Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy, #1)

by Callie Hart

most, you’d come blazing into my life like a meteorite, riding on a wave of chaos that would turn my whole world upside down. That you’d shine so brilliantly that you’d light up hell itself and guide me out of the darkness. She had no idea what your name would be. Just that you’d have dark hair, and a beautiful smile. And that I’d love you with a fierceness despite myself.”

“She said she felt like she knew you. That you and she were friends, even though a thousand years stood between you. She…she drew you.”

“And she captured you almost perfectly, too.”

“In all of her drawings of you, your ears

were like mine. You were Fae. And when I saw...” He sucked in a deep breath. Sat up a little straighter. “When I felt Solace calling to me and I stepped into that pool, I saw that you were human, and I knew in an instant how easily this place would destroy you. So I made the decision to leave you there. But I couldn’t leave you, could I?” he continued. “Your stomach was torn wide open. You were dying. I had no choice but to bring you back. So I decided to be awful to you, so you'd fucking hate me and want nothing to do with me.”

“I'm not well,” Fisher whispered. “I can't sleep. I'm haunted, constantly. I see things. I hear things. And it's getting worse.” He hooked his pendant around his finger, closing his hand around it. “This won't help for much longer—”

“This isn't just a relic, Saeris. It's warded with spellwork, too. My mother went to the witches and had it, along with a number of other items, made for me before she died. Things she knew I’d need. But this thing inside me is getting stronger. There isn’t a spell in existence strong enough to keep it at bay forever. Soon enough, the pendant won't work at all, and I'll be lost. But you don't need to worry. I refuse to bond you to me with that on the horizon. I won’t accept it. I won’t have you chained to me when things get really bad.”

“You…rejected our bond?”

“I accepted the bond. Earlier. When I was inside you. When my soul was wrapped around yours.”

“I'm in love with you, Saeris Fane,” he whispered quietly into my hair. “And I'm already half-mad, anyway. What's a little complicated thrown into the mix?”

This may seem dramatic now, but it'll make sense in time, Saeris. Go through the gate. It'll take you back to Cahlish. Wait there with the others. I'll send Layne back as soon as I can. Tell Iseabail to sedate her the second she comes through the gate. She'll be close to transitioning. There won't be much

time. She'll want to go back through the gate before I close it, so you'll have to be ready for that. You have to stop her. This will all be for nothing if she jumps back through. Tell Lorreth to live his life. Tell him not to worry about me. I have endless patience and no interest in having martyrs for friends. Tell Renfis that I'm sorry. That he was the standard that I always held myself to, and Yvelia would have been

a better place if I was half as good as him. And you, Osha. I release you from your oath. You know how to make the relics now. A selfish part of me wants to beg you to make as many as you can so that my friends and their families can escape Yvelia before this realm falls. But I understand if you need to go. Find...

out there, waiting to be found. Make one of them yours. I've never been one to trust in the gods, but I choose to believe that all things come from the same place when life begins. I have hope that they return to the same plac...

I well and truly broke when I saw what rested on the mantlepiece above the fire. Nimerelle.

“All right. Fine. A husband turns to his wife one day and says, ‘y’know, I bet you can’t think of something to tell me that will make me both happy and sad at the same time.’ The wife doesn’t even need to think about it. She turns to her husband and says, ‘your cock is way bigger than your brother’s.’”

I should have been born Fae. The God of Chaos had simply interfered.

No longer human. Not fully vampire. Not fully Fae.

“So, Fisher's father took you to Zilvaren when you were little to save you from Belikon. He glamored your ears and your canines so you wouldn't stand out. He brought a bag of books along with you, so you could learn about your heritage and return when the time was right. And…some woman saved you?”

In two days' time, you officially become the new queen of Sanasroth.”