A Court of Trickery and Salvation

Chapter Eightteen

The day of my final trial is here at last, the riddle Rhysand mentioned has been rattling around in my mind for days. I've never been really good at riddles and this one is no exception, no matter how many times I've repeated the strange string of words. Casteel and Rhysand have kept their word about not visiting me in my cell, even though my heart screams for them. After this is over, my life will be entirely different. Living in the Night Court with Rhysand and knowing who Casteel really is, I can't begin to fathom how this is going to work. The guards come to the cell but they don't touch me, Casteel's warning very apparent on their faces. Once again, the chatter dies as soon as the guards lead me into the main room. Faeries of all different courts stand clustered in their own groups but when I look to Rhysand, he stands alone. Not a single other member of the Night Court stands in this hellish place. Casteel is in his usual place seated beside Amarantha in an identical throne while Tamlin stands at her side.

"Ready for your last trial Kayla? Or have you figured out the riddle yet?" She taunts as we glare at each either, the room filling with tense silence from the others.

"Remember our bargain Amarantha, I finish this trial and you release Tamlin and his court." I had completely forgotten that part of the bargain, I made a deal to free only Tamlin and his people. Not Rhysand or anyone else.

"Yes yes I know Kayla. Finish this and your beloved Tamlin is free." She rolls her dark eyes before they settle back onto me as the guards haul three people with bags over their heads i front of me. I look back at her, my eyes wide with shock. "Here's your final trial, can you kill these three in order to save your precious Tamlin?"

"They're innocent!" I yell back at her, my chest heaving as I look back to the three in front of me. "You can't expect me to kill them!" Amarantha's smirk was all the answer I need before walking towards the three kneeling in front of me. I take the ash dagger from the box as the guard takes the hood off the first victim. The young male's green eyes glitter with tears as he begs me to spare his life. I clench my fist hard at my side as I kneel in front of him. "It's going to be okay. I'll make it quick." I tell him before shoving the blade into his heart, his blood warming my hand. It takes all my effort not to look towards Casteel, to keep my focus on the two remaining Fae in front of me as I drop the knife and move to the next.

"Please... just make it painless." The young female begs, closing her eyes and starting up a prayer to her gods. I clench my jaw, throwing a glare at Amarantha before refocusing on her. I've never killed anything before this, I've had the training but Casteel made sure I was never the one to kill anything. The blood on my hands feels too much like Jaye's, my mind snapping back to that field screaming for him. Gods he'd be so disappointed, he loved anything Fae and here I am killing them. My hand trembles as I pick up the second dagger before thrusting it into her heart, more blood coating my hand. Nausea rushes through my body at the feeling, slamming my mind into that moment. The third Fae I don't even see, my mind locked in the memory of Jaye's death. All I see is the Craven's snarling face, feel Jaye's blood on my hands, hear my own screaming. The dagger hits something hard, snapping me from my spiraling for me to see the dagger sticking out of Tamlin's chest.

"No!" I yell, ripping the dagger from his chest and watch in horror but to my relief his shinning emerald eyes stay full of life.

"Congratulations, you passed the last test." Amarantha rages, her black eyes flashing as she walks from the throne with Casteel at her side. I grip the dagger tighter in my hand before lunging for her only to be thrown back into the wall.

"Kayla!" Someone yells from the crowd but my heads spinning from the force of the impact that I can't place it. I force myself up, stumbling slightly only to be forced to my knees by magic. Amarantha hits me with another blast of magic, blood spewing from my mouth from the impact. "Kayla!" Rhys' voice becomes clearer, the desperation almost as frantic as Casteel's was when I came here.

"That's enough Amarantha! She completed your trials! Keep your word!" Casteel roars, moving to intercept Amarantha's next attack but she ignores his words. Rhys moves quickly only to be sent flying into the opposite wall, his body straining against the magic.

"You're... pathetic." I pant, raising my gaze to glare into her onyx eyes that hold so much rage and jealousy. "Tamlin doesn't love you... so you throw a fit." Her riddle clicks into place at my own words and a bitter laugh rushes from me. "Love... that's the answer to your riddle." Pure, undiluted fury fills those eyes as the room fills with light. Amarantha let's out a ear splitting screech before more magic hits me followed a loud crack before everything is slammed into darkness. I'm drifting through the darkness, a light shimmering a little distance away and I start swimming towards it.... Until I feel a strong tug, pulling me back towards my body. Two strong insistent tugs propelling me through the darkness and away from the welcoming light. A sharp gasp pushes through my lips as I inhale a lung full of air.

"Kayla? Thank the gods!" Casteel cradles me in his arms, his forehead resting against mine as he whispers soft words of relief. My gaze sweeps around him, six other males beside Rhysand stare down at me in awe. "Thank you." Casteel breathes, pressing a kiss to my forehead before looking up at Rhysand.

"I'll give you tonight before she returns with me. We'll work out a deal from there Prince Casteel." Rhysand's intense violet eyes meet mine again. "Welcome to the world of Fae Kayla."