He will. And even if I’m trapped in the prison or dead, I know my mate will save my people.

I stare into the obsidian quiet of the fates, and I whisper to my mate, “I will get us answers.”

Inside the prison is the hope of my mother—of answers when we’ve had so few lately. I have to try, no matter the cost.

Chapter 2

Elorie