His presence was like a storm, vast and consuming. His dark eyes locked onto mine the moment I entered, pinning me in place with a gaze that felt like a command. He sat with the ease of someone who had ruled for centuries, his fingers drumming idly on the arm of his throne as though he had been expecting me.

I took a hesitant step forward, the weight of his gaze pressing down on me. My palms were damp, my heartbeat loud in my ears, but I forced myself to keep my chin high.

“Quill,” the dark lord’s voice effortlessly carried across the vast open room. “Who have you brought me this time?”

With confidence, I announced, "I am Queen Ciara. There is no need for someone else to introduce me."

The man stood up, a sly grin spreading across his face like wildfire. "Ah, yes, I've heard of you," he said in a voice as smooth and rich as honey. "The Queen of Light who has no powers. What brings you to these dark lands, my dear?"

His words seemed to fill the room with a powerful energy that sent shivers down my spine. Fear paralyzed me at the end of the great hall, and I regretted my decision to come here alone.

My voice quivered as I found the courage to speak up. "I know that several of your people were at the Harmony Festival last night, and at the same time four fae.."

"Hold on just a second, your Lightness," he taunted, interrupting me. "I can barely hear your quivering voice from way over there!"

He snapped his fingers and conjured up a strong gust of wind that lifted me off the ground and whisked me across the room in a flash. I let out a squeal as I was suddenly airborne, my hair whipping around me wildly in the powerful wind.

The dark lord laughed heartily, enjoying my obvious discomfort. He dropped me back to the ground, only inches away from him; I straightened my posture and glared at him with defiance.

"Ah, that's better," he remarked. "I must say, you have quite the spine to stand before me like this, Queen of Light," he mused, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Using magic on another fae was strictly forbidden. The weight of that law pressed on my shoulders as I steadied myself, resisting the burning urge to lash out at his blatant misuse of power. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms to keep my fury in check.

"You know very well that using magic on another fae is forbidden," I growled through gritted teeth, my voice low but laced with venom. The room seemed to respond to the tension, the flickering torches dimming as shadows crept closer, as though eager spectators to the confrontation.

He tilted his head, his expression almost bored, but I didn’t miss the subtle flare of challenge in his dark eyes.

"Forbidden is such a relative term," he said smoothly, the corner of his mouth curving upward in an infuriating smirk. "Laws only hold power if one acknowledges them."

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm, though my composure felt like a fragile mask threatening to crack. "I demand answers regarding the disappearances of my people," I said, my voice steady despite the knot of unease tightening in my chest. "Or are you afraid of the consciences of your own involvement?"

The smirk faltered briefly, his eyes flashing with something unreadable before he composed himself again. When he spoke, his voice was a hiss, soft yet cutting. "You dare accuse me?"

“Yes,” I said, stepping closer, refusing to let his height or presence intimidate me. "And I demand to speak with your people who were at the festival last night."

The tension in the air became palpable, crackling like a live wire between us. His narrowed gaze was colder now, the faint amusement in his features replaced with a calculating determination.

"You demand?" he repeated, the word laced with mockery as he stepped forward, closing the distance between us. "You forget yourself, Queen of Light. You are in my domain now."

"I will not leave until I get the answers I seek," I said firmly, every word a challenge. I squared my shoulders, my heart pounding as I forced myself to hold his gaze. Fear churned within me, an instinctive response to the danger he radiated, but I refused to let it show.

His chuckle was low and dark, rumbling deep in his chest like a storm brewing on the horizon. He began to circle me slowly, his steps deliberate, his presence unnervingly predatory. The hairs on my neck stood on end, my every instinct screaming to keep him in sight, but I held my ground.

"You’re bold, I’ll give you that," he said, his tone almost amused again, though there was an edge to it that sent a shiver down my spine. "But boldness has its limits, Queen. And you are dangerously close to overstepping yours."

He stopped behind me. The room suddenly became colder, and the air charged with an oppressive energy that made breathing hard. I could feel his presence without seeing him, a shadow looming at my back.

"Say please," he purred, his voice low and laced with mockery. The warmth of his breath brushed against my ear, sending an involuntary shiver down my body to my feet as his proximity made my skin crawl.

My jaw clenched, my pride and anger warring with the rational part of me that recognized my precarious position. Every ounce of me wanted to lash out, to put him in his place, but I knew that at this moment, every word, every move, would carry weight.

“I will do no such thing!” I snapped, my voice echoing in the vast chamber as I spun around to meet his gaze. A reckless surge of defiance coursed through my veins, every instinct screaming at me to tread carefully, but I ignored it.

The dark lord's grin widened, sharp and predatory, like a wolf cornering its prey. His amusement was palpable, his piercing gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that sent an involuntary chill down my spine.

"Stubborn, aren't we?" he mused, his voice low and smooth, like velvet laced with steel. "But I must admit, your tenacity is... refreshing. Most who stand before me know better than to raise their voice. You, however—" he chuckled, the sound dark and resonant, "you have spirit. I like that."

His words felt like a veiled challenge, but before I could retort, he continued, his tone shifting to one of mock indulgence. "Very well, Queen of Light. I shall grant your request. You may speak with my people and ask your questions."

With a flick of his wrist, a ripple of power pulsed through the air, visible like a heatwave distorting the space around us. It was an effortless display, but its sheer force pressed against me, a reminder of just how outmatched I was here. Even if I had magic, I would be severely outmatched.

It took every ounce of willpower to keep my expression neutral, to hide the shock threatening to betray me. My composure, however fragile, was my only armor in this den of shadows.

A figure emerged from the edges of the room, where the flickering torchlight barely reached. The same dark fae who had brought me here stepped forward, his movements fluid and deliberate.

His gaze met mine, those depthless black eyes that seemed to hold entire galaxies of secrets untold. There was a flicker of something—surprise, perhaps? —before his expression settled back into its usual unreadable mask.

"Thank you for bringing me here safely," I said, my voice softening as I addressed him directly. My eyes lingered on his face, searching for any hint of his thoughts.

He stood still, silent for a moment, as though debating whether to respond. Then, with a curt nod, he acknowledged my words, though his unreadable demeanor revealed nothing more.

He was a stark contrast to the dark lord, his quiet strength and stoic presence grounding where the other man was wild and consuming. Standing between them felt like being caught between the steady pull of a tide and the ferocity of a storm.

The dark lord broke the silence with a dramatic clap of his hands, the sound ringing out like thunder against the cold stone walls. His grin widened as his gaze flicked between us.

"Ah, yes, your wonderful escort, Quill," he said, his voice laced with mock fondness. "I doubt he introduced himself—manners aren’t exactly his strong suit."

My eyes flicked to Quill, whose expression didn’t change, though his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. So, Quill was his name.

The dark lord leaned forward, resting his elbows on the arms of his throne, his chin perched on interlocked fingers. His piercing eyes locked onto me with a calculating glint.

“You see, Queen of Light, you’ve walked into the heart of my domain with admirable courage—or foolishness. But let’s not dwell on semantics.” His voice dipped, smooth and mocking, as his grin turned sharper.

I swallowed hard, reckless as ever. I had walked into this cage with open arms, and now, every exit felt impossibly far away.

The dark lord clapped his hands together behind me with a resounding echo that bounced off the walls.

"You wished to speak with my subjects. Here they are, well, some of them anyway. Ask your questions and seek your answers," he declared with a theatrical flourish, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Turning back to Quill, I spoke with a firm tone that belied the nervous flutter in my chest.

"Quill, tell me what you know about the disappearances last night. Did you or your.. kind.. get involved in any way?" My words hung in the air, mingling with the intense anticipation that enveloped the room like a heavy fog.

Quill's expression remained stoic, his features betraying nothing as he regarded me with an inscrutable gaze. The dark lord watched our interaction with a predatory gleam in his eyes, evidently relishing the tension that crackled between us.

After a moment of tense silence, Quill finally spoke, his voice deep yet oddly soothing. "Vi tar ikke noen mot deres vilje.," he stated with calm confidence. I have no idea what he just said.

“What? What did he say?” I turned to the dark lord with a furrowed brow, hoping for a translation.

The dark lord let out a hearty laugh, a real laugh that reverberated through the entire room, sending another chill down my spine. "Oh, you really are out of your depth here, Queen of Light," he sneered, enjoying my confusion. "I said you may speak to them; I never said you would understand them. I won’t command them to speak to you; that part is up to them.”

His eyes gleamed with mischief as he watched my reaction carefully. Quill's gaze never wavered as he repeated in a language I couldn't comprehend, his tone unyielding. He spoke the common language to me when he brought me here. I don't understand why he is toying with me now.

The dark lord's smirk widened at my baffled expression, reveling in my discomfort. They are both toying with me. They don't care that people are missing.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the rising tide of frustration. "Fine," I said through gritted teeth, facing Quill with unwavering determination. "Tell me what you know about the disappearances in a language that I can understand." My voice held a note of command, demanding answers from this enigmatic figure who seemed to hold crucial information.

Quill regarded me with an inscrutable gaze before finally responding. But he didn’t speak to me; instead, he looked at his lord. “May I go now?”

As the dark lord nodded in dismissal, he glanced at me for a fleeting moment before slipping back into the shadows.

The dark lord's eyes lingered on me before breaking into a grin. "Well, Queen of Light, what will you do now?" His voice was filled with a taunting edge as if he already knew the inner turmoil raging within me.

I straightened my spine, refusing to show any weakness in front of this malevolent being. "I will find the truth," I declared with steely resolve, meeting his gaze head-on.

“Sylvain,” he called out without ever taking his eyes off of me.

A woman emerged beside me as if out of thin air, making me jump slightly. She had sharp feline features and eyes as deep as a black abyss. “Yes, lord?” her voice purred in full respect.

“Take our.. guest.. to the spare quarters for now,” he commanded with a smirk playing on his lips. “She’s had a long journey.”

A chill ran down my spine as Sylvain inclined her head in obedience. In silence, she took hold of my arm, and before I knew it, we were no longer in the main chamber. She had enveloped us in a black cloud in the blink of an eye, pulling me forward to step into a bedroom.

The spare quarters were luxurious yet had an eerie atmosphere. The room was slightly smaller than my royal chambers back in Crescent City. Sylvain released my arm surprisingly gracefully, her dark eyes studying me with curiosity and caution. I could feel the intensity of her gaze as if she was determined whether to attack or keep me as a pet.

"Rest here for now," she said in a voice with a hint of hidden power. "Do not wander. You are far from your court."

I nodded in silent acknowledgment. As Sylvain turned to leave, her movements fluid and graceful like a panther, I couldn't help but wonder about the role she played in this dark realm.

I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself, trying to dispel the chill that seemed to seep into my bones. The room was opulently furnished, yet it exuded a sinister energy that made me uneasy.

Sylvain's tone was calm and commanding as she declared, "You stay here until further notice."

Before I could object or seek clarification, she disappeared into a swirl of shadows, and a roaring fire appeared in the massive fireplace.

What have I got myself into?