Chapter One: Banished
"You are no longer welcome in the Seelie Court."
Queen Liriel's voice was cold, final. Her golden eyes bore into mine, unyielding as the roots of the ancient trees surrounding us. My chest tightened.
"Please," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the murmurs of the court. "It wasn't my fault. I didn't mean to—"
"You lost control," she interrupted, her tone sharp as a blade. "You put our kind in danger. I have given you mercy once before, Ember. I will not do so again."
The weight of her words crushed me. I glanced around, hoping—praying—that someone, anyone, would speak for me. But they only looked away. Even those I had once called friends.
A cold wind swept through the throne room, rustling the petals of my flower-woven dress. My fingers curled into fists. "Where am I supposed to go?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Liriel lifted her chin. "That is no longer my concern."
The guards stepped forward before I could plead again. I flinched as their iron-tipped spears crossed in front of me. Iron burned. Even being near it sent a shudder through my body.
I had no choice.
With a final, shaky breath, I turned and spread my wings, lifting off the ground. The moment I passed through the golden gates, they slammed shut behind me.
I was alone.
⸻
I flew as fast and as far as I could, my tears lost to the wind. My wings ached, my magic burned beneath my skin, but I didn't stop. I couldn't.
The Seelie Court had been my world—its golden light, its eternal spring, the songs that wove through the air like threads of silk. Now, all of it was gone.
Banished.
The word echoed through my mind, sharper than any blade. They feared me—feared the magic I couldn't control. It wasn't my fault. I never meant to lose control. But that didn't matter. The Queen's decree had been final.
I didn't know how long I traveled—hours, maybe days. But when I finally slowed, I found myself hovering over a dark, unfamiliar forest. The trees stretched endlessly beneath me, their twisted branches unlike anything in the Seelie lands.
Something about this place felt wrong.
A shiver ran through me, and for the first time, I hesitated. Maybe I had made a mistake. Maybe I should turn back—
A low growl shattered the silence.
I barely had time to react before the wolves came.
They moved like shadows between the trees, their yellow eyes glowing in the darkness. A deep, guttural snarl sent ice through my veins.
I tried to fly higher, but they were fast—too fast. The largest one lunged, its fangs flashing. I screamed and threw out my hands, calling to my magic, but it didn't come.
No, no, no—
Pain.
A searing, unimaginable pain tore through me as teeth sank into my wing. A cry ripped from my throat as I crashed to the ground, agony blinding me. My wing—my wing was gone.
I hit the earth hard, my body trembling. My magic flickered at my fingertips, weak and useless. My vision blurred as I dragged myself backward, pressing against the rough bark of a tree. The lead wolf advanced, saliva dripping from its fangs.
I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the end.
Then—
A sharp whistle.
The twang of a bowstring.
A yelp.
I forced my eyes open just in time to see the wolf collapse, an arrow buried deep in its side. The others hesitated, then turned tail and fled into the shadows. My breath came in ragged gasps as I lifted my gaze to the trees.
A girl stood there, bow in hand, dark hair braided over her shoulder. Her gray eyes locked onto mine, filled with something I didn't expect. Concern.
A human.
The Queen's warnings rang in my mind. Humans were dangerous. They would take me, use me, hurt me. My body screamed at me to flee, but my broken wing twitched uselessly at my side. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to rise. My feet barely left the ground before I collapsed again, my strength failing me.
The girl took a cautious step forward. "Easy," she said softly. "You're hurt."
Another figure appeared behind her—a boy with sharp eyes and a frown etched deep into his face. He took one look at me and scowled. "Katniss," he muttered, "we don't know what it is."
"She," the girl corrected, shooting him a glare. She turned back to me, her expression softening. "It's okay. I won't hurt you."
I didn't believe her. But I had no choice.