Chapter One

“And this is the main dorms for the Courtless.” Sheila declared swirling around in a flurry of skirts to wave at the stone building.

“Courtless?”

“Yes, for those of you that haven’t manifested Elements to be claimed by a Ruling Court,” She answered one of the others with a grin. Around her petals floated on the air mixed in with buds and as we watched they bloomed into flowers.

Earth Pixie, the thought was sour in my head but wisely I didn’t not speak it. Instead my eyes drifted past the small gaggle of students before her and lazed about the surrounding area.

The Acadamh was exceptional as excepted of the Fae. The land here more vibrant and glowing with colours that were nothing like on Earth. Back there, there was no life to the land, no call of the wind, no glow of the water and definitely to warmth to the earth. Ever since I’d left, there was always a pull to return. The call to be back where I belonged, according to that one part of me.

The other part.

The weak part that created me into a ‘Half-blood’ in the eyes of the otherwise ‘Pure’ did not want to be here. It felt isolated and on edge, ready for an impending attack.

Sheila’s voiced pulled me back to the current situation, “There are 7 Courts. Spring, Winter, Summer, Autumn, Sun, Night and Shadow. Now most Elementals end up in the respected courts. Spring is Air, Winter is Water, Autumn Earth and Summer Fire. Sun, Night and Shadow are different. Sun harness the power of the day and Night well they thrive in the dark.”

“And Shadow?”

“Shadows are the balance. Their powers filtered between them all. They were the peacekeepers but things have changed.”

Changed? My brows furrowed at her words and I tilted my head. How could the Shadows have changed?

“Now this place was designed to help those who haven’t found their Court find their place. But it also acts as a peace making and alliance building place. More so than just education. The next leaders of the Courts and respective Clans are here.”

“So a shit fest for would be alpha’s and petty drama?” someone mused to my left. Glancing over, I quirked a brow at the girl who caught my eye and grinned.

“Basically,” Sheila sighed before grinning at us all. “And unfortunately for all of you, until you find your Court, you’re all fresh meat for the drama that follows.”

“Can we just get our rooms already?” a young guy huffed before pushing past her into the building. 

Obviously not a halfling, I thought watching others trail after him. For a Courtless One he had some pull.

Five lingered around Sheila with me and I guessed they were Half-bloods like me. Snatched from Earth when they showed too much promise for their own good and dragged here to see if they would survive and drag forth enough power to be welcomed as Fae.

Situated within Tir Na Saor, the Free land, not ruled by any Court, The Acadamh was a political free nation. And many who never found their court remained on this small plot of land. There were even towns in this little nation of Courtless who in a way had become their own court.

Unlike the other Half-bloods, I didn’t care for the speech they were receiving about the details of what they were and what was happening. I turned and walked away from the group. I knew what this was, knew this world and all it entailed. I knew there was more dark here than good like the human stories depicted. Unfortunately, I had spent the first twelve years of my life in this Realm.

Humans thought they created up supernatural beings. That werewolves, vampires, Fae, sirens, etc. were all different beings. When in fact they were all one original race. They were Fae with different ethnicities. Like humans, only skin colour wasn’t the defining factor. Your species was. All were Fae but some changed forms, others grew fangs, some needed sex to live, some needed blood. And so on.

This school also acted as a way for Fae to pull forth that side of them if they hadn’t already. And it became a breeding ground for challenges and racial fights. 

Clan wars were common here.

Walking around the campus I watched numerous Fae gather. Their voices rose in greetings as they either returned for another year or just began their time here. All these Fae looked like adults and I could guess in Human years the first years would be twenty-five years of age. But that didn’t matter here.

I’d gone through all this before. I’d done primary school, high school and University and now I was bloody trapped once again in a University setting, only this time it was four years in a Uniform. And judging by the pleated skirts and white shirts I wasn’t going to like it.

Sauntering through the campus, I stuffed my hands into my pockets. The Courtless dorm was closes to the main buildings and common areas and I stepped along the path to the main entrance.

She darted ahead, the dark skirt kicking up around her knees as she ran. Her fair skin seemed pale in the full light and she sprinted on the path, towards the main door.

The ghostly figure of a younger me continued to run ahead as my memory blended with my current reality and I paused. My Half-blood upbringing was not the same as other half-bloods.

My gaze caught on a group of Fae making their way from the common building and I froze. The power that spilled from their group slithered around me and I shuddered before my gaze caught on one person in particular.

His skin was fairer than my own and he’d grown since I’d last seen him. Dark hair spilled down his forehead threatening to fall into his sea-green eyes. And the longer I stared at him the more I saw our past as children.

My stare turned into a scowl however as I now connected the dots on who’d ordered my return and sent the Hounds after me.

Orion felt my glare no doubt and glanced over from the other Fae males to spot me rooted on the main path. His lips quirked up, eyes trailing from my own over my figure before brushing away from his friends.

I remained in place for if I were to move now I’d lunge and probably punch him. The man who’d ripped me from my free world back into this hell. Wind brushed against my cheeks, pulling my hair with it teasingly as he closed the gap. My eyes flickered behind him to see the other males watching him openly now.

“You shouldn’t come too close,” I whispered knowing he’d hear me though. The humans called him a Vampire, though to us he was an Abhartach. For all intents and purposes he was a vampire, needed blood to survive, but his kind hated the term.

Orion grinned yet continued to come to me. “Do you think I care?”

“You have some nerve acting happy to see me.”

“Acting? I am happy,” his smile said as much as he stopped before me. He reached out and hesitated when I flinched back.

“Your friends won’t be happy you’re talking to a half-blood,” I muttered with a shake of my head.

“Like I care,” he grunted and reached out. His knuckles brushed against my cheek. “It’s nice to see you again, Banphrionsa.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“It’s nice to see Donovan pulled through.”

“Pulled through?! He kidnapped me and tore me away from the life I made!”

“You’re needed here, B-Banon.” A shout rang out behind him and Orion dropped his hand from my cheek. The cold flushed across my skin from the loss of his touch. He glanced back at his companions before rolling his eyes. “You’ll find out why soon, I promise to tell you.”

“Go, your pals are judging.”

“Ban-.”

“Don’t Orion, you and I both know I don’t belong here and you’ve brought me back to hell once again.”

Turning I went to walk away before his hand latched onto me. I was pulled back around to face him and he scowled at me. “You have no idea what I’ve done to get you back.”

Stumbling back, he released my arm when I jerked on it and our gazes clashed. “What you’ve done? I was happy, I was free. Remember? I was kicked aside. I don’t belong.”

“You know nothing of this place any more, Ban but you will soon.” His words were more a threat than anything else as his brows pinched together and he backed up a step. His hand lashed out in a wave to his friends when they called for him away and he spun away.

Scoffing, I crossed my arms and childishly stuck my tongue out at his back. My eyes drifted to the men who were with him and my shoulders hunched up. Varying eyes flickered from the tense Ferin to me now and two even glared back.

Oh just fucking great, the prionsaí are pissed.

And no doubt were those four were part of the Royals that claimed domainion of this ‘Free Nation’. If they could summon Orion that way then they were just as Pure as he was. And the less I had in contact with any of them the better.

Sighing heavily, I heaved my shoulders and twisted around. Vines were gathering around my feet and tugged tauntingly as I stepped forward. Pausing I scowled at them, my head lowered as my eyes flickered around. I didn’t want anyone to know I’d noticed the roots threateningly waiting to trip me. Instead, I shuddered and jumped as if spooked and hurried back down the path to my ‘Courtless’ dorm. If only I could stay that way.

I knew, deep within my heart, that my return wouldn’t be a kind and sweet one. 

If anything I was the catalyst that was the mere pawn for a Shadow Prince and his ruling father.