by Eve Langlais
“Manipulation how?” Roark asked.
“Some work metal, some fire. Others can work the cell blocks of life itself.”
“A monster maker,” Casey breathed.
“In a sense.”
“Do you know who’s doing it?” Roark asked.
Raphael shook his head. “Just rumors that whoever it is doesn’t live in this kingdom. But we’ve seen examples and weren’t impressed.”
“Seen where?” Roark demanded.
“Where else but Port City?” Raphael shrugged. “It’s the only real way out of the kingdom since the tunnels collapsed.”
“Are there more of these hybrids in the city right now?” Casey asked.
“No.”
“Would you tell me if there were?” Roark growled, probably feeling the frustration of having to trust in the words of someone else.
“Actually, I would. You’re a decent king. It would be a shame if you were to die and all this were lost.”
Roark didn’t mellow at the praise. “You’re breaking my laws. I could kill you right now.”
“But you won’t.” The earl didn’t seem worried. He ran his hand over his desk covered in potted plants, and a hologram appeared midair. Pictures of couples.
“Who are they?” Roark asked.
“Happy clients. I’m very good at what I do.”
Casey found herself curious. “Why? Why are people so concerned about making super babies? Why not let nature take its course?”
“Because nature taking its course is what happened to the less fortunate. Or did you think the ghouls got there simply by decay left by the Fall? Add in a tight ecosystem and intensive inbreeding and you get monsters.”
“According to you.” Casey the skeptic.
The earl shrugged. “According to science.”
“Science doesn’t make people compatible,” Roark argued.
“No, it doesn’t. That’s where I come in.”
Casey couldn’t help but ask, “What do you do exactly?
“Make the perfect match. Would you like an example? I’m sure I have someone perfect for you.” The blue gaze mesmerized, and she couldn’t look away.
Roark stepped between them. “Neither of us are interested in your services, but there’s obviously a market for it. I won’t have it said I’m not a man who can change his mind when faced with facts. Which is why, from now on, you will operate openly. Each match you make will be required to register with the castle, and the prospective couple will meet with a designate of my choice to ensure there is no coercion.”
“You’re regulating me?” The earl gaped.
“And taxing, too. I’ll have my treasurer pay you a visit so you can discuss taxes owing. I’ll bet we get enough to pay for a new sewer on the west side.”
The earl looked quite pale and shaky. “Surely there’s something I can do to minimize the cost.”
“Not unless you suddenly remember who’s mixing demon and human together as Deviant hybrids.”
“I can’t say.” The earl pressed his lips tight.
Casey sighed. “Don’t play games. Spill what you know, or you’ll be spitting teeth.”
“I’ve only heard rumors.”
“Rumors of what?”
The earl rolled his shoulders. “Of a kingdom experimenting with its citizens.”
“You’ve already said that. Which kingdom?”
“Alas, I don’t know. But rumor claims that up the coast from Port City there is a small cove where someone sells interesting creatures.”
“Creatures, not people?” Roark specified.
The earl gave only the slightest shake of his head. “People, too, but not from the cities. Not usually. The outer marshes aren’t ones to keep those they think too weak.”
Meaning children they considered less than perfect. Probably adults were sold, too.
“Who’s buying them?” Roark asked.
Raphael shrugged. “I don’t know. Perhaps it’s not even true. I haven’t seen it for myself.”
Roark leaned in. “I hope you are clear on the fact that the selling of anyone will mean my hunting you down again. Only next time I’m going to rip out your mind from your ears and have you scrubbing communal latrine floors on your knees for the rest of your life.”
“Very clear, Your Majesty.”
“I think we’re done here. Don’t forget to pay your taxes.” Roark turned, but Raphael held up a hand.
“If I may, Your Highness, one last piece of advice before you both leave.” The earl eyed them, his blue gaze almost electric. “Do yourselves a favor and do not indulge in what lies between you.”
“There’s nothing—” They both started to speak and halted at the same time.
They both frowned.
Whereas the earl laughed. “Trust me when I say you aren’t the right kind of match.”
For some reason, this annoyed Casey, but she said nothing as she and the king left. She waited until they were close to the castle before admitting, “There’s something not quite right about that man.”
“Because he is not a man. Or a woman for that matter. They are a blend of the two, and I’ll wager they’ve got a psionic ability.”
“To make people fall in love?” Her nose wrinkled.
“It’s possible.” A grimly spoken statement. And the last thing Roark said before he left her inside the castle to join Titan, who beckoned from his office.
Whereas she had plenty to think about when she took over the princess’s protection from Anita.
“Can we practice with the knives again?” Charlie asked, her expression eager. “I did all my lessons this morning, and I won every game I played.”
“Because you were lucky? Or did they let the princess win?”
The girl smiled. “Because I cheated.”
Casey blinked. “That’s not nice.”
“Neither is Merrysue.” Charlie’s chin tilted. “I promised Papa I wouldn’t poke holes in people. I’m being shuttle.”
“I think you mean subtle.” Casey shook her head.
“So, can we?”
Smiling at the princess, Casey nodded. “Let’s see how well you do today.”
They took turns knife throwing, which Charlie excelled at. Her laughter was boisterous and amazed every time she hit the ring.
Until she almost hit her father as he appeared, clapping. “Bravo! Excellent shot.”
Good thing he could still move quickly. The knife he startled from Charlie’s grip sailed harmlessly past. The poor princess gaped with horror-stricken eyes.
“I don’t need to shave that badly, do I?” he quipped.
“Papa!” The girl squealed and ran for him, letting herself be swept into the air and swung around. Casey envied her in that moment because it looked quite fun.
He hugged her close. “You’re getting to be quite good with knives.”
“Because Casey is the best teacher.”
“Indeed, she is. Given the amazing progress you’ve made, I think you’ve earned this.” He held out a sheath, and Casey trembled with as much excitement as the princess. Charlie reached out to grab the present and clutch it.
“Aren’t you going to look at it?” he teased.
The little girl pulled the hilt free, and the sharp dagger gleamed, the metal dark instead of bright. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed with reverence.
“No sticking it in Xarek or any of the boys who pull your braid.”
“Only demons and enemies of the kingdom!” she yelled, brandishing it.
“Why don’t you show it to Anita while she takes you for a bath before dinner.” He gestured toward the stairwell, and Casey leaned enough to see the guard waiting discreetly out of sight.
Charlotte pranced off, crowing about her blade, leaving Casey alone with Roark.
“The blade is a good idea.”
“Because you think she might need it,” he stated flatly.
“More because she’s ready for the responsibility. She’s a capable gir
l, and you don’t want to put her in a position where she can’t defend herself. It’s a dangerous world.”
He sighed as he strode closer, hands tucked into pockets. “I’d rather we lived in a world that didn’t require giving knives to children.”
“If we lived in that kind of world, then we wouldn’t need a Deviant king.”
His lips quirked. “True. Then what would I do? Live amongst the masses, perhaps as a hunter?”
“You wouldn’t have to work that hard. You could always use your magic to tell fortunes. Maybe have a business finding lost baubles.”
His smile hit her in a spot that required pressing her thighs together. “A magician to entertain?”
“Just making suggestions of career choices you could have made.”
“Could have but didn’t because freedom and security mattered more to me.”
“The world will never be a nice place.” Casey stared because it was the simple truth.
“Then you know humanity’s history.”
Not quite, but she wasn’t about to explain her education came from people instead of books. “What happened to Titan? I thought you’d be with him a while.”
“My captain has things under control. Everyone does. Leaving me with some free time.” He tucked his hands into his pockets and kept eyeing her.
“You shouldn’t be wandering around alone.”
“I’m with you. Surely you’re a match for anyone who might appear.”
“So you admit to being unable to defend yourself.”
His lips tugged. “I never said that.”
“Your magic is still gone.” A guess and yet he nodded.
“My psionic abilities are still recuperating, but I am not completely useless. I can fight, you know.”
“Can you?” She arched a brow. She pulled a knife and began to flip it hand to hand. A maneuver meant to distract. He kept his gaze on her face.
“So we’re doing this with weapons?”
“Why, were you hoping for some wrestling?”
“Can you blame me? You’ve been in my bedroom. Eaten my bacon.”
“That’s your fault for not eating it faster.”
“Is that the rule then? The fastest wins?” He rolled up his sleeves, revealing strong forearms. “I can be fast.”
“Prove it.”
She almost swallowed her words as his sudden lunge gave her only a half-second to evade. He spun, and it was on.
It took only a few grudging feints in his direction and rapid ducking and swaying to stay out of his reach. He wasn’t half bad as a fighter. Along with his rapidity, he could move, and while he held back when he landed a blow, had he gone full out, he could have hurt her.
Not something many could do.
At times it was if he knew what to expect. He foiled her attack firmly, without truly hurting her and yet, at the same time, reminding her he could have the upper hand if he chose.
He could beat her if he wanted to. Which couldn’t be allowed. She used her magic even if it was unfair to him. She slipped in and out of shadow, peppering him with blows until he began to simply know where she’d appear. As if he could see her, taking away all her advantages.
So she did the one thing he’d never expect because it wasn’t something she’d ever imagined she’d do.
Dove in close enough that she could pop up on her toes and kiss him.
Chapter 10
The press of Casey’s lips shouldn’t have thrown Roark off balance. Yet it did. He staggered, not because he hated the touch of her but because he wanted it. A shock went through him. Intense pleasure, too.
The heat of arousal roared through his veins as his arms tightened around her, drawing her body into his, looking to deepen the embrace. Her lips parted for him, and her tongue, lithe and sweet, swept across his teeth.
He groaned then froze as the tip of a knife pricked him.
“I win,” she whispered.
It wasn’t desire that led to the kiss but a need to win. He wondered if she’d figured out she’d won more than she realized. She’d managed to do something few could—throw him off balance and take him by surprise.
He didn’t do or say anything as she stepped out of his embrace. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes bright. He knew if asked she’d deny any kind of arousal. His only consolation was he could feel it crackling in the air between them.
“You bested me,” he admitted. “Now what, Lady Casey?” He couldn’t have said why he liked to resort to the title that irritated her. Perhaps to distance himself. Because he knew better than to let a woman close. Especially one with her mind shuttered from him.
“The good news is you’re a decent fighter.”
He put a hand on his chest. “Careful with the flattery. I might expire if it’s too lavish.”
Her lips twitched. “Aren’t you going to ask me for the bad?”
“If you say my kissing needs improvement, I might just throw myself on your dagger.”
Finally, some sign she wasn’t unaffected. Her cheeks turned a ruddy color. “Can you be serious for a moment?”
“I’m always serious. You should be asking me to lighten up a bit. I do have people trying to kill me after all.”
“With any luck they’ll try again soon.”
He arched a brow. “You would call that lucky?”
“Do you know of a better way to acquire information?”
“Perhaps you’d like to stake me outside the city and see what comes crawling from the swamp?”
“Don’t tempt me. It would be the quickest method of flushing out those who want you dead.”
“Then let’s do it.”
She shook her head. “I’m not suicidal. There might be a few more than I can handle.”
“Your reassuring manner needs work.”
“I don’t lie.”
If only he could believe her. Roark left her, disturbed by the kiss and his reaction to it. The matchmaker had said they wouldn’t work together even as he didn’t say why. Roark knew she was all kinds of wrong for him. Secretive. Violent. Disrespectful. Brave. Sarcastic. Sexy and tough.
Was it any wonder he couldn’t get her off his mind?
The day passed, and he intended to make it to dinner, but affairs demanded his attention. The investigation into the claims of the psionic team he’d dispatched a month earlier had borne news. Basically, exposing the lies. The fire witch had claimed she and her companion were hired by the king ruling Port City to send a message that he needed to stop banding the Marshlands together.
That was what she claimed. And he’d almost believed it.
Except, unbeknownst to everyone, he’d spoken with the king, who was rather decrepit, having been felled by some kind of gastric malady. His daughter ruled in his stead—mostly behind the scenes—and had for a while now. A sweet girl. A little too sweet, but he’d seen inside her head enough to know she meant him no ill will.
Who did that leave? One of the other nobles in the Sapphire court, looking to curry favor or test the limits of his power? Another kingdom? It seemed unlikely. The Emerald Kingdom was in full-blown chaos since the death of the queen. The lack of a strong leader had those remaining in its Enclave fighting for supremacy. Ruby usually had no interest in anything outside their own territory, their claim to trading being their ore mines and the machines they could build because of them.
Lazuli had broken into a nothing kingdom within the past few years from internal strife and some devastating disasters. And Diamond hadn’t made any contact in twenty-odd years, the poisoned air and ash making it impossible to penetrate past the border.
Could it be an outside force, perhaps from the islands or past the ocean to the other continents? It made no sense.
The not knowing bothered him. The question of it left him absentminded. When he entered his office, it took him a moment to realize he wasn’t alone.
A disreputable-appearing fellow sat in a chair, one eye covered by a patch, his garments little better than rags. His
head was swathed in a ragged turban, the tail of it over his face.
“Who are you?” Roark snapped, his hand dropping to the knife by his side. He hated not having his magic.
“Does Your Majesty not remember me?” said the malodorous visitor in a trembling voice.
To which Roark snorted. “Does anyone actually believe that ridiculous ensemble?”
The man straightened and pulled the covering from his head, releasing his many braids. “People see what they want to see, Your Highness.”
No mockery in the words and yet Roark could feel it between them. This pirate thought himself equal to a king. In many ways, he was. He held open his arms. “It’s been a while, brother.”
Half-brother to be exact, but Roark had never cared. His mother did, though. When she found out her partner had a bastard and another family in the port city…she almost ensured he’d never put his dick in anyone again.
Luckily, his mother didn’t extend the same violence to his brother.
“It’s been a while,” Roark stated when he pulled out of the embrace.
“Wasn’t sure I’d be welcomed back, given last time things got a little crispy.” Darius grimaced. He referred to the explosion in the granaries during his last visit.
“Not your fault as it turns out. The fire mage was planning sabotage all along.”
“Meaning you ended up capturing her? How? The trail you tipped me onto didn’t belong to her,” Darius admitted.
“I know.” Roark couldn’t help but be smug. “I hear you caught up to Riella.”
“Heard or poked inside her head?”
“Didn’t have to. Titan was more than happy to rant about the nasty pirate they met.”
“To think she chose him over me. No accounting for taste.” Darius shook his head.
“By all accounts, you had a hand in the demise of the queen.”
“Merely provided the vehicle. Riella did the rest.” Darius smirked. “Her beau was less than impressed.”
“Her beau now works for me.”
At the news, Darius snorted. “I should have known you’d find a way to get her wielding her magic for you.”
“Me or someone else.” Roark lifted one shoulder. “Might as well be me.”