The Dark Lands

By Mitsy Arnold

Randor is a Fae assassin. As the most feared military officer in the Faery Realm, he only got out by striking a deal with the late King to become an assassin for hire. Something he was only able to do because of his place as adopted family member. When he’s ordered to kidnap the Unseelie Faery Princess and deliver her to the Seelie Queen, he doesn’t think twice, until he sees his target. Adora. Unseelie Princess. Most beautiful being in existence and feared witch warrior and his soul mate. Disobeying orders is something he’s never done before. But when he brings her into the Human Realm; his home, he has no regrets. Until his Elvish friend, Kiel, disapproves and an unexpected attack raises questions about his loyalties. The only way that could have happened was if Kiel tipped off the Queen's witch, Maleficent.
Adora was fearless, powerful and intensely unhappy. Until she was kidnapped by a mysterious stranger, who happens to be her half human, half Seelie soul mate. After being attacked, Adora, fearing she'd lose Randor, admits her feelings for her soul mate. The two of them just need to find a way they can survive together - away from the feuding kingdoms. Entering the Seelie castle, under a pretense of needing the witch's help to bind Adora's immense power, they ask for Maleficent, whom they plan to eliminate so she can no longer track them.
When all hell breaks loose, they're involved in a fight including the witch, Kiel and the Queen. A fight that not all of them will survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mitsy Arnold
• Release date: Apr 13, 2018

Book preview

THE DARK LANDS

by Mitsy Arnold

CHAPTER ONE

Chapter One

Lady Adora Belira, Princess of the Seelie Court, daughter of King Polara, and future ruler of the Water Lands.

As the kingdom’s attendant announced her arrival in the court, Adora rolled her eyes. Stating her entire title each time she entered the room was so ridiculous and unnecessary. But Father had always been a stickler for rules. He was one of the last remaining old-school faeries, insisting his lands follow the ancient laws laid down by the Originals.

Adora had never followed the rules. Her mother was the enforcer of the family. Since she’d died, Adora had used her father’s obliviousness to her advantage and rebelled against him and the kingdom at every chance she got.

Father looked down at her clothing with a frown. She preferred to wear combat gear, consisting of a skin-tight top, pants, and versatile boots. The rest of the kingdom would prefer she conform and dress in something more fitting for a princess, a flowing gown that had no practical use whatsoever. She was a healer for the army. She needed to be prepared for anything.

I do wish you’d wear something Kilip has prepared for you, even if only when dining in the court. Father spoke with a slight wheeze.

And I do wish you’d see someone about that cough you have, she told him, sticking out her chin stubbornly. It’s getting worse, Father.

Adora sat by his side at the head of the royal dining table. Several heads turned and people gasped when she spoke to the king with a tone of disrespect. Once again, she rolled her eyes. She’d been doing a lot of that lately.

Mind your business, Adora snapped at the gawkers. All of them looked down and focused on their own conversations.

She turned back to her father, filled with concern. Please, Father. You’re becoming ill. You need to slow down.

He waved a dismissive hand at her. Oh, please. I’m Fae. We don’t get these illnesses you keep referring to. I’m twelve hundred years old. I’ve had a full life. Maybe it’s the Fates telling me it’s almost your time to rule the Court.

A shudder spread through Adora’s very being. Although she’d been trained for it her entire life, she never wanted to be a queen. She hated politics and had also grown tired of death threats. Ever since she was born, there had been several assassination attempts. While the majority had some from the Unseelie Court and the Fire Lands, some had come from her own kingdom. Her parents had the traitors executed. She hated being royalty.

You know how I feel about becoming queen, Father.

The king picked up his fork and waited for a servant to place a plate of food before him. "We are not discussing this again.

Especially in front of our guests."

Guests. Adora scoffed. Those who shared the dining room were friends, followers and sexual slaves of her father’s. Faeries were very sexual beings. They partook in intimate acts in front of company just as they would eat or drink. While she was no prude, Adora definitely didn’t approve of women fondling and kissing her father while she sat inches away.

When a blue-haired vixen ran her hand up the king’s thigh, Adora stood so quickly her chair flew out behind her. I’ll be in my quarters if you need me. She almost growled the words out. Father barely seemed to notice, too busy concentrating on his food and dick to pay attention to her hissy fit. Adora stormed down the hallway toward her living quarters, angry at the vulgarity of the woman with her father. Crossing the bridge over the lake that separated her quarters from the rest of the castle, she came to an abrupt halt. She was acutely aware of the fact that she was by herself. She’d never been truly alone. Guards always followed her. No matter where she went, at least one pair of eyes watched her. She always sensed them.

But right now, she was completely alone. Adora called to her magic, feeling the water beneath immediately respond. While faeries were attuned to nature and able to control all four elements, most of them specialized in one area. As future queen of the Water Lands, she’d been born attuned to the element—but that wasn’t her only strength.

As the most successful faery assassin in the realm, Randor wasn’t surprised when the Unseelie queen ordered him to kidnap a member of the Seelie royal family. The two kingdoms had been at war for over ten decades. It began because of a simple territory dispute. Now, each just wanted to one up the other.

He left the Unseelie army to stay out of the fight he deemed ridiculous and unnecessary. Unfortunately he was labelled as a traitor after that. He struck a deal with the late Unseelie king to leave the faery realm so he could lead an anonymous life. The one condition was that he work as an assassin. After