by Liz Schulte
“I thought the castle was safe. That’s why you wanted to bring us here, right?” Concern colored Devin’s face.
I needed to explain so much to them, but I couldn’t say half of it here. “Do you guys want to go for a walk?” Confusion washed across their faces, but I nodded toward the door and smiled. Slowly they all got up and followed me out. I waved the guard away when he went to follow us.
He shook his head. “The Erlking decreed I am not to leave them.”
“And I’m telling you to go.” I glared at him, but the guard didn’t budge.
“What’s going on?” Cheney’s voice came from behind me.
I turned my glare to him. “Your guards don’t take orders from a lowly half-elf.”
Cheney’s shocked gaze met my angry one, but he didn’t say anything. He waved the guard away.
“We’re going for a walk.” I turned to leave and he caught my arm.
“Your father is still waiting for you.” My friends exchanged confused glances at Cheney’s words.
“Then he will wait longer.”
Outside it was easier to breathe. I led them deep into the surrounding forest until I felt we could safely be ourselves.
“I’m sorry I’ve been absent.”
“I thought your father was dead,” Devin said.
I frowned. “No, he’s not dead. He just didn’t want anything to do with me after my mother died.” I launched into the whole story, sharing everything about Cheney and Jaron, though I left his name out of things. They listened in silence as I spoke, a rare feat for them. When I finally finished, Katrina was the first to respond.
She smiled. “Your life went from like zero to hot mess in about 2.3 seconds.”
“So this isn’t your dad, it’s the elf’s dad,” Jessica said.
I laughed and the icy shell that had been surrounding me cracked. I knew why they thought I’d changed. As my memories came back, I’d let too much distance grow between me and the people who kept me grounded. I was inadvertently letting the elf half win. I already felt my burden lift just by talking to them.
“Well, this is great. Now you have family again.” Devin hugged me.
“So what happened to Michael?” Jessica asked.
“I don’t know. I have friends looking into it.”
“Again with the mysterious ‘friends,’” Kat griped, but her smile said she was joking.
“But you think Cheney could be involved?” Leslie asked.
“It would make sense, but I’m having trouble believing he’d do something like this.”
“What can we do to help?” Devin asked.
A cheesy grin covered my face. “I love you guys, have I mentioned that? If I start pulling away again, call me out. Call me out every time.” I wanted to hug them for reminding me who I was and what was important. “Other than that, keep doing what you’ve been doing. Keep your eyes and ears open, and let me know if anything suspicious happens.”
“Can do,” Leslie said.
“And be careful. If someone here is involved, they have no qualms about killing humans.” I looked back toward the castle. Would breaking the bond change things? Right now, if I died, so did Cheney. If Cheney was behind this, was I destroying my only layer of protection? “And be ready to leave any minute.”
We went back before nightfall. I slowly made my way to the room where my father was, on the off chance he hadn’t left, while the girls headed off in pairs in different directions back to their quarters, hoping to be able to eavesdrop on more people. I had my doubts that noisy, clumsy humans would ever get the drop on elves, but at least it kept them busy.
I opened the door slowly. Tahlik was still there, sipping a drink across from Cheney. Cheney smiled when I walked in. “I told you she’d come,” he said and Tahlik looked up.
“I’m sorry I left so abruptly before.”
“I wanted many times to see you, Selene. You must understand that.”
I struggled to keep a bitter smile from my lips. “Must I?” I walked over to them and Cheney gave me his chair before retrieving another. “Because I don’t.”
Tahlik stared at me. “You are so much like your mother—always right to the point. But remember, dear, I am your father. You should show me respect.”
I shook my head. “You aren’t my father. Edward Warren was my father. He died when I was seven, but at least he was there. At least he was a part of my life. You. Well, you were a sperm donor.”
“I think we’re done here,” Tahlik said.
“Selene.” Cheney frowned.
“What? He isn’t my father. Aunt Lorelei raised me as an elf and Edward and Jane Warren raised me as a human until my grandmother took over. Where does Tahlik fit in? He never once came to find me. Not one birthday card or phone call.”
“I could not. The king didn’t allow it of any of the nobles. I had a family to think of.”
My anger boiled, threatening to erupt. Why would he care for me when he had a more important family to consider? “Well that didn’t stop you from having an affair with a human.”
He glared at me. “We all have human conquests, even the king. We do not claim the children. It isn’t the way it is done.” He looked to Cheney for support.
“So how about you stop with the hypocrisy and the father crap and quit expecting me to claim you.” I glared.
Cheney swallowed uncomfortably. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”
“Oh no,” I interrupted. “It’s a fabulous idea, Cheney, love. Just think. You probably have half-siblings out there that you don’t know. Should we find them?”
“Selene—”
“No, no. Please, Tahlik, tell us. Who was the king fucking?”
“I only remember one from the—”
“Enough,” Cheney snapped. “We aren’t here to talk about my family.”
“No. We’re just forcing mine on me.” I gave him a tight smile.
Tahlik sighed. “Selene, I apologize if my absence hurt you. I am happy you and the new Erlking have found love in one another, but I do not know what you want from me. If you will not let go of the past, how can I be a part of your future?”
“You can’t be.”
Tahlik nodded and stood up. I immediately felt bad for being mean, but I couldn’t let him in. I couldn’t open myself up for more pain with everything already on the line. When the door shut, Cheney leaned forward. “That didn’t go as I thought.”
“I told you not to bring him here.” I stared at my feet, letting my elf half raise a wall against my emotions.
Cheney kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry. I should have listened. I just wanted to do something nice for you.”
I took his hand. I was so tired of fighting and not trusting anyone. That way of living might work for Holden, but it didn’t for me. Cheney started to speak again, but the door opened. He looked up impatiently. “What?”
“Um.” An uncomfortable looking guard cleared his throat. “I apologize for the interruption, your majesty, but Sebastian sent me. He said it is urgent.”
Cheney looked down at me. “I should probably go.”
I nodded and stood. “I’ll come with you.” We followed the guard down to the gardens. Sebastian stood at the entrance, waiting.
He shifted as we approached. “Selene, you should go back inside.”
“Yeah, right.” I made a face. “What’s going on?”
He shook his head and looked at Cheney. “Send her inside.”
Cheney’s eyebrows shot up. “Selene and I have no secrets.” A short bitter laugh sputtered from Sebastian’s lips. Cheney gave him a withering look, laced with warning. “What do you need?” His voice was cold, verging on hostile.
Sebastian composed himself immediately and nodded toward the garden surrounded by tall hedges. Cheney rolled his eyes and led the way through the opening. I fell in line behind him and Sebastian followed me. I glanced back at him, trying to decipher what exactly happened. Sebastian knew something. I had to get him to talk to me
. His eyes met mine, and he shook his head ever so slightly as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. Sebastian suddenly became a lot more interesting.
I smashed into Cheney, who had stopped dead. He absorbed the blow and didn’t budge forward. “Take her back inside.”
Sebastian made no move toward me. “You have no secrets,” he said levelly, and Cheney turned to glare at him.
I caught sight of a foot just beyond Cheney. I knew that shoe. I stepped around the two of them to see Michael laid out on the stone garden bench. How had he gotten here? And if Cheney was responsible for the murder, why would he bring the body to his own castle? Why would he originally leave the body in a place we’d visited together? It didn’t make sense. Despite the possible motive, Cheney was probably innocent. Unless he was doing this because I found the heart and upset whatever plan he’d had. Was he trying to divert suspicion by pointing the finger at himself?
Cheney took hold of my shoulders and turned me toward him. His gold eyes softened with empathy. “I am very sorry, Selene.”
His words made me realize I wasn’t reacting as I should. I felt strangely disconnected. I was sad Michael’s life had been snuffed out so early, yes—but I was over the initial horror because Holden and I had already discovered his body, though Cheney didn’t know that. The mystery of who took Michael’s life and why were the only things on my mind.
“Are you okay? Talk to me.” Cheney rubbed his hands up and down my arms as I continued to stare at him, trying to fathom if this man before me would kill an innocent person to assure I’d stay with him. I looked over to Sebastian. His face was tight and his eyes were worried. “Go inside with Sebastian. I’ll take care of everything,” Cheney tried again.
I squirmed out of his grasp, not knowing what to think or feel. “I’m fine.” I glanced back at the body. “I take it no one knows anything about how he ended up here.”
Surprise replaced worry and sympathy on their faces. Sebastian’s head tilted to the side as he studied me, and Cheney narrowed his eyes. “Selene, love, you don’t seem overly...” he looked over at the body and then back to me, “bothered.”
“How upset would you like me to be, Cheney?” I glared at him, anger burning away any traces of sadness. “Please, tell me how you think I should react. It isn’t like I didn’t know he was dead. You had his heart.”
I headed toward the body, needing to see it in daylight. I wondered if there was a spell that could help me find his killer. I squatted down and really inspected him. He looked like a wax imitation. My hand drifted toward his clenched fist, but I couldn’t bring myself to touch him. The flesh beneath his left eye was bruised, but besides that, the only other mark I could see was the gaping hole in this chest. Something was off.
Sebastian joined me. “There’s no odor.” He spoke without inflection.
“That’s strange, isn’t it?”
“I would think there should be a smell, yes.”
I nodded and stared some more. . Michael had been dead at least two days, yet he wasn’t decomposing. “Have you touched him?”
“No.”
It had to be magic. Touching the body would probably dissolve the spell.
“I don’t know what the two of you think you’re going to learn staring at a dead human. It’s macabre,” Cheney said crossly, pacing in front of us.
“I wouldn’t want to waste your time, Erlking. Why don’t you go inside? We’ll take care of this.”
He whirled toward me. I could feel his eyes drilling into me as I continued looking for clues and anomalies. “That’s what all of this is about, isn’t it?” he said softly. “You’re still mad I wouldn’t help look for him. You are blaming me, aren’t you?” He sounded affronted and hurt.
I eased myself up and rolled my shoulders back. “I haven’t blamed anyone for anything. I’m just looking for answers.”
He threw his arms up. “There are no answers here. Despite everything that has happened, I would never hurt you or allow you to be hurt.” He ran his hands through his hair. “You know that, right?”
I wanted so very much to believe what he was saying, but a voice in my mind reminded me that Cheney had only told me the bits and pieces he wanted me to know since I’d met him. My hesitation seemed to be answer enough for him. He turned and stalked back toward the castle. My gaze followed him until he was completely gone.
“You’ve remembered.” Sebastian’s voice was soft and low behind me. “That’s why you left.”
I furrowed my eyebrows in response, not trusting my voice, and tried to look as innocent as possible.
He stared at me, not fooled. “But have you remembered everything?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“You don’t remember me at all, do you?”
I thought hard about Sebastian because Cheney had said we were friends. I remembered my time with Cheney, but I had no previous memories of Sebastian. Why would he be missing? And if he was missing, who and what else also were? “That’s absurd.”
“Is it? I see more and more of the old you peeking through. You even move like an elf now.”
I frowned, not liking the truth in his words. I didn’t want to lose me. “I thought you liked me better as a human.”
He nodded. “Your human personality is better for Cheney, but you are who you are.”
“And just who’s that, Sebastian?”
A ghost of a smile graced his lips. “The changeling.”
I didn’t quite understand what he was getting at. Did he want me to remember or to stay as I was? Either way, maybe he could shed some light on my remaining memory gaps. “Why did I become a changeling?”
He pulled his eyebrows together in thought. “Only you really know the answer to that. I only know what you and Cheney told me.”
“And what was that?”
He glanced around to make sure no one else was in earshot and I leaned toward him, eager to hear whatever he had to say. “To protect you. To bring you back.”
“Back from what? From the rebels?”
He sighed. “This is not the place to discuss this. The Erlking has made it clear I am not to discuss your past with you.”
A sliver of ice-cold anger impaled me. “Then obviously he has something to hide.”
“You are focusing on the wrong things. You always have. He loves you, Selene. He would do anything for you if you would love him back.” His jaw clenched for a moment. “There can be peace,” he hissed.
Yes, it was the “anything” part that scared me most. “Well, he didn’t help me find Michael.” I took a deep breath and pushed past my questions. “There are more important issues at the moment, like who did this to Michael and why was he brought here. Oh, and what are we going to do with the body?”
Sebastian rubbed his hand over his forehead. “He could just disappear. That would be the easiest solution.”
I pursed my lips. “Don’t you have a heart?” A sputtering laugh broke through his serious exterior and I elbowed him. “Not funny.”
“What would you suggest?”
“We should turn him over to the authorities.”
“The human authorities?”
I nodded.
Sebastian didn’t even pretend to consider it. “No. Too dangerous. There is one rule in the Abyss: humans can never know.”
“I don’t think anyone will jump to a supernatural explanation. We’ll be okay.”
He shrugged. “So long as it doesn’t lead back to us, I have no objection.” He hunched down by the body again. “How do you want to do this?”
I wrinkled my nose. All I knew about cops and dead bodies came from police dramas on TV. “I’ll call Femi. She has experience with stuff like this. And I’m going to check Grandma’s Book of Shadows. Make sure no one touches Michael.” I hurried back into the castle and texted Femi, not watching where I was going, yet somehow still managing to weave through the people in the castle and make it back to the private
quarters, where my coven was staying, without looking up or running into anyone. Was this what Sebastian meant by moving like an elf? I slipped into the room, which, surprisingly, was unguarded.
The girls were nowhere to be seen—but Cheney was there. I skidded to a stop. “We need to talk.” His voice was authoritative and almost grave.
I flippantly waved my hand in the air. “No time. I have to get back to Sebastian and the body. Femi is on her way too.” My eyes darted around the room, seeking the book I’d last seen with Devin in here.
“Selene, sit down.” He took me by the shoulders and sat me on the couch before I could even think about resisting.
“What is wrong with you? I know you don’t care about Michael, but I do,” I snapped, about to stand up again.
“I will tie you down if I have to.” He lifted an eyebrow and I flopped back down, crossing my arms over my chest.
“I would transport out,” I grumbled.
“Not inside the castle. It’s warded against that.”
“No, it isn’t. I learned to transport in the castle.”
Cheney gave me an impatient look. “The barriers were removed while you were training and put back up afterward. Haven’t you noticed everyone goes outside to leave, including you?”
I frowned. He was right. I did it without thinking about it. I arrived outside the castle and left the same way. “Fine, whatever. Where are my friends?”
An emotion I couldn’t quite place rippled over his face. “I sent them to their rooms with a guard. They’re not to leave their chambers without a guard present for the rest of their stay.”
Everything in me went still. Something was wrong. I stared at him, too afraid to ask what happened. Was someone caught snooping?
“Devin was taken,” he said softly.
“Taken where?” I whispered, still not comprehending.
Cheney produced a letter that looked too familiar. My heart beat like it would explode. I leaned away from the slip of paper as he offered it to me. “No, no, no…” My hands formed helpless fists. The room began to shake.