Thin Ice

by Renée Jaggér

  Eventually, I’d have to choose a side. So far, I’d only met Mab and Ronan, both of whom were part of the winter court. There was a summer court too, but I didn’t know anything about it. I reminded myself that I had to find out and soon since they too had a motive to stir up trouble. Ronan had said most fae stayed in whatever court they were born into, but I’d been born outside the court structure.

  My mother must’ve been part of one of the courts. Or my father, I supposed. I didn’t have any records for either of them. After spending my life bouncing around the foster system, I didn’t even know their names, let alone anything about them. I guess I’m going to have to go dig through old records. To get my mother’s name, I’d need my original birth certificate. That was easy enough, but that paper wouldn’t tell me if she was fae.

  I turned to Ronan. “Ronan, you said you knew I was part-fae as soon as you met me.”

  “Almost as soon as I met you,” he corrected. “We weren’t formally introduced until after I figured it out, though.”

  “Whatever.” I waved a hand. “Is there a way to tell which court my parents belonged to?”

  I’d assumed they must’ve been connected to the winter court. After all, the few times I’d managed to use my magic, it had manifested as ice. It didn’t seem to me that summer fae would be throwing around ice spells.

  Ronan shrugged. “Not really.”

  “But the spell I used back at the theater created ice.”

  “I don’t know why your magic is manifesting in that way. It could be you’re only using ice magic because of your connection to me, or because that’s what you expect it to look like somewhere in your subconscious. Magic is complicated in its simplicity. I’m by no means a master, but we can get you someone to help you learn. I know a very good tutor.” He pretended to pick a bit of lint off his sleeve.

  “Or you could teach me.”

  He looked up and smiled. “Maybe, but then you’d only learn what I know. If you want to know if you’re capable of more, we’ll have to get you a proper teacher. That’s something I can arrange, although you can’t tell my mother. She won’t like it.”

  Good, I thought. All the more reason to do it.

  We didn’t bother to go inside. Ronan could’ve made the portal anywhere, but he said it was easier to do it in the woods since the portal would be more stable there. It was dark out when we hiked back behind the house, but Ronan retrieved a flashlight from the glove box, and I almost always had one with me. A flashlight was never not useful.

  “What if she doesn’t believe me?” I asked as we trudged back through the woods.

  “You’ll have to make her believe you, Callie.”

  “Even if I don’t think it’s true?”

  Ronan stopped. We’d reached the small clearing, but he hadn’t stopped so he could open the portal. He turned to me and took my hands, meeting my eyes. I felt my heart jump into my throat.

  “My mother will go to war if she suspects the vampires were supporting Jax. A lot of people will die if we go to war, Callie.”

  You have the power to stop that from happening. He didn’t say it, but it was implied. Preventing war meant lying, at least by omission. I’d have to leave out everything I knew about Vaughn’s involvement, which would leave him free to keep pushing toward war if he wanted. Ronan was right. I’d have to make her believe me. And I still hadn’t asked Ronan about the summer court.

  Ronan turned back to the clearing and brought out the ring he’d used to open the portal before. He slid it on, swept his hand through the air, and the shining portal appeared. When he held out his hand, I put my palm in his, and we walked through the portal together.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  The winter knight was waiting for us as we came through the portal. Instead of transporting us into the old section of the palace as he had the first time, Ronan had dropped in right outside the throne room. Although I couldn’t see the knight’s facial features behind whatever mask he was wearing, I couldn’t help but feel like he was glowering at us as we tumbled through. The heavy doors creaked as he pushed them open, holding them for us to walk through. One hand rested on the hilt of his sword, the threat clear.

  If Mab’s throne room had been cold before, it was freezing now. I hugged myself and clenched my teeth tightly to keep them from chattering. Ronan walked beside me, completely unbothered by the cold. I have to check out the summer court anyway, I thought. I hope it’s warmer there.

  Mab sat on her throne, a cobalt dress draping from her shoulders, sparkling in the light like sapphires. A wreath rested on her head in place of a crown, although gold thread had been twined through it. Little red balls dotted the wreath like holly berries. She would have looked festive if not for the disapproving glare she was giving us.

  “I see you have returned, my son. I hope you have brought good news.” Mab folded her hands in her lap.

  “We have,” Ronan confirmed, stepping up to the throne. He dropped to one knee. Not knowing what else to do, I mimicked his motions. “The assassin has been dealt with. The threat to my life is no more, thanks to Callie.” He gestured to me.

  Mab lifted her perfectly sculpted eyebrows and turned her attention to me. “And did you find the assassin was acting on his own?”

  I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. “There was no direct evidence linking Jax to the vampire aristocracy. While Jax was a vampire, I found nothing on his person to indicate he was working with anyone else.”

  That was true. The best lies always had a seed of truth. While I suspected Jax had been working with Vaughn and Meyer Securities, I didn’t have proof. No matter how hard I searched his body, I would not have found any proof. That was partly due to him turning to dust shortly after I staked him, but I decided to leave that part out.

  We waited for Mab to say something, but she remained quiet for a long time. Maybe she was waiting for us to continue, but I didn’t have anything else to say. The result was an extended, awkward silence that seemed to bounce off the walls.

  “Well?” Mab snapped after a few moments. “Do you have proof of your claim, or am I to take you at your word?”

  I looked at Ronan, who nodded. “May I approach the throne?”

  Mab sat up straighter, and the winter knight took a step closer. “You may,” said the queen.

  I rose and took my phone from my pocket. There was no service in the winter palace since we weren’t on Earth anymore. However, I didn’t need service to access the camera’s gallery. I climbed onto the dais with Mab and brought up the photos I’d taken of the pile of ash that was Jax. “This is all that’s left of him. I questioned him as best I could, and his testimony didn’t indicate higher involvement.”

  Mab yanked the phone from my hands and leaned forward, scrolling through the series of photos I’d taken. I don’t know why she felt the need to look at all of them. Most of them were just blurrier versions of the first one, yet she hovered on each one, scrutinizing every pixel. “What about you?” she asked. “Do you believe he was working alone or that he had the support of the vampire aristocracy?”

  “What I believe isn’t important, is it? You need evidence to go to war.”

  Mab’s bitter laughter bounced off the throne room walls. “Girl, I could go to war because I felt like it.” She handed my phone back to me. “Fortunately for you, I find it to be a huge inconvenience. Going to war means sitting on a war council, meeting with generals, and coordinating battle plans, none of which I wish to do. However, Ronan has asked me to trust your judgment. If I am placing my faith in you, then your opinion holds weight.”

  “I believe this attack was an isolated event. The vampires do not want war any more than you do.” It was another near-lie. Since there were probably some vampires who didn’t want war, I could choose to believe they were in the majority and that Vaughn represented a minority. I just had to hope the queen bought it.

  Mab snorted, satisfied. “Good. Then we can put this whole matter to bed, and everything c
an get back to normal.”

  I bowed and retreated down the stairs.

  “Of course,” Mab said as soon as my foot touched the bottom stair, “there’s still the matter of your choosing a court. The law says you must state your allegiance by your twenty-eighth birthday, and according to my records, you have already celebrated your twenty-eighth birthday, Ms. Hart. However, I must acknowledge your case is unusual. You’ve only just now discovered your heritage, and must be allowed time to consider your options.” Her fingers curled, clawing into the armrest of her throne as she spoke. “I will give you thirty days, Callie Hart. At the end of your thirty days, you will return here and announce your decision.”

  “Even if I decide to join the summer court?” I shouldn’t have pushed her, but I needed to know for sure that I would be walking into a trap.

  The armrests creaked under the weight of Mab’s fists. “You will be granted safe passage upon your return. Consider it payment for what you’ve done for my son. You two are dismissed.” She waved her hand and looked away.

  Ronan and I turned to make our exit. The winter knight, however, stepped into our way. Ronan narrowed his eyes at the knight. “Step aside, Sir Knight. We have been granted permission to leave. I have no quarrel with you.”

  The knight stood there, an immovable force as emotive as a slab of granite. Ronan and the knight stared each other down for a long moment before the knight finally stepped aside and allowed us to pass.

  “What was that about?” I asked Ronan when we reached the hallway.

  “The winter knight and I have history. It is nothing you need to worry about. He’s not a security threat to me.”

  I hope not, I thought as Ronan opened the portal to take us back. The last person I’d ever want to fight was that creepy knight.

  I waited in Ronan’s living room while he filled out my first paycheck. In the future, we’d set everything up for direct deposit, but for now, I’d be thankful for whatever I could get. All I wanted to do was go back to the loft, order a pizza, and pass out for three days straight. Ronan had only given me tomorrow off, though, so I’d have to pull myself together to be back at work the next day. Maybe I wouldn’t have to fend off any more vampire assassins for a while. A girl could hope.

  Sam was sprawled on the sofa behind me, snoring with their mouth open. Guess they were worn out too. It’d been a long night for all of us.

  I glanced out the window and sighed. We’d lost most of the evening to the police investigation and our trip into the fae realm. It was edging toward midnight now. The silver lining of being out so late was that traffic wouldn’t be bad. If I’d learned anything from the last few days, it was to focus on the positives. That and we should upgrade our security, and probably change our locks.

  Ronan held the check out to me. “I’ll get everything set up, so this process is automatic next time.”

  “I appreciate it.” My fingers closed around the check and pulled, but Ronan didn’t let go. Our eyes met.

  “She tried to compel you to tell the truth, you know.”

  “Who did? Mab?”

  Ronan nodded and finally let go of the check, his forehead creased with worry. “You just shrugged it off as if you didn’t even notice. I’ve never seen someone dance around her questioning like that. She’s probably beside herself right now, trying to figure out who you are.”

  “Maybe I’d better get on that before she does.” I folded the check in half and tucked it into my pocket. “But first, I need food and sleep. No offense, Ronan, but you’re going to have to get through the night without me protecting your ass.”

  “You’re always welcome to stay. There’s more than enough room.”

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “I meant in the guest room, Callie, but if you want to go check under my bed for monsters, I wouldn’t say no.”

  I rolled my eyes and kicked Sam’s ankle.

  Sam sat up, choking on a snore, and shouted, “Van Gogh! Rembrandt! Monet! Oh, it’s you.”

  “Come on, Sam. Get up. We’re going home.”

  Ronan held the door for us, leaning on it. He stopped me just before I stepped out. “Are you going to be okay, Callie? What you did for me tonight? I know it wasn’t easy.”

  I considered that for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, I’m good.”

  He nodded. “So, about that steak dinner. I know you’re probably sick of my face right now, but I thought since tomorrow is your night off, we could actually enjoy it.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “I’ll take a rain check on that. No offense, but I think I need a full day off.”

  Ronan seemed disappointed but nodded. “Rain check it is.”

  Sam yawned all the way home but refused to fall back asleep. It was just as well. Our loft was only about twenty minutes away, and we were making good time. “So, what do you want to do for food?” they said while yawning. “We could hit a drive-thru or order something in, or even brave one of the stores if you’re feeling up to it.”

  “It’s your night to cook,” I reminded them.

  “Damn.” Sam dropped their arms into their lap. “Order in it is, then.”

  We arrived back at the loft just before midnight. There was a pizza place nearby that delivered until two. Sometimes, living in a college town was not so bad. While Sam dragged themselves to the bathroom to splash water on their face, I went to charge my phone so I could call the pizza place, pausing when I glanced at the door. Someone had slid an envelope underneath it. I must’ve missed it when I came in.

  “Sam, did you forget to pay your part of the rent again?” I called as I went to fetch it.

  “No, why?”

  I picked up the envelope. There weren’t any stamps on it, and the only writing on the outside was my name in curling letters. Something about the envelope gave me an awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. I locked the door and put my back to it before I opened it.

  Inside, I found a letter scrawled in the same handwriting from the envelope.

  Dear Miss Hart,

  You impress me. It is rare indeed to find someone with your skills, and rarer still for that person to be aware of the supernatural world and their place in it. I am sure that Ronan McCalister has offered you an impressive salary with generous benefits. Meyer Securities is prepared to double whatever he’s offering and provide you with a generous travel stipend, as well as a larger staff.

  I didn’t bother to read farther. I didn’t need to. The rest of the letter was probably more corporate bullshit. If Vaughn thought he could buy me, he hadn’t learned anything from our encounter. I crumpled the letter and tossed it in the garbage bin along with the envelope, hoping that was the last I’d hear from Vaughn Meyer.

  “What was that?”

  I turned and found Sam behind me. They had thrown on a fresh shirt and run a brush through their hair.

  “Nothing,” I replied, closing the cabinet. “What do you want on your pizza? Same as usual?”

  Sam snorted and dug out their phone. “Forget that. I’m ordering. Last time I let you put in the pizza order, they left the sauce off.”

  “I told them to, Sam. I don’t like tomato sauce.”

  “It’s not pizza without tomato sauce,” Sam grumbled and dialed the pizza place.

  For once, I let them win the argument. I had a more important task on my mind.

  While Sam put in the pizza order, I retreated to my bedroom, where I retrieved a small box from under my bed. In it, I’d stored the few mementos I had from my time in the service, including photos, a worn paperback that’d belonged to one of our squadmates, a watch, and a few other knick-knacks. I moved everything aside and gently placed Jax’s dog tags next to a photo of our unit. In it, everyone was smiling into the sun, but Jax had the biggest smile of all. That was how I’d choose to remember him.

  “Hey, Callie, they’re out of pepperoni,” said Sam, leaning on the doorframe. “You still want that pizza?”

  “You know what? Why don’t we go out ton
ight?” I put the lid on the box and slid it back under the bed for safekeeping.

  Bad Attitude

  If you enjoyed this adventure with Callie Hart, you may also enjoy Bailey Nordin’s story in the WereWitch series, also from Renée Jaggér.

  If Were tradition forced you to marry at twenty-five, would you do it?

  Bailey Nordin is feeling the stress of pack obligations arriving too soon in her life.

  She prefers working on cars to going on a date.

  A good fight is just a morning’s workout, and Bailey's sarcastic wit has killed any chance of a love life.

  Her future isn't looking bright.

  Roland is on the run from three powerful witches who want him for...what he can provide.

  Trying to hide from the witches, he ends up in the middle of a town so small, it's hard to find it on a map.

  She's a Were, He's a wizard. He could be her ticket out of her problems—if she believed in magic.

  Massive changes are coming down from the heavens, and Bailey Nordin is the Were in the middle.

  Will she figure out how to break from tradition?

  "It's like Romeo and Juliet... A Were and a wizard fighting kidnappers, gods, and a mysterious government agency that is trying to hide the paranormal from society.

  You know what? It's actually nothing like Romeo and Juliet.

  Except no one wants those two together, especially the witches."

  AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AND IN KINDLE UNLIMITED!

  Note from Renée

  April 15, 2020

  You made it! Here we are again at the end of this, the first in a new series! Thank you so much for reading this far.

  We are living through a momentous time for our country and our world. Momentous is usually used in the positive sense, and while things are dire indeed out there, I see amazing new practices such as widespread working from home and becoming a community again coming out of all this. Sue me, I’m an optimist.