At Risk

by Gayle Parness

  He walked up the main staircase. A few minutes later an upstairs shower turned on.

  “He’ll be fine,” Sash said, only half believing it.

  “How did his boots get burned?”

  My cell phone rang. It was Isaiah. “You called me on the phone?”

  “How’s Charlie?”

  “Not great. I thought you were in the DR.”

  “Send him here to help me. I’ll keep him busy. It’ll be good for him to get away.”

  “What do you know? What happened to Charlie?”

  “Send him.”

  “Tell him I’m coming.” Charlie stood at the top of stairs wearing a tee shirt and jeans. His hair was still wet and dripping on his shoulders. “I’ll be back…let me… I need to think.”

  “Charlie.” My heart was breaking for him.

  “We’re here whenever you need us.” Garrett wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

  “I love you both.”

  “We love you too. Let us know…”

  “I will.” He left a moment later, wet hair and all.

  Garrett and I slumped together, then turned toward the stairs. Too exhausted to do more than shower and sleep, I sent Isaiah a message.

  “Take care of him for us.”

  “We will.”

  “We?”

  But there was no answer.

  Epilogue - Charlie

  I turned in place, mesmerized by the enormous room. Bookshelves crammed with volumes and scrolls rose from the floor to tower three stories above us. Two large tables took up most of the floor space, both protected with strong spells that vibrated down to my bones. Alcoves with golden doors and tiled platforms led to hidden rooms, but all were also spelled.

  The large fireplace was empty of wood, but three comfortable chairs, each with its own ottoman, held spots in front of it.

  “Where are we?” I asked.

  “My new sanctum sanctorum. Mother’s library.”

  “Gonna curl up on the couch with a cool mystery?”

  “Oh, there’s a mystery all right.”

  “Yeah, what is it?”

  “Look in the corner by the window.”

  “Hello, Charles. How was the war?” King Finvarra sat on a large chair that looked a lot like a throne.

  “As horrible as most wars I guess, Grandfather. How’s Faerie?” I moved closer, my hands sprouting claws.

  “As good as a realm can be after it’s been attacked by demons.”

  “Did you know I was almost burned alive by a dragon?”

  “Yes. Indigo mentioned it.”

  Another step. Fin glanced down at my claws, then back at my face. He didn’t move from the chair.

  “Someone you might know saved my life.”

  “Do you mean Winter?”

  And that was the lie that broke my back. I pulled Finvarra out of the chair by his tunic and slammed him against the wall. “How the fuck could you allow that male in the same room with my mother for all this time? How could you allow him anywhere near any of us? We let him stay at the Carmel villa! Why didn’t you kill him? He should have died years ago.”

  Fin’s tunic grew red with his blood as my claws sank deeper. He didn’t defend himself. “If I had killed him, you’d also be dead. Burned by Malek. A pile of ash and bone borne away in the wind.”

  “But you didn’t know that would happen.” My eyes burned, my throat tightened.

  Fin didn’t say anything.

  “You knew? How could you know?”

  “I have visions that come to pass. They’re rare but this one was vivid. My son, whom I barely knew, would save my grandson, a young male I loved most dearly.” He touched my face, wiping away a tear. I blinked and turned away. “I ignored the vision at first. I did not know you. How could I love you? But when Fionna saved Kennet from his horrible fate the vision returned. I came to your realm and met your mother on the beach. She was pregnant and wise beyond her years. I saw the devastation Fionna and Kennet wrought, but I could not kill him. He was born to save you.” He grasped my shoulders. “You must live. You have just begun your journey.”

  I backed away and lowered my body into Fin’s chair. “I… I thanked him. Called him Father. How could I have called him that? I betrayed Dad. And Mom. I…can’t ever tell them.”

  I buried my face in my hands. If I thought there was somewhere I could hide from these two, I might have tried to disappear, but it was hopeless. One of them would always find me.

  Fin crouched beside me. “You showed compassion and that is not something one must ask forgiveness for. Your parents feel joy that you survived and will not judge you for offering comfort at the end of a life, no matter whose it was.”

  He pulled me close. When the worst was over Fin moved away and Isaiah handed me his handkerchief. I blew my nose and stood, walking to the window to pretend to look at the papers on the large table. Releasing the spell that protected them was no big deal.

  “I frowned. “What’s… What’s this?”

  “Plans.”

  “Maps.”

  “But this is a map of the United States.” I lifted it. “And the UK.”

  “Interesting, is it not?” Finvarra asked as he took his seat once more.

  “This is DR business and not Fae business. Go home and roll up your sleeves. Those gardens don’t tend themselves,” Isaiah snapped.

  “Not a wise idea,” Fin said, staring out the window. “The Demon Realm has its own beauty.”

  “The snow-capped mountain where Wyn and his clan lived was worthy of a postcard. I studied the map. “This is more Mortal Realm business. But, aren’t you bound to Faerie, Grandsire? I mean…you have to stay there, right? Help with repairs and stuff? Like we did after Fionna destroyed the realm.”

  “I’ve been released from that particular responsibility.”

  “Aine kicked him out,” Isaiah said.

  “Anyway, I need a break. You too, right?” Fin asked me.

  We nodded at each other and I turned back to the table. “This should be the last place The King of Faerie would want to hang out.”

  “I would have chosen somewhere like Tahiti,” Isaiah said.

  “Naberia’s gone. I thought my son and I could discuss a few things. Important matters.”

  “Isn’t this just my luck? I get rid of Mom and Dad decides to move in and lecture me.” Isaiah conjured a slightly larger chair than Fin’s and jumped into it, curling his legs pretzel style.

  They stared at each other.

  “I can leave,” I said

  “No.”

  “No.”

  More silence.

  “I’m supposed to be here to help you repair the DR, right Unc?”

  “That was my original plan, only look who’s staying for lunch.”

  “Excellent idea.” Fin turned to me. “Hungry?”

  “Starving, as long as they’re not serving corvo.”

  “Show me the way to the kitchen.” Fin stood and smiled.

  “Are we in the palace?” I asked.

  “Of course.” Isaiah puffed out his chest. “I am the Archdemon. This is my territory. I now live in the ridiculously gaudy palace. Really, it looks like something Louie XIV might have designed.”

  Isaiah sent me a mind to mind. “How about a nice steak?”

  Beef?”

  “Yep.”

  “I’m in.”

  We left through the main door and Isaiah led the way. The wide staircase we traveled down had several landings leading off to different floors. I’d never seen so much gold in one place. Doors, window frames, picture frames, even walls were decorated with delicate golden designs. The floor was a beautifully polished white marble with threads of gold and bronze and copper.

  “I also enjoy a good beefsteak.” We glared at Fin. “Your shields are paper thin. And it wasn’t anything personal.”

  I stopped in my tracks and turned to face the King of Faerie. “Never again.”

  His long sigh spoke of unfair persecution. �
�I agree as long as you let me teach you the trick of how to get past even the strongest shields.”

  “Why would I ever want to do that?”

  “Wouldn’t it have been handy to get into Naberia’s mind when she’d come up with the idea to use mind control devices?”

  “Yeah, that would have been great if I’d had the nerve to get close enough to the crazy female.”

  “A minor point.”

  I stopped at the door to the massive kitchen. Crowds of creatures, mostly demons, were spooning soup into their mouths as quickly as they could manage. As bread was placed in front of them, it disappeared into tunics or up sleeves. One guy shoved half a loaf into his boot.

  They were all wounded in one way or another. Underweight and pale.

  Group by group they noticed Isaiah and threw themselves to the floor, begging for mercy.

  “Everyone up. That’s it. Go back to your food.” When they were settled, Isaiah spoke again. “Good work,” he told his staff. “Are there more prisoners?”

  “Another group this size.”

  “Mother’s proclivity for violence was legendary.” Isaiah shook his head.

  “These were the archdemon’s prisoners?” Fin asked.

  “Yes. After they eat they’ll bathe and get their wounds tended. We’ll find them something to wear and they can go home to their families with enough coin to purchase a plot of land or perhaps a shop in town.”

  Isaiah clapped his hands and several of the former prisoners flung themselves back on the ground. “No, no. Get up. Would you be kind enough to help me, your highness?”

  “Certainly.”

  “The King of Faerie will now demonstrate how to bow to their sovereign in the proper way. Go ahead.”

  Silence.

  “I’m afraid, Isaiah, that my sovereign passed on over five thousand years ago.” Finvarra pushed past Isaiah and sat at the table between two demons. He greeted everyone at the table with a nod. “Hello. I’m the king. Do you know if there’s any more soup? I’m a bit peckish.”

  “You’re speaking in Fae.” I pointed out.

  He covered his mouth in surprise then switched to perfect Rux. “Oh, I apologize.” By the time he repeated what he’d said before, everyone in his vicinity was grinning. The staff immediately dished out a bowl of soup and gave him an entire loaf of fresh bread. “Thank you, so much. Your staff is top notch archdemon. Top notch.”

  Isaiah groaned. “Tahiti is sounding really good right now.”

  “Keep the steak. I’m good with coconuts. Let’s go.”

  Isaiah glanced back at Finvarra. “I’m afraid my people and my realm come first.”

  “You can kick him out?”

  “But can I? If Jackie kicked Garrett out of the house and he turned up at your apartment, would you send him away?”

  “No. But Garrett raised me.”

  “To be fair, Finvarra didn’t know I was his son.”

  “True.”

  “You two should join me and my delightful companions. The soup and the bread are delicious.” Fin waved a piece in the air.

  I pushed my uncle toward the bench. “Quick, take a bite out of the same loaf Fin is eating from, then give him the Xenia lecture. That might help.”

  Isaiah grinned and did as I asked. Fin seemed pleased with the idea and suddenly they were getting along a lot better than before. I took a seat as thoughts of the war and all that had happened faded in the presence of a simple shared meal, easy chatter and the sense that maybe hanging with these two zany family members was exactly what I needed.

  Time would tell. For now, this was almost perfect.

  * * *

  I hope you enjoyed Jackie, Garrett and Charlie’s story.

  Book 10, In Demand, will release in 2021 in ebook and audiobook format. If you’d like to know more about Gayle’s books or to sign up for her newsletter please go to gayleparness.com

  * * *

  And now for an excerpt from A Stubborn Heart. Book 1 in the Rogues Inc. Series, to be released on audio in 2021.

  A Stubborn Heart Excerpt

  “Sinc, no!”

  I was already on the porch with my hand on the doorknob. Leaving without my phone was not an option. Kyle would probably text me with questions about the lab work and I had to be available.

  I opened the door and moved into the house.

  Something huge slammed into my body, sharp and hot and horribly loud, throwing me across the floor and into the wall. My ears thrummed for a moment before all sounds abandoned me. Blood scent. Burning. Darkness.

  Dreams.

  Whispers. “…bomb…”

  Knives pricking.

  Burned flesh.

  Hurts to breathe.

  Let me sleep. Please.

  Cold. So cold.

  A hundred knives.

  Please, please.

  Let me sleep.

  * * *

  Bomb?

  I tried to swallow, but no saliva. With a huge effort, I spread my fingers. A blanket. A bed. But no sounds. Dead ears.

  Opening my eyes, I saw doctors and nurses talking, talking, talking, but not speaking to me. Look at me! I lifted my hand to pound on the bed, but it didn’t obey my orders.

  So tired.

  I was in the hospital. That was good. I guess. A muffled sound shocked me. The scent of eucalyptus. Ethan, leaning over and talking next to my ear.

  “…okay. You’ll be okay.”

  Were we underwater? Hard to understand.

  He moved away and smiled, his eyes brightening when he saw I was looking at him. He moved his mouth. I clasped his shirt to pull him closer. Couldn’t hear.

  “Ethan. What happened?” I thought the words, but we couldn’t mind speak. He didn’t hear me.

  A nurse appeared. Drowsy now. No pain. Blessed sleep.

  My lids were manhole covers, too heavy to lift without tools.

  “Open your eyes. For me. Try hard.”

  Ethan stood beside me clutching my hand, doctors at the end of the bed. “Sinc. You’re going…okay,” Ethan said.

  I could make out some words. “Ringing, but I can hear you now. Mostly. I was deaf.”

  A doctor nodded. “Excellent. We’ll have your ears tested soon.”

  What did he mean, excellent? Nothing was excellent. A damn truck had run me down. Only… It wasn’t a truck. I was… I was in the house. The one we’d used while we were investigating the disappearance of those boys at my old pack in Los Altos. What the hell had happened?

  Ethan tugged on my hand so I’d look at him. “Sinc, honey.” Ethan looked as if he’d lost his best friend. “Your foot is badly injured.”

  “What? My foot?” My words were starting to slur. Couldn’t feel my body. Couldn’t test my limits. Couldn’t connect to my leopard. Shit. “Dizzy.”

  “They gave you pain meds. The doctors want to amputate to save the rest of your leg.”

  “Amulet?” I shook my head. “I can’t think straight.”

  Kyle was suddenly leaning over me. I hadn’t seen him before. He looked worried. I must be a mess. He spoke slowly. “Would you rather deal with the pain so your head clears?” I nodded and touched his familiar face. He grinned at me and moved away. “Stop the drip,” he said to the doctors.

  I glared at the group at the foot of my bed. One of them walked over to the tubes and made an adjustment. “I need to understand what happened,” I tried to explain.

  Ethan squeezed my hand. “It was a bomb.”

  “A bomb.” I’d heard someone say that before. “The house?” He nodded. “A bomb went off in the house?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh god. Who else got hurt?”

  “Brina, but she’ll be okay. Jackie got cut up. Thank the gods the vampires were in Crescent City.”

  “Gabe?”

  “It’s his fault,” Kyle snapped.

  “His family placed the bomb in the basement. He says he knew about it, but they’d threatened to hurt his mom. He was trying to save y
ou, but you turned around and ran back inside,” Ethan said.

  Kyle pushed Ethan out of the way. “You need surgery, but you don’t have a lot of time to think about it.”

  Ethan glared at Kyle, who just shrugged and took a few steps back. Ethan continued. “What’s left of your foot… It has to go. Too much energy is being channeled to an area that can’t heal. If it’s removed, the rest of your natural shifter healing will kick in.”

  “I can try to shift now.”

  “You don’t have the energy. It will do more harm than good.” One of the doctors answered. A female.

  He was right. I couldn’t even connect to my leopard. “So if I don’t agree to the amputation, I’ll lose my leg too?” Words were coming easier now.

  “I’m sorry Ms. Blakefield.” The doctor stepped around to the other side of the bed. “We’ll have to amputate from the knee if you wait too long.”

  “Nice bedside manner.” I grumbled, wincing as pain enveloped my body in a rush. The meds were wearing off. Big time. Shifters had super fast metabolisms. In this case it sucked.

  Ethan looked like he was either going to grab my shoulders and shake me or pull me into a hug. “The team needs you. We all need you. Say yes.”

  I’d be a cripple. Useless in a fight. Yeah, the team would need me to sit at the computer and do my brilliant techy thing, but that wasn’t what I’d trained for. I wanted out in the field. I wanted to fight our enemies the way the rest of them did. I wanted… I wanted…

  Gabe’s face flashed in my mind. He’d known about the bomb and had tried to save me, but he’d been willing to sacrifice the others.

  I knew what I wanted. I wanted to face him again. To show him what he’d done. To make him hurt the way I did. I wanted to live. “Do it.”

  The doctor nodded and readjusted my drip. I was out before I had a chance to say goodbye to Ethan or Kyle.

  Uhhh. Nausea. Pain. Open eyes. Too much light. Close eyes. More rest, please.

  “Hey, sleepy.” Ethan’s voice. “You’re gonna be okay.”