Of Blades and Wings (Flame Cursed Fae, #1)

by Eliza Raine

Her hair has vivid streaks of blue in it, as well as a number of honor-won braids, and her ice powers have been strong since we were children. Her face bears my parents' high, regal cheekbones, her skin is chalky white, and her ears are perfectly pointed at their peak. Everything just as a true fae royal should be.

My ears are pointed too, but my hair is mostly white and braid-free. My skin is always too flushed for ice-fae royalty, and my lips don't suit the dark purple colors that the court loves this season—rose-pink colors them instead.

They just… gave up trying to save me once they realized that the very thing killing me is possibly the most valuable asset the Ice Court has.

"Harald the Huge. Shadow-fae, brown wings,"

"Erik the Kind, renowned healer, earth-fae. Only Valkyrie known to have more than one color in his wings,"

"Brynhild the Knowing,"

Brynhild is the most famous ice-fae Valkyrie of our past. She is a legend in our court.

"Valdis the Fast," I read. "Lightning fast, gold-fae. Black Wings, small in stature."

"Kain the Ruinous," is next, and my brows draw together in interest. "Fire-fae."

"Sigrun the Great, leader of the Valkyrie, fierce warrior woman, earth-fae, magic spear, white wings."

but it's mostly information about Featherblade, the magical, god-created hall where the Valkyrie are trained.

Erik the Kind is in the middle, and the colors of his wings that I couldn't find in the document, I can see for myself. Massive, heavily feathered black wings flank his lithe body, and they are decorated with bright yellow rings.

Harald the Huge, at least a foot taller than the largest fae I've ever seen, is at Erik's right.

Valdis is next to him, looking tiny next to such a large figure, but her expression is so fierce that not for a second do I believe her small stature c...

Brynhild, supremely elegant, rippling silver wings flowing behind he...

When my eyes land on the last fae, my breath catches. He has no wings. He is a Valkyrie, I am sure, but there are no feathers erupting from his shoulders. He has bronze skin, hair the color of ash, and...

This must be Kain, the fire-fae.

The gods chose you. Prove them right. You can do this.

And if you need to have a small breakdown, you can do it later, when you are alone.

"The four animals that the val-tivar may embody are bears, snakes, birds of prey, and wolves.

The bears embody both strength and fearless battle prowess.

Snakes are famous for their healing abilities, and those possessed by their snake val-tivar can heal their wounds on the battlefield almost as soon as they are created.

Owls have deep wisdom and mystic powers."

"And ravens and falcons have both incredible speed and an ability to preempt your foe's next move.

"Wolves have a bloodlust that is not always rational, a dangerous and unpredictable need to fight and to devour,"

"Wolf-possessed warriors on the battlefield possess strength and speed fueled by endless stamina and bloodlust.

"She said leave her the fuck alone. You want to fight a fae with no magic? Fight me."

Beyond these walls lies the sacred Vault of the Valkyrie, Filled with treasures, it will reward your entrance lavishly, But to pass this first door you must prove that your knowledge is sound, List every Guardian and the beast to which they were bound. Make one mistake and it will be your last, The door will ensure you exist only in the past.