Wicked Fae - La série

A terrible bargain An impossible choice Kill my soul mate or lose my life Caelynn adores her homelands in the Shadow Court, but as the one of the poorest and weakest courts in the realm there's little opportunity for a talented fae like her. When she overhears her parents planning to force her into another court, she runs away—straight to the Cave of Mysteries to jump start her initiation. She'll become a shadow fae with or without permission. But there are monsters in those deep tunnels. The Night Bringer is waiting for her, and once she's in his clutches she must complete his bargain or accept eternal slavery. But this bargain is no simple task. The Night Bringer dresses her like a princess and sends her to a ball to kill a fae prince. A prince who just so happens to be her soul mate.

In a ruthless competition of blood and magic, attraction to the enemy may be the biggest weakness of all. I am Caelynn of the Shadow Court, banished to the human realm for killing a fae prince in my youth. But when I learn my homeland is in peril, I strike a bargain. The Trial of Thorns will decide a champion to save the realm from a terrible plague, and secure the winner fame and fortune. I could care less about the money or notoriety--I'm playing for freedom. If I win, I will earn a full pardon. And I intend to win. But I don’t account for Reveln being one of my opponents. We've got...history. And ten years later, he's even hotter than I remember. Oh, right, he also hates me. Only one of us can win, and Rev will do everything in his power to make sure I don’t make it out of the trials alive. Because ten years ago, I killed his brother. And Reveln never forgets.

The trials changed everything. Before the trials I was Rev, the beloved prince of the Luminescent Court. Now I'm a bastard hiding in plain sight, not even sure I'm worthy of my title as prince. Before the trials, Caelynn of the Shadow Court was my sworn enemy. But now that I know why I'm so drawn to her, she terrifies me more than she ever could as an enemy. Our intense friendship makes her all the more dangerous. This time, it's the Schorchedland's turn to spill blood and expose terrible secrets. Only one of us can enter through the cursed walls and return with the cure that will save the realm, but there are assassins out for both of our heads, and their reach doesn't stop once we pass the gates to the fae-hell. It will take both of us to complete this impossible task. And that beautiful shadow fae I'd sworn to kill? She'll sacrifice anything to save me. Even herself.

Everything I’ve worked for is within reach. All I have to do is sacrifice my fated mate. I knew entering the Schorchedlands would mean facing my worst nightmares. But I also knew that if I beat this cursed place— if I could meet terror face to face and survive— I would earn every one of my dreams. I would be Prince Reveln of the Luminescent Court, savior of the fae realm and the new High Heir. I’d prove my father wrong. I’d live up to my brother’s legacy. I’d gain it all. That was the deal. But once again, Caelynn has ruined everything. She’s ruined it by saving me, by sacrificing herself--again. Now that she’s here, it means I can still achieve all of my dreams—I’ll just have to leave her behind in this terrible place along with the wicked souls of fallen fae, and some of the most evil creatures to ever exist. But I can’t. I can’t live my life knowing she is here, trapped. So now, not only must I complete my near-impossible task of saving the fae realm, I must also find a way to free Caelynn from the prison she chose for herself. And Caelynn is not the only being trapped within these walls that craves freedom. We are in the Night Terror’s realm now. And we’re playing her game.

My fated mate is hated by the entire realm and I’ll make it my life’s mission to change their mind. I am Reveln, the fae prince who’s brother was killed by a shadow fae assassin years ago. The whole realm expects me to hate my brother’s killer, and I did— for a very long time. But now that I know the full story, now that Caelynn and I have been to hell and back together—literally— I’ll do anything to keep her safe. But the realm does not see what I see. And now that I’m named High Prince, I have expectations to uphold, a plague to end and an evil monster to hunt down. I need Caelynn’s help, whether the leaders of the kingdoms like it or not. So between parades and balls held in my honor, I work with the incredibly beautiful shadow fae assassin to save the realm from the evil still haunting us. The Queen is convinced I must let my mate go for good—but that is one sacrifice I refuse to make.

How do you beat an ancient monster? Release a bigger one. I thought I'd lost every one of my dreams ten years ago, but I got a new chance when I entered the Trials. With every renewed hope, though, has come more hardship and the Night Bringer has made it very clear that he will not allow me keep any happiness. When shadow rebels attack the Crystal Court, injuring a good friend of mine in the process, I know the Night Bringer is behind it. He's beginning a campaign to destroy my beloved court and my friends alike. He's promised to take away everything precious to me, bit by bit. And I believe him. So that just means I'll just have to kill him first and I know what I need to do. In order to kill a monster, I'll have to unleash a stronger one.