"So, what's the plan now?" Scarlette turns to me, still chewing the last of her meal as if we aren't on the brink of a kingdom‑wide disaster.
"We need a lead. Someone who can get us into the Light Fairy Kingdom," I say, dusting off my hands.
"And who would that be?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
I smirk. "Ah, this is usually the part where we practice patience. Some of us need it more than others."
Scarlette rolls her eyes, but before she can fire back, I scoop up a handful of sand and toss it into the campfire, snuffing it out.
Then, as if the universe has impeccable timing, a streak of golden light darts through the trees ahead.
"Erm… would that be a lead?" Scarlette asks, pointing at the glowing figure weaving through Devran's forest.
A Light Fairy.
Bingo.
"Run after her!" I bark, already grabbing Scarlette's wrist and pulling her along.
"Wait!" She digs her heels in, yanking back.
I turn in irritation just as she dashes to scoop up the Baltimorean Emerald from the ground.
That careless girl.
As we run, the sky finally darkens, and I feel power surge through me. Shadows stretch and twist, drawn into my being like moths to flame.
"At last," I murmur, savoring the rush.
Then I see it—a vampire pinning down the same Light Fairy.
"Light Fairy in duress. Now that's the perfect lead," I grin.
The vampire turns, his eyes locking onto us. He hesitates, gaze shifting from the struggling fairy to Scarlette. His stance changes. Interest flares.
I see it. That instinct, that hunger.
He's about to dart toward her.
Not on my watch. She's mine.
I lunge, ramming into him before he can take a step, shoving him deep into the bushes.
Scarlette barely spares me a glance, already kneeling beside the Light Fairy.
Meanwhile, I have my own business to handle.
Call it my own agenda.
My diet.
My highly selective one.
Skewers are barely sufficient for dinner. But villains without remorse? They make for a fine feast.
Delectable darkness.
The vampire staggers to his feet, his confusion shifting to fury.
"Show yourself!" he snarls.
They're all the same.
Like clockwork, I let the darkness seep out, my silhouette vanishing into the thick fog. My eyes—piercing grey—cut through the gloom.
He barely has time to scream before I grab him, my fingers digging into his skull. Dark mist pours from his mouth, swirling into me.
"Go get your own Love Fairy."
His body withers, crumbling like dead leaves. I toss the husk aside.
Now that is delicious.
I make my way back to Scarlette.
There she is, standing still, red mist curling from her hands.
Healing magic? The one she claims to have used on King Baltimore before?
A crimson orb floats between her palms, bright yellow mist swirling around it in intricate patterns.
"What is she doing?" I mutter, narrowing my eyes. That is not healing magic.
I step closer. "Scarlette."
At the sound of my voice, she snaps to attention, quickly hiding the orb behind her back.
Oh wonderful. Another secret.
Must I keep watch over her every second of the day?
"Are you healing the Light Fairy?" I ask.
"Yes." Her answer comes too fast, too stiff, her nose twitching. The hidden orb pulses behind her hands, flickering between red and gold.
Then she tries to change the subject. "The vampire?"
I exhale, irritated but playing along. "Gone."
She nods absently, still clutching the orb behind her.
I tilt my head. "You do know I can see it, right?"
Scarlette freezes for half a second before smoothing her expression. "What? No, it's just the Baltimorean Emerald. You know, the one I was holding on to?"
Oh, that's bad. A terrible lie.
In my short time being around her and a much longer time spent observing her, I've realized Scarlette was many things—sharp, powerful, chaotic—but a good liar? Not one of them.
I stare at her flatly. She stares back.
Then, just as I'm about to speak, the Light Fairy stirs with a sharp gasp, her eyes fluttering open.
Perfect timing.
As she comes to, her eyes widen in horror. She curls into a ball, hiding behind her knees.
"D-Don't hurt me," she whimpers, locking her gaze on Scarlette.
Wait… she's scared of Scarlette? What did Scarlette do to her?
"You're a Dark Fairy, aren't you? I want no trouble," the Light Fairy stammers, scrambling toward me, hands raised in surrender directed at Scarlette.
Dark Fairy?
Scarlette?
Oh, I have to milk this.
And honestly… looking at Scarlette now, I can see it. The crimson hair streaked with purple, the sharpness in her gaze—her entire presence screams deviant. Not the delicate charm of a Love Fairy.
No wonder she looks like one of my kind.
"Yes, she is a Dark Fairy, and I healed you. I'm a Love Fairy," I say smoothly, flashing what I hope is a convincing smile.
Oh, it's perfect. Now no one can use my weakness against me. Light magic may be my weakness, but how can anyone think of using it on me if I'm just your friendly neighborhood Love Fairy?
Brilliant.
Scarlette shoots me a death glare. If looks could kill… well, I'd need actual healing.
"We Love Fairies and Light Fairies have to look out for each other," I add, placing a hand over my heart dramatically.
Right back at you, Scarlette.
"What are you doing?" Scarlette asks, her voice flat with disbelief.
"Well, I'm just a smiling, charming Love Fairy," I reply with a grin.
Gods, how do Love Fairies do this smiling thing? My cheeks already hurt.
The Light Fairy eyes us suspiciously, then sighs and sits up.
"You're one of those, aren't you?"
I blink. One of what?
She continues before I can answer. "No wonder you look slightly like a Dark Fairy too. It's because you're with her."
…Excuse me?
Everything about her logic is flawed. And slightly? Slightly?? What nonsense.
But I keep up the act.
"No, we are not—" Scarlette starts, but I clamp a hand over her mouth.
She is NOT ruining this.
"She's just shy," I say with a smile, glaring at Scarlette until she steps back.
"But you see," I continue, softening my voice dramatically, "we were abandoned by our factions. Our union is unnatural. They called us an abomination. Now… we're just a couple looking for refuge."
Scarlette looks horrified.
Yes. I am that good of a liar.
"So, you'll help us?" she asks, her voice trailing helplessly.
"Yes, the Light Fairy Kingdom welcomes all progressive couples. You'll be safe," the Light Fairy says. "Besides, I owe you my life."
Oh, silly Light Fairies—so self-righteous, so deluded, so gullible.
"Thank you so much for your kindness," I reply smoothly.
Scarlette rolls her eyes.
"Were you both running too?" the Light Fairy asks. "There was chaos in the fields—Love Fairies swarming a Dark Fairy. I ran the first chance I got, only to be hunted by that vampire."
Useful information.
Yes, Devran is definitely dead.
"Yes, they were against our romance," I say, feigning sadness. "Her Dark Fairy friend tried to defend us, but… he didn't make it."
Scarlette walks off, done with my nonsense.
But I'm not even close to done.
The Light Fairy grabs my arm. "The vampire?"
"Oh, she killed the vampire," I reply cheerfully. "It tried hunting me too."
The Light Fairy nods, impressed. Not very bright, but I'm not complaining.
"Oh, it's useful to have a Dark Fairy around indeed," she says.
I smile. My cheeks scream in protest.
"Let me lead the way to the Light Fairy Kingdom," she says. "You can stay the night at my place."
Oh, it works.
Just like that.
She even gives us space for "privacy." Wonderful.
So all I need to do is keep my Love Fairy act.
And Scarlette? Apparently she just needs to be herself.
Scarlette's eyes light up. She turns to me.
"Is it really happening?" she asks, disbelief painting her voice.
"You betcha. That's what Love Fairies do," I say with forced enthusiasm.
Disgusting.
But Scarlette laughs.
Was I actually funny?
Then it hits me—her magic earlier. I haven't forgotten.
"What spell were you casting earlier?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.
"What spell?" she asks, gaze sliding away.
Suspicious.
"The red orb with the yellow mist. You took her heart, didn't you?" I glare, knowing full well it's the same trick she used on Devran.
"No," she says quickly. Too quickly. "Wouldn't work anyway."
As if I'm falling for that.
"I couldn't hurt a Dark Fairy with a chaos-driven spell. No obsession or lovesick magic would work, so I had to get creative and control him instead. That's why I needed a bit of your dark magic too. Perfect since it was oozing out of you when Devran was strangling you," she explains. "That's how I could grab his heart. But Light Fairies are different."
Crap. There's more to her magic than I thought.
"What exactly did you do?" I ask, stepping closer.
Her magic swirls around her again. She smirks, holding out her palm.
A glowing ball of red and yellow pulses in her hand, shimmering with power.
She tucks it away before I can react, clinging to my arm.
"Are you two alright back there?" the Light Fairy calls cheerfully.
Scarlette locks arms with me, leaning on my shoulder with that infuriating sway.
The Light Fairy giggles and turns away.
I shrug Scarlette off, but something nags at me.
Why does my heart race when she touches me? Is her magic messing with me? Do I… like it?
"Relax, Veravos," Scarlette says with a playful grin. "Light Fairies are easy. They owe you once you've saved them. I didn't do anything."
"And the orb?" I press.
"You don't need to worry about it," she says, tapping my nose.
"Boop," she adds.
That flirt.
It's working and I hate it.
"So handsome," she purrs, her eyes locking onto mine.
Heat floods my cheeks.
She twirls a lock of my dark curly hair between her fingers.
"Stop that," I grumble, even as my heart skips. "I'm not your toy."
Her touch lingers. Harmless on the outside—inside, my magic snarls.
"But I'm bored, and it's such a long walk…" she says, voice dripping mischief.
Of all the people to be stuck with—it has to be this playful, maddening Love Fairy.
Scarlette must catch the thought in my expression because she sighs.
"Dark magic and love magic fused together can create control," she muses. "My love magic alone isn't enough to pull out a heart. And it's not enough for what I might need next."
A chill crawls up my spine. "And what exactly is next?"
"Not control, not bondage—" she tilts her head, smiling slowly, "—but blind love and loyalty."
Her eyes gleam.
"Combine Light magic and Love magic… and people see past every red flag in the name of love."
My breath catches. "You can do that?"
Scarlette's grin widens. "Careful," she purrs. "I might use it on you."
A cold knot twists in my stomach.
She laughs and walks ahead toward the Light Fairy, swaying effortlessly.
As she moves away, I feel it again—a mix of wariness… and something else I refuse to admit.
No way.
She is not getting into my head.
Not this time.