by Sarina Dorie
I fixed my gaze on the Raven Queen as our party made our way to her. She sat on a throne made of skulls and other bones, one slightly smaller throne to her right and one to her left. Another woman sat in one of them, her expression somber. Her midnight hair was wild and wavy, like a dark river.
For a moment, I wondered whether this woman was Priscilla, Thatch’s familiar, changed back to her human form. Then the woman shifted in her seat, lounging languorously like a cat, and I recognized her.
Vega had grown her hair out. She didn’t have any blisters or any other injuries on her wrists from cold-iron manacles as she’d claimed. I couldn’t see her ankles with the length of her beaded gown. It was reminiscent of the Edwardian era. I suspected the iridescent shimmer came from beetles, not beads, though I couldn’t be certain.
Her gaze flickered to me. Her lips twitched.
I wanted to believe that was a sign all was well. I wanted to believe she had a plan. Probably that glint in her eyes wasn’t because she was resentful of me for becoming pregnant with her husband’s child. Surely she had to see the practicality of that—she had encouraged me to get pregnant so he could regain his powers. Yet I suddenly felt vulnerable in her presence. She knew all my secrets.
If she wanted to ruin me, it was within her power to do so.
Odette announced in an indifferent monotone, “Prince Elric of the Silver Court seeks audience with Queen Morgaine, Queen of the Raven Court, Ruler over Ravens of Day and Night, Mistress of Darkness and Forbidden Delights, Giver of Pain, and Ruler of All that Is Evil. Prince Elric has brought with him, Clarissa and Felix Thatch so that they might strike a bargain with you.”
Elric bowed. “Wonderful to see you again, Queen Morgaine. I trust you and your kin are in good health.”
Ugh. The Fae formalities were going to kill me—if the Fae didn’t do it themselves.
“Isn’t that darling? The fallen prince of the Silver Court has brought his little entourage.” The Raven Queen leaned closer to Vega to whisper, as though she were her closest confidante, before turning to Elric again. “I am quite well, as are my kin. I’m so sorry to say I have heard otherwise about your family. Your father is still quite vexed with you that your lover was responsible for killing your sister. He is angry you have allowed yourself to be weak and love Witchkin and treat them as equals, even going so far as to make bargains that you do not enforce with them. You have fallen far, little princeling. Not that I would be one to judge one of my equals from my court with such harshness.”
The battle of the barbed tongues was on. Titters came from the crowd of spectators who lined the walls.
Elric bowed his head as if in acquiescence. “Indeed, I would expect more civil behavior from you than from the inferior court where I was raised. My father is so strict and merciless. But you are, of course, less barbaric with the members of your own family, are you not? You do not punish unjustly. Where are your children?”
The Raven Queen’s lips pressed into a tight smile.
“Dead,” Felix Thatch said loudly. “I believe Grandmama killed them all before she realized she wouldn’t be able to conceive more.”
Her eyes narrowed. Two points for Clarissa’s team! Vega rubbed at her upper lip, covering the lower half of her face. I was fairly certain I saw a smile in her eyes.
The queen snapped her fingers at her great-granddaughter. “Princess Odette, join your family. Take your rightful seat on your throne.”
Odette dutifully did as her fairy godmother bade.
“Ahem. My gift.” Elric gestured to Odette. “I would like to present the offering Clarissa Lawrence and I have brought to Her Lady of Darkness and Evil.”
The queen wagged a finger at him. “Prince Elric, that isn’t one of my titles.”
“It isn’t? I must be confusing you with a different wicked dark queen. I beg your pardon.” He laughed like a witless ninny, but I knew he wasn’t. Fae liked games. Either this was flattery or an insult. I couldn’t tell which.
Odette held out Elric’s offering. “I believe that within this is housed a powerful djinn.”
“What a lovely gift. I shall treasure it forever.” The queen waved a servant in black livery to take it away.
“I have come calling for two reasons,” Elric said. “The first is regarding the bargain I spoke to you about before in which I would like to request an exchange. The second is regarding my wife. It was kind of you to keep her safe for me and treat her as a guest, but I wish to take her home.”
“The mother of your babe. How fortunate you are to have found yourself such a fertile Witchkin.” Queen Morgaine paused, as if an idea had just come to her. “Few Fae are blessed with such good fortune as to sire an heir these days. There must be something special about this woman.”
Vega crossed her legs, watching Elric.
“Indeed. She’s an absolute gem,” he said.
“I imagine you would give me anything I ask as a reward for keeping the mother of your future offspring safe for you.” Her gaze flickered to me.
“Funny you should say that. You have kept one of my kin safe for me while I have kept one of your kin safe for you.”
Her gaze settled on Felix Thatch. “No, I don’t think so. I’m tired of Felix’s shifting loyalties. I don’t want him.”
I glanced at the shifting shadows and creatures watching this exchange. Such a public renouncement felt like a death sentence. It meant he was no longer under her protection. Anyone could kill him.
“Indeed. He can be quite vexing at times. Isn’t that so?” Elric laughed. “You probably would prefer someone you didn’t even know I had in my protection.” Elric turned. “Mr. Thatch! Come hither.” He wasn’t looking at Felix standing beside me. He gestured to the back of the group.
Lucifer Thatch hesitated, looking around. He wasn’t used to being called by his last name. He’d gone by the name Lucy or Lucifer his entire life.
I looked from Lucifer to Elric. This wasn’t the trade we had agreed on. Lucifer was supposed to be exchanged for my blood relation—my baby. Not for Elric’s relation. Vega could take care of herself. My baby couldn’t.
“No.” I elbowed Elric discreetly in the ribs. “This isn’t how we agreed we’d do this.”
Elric gave me a sidelong glance. “I’m sorry, Clarissa. Trust me on this. We need Vega over here.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek.
“Who will we exchange for my—” My voice cut out. I tried to finish what I’d been saying, but I couldn’t.
He patted my head. “We agreed you’d allow me to do the talking, remember?”
I recoiled from Elric. He didn’t even look at me now as he beckoned Lucifer forward. I turned to Thatch.
My husband leaned forward, his words a whisper against my ear. “Do you trust Elric?”
My trust in Elric hadn’t faltered up until this moment. Only now that he was changing the game to suit his needs did I wonder whether I had made the best choice in my ally.
Lucifer swaggered forward.
The Raven Queen’s jaw actually dropped. “Who. . . ?”
Elric gestured with a grandiose wave. “Might I present, Lucifer Thatch, your long-lost grandson.”
She stood, her brow furrowed. “This can’t be. Elise had no more heirs.”
Lucifer bowed, all the while his eyes blazing with hatred.
“Perhaps my brother lied,” Odette said, looking to Felix Thatch.
He said nothing.
The Raven Queen left her seat. “Well, this is quite unexpected. Lucifer. . . . I can only hope that’s a fitting name.” She strode forward, walking around her long-lost heir, appraising him with greed in her eyes.
“He’s quite the devil,” Elric said.
“Hmm,” she said. “I expect he is.” She returned to her seat. “This truly is a difficult decision. Lucifer is male, therefore he can sire an unlimited number of heirs, whereas Vega will only be able to produce so many. But the advantage of keeping V
ega as my esteemed guest is that she’s just so . . . witty and clever. I never thought I’d be so fond of any Witchkin, but she truly is a gem as you say.”
I’d haggled at the Saturday market. I knew what she was doing.
“Of course, she’s not your kin,” Elric said. “It would be a shame to lose one of your kin.”
The Raven Queen reached out and stroked Vega’s long hair. “Actually, she is.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Copy Cat
This had to be one of the Raven Queen’s bluffs. Vega was not related to the Raven Queen. If she were, she would have boasted of it by now. Thatch would have known and told me.
“You must be mistaken,” Elric said, looking to his wife.
The Raven Queen leaned back on her throne. “I assure you. I am not.”
Ten years ago when Vega had first been hired on at Womby’s, she and Thatch had slept together. I truly hoped they weren’t related because it was bad enough imagining Vega with my husband—but ick!—incest too?
On the other hand, it sort of made sense. Vega and the Thatches were both tall, dark-haired, and sarcastic.
Odette sighed despondently. I wondered how this was affecting her status as the only heir and princess of the Raven Queen.
The Raven Queen steepled her fingers in front of her. “It appears that the Bloodmire family married into the Doskova lineage almost a thousand years back.”
Thatch gave a little groan.
Doskova was a familiar name. I had read about them long ago in one of the books on Fae peerage from the library at Womby’s, but I couldn’t recall who they were.
“Would you like to explain your family history, Felix?” the Raven Queen asked.
“Not particularly.”
“Sullen and uncooperative, as always.” She laughed in utter delight. “Galswintha and Brunhilda Doskova were rumored to be the only two Red affinities who survived from the Lost Red Court.”
Yes. I knew this! I had thought they were like Anastasia, the lost Russian princess. Galswintha had changed her family name and disguised herself as a Celestor prophet and librarian. Brunhilda survived by Anglicizing her name. One translation of doskova was the word thatch, like the thatch on a roof. The Thatches blended in with the Tattersals, Tatterthals, and Tetstalls of England who possessed a similar surname.
“Ugh,” Ben whispered behind me. “A history lesson. This is like being at school again.”
Someone shushed him.
“After the Bloodmires married into the Doskova line, a Doskova married into my clan,” the queen said.
I’d sort of suspected Vega’s wicked side had come from somewhere. She was more than just a naughty ghoul.
Vega caressed the skulls at the end of her armrests. “This is proof I have royal blood. I’ve always known I was a princess.”
Elric placed a hand on his heart. “You’ve always been my princess.”
She smirked at that.
“My equal,” he said.
Did this mean she’d double-crossed us, or she only wanted the queen to think she had? If Vega had meant to go to the Raven Queen and pretend to serve as her spy, it seemed like she would have told us ahead of time.
I couldn’t tell what Vega was truly feeling. Even when I projected my awareness from my body, her emotions were guarded like a fortress. Power radiated from her, not to the level it should have for the amount of electricity she’d ingested in the Morty Realm, but she was certainly stronger than she’d ever been before. I felt more anxious than ever.
Any moment now that competency lozenge was going to kick in, and I would figure out what to do.
“Your equal, princeling?” The Raven Queen cackled. “Now she’s your better.”
“I beg your pardon, but Vega Bloodmire is only marginally related to you by blood. Lucifer Thatch is your great-grandchild, a direct descendent.” Elric said. “Vega Bloodmire’s rightful place is at my side, just as Lucifer’s place is at your side.”
Lucifer recoiled at that. Gertrude Periwinkle waved him back beside her. She stroked his arm, and some of the tension in his shoulders left him. He wasn’t just a Red affinity. He was a touch affinity with a need for comfort and pleasure like me. I didn’t like her stroking him so openly, giving away his weakness and strength for all the Raven Court to see.
“Truly, this decision is a difficult one for that very reason.” The queen appraised Vega and then Lucifer. “The problem is, I want them both.”
I could use this to my advantage.
I tried to speak, to get Elric’s attention, but I didn’t have a voice. I turned to Thatch instead. I pointed to his brother and then to my belly. I mouthed the words, “See if we can barter Lucy for our baby instead.”
Thatch nodded. “Your Royal Majesty, if you please, Clarissa offers up an alternative if you would hear her.”
The Raven Queen leaned back. “I suppose it won’t hurt to listen to the proposal.”
I tried to speak, but Elric hadn’t given me my voice back.
“What’s that?” Vega asked. “Cat got your tongue?”
“No, your husband has.” Thatch smacked Elric in the arm. “Return Clarissa’s voice.”
Elric grimaced. He didn’t look pleased as he waved a hand over my throat.
“Ahem.” My voice was back. I curtsied. “Your Majesty, you wish to keep Vega Bloodmire. Perhaps she wishes to stay. That is between the two of you. I came here to trade Lucifer Thatch for my baby, Aubrey Thatch. We wish to trade Imani Washington—Elric’s grandchild—for another Red affinity. In order to sweeten this deal, I will prove the secrets to creating the Red affinity.”
The queen tossed back her head in a cold laugh. It was a surprise the oil-slick crown didn’t topple from her head. “I already know how to solve the Fae Fertility Paradox. A Fae sovereign requires Reds to beget more Reds.”
“By procreation, yes. But I can also produce Red affinities through dark magic. I can create a Red affinity from any Witchkin by a simple potion and my magic.”
She tapped her talons against the skulls at the end of her armrests. “So Elric said in his letter, but it sounds too incredible to be true.”
“We will perform a demonstration. I will change an ordinary Witchkin into a Red affinity before your eyes.” And for my next magic trick, I’ll release a djinn on you.
“Vega, ma chère,” the Raven Queen said. “Is she telling the truth?”
“Oh yes. It’s how she created my affinity.” Vega steepled her own fingers, not so differently from the way the Raven Queen had moments before.
“Truly you jest!” The Raven Queen’s eyes went wide. “Red affinities are born, not created.”
“From what I gather, Galswintha the Wise created Alouette Loraline’s Red affinity.” Vega’s eyes met mine. “Let Clarissa show you. It’s quite fascinating.”
I prayed this meant Vega was still in on the plan. She was going to help us trick the Raven Queen. That was why she was here, to infiltrate Queen Evil’s castle, and defeat our enemy.
I hoped. I still had my doubts.
The queen waved her hand at me. “Very well. Proceed.”
I took in a deep breath, fortifying myself to be strong. “First I want to see my baby. I want to see Imani to ensure she’s still alive.”
“Why would I harm anyone in my keeping who would prove to be so useful?” the queen asked.
Because she was cruel and heartless. Usefulness hadn’t stopped her from abusing her grandchildren.
“Perform your demonstration first.” The queen leaned back in her throne, her posture mirroring Vega’s. We will return our guests to you after you give us those you have offered us.”
“No.” I lifted my chin. “You give us Imani and Aubrey first.”
“What? Don’t you trust me?” the Raven Queen asked with mock innocence.
“Perhaps an exchange at the same time.” Vega touched a hand to the Raven Queen’s arm, sweetly. “There would
be no harm in it.”
I didn’t know how she could stand touching the winter radiating from the Fae queen. It wasn’t because she had turned evil herself. Vega was good at playing people, I told myself. I remembered how she had tricked Principal Chuck Dean into allowing her to attend a meeting when he’d reprimanded me. Probably this was the same tactic—but on a bigger scale.
“I suppose you’re right, dearest Vega.” Queen Morgaine’s lips twisted upward. “I will heed your advice.”
I wondered how Vega had managed to wrap the queen around her little finger. Had it been the Ruby of Divine Wisdom giving her knowledge to see what would manipulate the queen best? Or could she have cast a spell over the queen? If it had been the latter, I imagined the Raven Queen would have been more complacent and handed my baby over first.
The Raven Queen snapped her fingers at the princess seated on her opposite side. “Odette, fetch my grandchild and guest.”
As Odette rose, she cast a withering glare at Vega before silently slipping away.
“I will provide a demonstration,” I said. “I will introduce one Witchkin I have already turned Red, and one I haven’t but will do so before your eyes. I will leave them both in your keeping after my demonstration, and you will hand over those I wish to take with me.”
Queen Morgaine caressed Vega’s cheek. “If they wish to go, that is.”
I started with Maddy. “This is Madison Jennings. She is a siren who was once an Elementia with a water affinity.” I looked to Maddy. “Can you give a quick demonstration of your water magic to prove your first affinity?”
Maddy let out a long high note, the air tasting of spring water and rain. The melody was so beautiful it made me want to cry. All of a sudden, a gush of water rushed down on us from the ceiling, drenching me and just about everyone else.
Maddy looked to me. I nodded approvingly. So far at least, this was going according to plan. Water was an excellent conductor of electricity.
Vega sighed dramatically, waving a hand over herself to dry her dress.