Prince of Ash: The Shadow Fae Trilogy, book 2

Excerpt:
Voices came to them over the water, complaining about the fog. The Rat Soldiers quietly positioned their boats so that one was to either side of the oncoming craft, while the third was dead center in its path. But with the thick fog, they were working blind and misjudged the distance. Without warning, the pirate boat-riding low in the water with all its booty-loomed up out of the mist close enough to touch. Rose let out a gasp of surprise, and instantly the shadows in the boat straightened.

"Who's there?" demanded a harsh voice.

Darcy's answer floated from somewhere ahead. "Never you mind that!" The loud click of a hammer being drawn back on a gun sounded.

God damn it—she's as likely to shoot us in this fog!

"Looks like you're riding low," said George, who was in the same boat as Pook and Rose. His voice shook, but he had pulled a knife out of his pocket and now waved it at the pirates. "Let us help you out, lighten the load a bit."

The pirate closest to them held up his hands. "Sure, friend," he said nastily, and Pook didn't like the note in his voice. "Just come on over, then."

George never had been too bright, in Pook's estimation, and now he proved it all over again by leaning over and reaching towards the other boat.

"Don't!" yelled Pook, but the sudden roar of a gun drowned out his words.

George jerked back, and Pook caught a glimpse of bright blood, smelled the reek of powder. Rose screamed a curse and snatched out her knife, Darcy started firing blind, and Pook hurled himself into the bottom of the boat—

Something slammed into the hull from beneath.

The impact cracked the boat into Pook's chin, sending bright flashes cascading across his vision. Dazed, he tried to push himself away, but the entire boat was being heaved upwards, carrying him along with it. Rose shrieked, and he caught a glimpse of a body falling past him, an instant before the entire boat went over, dumping them all into freezing water.

The shock of hitting the river cleared Pook's head slightly, even as the cold made his muscles seize. For a moment he flailed blindly, uncertain which way was up; then his head broke the surface. Ripping the wet cloth from his face, he took a deep gasp of icy air.

Something hard and cold as iron closed around his ankle.

He didn't even have time to cry out before it yanked him down. The river current buffeted his body, and he thrashed madly, kicking out in terror. Something big brushed past him; he felt coarse hair, caught a brief glimpse of glowing eyes before it was gone. And still the grip on his ankle did not relent.

Blind panic erupted in him. He grabbed at anything-the cold currents, the memory of ice, the screams of drowned men-and hurled it blindly at whatever held him captive beneath the water. The hold loosened, then let go; lungs bursting, he propelled himself upwards.

The air was like ice as his gulped it down, but he didn't care. Flailing wildly, he tried to get his bearings, but the fog he had summoned worked against him now. Frantic to get away from whatever had tried to drown him, he kicked towards what he hoped was the bank...and then saw the fae rise up before him.

A faint, nacreous glow clung to her blue-black skin, illuminating her, bright as day, to his sensitive sight. She stood half out of the water, as if solid ground supported her, even though they were far from the river's edge. Black hair trailed down about her naked breasts, and a crown of rank weeds held it back from her face. Her features were coldly beautiful, but her teeth were sharp as knives, and there was nothing of kindness or pity in her huge, slanted eyes.

One of the Gentry—

And unseelie. I've never fought unseelie before, don't know how much I can hurt her.

I'm going to die. She's going to kill me, and there ain't a damned thing I can do about it.

"Get away from me!" Pook shouted, even though he knew it wouldn't do any good.

She laughed, revealing a forked tongue. "If I meant to drown you, little pooka, you would be dead."

"Who are you? What did you do to the boat?" In the distance, he could hear the shouts of the other Rat Soldiers, and he prayed that the sound of his voice would bring them closer. Rose, what's happened to Rose?

The fae laughed. "I am fideal, little boy. And I did nothing to the boat. That was the aughisky's doing, and glad of it you should be, for else your blood might be staining the water tonight."

The cold was starting to eat into his limbs, making him sluggish. Had he been entirely human, he suspected he would be drowning by now. "What do you want with me?"

"So many questions, and none of them the right ones." She chuckled softly. "But because I am generous, I will tell you one thing. Seek the sword, little pooka. Seek the sword."