Wolf's Song: Sisters of the Fae, #3

By Clair Gardenwell

The ice of winter has passed, and with it, the threat of the Earlkin. What remains is the echo of blood, fear, and Puck as his influence stretches farther and farther across the land. War stretching tempers and supplies tight, Avalissa finds herself in the same familiar trap that she grew up in. Her presence is viewed as an annoyance instead of the proper leader she is trying to be. Alpha, the Dusk Court High Lord in all but title, feels the effect that war has on his court with every strike. Willing to call on tentative old alliances in the hope that it would lead to a peaceful solution.

Blood will be spilled, and tears will be shed as old secrets finally break free, and a lost court could be returned if Puck has his way. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clair Gardenwell
• Release date: Dec 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9798215168721

Clair Gardenwell

Hi! I'm Clair and thanks for reading my work! I'm a total book nerd and awkward introvert. My favorite things are fairy tales, suspenseful fantasy, steamy slow burn romances, and fluffy dogs and cats. If you would like to keep up to date on all my newest works, please don't hesitate to sign up for the email newsletter. I hope to see you again soon! 

Book preview

1

~Avalissa~

I STARED, PARTIALLY in shock, partially in disbelief at how the blade I had carried for so long was just one part of many. Their hilts connected together like a fan, letting the blades criss-cross behind Souji’s sword until the tip poked out on either side. The onyx stones flashed like fire, the violet aura pulsing around its form like a living heartbeat. The keys to unlock the Court of Dreams. Even though I had read about it, thought about it until my mind ached, but somehow seeing it now. In steel and stone, three weapons molded together as one, now it was finally real. How can you be sure about the location of the other keys? If Tier Nan Org was lost to most court records, how can you be sure that the keys themselves weren’t lost as well? Your own legends may just be that. Legends to help pass a cold winter’s night.  And how can we use this, I stabbed my finger towards the intertwined blades in Alpha’s hands, and his ears flicked in response. To find the other missing pieces.?

Alpha’s lips parted, a reply already on the tip of his tongue, but Souji beat him to it. Even if the pieces are combined together, how can they unlock a place of such power with the princesses’ blood?  He tipped his chin towards the blade trio again, the tight knot of his tails twisting slowly against his spine, and a dark shadow drifted across his face. Doubt momentarily deepened the smile lines around his eyes, but he shook it away with a flick of his ears. If we send a messenger to the Dawn court, they may be able to assist us in searching for their half of the key. If they have not already been captured, that is.

But what about Tier Nan Org, and- No! Damn her! I flicked my hands across my throat, and threw my most withering glare like a spear towards Belima. Her voice died instantly, both eyes growing fast until they nearly popped out of the socket. She couldn’t mention Mother’s picture just yet. Not until I had time to research it a little more, and find out exactly what it means. Somewhere in her bloodline, Mother had Dream Fae, no matter how diluted. The question now was to find out how that would affect us. Obviously, Puck believed that we had enough residue of Dawn Fae that we could open the gate with our blood. But if he didn’t have the other missing keys, then our blood was useless. Sensing her distress, Scolies perked up. A red flush tinted the scales across his forehead a bright ruby, and he puffed his cheeks out, angling a swirl of smoke directly for my face. If it’s as powerful as you claim, then why doesn’t every court guard the treasures with their life? We’re obviously not granted that much Fae blood to wield magic properly, much less the keys?

Alpha shrugged, idly flicking a hand through his hair. I don’t know. Most notes about the Dream Fae that I’ve read said that they were a very powerful race of Fae. So, you could have a secret well of magic that hasn’t been accessed yet. His gaze dropped to the floor, both ears twitching so quickly that they almost looked like wings. 

It still doesn’t make sense. Why has everyone tried to hide this court? We should have learned about this in school. It’s our blood and bone history. Searching for a source to let out my agitation, my fingers wandered up to my hair and weaved through the dark strands. A few snagged my fingertips, twisting around the edges of my nails until they pulled taut, and several tiny needles stabbed my scalp. Ouch! I shouldn’t have done that. I let the hair snap back into its normal position, letting my gaze roam over to the map spread across the wall. This wasn’t the map I had studied either.

It seems that there is a great deal of information that was withheld not just by High Lord Bergan, but many others as well. Souji said carefully, gently rubbing his chin with thumb and forefinger. The golden sheen of his eyes darkened slightly with thought, three of his tails knotted so tightly against his spine that they almost seemed to melt back into his skin. My suspicion continued to grow higher, wondering exactly what he was thinking, and perhaps he would be interested in talking to that father of his. If the Dusk Court held this type of information, who knew what the Fire Court was hiding in those elegant clothes of theirs.

Restlessly shifting from foot to foot, the stiff muscles in my shoulders ached with tension, and I let some of the energy go down to my feet. Pacing slowly around the floor in ever widening circles, the two men didn’t notice my change too much. An ear flick apiece was the only response as they both bent over the partially assembled key, but Belima was different. Taking a seat in the nearest chair, she leaned back, arching her spine until I heard the distinctive pop-pop of joints and ligaments stretching. The light frown lines around her eyes didn’t release, her lips still pressed so thin that they had nearly vanished into her chin. Probably the effects of crawling around the Earlkin’s cave.

Are you beginning to ache, my lady? I jumped, Souji’s soft whisper drifting Belima’s way as he crossed over to stand behind her, one hand lightly grazing across her shoulders, and he leaned down to whisper something directly into her ear.

She nodded slowly, but waved him off with a flash of her hand. It’s okay. I’m fine. No, she wasn’t. I could see the doubt from her lie showing in her eyes, but as always, Souji didn’t argue with her. Instead, he kept his position behind her, letting his hands knead against the tensed line of muscles across the width of her shoulders, and raised his head. A subtle wink, so quick that I would have missed it if I blinked, came my way before he turned back to where Alpha had taken the second blade back out of the key formation. Twisting the dagger one way, and then another. He finally tossed it up high in the air, the light flashing off the diamond sharp edge, and caught it with a lazy hand.

This was your mother’s gift to you, so I think that you should keep it for now. Shaking the blades free with a flick of his hand, Alpha laid the two smaller blades side by side, and it was easy to see how similar they were. Twins again, the irony doesn't escape me, but my humor was not in the mood for a chuckle. 

If that damned Puck creature is right, and there are six more pieces as you said, minus the two that are currently in possession by the Earth and Water courts. How can we acquire them all? Irritating furball. Why couldn’t he just speak what he thought instead of racing around in circles after his tail. Stepping up my pace, I could feel Alpha’s gaze burning hotly into my back, trying to melt my bones and skin, but I refused to stop. I needed the movement, the twitching muscles in my shoulders needing something, anything to do. Now, I wish I had wings. Even if they were heavy, it would give me something to help control these tremors.

Or they might be stored somewhere. A place that no one would dare to look. I paused in mid step, my right leg hanging high in the air, and my toes pointed down for the next stop. What was he thinking? I turned slowly, catching the calculated way Alpha shook his hand through his dark hair. The yellow undertones in his golden eyes flashed bright, and the slight flush to his cheeks hinting at his excitement at whatever secret he was hiding.

You know something. I narrowed my eyes, and his ears tilted back like my very gaze was poison itself. What is it?

Nothing that concerns your ladyship. Maybe it was just the shadows playing with the light, but together they sharpened the length of his chin, the defiant line of his jaw tilted up. Stubbornness gleamed like tiny stars in the sheen of his eyes, holding my gaze with no sign of wavering at all. I snorted, resisting the urge to stomp my foot, and hoped his tail would knot up to his shoulders. Infuriating man. I let out a harsh sigh, dismissively flicking a hand towards the weapons.

I’ll take those back to my room until you decide if you want to help your court survive, or perish like the others.

Belima stepped forward, disapproval etched into every line of her pout. Lissa, don’t be like that.

Me? A spark of anger set my blood boiling again, my skin so hot that steam could have risen from the surface. I twisted around, the stray fringes of my hair slapping against my cheek, and focused my most withering gaze on her. It’s him that’s being unreasonable! The entire fate of saving the land from a homicidal maniac rests here, and he won't share what he’s hiding. And don’t call me Lissa! The same instant that my palm slammed against the table, a sharp pain bloomed along my palm. I hissed in shock, drawing it close to my chest as slick crimson started flowing through my fingers. Shit!

Oh, my! Here, sister. Let’s get you cleaned up. Before I had the chance to even breath, or object, Belima grabbed my arm and laid it flat against the table. Nimble fingers rolled up the hem of my sleeve until my entire forearm was bared, and a miniature stream of red snaked down through the creases of my palms. Pooling in the hollows of my wrists, the underlying of my veins stood out in sharp contrast, creating hills and valleys of a living landscapes. It was beautiful, in a morbid sort of way, and not something I would have noticed previously if my mind wasn’t already pulled in a thousand directions. Scolies, you stay here. The dragon scuttles off her shoulder to stand beside my arm, his forked tongue flicking out to taste the air, and he twists his head to look up with a silent question in his eyes.

What? I arch an eyebrow, but he merely shakes all over. A flush of forest green shifts across his scales, like someone pulling a blanket underneath his skin, and he sniffs loudly. His long neck bent in half to inspect my wound while my sister spoke with Souji. If you lick me, I’ll make sure you regret it.

The dragon snorted again, the bony ridge across his brow lowering to cover the upper half of his eyes, and smoke curled around his muzzle like fog. I wasn’t worth the energy, he seemed to say. A chirp seconded that idea, and he twisted around, the entire sinewy length of his body twirling on itself like a freshly cooked noodle on stubby legs, and hopped off the table. The floor thumped, the click clack of his claws scampering away made Belima turn around again, a thick wad of linen in her left hand and her bright eyes stretched wide. Scolies! I told you to stay. Ugh! The dark shadows under her eyes deepen as she scowls, her arms crossing over her chest and bearing the new reddish scars to the light. After her bout with the Earlkin, she didn’t look like my pampered little sister any longer, but a warrior. Someone who had faced life’s battles and came out singing in victory.

I wonder what she would say if I told her that.

Sometimes I wonder what goes through his head. She laughed, sitting a small glass jar on top of the table. I leaned back, instantly suspicious of the foul green mixture that it contained, but she didn’t pay any attention to me. Here, this will help. She flipped the lid off, dipping up a generous scoop onto her fingertips, and smeared it directly across my palm. Ick! It felt like cold mud, so thick and chalky as it slid around my fingers. Stinging slightly as it enveloped where the splinter had stabbed in, red mixed with the green to form an ugly but protective black crust. The Ginger in this cream will help numb any pain you have, and the Fennel leaves and Elderberry essence will help prevent infection.

I tipped my head to the side, considering the skilled way she started to extract the splinter shards from my palm. You’re learning quite a bit from that woman, aren’t you?

She giggled, the high apples of her cheeks growing pink with excitement. Dafnea is really teaching me a lot. I’m so glad that she let me sign up to be her apprentice. Over and over, she circled the linen over my hand until it formed a thick band. Ending it with a petite bow dead center of the back of my hand, it seems that all of my mother's lessons in flower and ribbon arrangement hadn’t gone to a complete waste after all. Souji is doing so much better with his father too. They are actually talking now, and taking tea.

On one hand, I was proud to hear that Souji and the High Lord were on speaking terms, but peace between the two was still too far away to be counted on. If anything, they were more of a problem than a solution. The Fire Court members are draining the supplies quicker than anticipated, and it would help if they would help fight against Puck’s influence rather than leaning back and drinking liquor.  I snarled and she knew very well what I was speaking of. If there had been more eyes available, and bodies on patrol. The water contamination caused by the Earlkin and Puck may have never happened at all.

You should be nicer to them. They are people in need of help too. Just like we are. Tucking the jar of salve back into some hidden pocket on her skirt, Belima stood up and flipped her glossy hair over her shoulder. And the High Lord is too. What exactly has happened between the two of you?

I was on my feet before I realized what happened. A harsh squeal rasping against the floor as the table jolted three inches away, and a flash of motion caught the edge of my sight. Four furry ears flared to attention, and the weight of their eyes fell on my shoulders. I refuse to stand by and see someone address their position with such a lack of integrity. He doesn’t realize what his title truly means, or his duty to his people to lead his court properly!

Lissa, everything isn’t always about our duty. Sometimes we have to trust our heart to do the right thing. No, I couldn’t stand it right now. Not the gentle smile that made my sister’s face bright, or the way that I could feel Souji absolutely glowing with pride over her words. It betrayed every last ounce of my training, but I threw my hands up into the air and sighed harshly. Trying to resist the urge to rip out my hair by the roots. 

Whatever! Do what you like, but don’t expect me to save you when Puck drags you all from your beds and slits your throat. The last words crossed my lips, and a silence so loud that I could hear the breath whistling in their lungs. Tipping my head back, a pair of blazing golden eyes met mine, and I turned away. Making sure that every inch of my spine was straight as iron as I stalked out of the room.

2

~Alpha~

T hat has to be the single most infuriating woman I’ve ever met. Raking a hand through the dark nest of my hair, it already stood on end from hours of slinking through the forest, searching for any sign of that furry asshole who tried to poison my court. And now this. I was just trying to help her figure out the next piece of this Luna damned puzzle, but she just wanted all of the pieces for herself like a selfish little brat. A growl brewed low in my chest, the beginning twitches of a cramp kinking up the sensitive muscles at the base of my tail, and it felt like someone had pushed needles into skin. Wonderful. How do you stand her?

Souji tipped his head to the side, the left ear twisting back while the right stayed in a moderately upright position. The slightly off-center look matched the way he softly gnawed on his lower lip, carefully considering his next words, but finally smiled and winked at me. Lissa has always been pushed towards perfection, particularly by her father as the new High Lady. She’s not the easiest to get along with, I will grant that. But she has a very loyal and thoughtful side as well. With a slight bow at the waist, Souji stepped over to inspect the sword his father had gifted him with, and raised a hand out. May I? 

I pushed the sword across the table into his waiting grasp, the Fire Fae flipping it hilt over blade and back again before sheathing it at his side. I snorted, a twitch of amusement breaking the cramps in my tail for a moment, but then they were back again. Where? It must be buried pretty deep because so far, it’s just this pain in the ass side that is showing. Taking my own dagger back, I left the third for Belima to do with as she pleased, and caught the amused flick of his ears even though he hid his smile behind his hands. Seriously, what do you think? Crossing my arms over my chest, I leaned my weight back on my heel and felt a second cramp tighten around my left thigh.

"If this Puck fellow is really wanting to unlock the fallen