by E. A. Copen
“He’s a cat. Cats are shifty. Besides, he started it.”
“For Christ’s sake, Lazarus, can you put your ego away for one minute? Kellas doesn’t want to hurt me or our child!”
I crossed my arms. “How do you know? Both you and your mother trust that creep way too much. He’s your enemy.”
“You don’t understand.” She threw her arms up and stomped to the bedroom.
I listened as she tore through her wardrobe and growled at every piece of clothing she owned. No way to know if she was pissed off because of something I’d actually done or a surge of hormones. Nate had complained to me plenty of times about Leah’s mood swings. Lucky me, I’d missed most of them.
No, not lucky. A pit formed in my stomach and it weighed fifty pounds. I should’ve been there for her. Here I was moaning about all the people who had abandoned me when I needed them, and I’d not even tried to be there for Odette. Granted, we were over as a couple, but there had to be some way I was supposed to be helping. Something I could do besides sleeping in the hall outside her room.
I thought back to all the mushy romantic comedies she’d made me watch. Boyfriends and husbands in those always brought their wives and girlfriends food in the middle of the night. They rubbed their feet, made them dinner…all things that wouldn’t be right. Not in our case. The only thing Odette had indicated she wanted was space. Yet if I gave her that, something bad could happen.
Odette emerged in an emerald dress, her almond colored hair flowing perfectly over her shoulders. Her cheeks were splotchy and her eyes red. Dammit, I knew what was coming next, and I was helpless to stop it.
The waterworks started as she sank onto the arm of the sofa. “I hate this.”
“Hate what?”
“Everything!” She picked a pillow up off the sofa and threw it against the wall. It landed with an unsatisfying thud. “Being back here, under her thumb. Marrying Roshan, the stuck up prissy boy that he is, and this!” She grabbed her swollen belly. “I just want it out! I’m done. I’m tired. I’m bloated. I can’t even remember what my feet look like. What’s it all for anyway? So he can spend the rest of his life running, hiding from all the people that want to kill him?” She wiped away a tear and stared at the floor and sniffled. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “I can’t do it. I don’t know how to be responsible for someone else. I can barely dress myself.”
“Me too. I’m terrified.”
She looked at me, red-faced and teary-eyed. “You are? But you don’t seem bothered at all. You’re so calm and confident, like you know exactly what to do and when. I don’t have a clue.”
I held in my laughter because she’d misinterpret it and went to kneel in front of her. “Come on, Odette. You know me. You know I don’t have my life together. Now imagine me changing diapers or bottle feeding a baby.”
Through her tears, Odette laughed. “Yeah, I suppose we’re both totally unqualified for this parenting thing.”
I scanned the room and stopped on a box of tissues that I retrieved and handed to her. “I don’t think anyone’s ever really ready. It’s scary shit. Scarier even because of how we’ll have to juggle things. But we can do it. You’re the Summer Princess and I’m the Pale Horseman. Surely we figure out how to split holidays and change diapers.”
At some point during our talk, I’d grabbed her hand. I didn’t remember when, but I squeezed it just the same. Small touches can have a big effect when someone’s in pain and afraid. It’s reassuring to know that there’s someone else out there who gives a damn.
She squeezed back and offered a tired smile. “Okay. Yeah, you’re right.”
Gently, I took her other hand and stood, pulling her up with me. “Remy.”
She blinked. “What?”
“His name. Name him Remy.”
She made a face. “I’ll consider it.”
I offered her my arm and put on my most charming smile. “May I escort you to breakfast?”
Odette insisted that she grab a small box of loose leaf tea from her dresser before we went down to the courtyard. The breakfast table was set up near where someone had taken a shot at Odette yesterday, which bothered me. My professional opinion was that they should be eating indoors where there would be fewer places for an assassin to hide, but I kept it to myself. They weren’t likely to listen anyway. Kellas, Titania, Roshan, and Beth were all there. Beth stood away from the table, next to a smaller table full of drinks. They were treating her as a servant, and it grated on my nerves. I had to make sure she got out of Faerie whether I was cured or not.
I gave the queen as good a bow as I could manage and offered Kellas my “I’m watching you” stare before pulling the chair out for Odette.
Kellas gestured to the empty chair at the table. “Join us, Knight. There is plenty to go around.”
I eyed the spread while my stomach reminded me all I’d eaten lately was cheese. A pyramid of sausage links rested next to a mountain of bacon and ham. While I stood there, trying not to drool on myself, Kellas sliced into the steak on his plate. It was a perfect medium rare steak, just the right shade of pink. Bastard made sure I saw it, too, before he popped a bite-sized piece in his mouth and made orgasmic noises.
Just a little, I told myself. It’d be rude not to. My mouth watered. I swore I could feel my stomach constricting, twitching for the chance of a bite. Maybe he’d drop a piece, and I could get just a taste.
Beth calmly walked over to stand in front of me.
I focused on the tender flesh of her lip and remembered the coppery taste of blood. Almost as good as steak, but rarer, rawer.
She backhanded me hard enough I staggered and blinked tears from my eyes. It worked though. I stopped looking at everyone sitting at the table as if they were part of the buffet. Except for Kellas. Cat Sìth pate was starting to sound just fine.
He leaned back in his chair, chewing with a smile.
“Thanks,” I muttered to Beth.
“Anytime.” She returned to her place by the drink table.
I rubbed the sore spot on my cheek. “Think I’ll pass on breakfast.”
Kellas shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“So, Sir Knight. Any news on my beloved’s would-be killer?” Roshan took up his sweating glass of water and sipped daintily from it.
Titania speared a sausage link with her steak knife. “I’d be interested in hearing any developments as well, especially since you and my daughter’s maidservant left Faerie last night.”
Ice water flowed down my spine. I looked to Beth, who had paled two shades. How the hell did she know about that?
“Oh, come now, Knight. Do you think I don’t know every time a door in my realm opens and closes?” Titania dabbed at the corners of her mouth with her cloth napkin. Somehow, the movement reminded me of a shark who had just begun to feed. “What I don’t know is who helped you. The door you used was sealed after my daughter’s escape. She still has refused to name the person who aided her.” Her eyes narrowed as she slid them to her daughter.
Odette kept her expression neutral.
If she wasn’t telling, then I wasn’t either. I crossed my arms and stood silent.
Titania pretended not to notice my defiance. “Keep your secrets then. I’ll find out eventually. Now, your report, Sir Knight.”
“Odette isn’t the target. The child is.”
“The child?” Titania didn’t seem surprised. Just clarifying.
“Our child.” I leveled my gaze at Roshan. “Mine.”
His face went blank, the same face a gazelle made when it noticed the lion hiding in the grass.
That’s right, Man-Bun. Don’t even think about trying to lay claim to my child. I’ll strangle you with your own hair, pretty boy.
A servant came out from the kitchen with a silver platter laden with teacups and a steaming teapot. She passed the teacups around and filled them with hot water.
“I don’t know why precisely,” I continued, “but take your pick. Could be Prince Roshan o
r his family is repaying a perceived slight from being snubbed the first time.”
“I would never!” Roshan picked up his teacup and lifted one pinky. God, I hated him. “Besides, I was at the rehearsal, just like Odette. I could’ve been killed.”
“The assassin was precise. You were never in danger.”
“Enough.” Titania drained her teacup of steaming tea that should’ve been too hot to swallow and placed the cup roughly on the tiny platter. “Roshan knows better. The Court of Light has been our staunchest ally since the dawn of time. Any slight has already been dealt with. Concessions have been made.”
Odette rolled her eyes.
“Present another theory,” the queen demanded.
I leveled my gaze at Kellas. He met it with the same ferocity. If I accused him in open court without proof, I’d just look stupid. I wasn’t sure it was him. All I knew is that I didn’t trust him. I didn’t trust cats on principle.
“When I was with Nyx, she called the child an abomination and expressed concern over bringing Death to Faerie.”
“Nonsense,” Odette muttered.
“Actually, not completely.” Kellas folded his hands and leaned on them. “Magic is in the blood. In theory, your offspring has the potential to master necromantic magic and wield the power of Summer. Can you imagine a being with such power? Capable of both life and death magic?”
“Magical genetics is a crap shoot,” I growled. “No one’s been able to prove it’s genetic at all, let alone that a particular power can be inherited.”
“No?” His nose twitched. “It’s a given in Faerie. Why do you think Roshan and Odette are such a lovely match? If they should procreate, their magic is complementary. Stronger children. It allows Summer to expand its power base.”
“And if you two had a kid?” I gestured to Titania and Kellas.
Titania lowered her glass and pointedly did not look at Kellas. “The terms of our marriage contract are of no import here.”
“Pardon, majesty, but I think it’s important that I understand how all this works. What happens if two fae of opposing courts have a child?”
The table was silent.
I uncrossed my arms. “You mean to tell me it’s never happened?”
“Fae do not breed as carelessly as humans,” Roshan said, his tone one of disgust. “We keep our urges in check.”
“Yeah, that’s why there are so many tales of fae maidens seducing unsuspecting men.”
Odette cleared her throat and took a deep drink of her tea.
A commotion behind me made me turn. The guards had stopped Declan. The poor boy looked worked up about something. I gestured for the guards to let him through. They uncrossed their spears and Declan stepped up to the table beside me.
“Begging your pardon, my queen, Princess. Prince Roshan.” He punctuated each name with a bow. After bowing to Roshan, he stood, paused and sneezed.
“Bless you,” I offered.
“Thank you, sir.” He sneezed again. “Apologies, I—” Another sneeze.
I put an arm around Declan’s shoulders. “I’ll be right back. Enjoy your breakfasts.”
Declan sneezed several more times as I led him away. “I’m sorry, sir. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”
“Sounds like allergies. Lots of pollen around. Don’t worry about it.”
He let out a low groan. “I can’t have an allergy to pollen! I’m a Summer fae! Oh, I’m not even good at that, am I?”
We were far enough away from the table that I didn’t think they could hear us, but I could still keep an eye on Odette. I stopped and turned Declan to face me, gripping him by the shoulders. “Now, what was it you needed?”
He glanced back at the table before reaching into his padded tunic to retrieve a folded oak leaf. “I was told to make sure you got this.”
I took the leaf and flipped it over. There was nothing special about it. It was just a leaf. The only person who would send me an oak leaf and think it was a message would be Athdar. I’d have to track him down to see what he wanted, but that would have to wait until I could shake the queen. If she found out it was him that helped both me and Odette, she’d peel the bark off of him.
At the table, Odette suddenly shot to her feet, coughing loudly. Her hands went to her neck, closing around it. The universal sign for choking.
The oak leaf fell from my hands. I ran for the table, reaching her just as she braced herself on it. Roshan descended into panicked shrieking and calling for someone to do something while Beth joined me in trying to assess the situation. Her plate was empty. She hadn’t even started eating anything yet. The only food or drink she’d touched so far had been the herbal tea she’d brought down from her room.
Titania surged to her feet. “Get Willow!”
I was still trying to figure out what I could do. Odette’s face was turning a bright shade of purple-red. She needed air. Now.
“Help her!” I exclaimed to Beth.
“Trying! Get out of the way.” Beth knocked me aside and placed her hands over Beth’s throat. “I need to know what caused it for this to be effective.”
I frantically dove for the tea and picked it up. Not being a tea connoisseur myself, I didn’t know how I expected to identify the tea. I knew what chai smelled like, and that Picard liked earl grey, hot. That’s where my tea knowledge began and ended. Still, I pulled the silver diffuser out of the cup and tipped the cup, inhaling deep.
It didn’t smell like any tea I’d ever had. Tea had a bitter smell, maybe with a hint of smoke. This was floral scented and familiar because I’d used it before to kill the Shadow Queen. The image of Odette exploding into flames as Nyx had done flashed in front of my eyes.
“Ironwort!”
Beth nodded and closed her eyes.
Odette teetered.
I dove to catch her before she hit the ground. Even as she fell, Beth didn’t let go of her neck. Her lips moved quickly, mumbling a healing chant while Odette made desperate gasping sounds.
As she lay in my arms, fighting for every breath, I happened to look up and catch Kellas’ gaze. He was still seated at the table, the only one who hadn’t gotten up. Kellas saw me looking at him and grinned, lifting his teacup in a triumphant salute.
Chapter Eighteen
The infirmary staff came and took Odette away. I wasn’t allowed to go with her. It was just as well. There wasn’t anything I could do except figure out how to prove Kellas was behind it. I tried to think like Emma would. I had a suspect, and he’d all but given me a motive with his speech at the breakfast table. I even had a murder weapon. I just had to prove opportunity.
He had to have switched out her normal herbal tea blend with ironwort. I couldn’t decide if that method was chance or irony. I’d killed the Shadow Queen with ironwort, his queen. Maybe this was some sort of twisted vengeance. He couldn’t get me, so he went after Odette and our child.
His fatal mistake had been assuming I couldn’t do anything about it. Kellas may have been the Summer Queen’s consort, but that didn’t make him invincible. I just had to have irrefutable proof.
The search for that evidence took me to Odette’s room and left me standing in the center of the sitting chamber, deciding where to start. Beth had gone with Odette, so I was on my own. First thing was first. Find the tea.
After searching the room and coming up empty, I tried the bedroom door. Locked. Odette had the key, no doubt.
I took a few steps back and let out a short huff of breath. Knocking down doors wasn’t easy, and I wasn’t exactly a big guy with lots of muscle. I’d basically have to throw myself at the door until it busted, which meant taking a hit. That I could do. With a running start, I flung myself at the door and bounced right off, landing flat on my back, watching fairy cats dance in my vision.
Of course that was when Declan decided to show up. “Sir, I have—Oof!” He tripped over me but caught himself before he could stumble. “What are you doing there, sir? Is it a spell?”
“No
,” I growled. “I’m breaking down a door.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Is that effective? Lying on the floor?”
“So far, no.” I sat up and rubbed my sore shoulder. Too late I realized I wasn’t rubbing it because I’d bumped the door with it. It was sore around the ghoul bite. Wincing, I rolled the tunic sleeve up and grimaced at the expanding purple bruise. It hadn’t been like that before. Now, it looked like a bullseye, pink on the outside and gradually fading to a putrid corpse green. Great.
“Do you need some ice, sir?”
I dropped the sleeve and tried to get up. Declan rushed to help me. I started to thank him but caught myself. Thanking faeries, even those who meant well, implied I was in their debt, and I didn’t need any more debts to repay.
“I’m good, Declan. I’m just trying to find where Odette would’ve gotten her tea this morning.”
“Well, you don’t need to go into the bedroom for that, sir.” He went straight to a big, oak cabinet on the far wall, opened a drawer I hadn’t even noticed and lifted a green tinted glass jar full of dark, ground up leaves.
I went to take the jar from Declan. “How’d you know where to find this?”
“It was easy once I knew what you were looking for. You can’t keep tea in sunny areas. The UV from the sun degrades it, and the tea loses its flavor.”
“I had no idea you were a tea connoisseur.” I opened the airtight jar and sniffed. It smelled just like any other tea to me. Grassy and gross.
“Chamomile,” Declan said, inhaling. “Calms the nerves.”
I glanced past him into the open drawer. Several more unmarked containers just like the one in my hand waited inside. “Can you identify most tea by scent?”
Declan shrugged. “My mother loved her teas, and I’ve served enough tea to the important people of Faerie. Maybe.”
I capped the jar of chamomile and retrieved another, opening it and passing it under Declan’s nose.
He took the scent in with closed eyes and sprouted a smile. “Raspberry. A very good white tea.”
I put it back and got another. We went through three jars of loose leaf tea: ginger, mint, and a reddish one called rooibos. When we’d gone through them all and put all the jars back, it left a single empty space that, if filled, would have left the drawer full. One of the jars was missing. It had to be the one Odette had gotten her tea from that morning.