Lady of Starfire

Lady of Starfire LADY OF DARKNESS BOOK FIVE MELISSA K. ROEHRICH Contents Also by Melissa K. Roehrich A Couple Things The Fae Queen of the Western Courts Part I 1. Sorin 2. Scarlett 3. Eliza 4. Talwyn 5. Callan 6. Cyrus 7. Scarlett 8. Eliza 9. Callan 10. Eliza 11. Scarlett 12. Cyrus 13. Talwyn 14. Sorin 15. Cyrus 16. Scarlett Part II 17. Eliza 18. Talwyn 19. Sorin 20. Cyrus 21. Eliza 22. Callan 23. Scarlett 24. Talwyn 25. Cyrus 26. Scarlett 27. Scarlett 28. Eliza 29. Callan 30. Talwyn 31. Cyrus 32. Eliza 33. Sorin 34. Scarlett Part III 35. Scarlett 36. Sorin 37. Eliza 38. Cyrus 39. Callan 40. Talwyn 41. Scarlett 42. Eliza 43. Sorin 44. Talwyn 45. Cyrus 46. Callan 47. Scarlett 48. Callan 49. Scarlett 50. Talwyn 51. Eliza 52. Callan 53. Cyrus 54. Sorin 55. Scarlett The Brightest Stars Sneak Peek The Beginning 1. Tessa A Note from the Author Acknowledgments Also by Melissa K. Roehrich LADY OF DARKNESS SERIES Lady of Darkness Lady of Shadows Lady of Ashes Lady of Embers The Reaper (A Lady of Darkness Novella) Lady of Starfire THE LEGACY SERIES Rain of Shadows and Endings- Coming August 2023 Lady of Starfire - 1st Edition Copyright © 2023 Melissa K. Roehrich All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. ISBN: 979-8-9852991-8-2 (paperback) 979-8-9852991-9-9 (alternate cover paperback) 978-1-960923-90-5 (hardcover) Created with Vellum A Couple Things TRIGGER WARNINGS Your mental health matters. This book contains descriptive violence and references to SA. For a full list of possible triggers, please visit my website at https://www.melissakroehrich.com under Book Extras. PLAYLIST Music is powerful. When I write I have music blasting in my earbuds, and many asked for a playlist. I adore when books come with playlists that follow along with the story. You feel everything more. It immerses you more. It brings everything to life. If you find this to be true for you too, here you go! Enjoy! Spotify Link: If you don’t have Spotify, the full Playlist can also be found on my website: https://www.melissakroehrich.com under Book Extras! For Clara Grace and Scarlett Mae— the beauty from the damn ashes, baby girls The Fae Queen of the Western Courts Nearly Twenty-One Years Ago “That will be all, Prince Drayce,” the Fae Queen of the Western Courts said to the Water Prince. The Water Prince eyed the cloaked stranger carefully before his icy blue eyes went back to his queen. “You are sure about this, your Majesty? I do not mind accompanying you.” Eliné reached out, squeezing his fingers gently. “We will be fine, Prince. No need to worry yourself…or Sorin.” The implication was clear. Do not tell the Fire Prince that she was visiting the Underwater Prison with an unknown visitor. Briar nodded, and the Fae Queen turned, descending a set of stairs. The cloaked figure walked beside her, her footfalls as silent as her own. When they had descended several levels beneath the sea, the stranger pulled her hood back. Silver eyes settled on the Fae Queen. A circlet of stars was on the female’s brow, shadows drifting around them as if they were in the night sky itself. “You are beloved,” the female said. “I am close with all the Fae Royalty,” Eliné answered. “But they have become increasingly protective of me after Esmeray killed Henna.” “Paja reported you took care of Esmeray for her betrayal.” Eliné hid her wince at what she’d had to do to her own sister. “I did. No one else knows.” “Good.” They were nearing their destination when Eliné dared to speak again. “Why now, my Lady?” The female turned to look at her once more, silver hair slipping free of the cloak and falling over her shoulder. It reached nearly to her waist. “I have brought much upon this world, Eliné,” she replied. “You know this. My son has unknowingly done the same. Our time here has come to an end. It must. This world does not deserve to burn. I will make the necessary sacrifices to ensure it does not.” “And Tethys?” Eliné asked softly, pausing at the top of a set of stairs that would lead them to the prisoner they had come to see. She hadn’t been to this part of the prison in centuries. “He made sacrifices of his own to see this through,” the female answered, her tone faltering the smallest amount when she spoke of her husband. Eliné nodded, wanting to comfort the one she served, but she knew the gesture would be unwelcome. She knew the female better than most. She had been serving her for centuries. “Have more come?” “More have come. Some never left. They have found a way to hide, even from me. Achaz’s doing, I am sure.” She smoothed a hand along her cloak before she said, “Enough of this.” She moved ahead of Eliné, and the Fae Queen scrambled to catch up to her sovereign. It had been nearly nine centuries since she had seen the female, but it had been half that many since she and her sister, Henna, had come to ask for aid from the being they were about to see. The sconces along the wall across from the cell flickered when they reached the base of the stairs. The female behind the bars was already on her feet. Lank black hair framed a gaunt face, but vibrant violet eyes glittered as she stared back at them. She wore a beige shift, and her bare feet were covered with dirt and grime. “Gehenna,” her sovereign greeted tersely. “Saylah,” the prisoner purred. “Goddess of the night