Court of Nightmares and Ruin

Chapter 26

"I will not be carried around like an infant. Fetch Nero. I will ride him."

Athen huffed in irritation but did not argue as she sent one of the men to collect Nero. Soon, I heard his mighty wings flap and smiled as my precious boy landed in front of me, nuzzling his nose close for affection.

"I've missed you too, my dark knight." I scratched him between his eyes and then quickly mounted him.

We all take to the sky with Athen yelling commands. The group divided to cover more ground. We flew for a while until a sparkling light reflection caught my attention.

"There," Athen said and swooped towards the light, I urged Nero to follow her, and we landed in a clearing.

"What was that?" I asked as Athen stood and waited.

"I sent out the Night Elves this morning. They have been tracking the Princess. If they signaled us to land, that means they found something."

I waited patiently, and soon a horde of small, wicked-looking creatures entered the clearing. They were only about two feet in height, but that fact did not make them any less intimidating.

They crowded around us. Their dark and shifty-looking eyes caused me to become uneasy. The biggest of them stepped towards me and held out his hand. It took everything within me to offer him my hand in return. I held my breath as he brought my hand to his wicked little mouth, which was filled with sharp teeth. I had the horrifying vision of him chewing off my fingers. Instead, he lightly brushed his cold lips against my knuckles and released my hand.

"Your majesty." He smiled if you can call that a smile, and they all took to one knee.

"That's really not necessary, but your respect is appreciated. Tell me what you have found." He smiled again, and I felt guilty for judging them simply based on their looks. They were really charming little creatures once you got pass their looks.

"Slavers. They are about four leagues from here, due North. About a dozen of them, shall we join you in contouring these fends?"

I looked over at Athen, who subtly shook her head.

"No, we will handle it from here, but thank you for everything you have done."

"Until we meet again, my queen." He held out his hand again, and I allowed him to kiss my knuckles again. Then the whole group vanished into the thick forest as if they were never there.

"I think he likes you." Athen laughed at my side, and I rolled my eyes.

"It's best if we continue on foot from here. We don't want to give away our position." Athen motioned for the men to spread out, and we carefully picked our way through the rough terrain.

"What exactly are we up against?" I asked Athen as we were near the area the Night Elves specified.

"Slavers are nasty Night Realm fae that entraps other fae and sell them on the black market as pets, slaves, sex slaves, or for any other purpose of a buyer."

"That's horrible."

"I thought we had wiped most of them out, but apparently, we missed some. They must be desperate to be foolish enough to take a siren royal. That or someone is paying a very high price."

The noise up ahead had us both shutting our mouths and crunching low. I peered through the bushes. Their camp was overrun with slaver fae. I counted about thirteen of them. My heart throbbed achingly in my chest as I looked around and saw the other helpless fae in cages and chains, most bloodied and beaten. I gasped a little too loud as a slaver approached a tiny green goblin begging for water and started to hit him with a whip.

Athen threw her hand over my mouth as two of them peered into the bushes towards us. We both went deathly still, and eventually, they turned away.

"I'm going in there. You prepare the men," I said and started to stand.

"Are you crazy? You can't just walk in there like you own the place," Athen hissed and grabbed my arm.

"I most certainly can because I do own the place. I am Queen, after all." I pushed Athen away and walked towards their camp, with Athen cursing me under her breath.

I walked confidently through the opening, passing several slavers as I went until I reached the center of the campsite. All eyes were on me, and most had shocked expressions, which was precisely what I had hoped for. If all eyes were on me, they couldn't see the hell that was getting ready to rain down on them.

"Good day. I need to introduce myself. I am Icelyn, Queen of the Night Realm, and those are my people you have locked up...I want them released...Now." I smiled sweetly and braced myself as they all lunged at me.