Crimes of the Fae: Queens of the Fae: Books 4-6

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Griffin had never laid eyes on Riona Nieland, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t recognize her.

Unlike the crowd chanting her name, Riona had no smile on her face, no indication she took pleasure in this fight.

She stood with her back to him, her face lifted in respect to regard the king on his dais far above the arena floor.

Griffin had none to give either of them.

“My king.” Riona lowered herself to her knees as if this was a practiced performance. The crowd quieted, leaning forward to hear her words.

Riona was the king’s most loyal soldier, despite her youthful appearance. She’d made a name for herself overseeing village raids when those villages refused to pay the king’s high taxes that demanded too much of their meager yields.

Bright tattoos in an array of colors and ancient symbols wound up her arms, disappearing under the capped sleeves of the thin shirt she wore under her chain mail. The tattoos seemed to breathe, like they had a life of their own.

As the king’s warrior, she had the advantage of proper armor and weapons.

Griffin only had himself and a rusted sword with a c***k running the length of the hilt.

The balding winged man who’d led Griffin from the tunnel clamped a hand on the back of his neck. “Kneel to your king.” He tried to force Griffin to his knees, but Griffin stood his ground.

“That man is not my king.”

“Did you say something, prisoner?” King Egan perched on the edge of his half rotted throne, looking down his long nose into the arena, waiting in anticipation for Griffin’s words.

Griffin strengthened his voice. “You are not my king. I have no king.”

It was the truth. Griffin was a man without a home. With Queen Regan dead and her niece, Neeve O’Rourke, on the Fargelsian throne, that kingdom was no longer his. In Eldur, Queen Alona most likely cursed his name for everything he’d done to harm her people.

And his brother… Lochlan held the throne of Iskalt, but he’d be the last person to welcome Griffin.

So, it came down to the king of the prison realm, the man starving his people and forcing them to fight to the death when it amused him. Griffin would never call such a man his king.

Egan stroked his long wiry beard. “Well, it’s no matter now. Even kingless men can die at the order of a king.”

Riona shot Griffin a venomous look over her shoulder before focusing on Egan once more. “I will do you proud, Majesty. Please allow your humble servant your blessing this day.” She pressed her forehead to the ground before Egan.

The king stood and lifted a hand. “Riona Nieland, you are blessed. This fight will end when one of you dies. Should Griffin prevail, he wins the contract for the indentured child, Nessa.” He stared down at Riona with a lecherous gaze. “Should my favored warrior, Riona succeed, she will earn herself a promotion in rank.”

“Thank you, sire.” She lifted her face to him, gazing at him through the veil of her lashes, as if she welcomed his attention. “You honor me.”

Griffin snorted, but he doubted anyone heard him. Even when he was loyal to Regan, he wouldn’t have groveled like this woman. But Egan demanded such fawning from his loyal subjects.

She pushed to her feet, and Griffin faced her, the rusted sword firm in his grip.

Riona gave him a fearful look as she slid her sword free. Was she scared?

Griffin dropped his sword to the sand. “I won’t fight you.”

Riona c****d her head to the side. “That’s a shame because I will fight you.”

She lifted her sword in a wide, uncontrollable arc, missing Griffin entirely.

“Have you ever gone to battle?”

Riona narrowed her eyes. “There is no need for battle in Myrkur.”

“Maybe not in the castle.” Had she lived a comfortable life being told her sword skill could beat anyone’s?

“Fight her, Griffin!” Gulliver’s scream rose above the crowd.

Griffin couldn’t find his charge in the dark, but he sighed, wishing the kid would heed his command to leave. For once.

“I won’t fight you,” he repeated.

She advanced on him, tossing her sword from hand to hand, her eyes narrowing. That was when he saw them.

The wings unfurling from her back.

Riona Nieland was a Dark Fae. A Slyph, and a rare one at that. He couldn’t take his eyes from the fine white lace-like wings that spread in a wide arc around her. Delicate and beautiful, they looked out of place in the dirt arena. With a sweep of his rusted sword, he could sheer her wings right off her back and leave her lying helpless in the sand.

How was this woman Egan’s prized warrior?

The crowd cried out for blood, for violence.

And all Griffin wanted to give them was surrender, peace.

This time, when Riona lifted the sword, Griffin had to duck her attack from above.

“You cannot win if you do not fight,” she growled, landing behind him.

Nessa’s face had been a permanent fixture in his mind since she was taken. Normally, thinking of her made him feel vulnerable. A reminder that he couldn’t save her.

But now, those thoughts gave him strength. He still had a chance to walk away from this.

Griffin lunged back from Riona’s air attack, sprinting to where he’d left his sword. Riona wasn’t far behind. As soon as he gripped the hilt and whirled around, he blocked her sword, the blow far heavier than he’d expected from such a small fae.

In the orange glow of the torches, they danced together, her wings fluttering like a dragonfly’s.

“I thought you weren’t going to fight me?” she grit out as their swords clanged once more.

When Griffin didn’t answer, she went on. “What changed your mind? Fear?”

“I’m not scared of you.” He drove her back with another attack.

“You should be.”

He met Riona’s cold blue eyes. Ebony hair fell loose from her single braid.

He didn’t want to fight her, even though she was loyal to Egan. He’d been in her shoes once before.

But still, this was for Nessa, for his makeshift family.

“Why aren’t you scared of me?” She jumped back to avoid his blade.

“Because.” He kicked her, sending her sprawling to the sand. “I have something to fight for.”

They were the truest words he’d ever spoken. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t torn between what was right and what was his duty.

And it was freeing.

“The girl?” She jumped to her feet, sword in hand. “She means something to you?”

He didn’t answer as his chest heaved with his labored breath. Riona didn’t look as tired as he felt. She circled him, her breath even and her brow free of sweat.

The crowd jeered above them, but even that noise faded away, and it was just Griffin and Riona.

Sweat ran down Griffin’s face as they circled each other, neither making a move.

“Fight!” the king yelled.

They both ignored him.

He might rule the prison realm, but down in this pit, there were only two people who got to decide what happened next.

With a growl, Riona sprinted toward him, her sword raised. He blocked her attack, the momentum pushing her back. She came again, this time sweeping her sword at his legs.

He jumped over the blade and ducked her sudden move into the air above him.

Something clattered to the sand, and they both looked up to see a jewel encrusted dagger the king threw for his champion.

Riona looked from the dagger to Griffin.

“Go.” He clenched his jaw. “I never expected this to be a fair fight.”

She shook her head. “There will be honor in your death. I will not cheat to bring it about.” She wasted no time advancing on him once more.

Pain seared up his side as her blade glanced off his ribs. Crimson blood trickled along his bare skin.

Pushing the pain aside, he blocked her next attack, twisting to the right before jumping toward her with his sword raised. She slipped out of the way just in time.

Griffin’s wound opened wider, letting blood pour down his side. But there was nothing he could do about it. Not now.

Now, all he could focus on was staying alive long enough to end this fight.

Commotion on the king’s platform stole his attention for a moment. Nessa appeared carrying a tea tray for the king.

If Griffin failed, that would be her life if she were lucky. More likely she’d end up in the opal mines or worse.

Nessa’s eyes drifted to him for a brief moment, and Griffin wished he could see her more clearly, that he could know if she was okay.

With renewed energy, he rushed for Riona, meeting her move for move. His body began to recall his former training, like muscle memory.

She had nimble feet and lightning fast wings, yet he suspected she had an even quicker mind. But everyone was beatable.

“I won’t let her become you,” he bit out. Riona groveled before the king, flattering him and taking whatever scraps he gave her. Today it was a jeweled dagger, but tomorrow it could be rags.

The words surprised Riona, and she paused long enough for her sword to drop just the slightest bit.

He knocked the sword from her hand, kicking it across the arena. She’d duped him in the beginning. “You weren’t scared before. Do you feel it now?” He rested his sword against her throat and a hand at her back, gripping her wing joint. One twist, and she’d never fly again.

She swallowed, the truth evident in her eyes. She knew she’d lost.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment before settling them on Griffin. “At least grant me a warrior’s death.”

Griffin nodded and pushed her down to kneel before him, his sword still at her throat. He stared down at his rusted blade as the sounds of the crowd swept over him.

They wanted someone to die, and to them, it did not matter who.

The king rose from his seat, anger flashing across his face.

Griffin ignored him as he wiped sweat from his face. His entire body was hot, exhausted. Not only from the fight but the days leading up to it. Finding Nessa, trying to set her free, knowing he’d lost when the king’s men found him.

It all brought him to this moment. He glanced from Riona to the crowd chanting for her death. Only moments ago, they’d cheered for her to prevail.

He circled her, lifting his sword. He rested the tip on her back, her tattoos disappearing and reappearing along her arms. This was what she wanted, what the people wanted.

He lifted his voice to the crowd. “You want her death? You call for her blood?” He sucked in a breath. “This isn’t right. The people of Myrkur should not be fighting each other. We’re all stuck here, we’re all forgotten. And yet … you wish for barbaric practices.” He looked to the king. “I reject your demands.”

He lowered his sword and threw it across the arena to join Riona’s. “I reject death. I reject blood.” He circled Riona again, and she lifted her eyes. They weren’t icy as before, only confused. Anger coursed through Griffin as he watched her odd markings snake along her arms. This was what his life had become, a constant struggle for survival. And he had no one to blame but himself.

If he wanted to end the cycle of struggle, he first needed to change himself.

Dropping to his knees, he winced at the pain in his side. Blood oozed out with nothing to stop it. He focused on the girl in front of him. “I will not kill you today.” His voice was meant to be soft, reassuring.

Riona’s eyes narrowed, and a scowl formed on her face. “You are a fool, Griffin.” Her voice was so low only he could hear. “There will be consequences.”

“There always are.” He lifted his voice once more so the crowd could hear him. “I will not kill Riona Nieland.” Cheers and boos provided a mixed reaction, but they weren’t Griffin’s concern. The little girl standing next to the king was. “I won this fight and the prize.”

He stood near the platform, his eyes never leaving Nessa’s fearful brown ones.

“Griff!” Gulliver’s yell of warning was enough to make Griffin turn as Riona ran for him, sword in hand.

Griffin scrambled for his own sword and managed to block a series of rapid attacks. His strength out dueled her waning speed.

Ice raced through his veins as he readied for another attack. But it didn’t come. Riona stopped, her hand drifting up to cover her mouth. “Your eyes.”

“My eyes?” It took him a moment to realize what she’d meant. He’d felt the surge of magic in his veins. The ice. But it wasn’t possible. The prison barrier meant anyone who crossed it did so without their magic. It had been a cruel part of his imprisonment, and one he hadn’t expected.

Only one thing could have stopped Riona’s attack. Magic. The Dark Fae feared magic because they’d never had it.

His eyes flashed violet, a reaction to the Iskaltian magic he wasn’t supposed to have. It was fleeting, only enough to surprise Riona into stopping her attack. Then, it was gone.

The king lifted a hand. “I declare this fight over. My greatest warrior lives. Though Griffin has bested her. For that he has earned his freedom.”

Griffin stiffened. “No, not my freedom. I did this for the girl. I won her contract.”

The king stroked his tangled beard. “And yet, Riona still lives. I don’t think you’re in a position to negotiate.”

Riona stepped in front of Griffin, a thoughtful look on her face. Griffin braced himself for her to reveal what she’d seen. Instead, she met the king’s gaze head on.

“Sire.” She spoke loud enough for the king to hear but not the surrounding crowd. “It will benefit you to be seen as merciful and honest. It’s just one girl.”

Griffin looked from Riona to the king and back again. Moments ago, they’d tried to kill each other, and now … now, she was his only hope of saving a girl he loved like his own kin.

The king’s gaze softened as he considered Riona’s words, studying her face with a fondness that surprised Griffin.

Egan’s expression brightened, and he snapped his fingers. “Excellent idea, dear. Nessa, come here.”

She took a tentative step forward but didn’t say a word.

“Do you want to be released?”

She nodded.

“No one can say I’m not a merciful king.” Griffin saw it happening in slow motion. King Egan shoved Nessa forward. She teetered on the edge of the platform before he pushed her again. Only air greeted her on the drop.

Griffin ran past Riona as Nessa’s cry rang in his ears. He lifted his arms, but the momentum of catching her drove him onto his back with Nessa thudding into his injured side. Pain seared through him, but it didn’t matter. He had her. He hadn’t failed this time.

Nessa’s little hands clung to him.

Griffin sat up, keeping a hold on her. He brushed a hand over her hair, down her shoulder, looking for any sign of injury. “Are you okay, Ness?”

She nodded as tears slipped down her cheek.

The world grew hazy, the sounds fading away into the dark. He tried to look around, assuming Riona had already left to join the king. A pool of dark red blood seeped into the sand at his side.

Blackness crept into his vision.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered to Nessa.

But it may have been a lie because his arms slipped from her and weakness tingled throughout his body.

He put a hand to his wound, trying to stem the bleeding. Blood oozed between his fingers moments before he fell into a different kind of darkness.

It was an immense thing: Dying. A life could be summed up in one’s final acts. At least, he hoped so. No one remembered the Griffin who’d chosen the wrong queen and done truly evil things. The prison magic wiped those memories from the realm.

The Griffin O’Shea the prison realm would remember, the one it would mourn, was a man who’d protect the people he loved no matter the cost.

And he figured that was a pretty darn good way to leave this life.

Nessa’s sniffling receded into the distance as Griffin fell onto his back, letting his last sight be of the stars overhead.