Faerie Marked (Fae Academy for Halflings Book 1) Read online

  Faerie Marked

  Fae Academy for Halflings Book 1

  Brea Viragh

  Contents

  Faerie Marked

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  About the Author

  Faerie Marked ©Copyright 2020 Brea Viragh

  Copyright notice: All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Cover Artist: Heather Marie Adkins, Cyber Witch Press & Graphic Design www.cyberwitchpress.com

  Faerie Marked

  Fae Academy for Halflings Book 1

  No one said escaping her bloodthirsty fated mate would be easy.

  Half Fae and half wolf-shifter, Tavi Alderidge’s only chance to dodge a dangerous and disturbing arranged marriage is to attend the Fae Academy for Halflings. There’s just one problem: shifters aren’t allowed.

  Her hope comes in the form of a potion to suppress her shifter half while she works to earn her ticket to Faerie, the cost steep but one she’s willing to pay for a chance to escape. However, surviving the Academy’s cullings meant to weed out the weaker students isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when a murderer begins taking out the top students.

  Soon, Tavi finds herself doing the one thing she swore she would never do: falling for another student. And when she discovers he’s the Crown Prince of Faerie, she realizes the one person she thought she could trust is the last person who can ever learn her secret.

  Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Bella Forest, and K.F. Breene will find themselves enthralled with this dark paranormal romance full of magic and betrayal.

  Start reading FAERIE MARKED by USA Today bestselling author Brea Viragh today!

  1

  The empty picture frames lining my dresser were a constant reminder of what I didn’t have. I’d thought about keeping the stock images they’d come with, but the idea of staring at the perfect smiling faces of couples and families was like a knife to the gut. Everything was a reminder of the fact: my parents were dead.

  I furiously wiped at the tears trailing down my cheeks.

  A Fae mother and a werewolf father…a forbidden romance doomed from the start, and a daughter left behind, destined to fit in nowhere.

  I had no pictures of the two of them and none existed of the three of us together.

  Happy birthday to me.

  Normally I wouldn’t risk the tears because Uncle William hated any display of emotion that could potentially show weakness to our enemies. He hadn’t even cried when his brother died, or so I was told.

  Besides, he was a defense attorney—one of the best—and kept his guard high. Whether this was a side effect of his chosen profession or a personality defect, I didn’t know.

  I sighed, pushing heavy red hair out of my eyes, dreading the next few hours. Tonight’s party should have been a few stolen moments of joy, a celebration of epic proportions for my eighteenth birthday. “You only turn eighteen once,” Uncle Will had said, and he had always made sure to give me whatever I wanted after I became his ward.

  Even though he possessed more money than God—excuse the hyperbole—he could never give me the one thing I wanted. My parents. It was simply beyond his scope.

  If he knew I was up here moping instead of getting ready, what a lecture I’d get. His words had the ability to strip me bare and leave me a shaky mess. It was a particular talent of his, and sometimes I felt like he practiced on me and the house staff so he’d be better prepared for court.

  The door to my room burst open, shattering the precious silence. From the doorway where she stood, my friend Dawn de León stared at me with golden eyes, her hair a perfectly styled wave of sleek chestnut running along her spine. She’d set her standards to stunning for the evening, adorning her lanky frame in a dress made of pure sunlight. The golden shimmering ensemble complemented her eyes, and every detail down to the diamond earrings dripping from her ears was on point.

  By comparison, I looked like a troll.

  “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You do know you can’t be a party pooper if it’s your own party, right? Stop sulking and get down there!” she insisted.

  I tried to force a smile for my best friend and failed miserably. “I’m sorry, Dawn.”

  “Tavi Alderidge, please tell me why you’re up here in the dark alone when there is food to be eaten and a hot boy waiting for you to grab him and kiss him?” Dawn emphasized the statement by miming me grabbing the hot boy by the shirt and dragging him up to my waiting lips and tongue.

  She wouldn’t tolerate my behavior for much longer, if pulling out the last-name gun was any indication. I’d used up my allotted “alone time” for the evening and the cavalry had come to rouse me to battle.

  My hands, stiff from clenching them at my sides, were nearly numb and I tried to shake them out. The sun had already set outside and washed the world in hues of violet and navy. I knew whatever fleeting moments of stillness I’d enjoyed were now gone for good.

  “Sorry. I was thinking,” I told Dawn with a soft smile.

  “Tavi!” Her gasp scraped past me. “Unless you were thinking about Jason Rutledge and how to pull him into a dark corner to be alone, then clear your mind because no other thoughts have a place there. Not today. It’s your birthday!”

  I knew Dawn wanted to cheer me up. And part of me wished I could tell my friend about the sadness. About the real reason why my eyes were a little red. “I’m fine,” I insisted. “Getting my head in the game.”

  “You’re going to have to do a lot more than get your head in the game, girl. What have you done to your hair? All those waves…” She clucked her tongue and moved forward, apparently to straighten me out.

  Dawn had done her shining brown hair better than any salon could reproduce. Blessed with beauty and the money to back it up, she was a prize by the standards of anyone in the pack.

  A few more pokes and prods from her ever-caring hands and I was deemed good as new, her thumbs wiping beneath my eyes at any trace of smeared liner.

  I took a calming breath and stood at last. “Okay. Let’s go have some fun.”

  Every word cost me and part of me still remained back on the bed, staring at those em
pty frames. But now, I’d insisted on my readiness, and Dawn would brook no further argument. She looped her arm through mine until we were linked at the elbows.

  “You are not going to believe the kind of spread your uncle put together tonight. You haven’t seen it yet, have you? I mean, I don’t know when you last left your room, but you are going to die! It’s amazing. So much better than the party my parents did for my eighteenth. You are so lucky.”

  I listened to her talk without any need—or room—for comment, one good thing about Dawn. Once she got on a roll, she did most of the heavy lifting in any conversation.

  It didn’t take long to navigate the winding white-and-black-veined marble staircase, then Dawn pushed me out the back door and into the yard. A lush green lawn stretched as far as the eye could see, only a small part of Uncle William’s estate and kept in manicured perfection by an army of hired gardeners. Tonight, he’d erected a stage for musicians to play and the sound of the band echoed across the horde of people. My pack members.

  Warmth stole over me. No matter my bastard heritage, these people were here for me. They were here to celebrate a significant milestone in my life. My uncle led our wolf pack, and as his niece I enjoyed a place of esteem within the hierarchy. No one understood the tenuous grasp I really held on the position of status. If they knew the truth about me, I wouldn’t be allowed to stand here.

  I wouldn’t be allowed to live.

  “Look, there’s Jason.” Dawn pointed ahead through the crowd. “I know he’s been making eyes at you for the last three weeks. Is he still texting you?”

  “Yeah, sometimes. It’s been three weeks of flirtatious fun,” I replied, then sent a silent wave ahead to the boy in question. Masculine blue eyes pinned me and held, drawing a smile from me. My first genuine one of the night.

  Dawn gave me a nudge in his direction. “Why don’t you go talk to him? Start up the conversation and see where it takes you. I mean, it’s your party. He can’t say no to you tonight. Have fun!”

  “There are other people to talk to…” I began, then trailed off.

  My night, my rules.

  With Dawn’s permission to release myself into the wilds of teenage flirtation, I crossed the lawn toward Jason, my footsteps silent and stealthy. The wolf inside of me took hold. Although only fifty percent of my genetic makeup, my wolf was everything I wanted to be but rarely felt: confident, strong, capable.

  None of those things had ever described me. Not deep down where it really counted.

  “Well, hello there, birthday girl,” Jason began the moment I stepped within earshot. “You look great.”

  He’d slicked his rich dark hair around his ears, lending the appearance of classic boy-next-door. He had the sort of looks appealing to the masses and I knew he had his fair share of females sniffing around for attention.

  I plucked at the simple black sheath dress bought specifically for this occasion. “Thank you.”

  “Everyone has been waiting for you to make an appearance. I’m flattered you chose to visit me first.” His deep rumble came from his chest, a richer tone than his young face indicated. The beginning of a beard darkened his chin while the rest of his jaw remained spotless.

  I pushed my hands through my hair and mussed the strands Dawn had meticulously put into place moments ago. “You looked lonely standing here by yourself. I figured you might want a little company,” I said.

  “If the company is you, then I’m in luck. I get to spend time with the prettiest girl here.”

  A little light back-and-forth play did the soul good, I decided instantly, especially when the guy on the other end looked like Jason. Yet instead of a quick return, something coy designed to get him to step closer or take my hand, I snorted. Not surprising to anyone who knew me. I rarely did well with praise.

  “How about you and the prettiest girl get something to drink?” I suggested. “As long as you don’t mind if I tag along.”

  “Tavi, you’re crazy,” he replied with a chuckle.

  “I know. It’s a gift.”

  He casually cupped my elbow as he escorted me back toward the throng of people. At least Jason didn’t try to touch me excessively. He’d grown up accustomed to wealth, so he knew the protocol. Not just within pack society, but the unwritten laws of the upper class as well.

  “Your uncle did an awesome job,” Jason observed as we walked toward the refreshments.

  I nodded my agreement. “He did. He always adores a good party. It’s his bread and butter.”

  “I noticed guards at the gate.”

  “Precautions,” I stated quickly, hoping not to scare him away. “Uncle Will always hires someone to watch the entrances and exits. He takes his job as alpha seriously. He does whatever he can to protect our people.”

  I’d noticed the wolves standing guard at the rear, of course. They didn’t bother me anymore. Not when I’d grown up seeing the extra muscle around at events and meetings.

  “It’s good to keep the riffraff away,” Jason said smugly. “I know how bright lights and shiny baubles tend to attract the undesirables.”

  The undesirables…?

  My spine went stiff and I shifted my gaze toward his eyes. “I’m not sure what you mean. There hasn’t been a theft in the neighborhood in ages. Most people know to stay out. We have pretty good security in the area.”

  “I’m talking about Fae and their like. All their little pixie and fairy brethren falling under the Fae umbrella. They’re fond of anything with glitz so I’m sure the display here is quite the draw.” Jason tucked his hands in his pockets, staring around the backyard with a scowl. “Have you had any issues before?”

  Jason had no way of knowing his insulting statement struck a chord inside of me. I’d heard the words before and knew I repeated them myself in public only because I had no other choice. Otherwise everyone would know there was something wrong with me.

  My mouth went dry. Despite it, I didn’t feel like having a drink anymore. “No. No issues,” I said vaguely, knowing no matter how nicely I tried to discuss the politics surrounding the Fae, it would do no good. Inside, I flinched, shying away from the harsh reality of the world. The inherent prejudices between the two races went deep.

  “Your uncle only wants to protect you from our enemies,” Jason continued. “There are so many out there who would consider you a way to get to him. He’s prepared for any threat, which makes him a great leader. He keeps us safe. I’m glad.” Then he grabbed two glasses of whatever they were serving from the table ahead, holding one out to me.

  I took a sniff. Nonalcoholic cider, no doubt, although I’m sure the adults had found their way to the hard stuff. Uncle Will always kept alcohol around.

  “To you. On your birthday,” Jason said sweetly, winking and touching his glass to mine.

  My smile cracked around the edges. He didn’t bother to confirm if it was real or fake. He didn’t care. “Thank you.”

  I kept quiet. Taking a long sip from the spotless glass, I let Jason continue the conversation, knowing better than to begin an argument I had no chance of winning. But I glanced around at the party and the shine he’d spoken of, the twinkling white lights strung through every tree and the opulence of even the small detail.

  Yes, the bright lights were a draw for any creature dazzled by sparkles and glitz. But for him to suggest the Fae would bother to break in here because of a few strands of twinkling bulbs—

  I took another swallow just as an interruption came in the form of Uncle William stepping up to the microphone and halting the band’s music with a raised hand. His commanding presence did more than earn him the respect of our fellow wolves. It made him a feared opponent in the courtroom.

  “Everyone, may I have your attention please.”

  The single statement in his powerful baritone drew a hush over the crowd though it did nothing to drown out the beating of my heart. I placed a hand against it knowing soon the attention would fall on me.

  Yuck.

  “Tha
nk you all for coming this evening,” William continued. “What a delight it is to see my people, our people, gathered together in one place for this celebration.”

  He stood tall, his muscular frame dressed in an expensive three-piece suit and a sky-blue tie to emphasize the interesting color of his eyes. Though in his late forties, his hair held only the barest minimum of gray shooting through the auburn strands. The color I’d inherited from his side of the family.

  “If you would raise your glasses, folks, I’d like to propose a toast to celebrate Tavi, my bright and brilliant niece!”

  With my name, the gazes of the collective slid to me surer than any spotlight. Jason clapped lightly along with the rest of them as I stifled another snort.

  Uncle William’s dark eyes flicked to mine and held, a mix of rich brown and green. “There you are, my dear! Anyway, as you all know, Tavi has been with me from the time she turned six years old. Since then, I have had the pleasure of watching her grow into the smart and capable young woman you see today. Not to mention beautiful. Although I have to admit she’s given me her fair share of trouble along the way.” This drew chuckles from the assemblage, and I ducked my head to hide the slight blush. Not at his words, but from the weight of so many gazes.

  “What you don’t know,” William continued, “is how Tavi has spent this summer working as an intern with my law firm. Something she had to be coerced into.” The joke drew more laughter. “However, she has done a marvelous job of each and every task we’ve handed her.”