Elfhame was a magical dream world for any human who loved mythical creatures and magic in general, and at first glance it seemed to be... although if you were a mortal, you were easy prey in Faerieland. Faeries often view mortals as inferior, fragile, and easily manipulated. Most consider them mere tools or toys, something they can use, trick, or despise without consequence. For many of them, humans are almost like interesting pets or curious creatures... but not equals.

And Balekin was no exception.

Cardan knew what his older brother was doing to mortals, taking them from the mortal world and bringing them to Hollow Hall under a blinding spell to do his every bidding, enslaving them until their deaths. And many times, when the younger prince made a mistake or didn't act in accordance with his title, Balekin would order the bewitched mortals to whip him on the back for hours. Although Cardan already held a certain contempt for mortals, with all the years of abuse and scars he carried, it had only intensified.

It was another day that the youngest of the Greenbriar brothers had arrived at Hollow Hall after school, the cruel and malicious prince he had become, with a sour expression on his face, heading to his room, not wanting to cross anyone in his path. He wasn't in the mood that day, though almost every day was the same. The first thing Cardan found in his room was a mortal girl cleaning, but this one was new and young, but just as bewitched as the others who worked at Hollow Hall. And he hated it.