Undying Hate~ Book Three

The processional walk through the court ending in the throne room took all morning, and Sylvie couldn’t stop yawning or shuffling on her aching feet. She was sure she was getting filthy looks from the Fae around her, but she didn’t care. They were all so stuck up and looked down on her anyway; what were a few more reasons to hate her?

She was sixth or so in the line, with Kol at the front with his guards, Kerensa and Kian behind him and a bunch of other Fae she didn’t know nor recognise. She wondered if they had come from a different court altogether, their colourful skin and inhuman features constantly catching her eye. Maybe sun court?

Some had veins that gave off light, the patterns all over their body illuminating the dull Fae around them. Another Fae, a baby blue colour, had scales all over their arms and faces that occasionally caught the light and changed from navy to lilac. Staring was rude, but they were straight out of a fantasy film.

Honestly.

The faint urge to strike up a conversation with them kept her on her toes as the guards ahead said some gibberish words about the following stages of the crowning. Elias slowed as he walked ahead of her, his body tense and rigid.

Despite not turning to check on her once, he was keeping tabs on her. His slow, deep breathing and superhuman hearing were probably locating her by scent and aggravated sighs every two minutes as her dress snagged on a pebble.

At one point, she contemplated tripping herself so he would interact with her. Touch her, maybe. After the conversation the night before, he hadn’t been cold, just distant.

And it was so much worse. At least if he were cold, he would punish her, and they would kiss and make up, but this... it was like he was disappointed in her. And she understood it. She did. But it also kind of wasn’t her fault. She sighed; they’d have to talk about it eventually.

She tuned out the Fae leading the crowning and stared at Elias’ side profile again. His jaw ticked as he clenched his teeth together repeatedly. She unconsciously copied him, and her jaw quickly ached—damn brooding men.

“We now show our acceptance of our King-”

The crowd erupted with cheers, screams and shouts of affirmation. Kol smiled tightly at his people, the crown sitting comfortably on his braided scalp. His eyes passed over her, and she shook her head. Typical. His taking over Evergreen was the beginning of the end. She just knew it.

“Let the festivities begin,” he proclaimed, lifting a golden chalice.

Not waiting for another invitation, Sylvie followed the main procession of Fae to the tables bordering every wall of the throne room and began picking at the hors d’oeuvres. Nothing looked familiar besides deep blue grape vines winding between every platter, but she nibbled a little bit of everything, from purple, steaming sweets the texture of bread to a hard lime green star-shaped vegetable. At least it tasted like a vegetable.

Her mate’s marks warmed as footsteps approached, and she ignored the shadow swallowing her as she ate a handful of warm pastries.

“Stay close.”

She nodded but kept her back to Elias, even when his sigh ripped at her heartstrings. Focusing on chewing and swallowing helped keep the tears at bay as the steps receded. She should’ve just turned around and said something. This fight- if it could even be called a fight, could have ended if she had just apologised.

She could handle herself pretty well, but she realised how dangerous these places were for her, considering her history. He just wanted to keep her safe. And she kept spitting in the face of his protection.

But did she really need it? She wasn’t a helpless damsel anymore. Ugh. Her mind was full of contradictions. She just needed to leave Evergreen ASAP and return to her life on Earth.

Of all the events she’d been to in the Fae Realm, only one left her with good feelings, and that was her wedding to Kian— a Fae she hadn’t even spoken to all morning. He had been stuck glued to his father’s side, listening to the poisonous words of the new king, no doubt. She wondered if he had said anything about her. Surely Kian wouldn’t allow Kol to speak ill of her. But he didn’t say anything last night... That was all Elias.

She wandered along the table and stared at a twisted sculpture carved in a blue rock formation. The urge to touch it was almost too much until a Fae grunted at her approaching fingers. She slammed her teeth into another pastry to stop herself from apologising, and they walked away. Finishing her mouthful, another set of footsteps replaced the ones that left. This time, however, the owner was far less gentle and did nothing to the mate marks on her chest.

“Hart, let’s go.”

“Not now Kerensa.”

“The crowning is over-”

“The Stone Court can wait,” she grumbled. She wanted nothing less than to be stuck in a carriage with her brooding husband for four days.

After a few curses, Kerensa disappeared, and Sylvie dawdled down the tables, eating until her stomach cramped. She didn’t notice she had made it to the throne until Kol’s glare pinned her down. Fucking hell.

“I heard you spoke with a visiting Fae during Katarina’s funeral.”

Shrugging, she turned side-on to avoid looking into his dead eyes. “And?”

“And nothing. Best not to aggravate your pet.”

Her pet?

She narrowed her eyes, turning slowly and swallowing a grape. “I know you aren’t talking about Elias right now because if you are-”

“If I were, what? More threats? I could portal you to a demon realm right now, and no one would be the wiser. I suggest you watch your tone, girl.” His cheeks pinched as if summoning a smile as a presence appeared at Sylvie’s side. “Son.”

“Kol.”

Sylvie didn’t wait for their conversation to start. She just turned, disappeared into the swarming crowd of chatting Fae, and let the bustle take her.

“Sylv?” Like being tossed in a violent ocean, she got sucked in, her breathing growing shallow as they swelled and swayed until finally, they spat her out near a side door. Seeking an opportunity for a reprieve, she pushed through them and sucked in the fresh, cool air of the empty halls.

It wasn’t a hall she recognised, only based on the view outside the windows, but she wandered further nonetheless. Beneath her heels, the stone clacked and sent a sharp ache up her feet. Why she agreed to wear the heels on the longest walk of her life, she had no clue.

At least it was calm and gave her time to think as she found a window seat in the sun and perched herself in the warm beams. The wind dried the beading sweat on her neck, and she closed her eyes. Everything in her life was a mess, but at least in her mind, she could find peace if she tried really, really hard.

In her mind, Elias could be his usual sexy, dominating self, Kian— cheeky but gentle, and Rowan wasn’t realms away but at her side, giving her a strength she didn’t know she had. Could they feel she was thinking about them? Could Rowan? She’d never do this again, she vowed. Leaving a mate behind was the worst choice she had made in a while, and now she had no one.

Clouds blotted out the warm sun, and her vision changed. Those men she loved so much drew away from her, each with their own reasons, and she was alone. So alone. Suddenly the hallway didn’t feel as serene, and she missed the bustle of the throne room. It was quiet.

Too quiet.

“Shit.” She opened her eyes and blinked, relieved no demon stood an inch from her face staring into her soul as she smoothed her gown.

Running her tongue across her teeth, she ensured all the food was gone before returning the way she came. Then, tongue halfway across her front teeth, she froze, letting it pull back and make a frustrated click. “What do you want now?”

Kol stood, imposing and staunch, his face completely blank. He hadn’t made a sound as he exited the doors, and his entourage was nowhere in sight. How the hell did he get past his guards? He was the king now, not a random noble.

When he didn’t say anything, she groaned and went to walk around him, but his hand shot and curled around her bicep, squeezing tightly.

“Let go.”

Still, he remained silent.

Suddenly scared he was going to portal her into hell, she jerked as hard as she could. At the same time, he let go, and she flew into the wall, bruising her ribs. “What the fuck?”

She backed out of his touching distance, sucking in pained breaths and kicked off her heels. It was best to get rid of the impractical shoes if she was about to fight. The dress was a problem, too, and she contemplated tearing it in half to give her room to fight.

“What do you want, Kol?”

His face twitched as if he was malfunctioning.

Sylvie’s face scrunched into a frown. “What the fuck is happening right now? Did someone roofie me again?”

“Quiet.” Kol’s stern voice made her step back. The anger and power beneath the tone frightened her.

Where the fuck were her mates when she needed them. Too bad she couldn’t mind link them like with Rowan.

“Let me go. My mates are waiting for me.”

Kol scoffed and stalked forward, his whole face flickering. “Mates. Bonded. Disgusting.”

“Fuck you.” She matched his forward steps with backpedals.

Any second now, her mates would swoop in. Any fucking second.

“No one’s coming for you.”

“What? Just stop. Hey!”

He leapt forward, and she ducked under his arm, getting behind him to sprint back to the throne room when her dress fabric ripped backwards.

Screaming, she spun and threw a punch at his face. It landed, and he jerked back, no expression at all. In fact, he looked as dead as ever. Whatever possessed him was powerful, and she prayed she never met them alone. Though with her current track record of finding herself isolated in deadly situations, she didn’t hold out hope.

“Freak.”

The punch wasn’t enough to make him let go of her dress, so she kicked at his gut. This time he was expecting it and grabbed her ankle, spinning her towards the nearest open window, letting her go at the peak of her momentum. “Oh my god-”

The fresh air approached faster than she thought possible, and she screamed as she grazed her stomach and outstretched arms on the concrete window opening before careening at least two stories to the Earth. Her arms and legs windmilled, preparing for the worst pain of her life, and time stilled. The air whipped passed her ears with a high-pitched whine, and the soft chanting of a deep voice drifted on the wind.

“Kill the girl. Kill the girl. Kill the girl.”