Betrayal

by Cyndi Goodgame

  Pike went on, “You were already formed in her womb. This is the part of the story that King Sane never knew. He has always wondered how the prophecy came to us and not his own seer, but your mother was a Seelie Fey. When he agreed to let your father live, Queen Lazyra cast shields and protections over the three of you. She personally sent me to teach your mother strategies for keeping the enemy out.”

  “Why would she need to keep the enemy out if the enemy let them go?” I tried to focus the attention that was sitting about fifty percent now.

  Pike picked back up, “The enemy made mistake number two. He let the summer Firebearer leave in the summer court’s part of the year. When the time came to light the torch, there was no one to pass the season. He couldn't deny her passage.”

  “You mean to tell me that the seasons are based on whether I light a dang match?” I was far from believing all this and started to fidget with a string on the hem of my sleeve not wanting to look them in the eyes. I thought it was just a symbol or picturesque ritual. Magic in the royals. To think the Fey actually controlled what the humans called Mother Nature. Or she controlled us.

  “Your mother knew this too.”

  No one answered my obviously easy answered question so I chose to keep my mouth shut hoping they would just finish it already. I closed my eyes and bent over the long round table.

  “Without your mom the season wouldn’t pass. When the winter court realized this two weeks into the solstice, he requested our queen to meet. He demanded your mother be returned to change the seasons.”

  I watched Pike now as he relayed this with a too steady gaze. When he finished, I saw that the room had all heads looking down at the table and not at us. Would they all hate me now? “My mother returned. I know she did. She told me. And I knew that she was pregnant with me when she entered the human world. What I don’t know is why Mr. InSane the king wanted to meet with me and tell me his little story.”

  Ian and Pike exchanged looks of hidden meaning and Ian nodded to Pike. Pike popped his eyes around the table releasing some kind of mind spell because the turned down faces hurriedly popped back to me. Then all at once, back down. Pike had a power I didn't know about.

  “He wanted to gain your favor. He hoped to make you think that your father was spared by him and shunned by us. There are many things about your father still hidden. We have kept the secrets and them protected ever since. Your parents are safe, I promise.” His eyes were true. I’d come to rely on him more than he realized. Or maybe he knew.

  “So why the drama moment of meeting with me? He could have told me before when he was here at my court.”

  Pike and Ian exchanged another look putting aside for once their competitive alpha-mindedness.

  “Now boys. Tell me now.”

  This instinctual male ability to always want to fix their female’s woes was grating on my last nerve. Right now two alphas were attempting to control the information highway from me. It’s a dang good thing that me and the alphas can see eye to eye, cuz’ neither of them will win this showdown. Just tell me things already!

  Ian’s gaze didn’t waver, but Pike’s finally gave.

  With a sigh he looked around once more at each and every face in the room. Ian nodded with what I assumed would be to release them. All heads lifted. Grabbing my hands, I thought it might be the truth about what Kin was. What his connection to me was with the Unseelie court. I’d figured it out long ago, but never spoke of it to anyone for fear of it affecting, or swaying, the future. “There is a motive to telling you his little tale of being a forgiving king who spares those he considers an enemy. He wants you to not see him for what he really is. I recently found a cave underground disguised by the winter court and in it were over a dozen human and Seelie court slaves working the kitchens and laundry for the Unseelie.”

  I interrupted, “Oh my, we have to rescue them.” Then it dawned on me. “That’s where you’ve been going. You were trying to rescue them. I told you you’re a hero. Pike I can’t believe you’ve hid this from me.” I jumped to my feet. Another realization paralyzed my step. I reached out and took Pike’s hand and squeezed it to the point where the absence of blood was turning his hand ice cold. “Your mother!” I gasped.

  The whole room joined in my reaction. Little did they know.

  “You found your mother in that cave.” My hand stayed to my mouth like a true drama queen finding out her best friend kissed the quarterback under the bleachers. This was actually life happening and not at all like the meaningless antics of high school. Real life sucked sometimes.

  Pike’s face fell a little more now. “There’s more.”

  What more could there be in this nightmare?

  “She doesn’t know who she is, nor that she was once the queen of the Seelie court.”

  Wow! That bites. “So we rescue her. Simple!” What else could I say?

  “Not that easy, Grace,” Ian finally spoke again.

  Not to mention the fact that he neglected to mention why momma was alive if there was another queen, but I was sure that since Lazyra and I were both alive, then there stands to reason that something else could have gone awry in the Fey logic of prophecies and their ritualistic traditions. When they know she didn’t die, everyone will know something was out of order.

  “Possible, but we have to try. Kin will help.” I don’t have any earthly idea why those words left my mouth. And Pike actually laughed amongst all the sourness of the hour.

  “Just let me try okay. Worst case scenario, we get no help from Kin, save your mom, make the little king man mad, wage a war, lose, and start all over the next day.”

  He grimaced and shoved off the table. Guess he didn’t like my plan.

  As indifferent as I played myself to be at solving this disturbing puzzle piece mystery, I was rattled to the bone. I propositioned Ian for a better night sleep if he’d let me stay with him. Yes, I meant that he needed it, but he knew it was for me. He gave so easily.

  Lying in bed I asked, “Will we save her?”

  He didn’t say at first but when he did I detected the whisper of regret in his tone, “I don’t know, Grace.”

  Neither did I.

  Chapter Twenty

  unadulterated- adj. not mixed or diluted with any different or extra elements; complete and absolute

  Kin agreed to meet me. I went with Ian and Pike to the lair in a small group an hour after the message arrived under a shrouded sun and a fogged drenched chill in the air. No point in waiting.

  He greeted us outside by a burning bonfire that easily reached over six feet. Sweltering with the already sweat drenched nerves didn’t help my appearance and I had decidedly not mentioned to Ian or Pike before we left that I told Kin I would speak alone to him. They were about to find out.

  Ian moved to follow around the fire avoiding the spitting embers. Pike coursed the other way and met the path behind Kin where the front door to his “lair” was left ajar.

  “Ian, I would like to talk to him alone.” I wanted this over with. I pushed my fleeing courage up a notch willing myself to just move with it.

  Ian man-growled. Pike followed the same pattern. Kin laughed and flashed one of his ladykiller smiles at the group. He knew now I’d kept a secret from Ian. He’d use that for later. The course of true love never did run smooth.

  “Ian, five minutes. Then you can come in and save me from the frightful amount of talking he’s getting out of me. He won’t harm me.” Slim chance he’d leave me unscathed word wise. Imminent danger of the worst kind for a Seelie queen all done by defying the man I love. What’s not to like?

  Ian glared such a deadly look of hatred towards Kin I thought I might just change my mind and step back from Ian. “NO!” he said.

  “Pike can listen.”

  Kin smirked sending both other men into some major defcon eight or nine level of rared chests and weapon ready stances.

  “IF I let him.” Kin fed the fire.

  I took a turn at the death glare not gett
ing the same affect. I secretly smiled and felt the tension grow more as the two of them begrudgingly accepted my decision to do this. Neither one of them were accustomed to wait and see without being heavily involved.

  Pike snorted and mumbled under his breath. I made the mistake of turning around and getting a last look at Ian before I felt so far away from him. I felt my heart harden at the cold smile turned up on his lips. I followed the path and walked in first, Kin behind me.

  We sat on the exact places as twice before.

  “To what do I owe this most wondrous occasion to my dear queen?” His wide arms spread out across the side of the sofa he was on. I curled my feet under my dress in an effort to make him feel I was at ease and would appear like I was simply a friend in need of aid.

  “I have a favor to ask.” There was a heavy pause.

  “With your dear Pike listening? I’m not sure that is wise. He might come busting in and stop our private moment.” His mouth turned up in that suggestive way as he leaned back easing into his known sexiness. He was all predator. How did any girl resist him?

  Color me shocked. “Kin, don’t be vulgar.”

  “Who said it’s vulgar to me?”

  Having bad thoughts about our dear Kin? Pike asked in an attempt at humor. Bad thoughts about Kin? I can’t imagine! I blocked even more. He could read Kin, not me.

  His mind totally worked different than anyone I knew. I thought I understood him, but I really didn’t. “Let’s just keep this clean so the already bursting into flames Seelie court men on your front doorstep do not come busting through that door.”

  “Of course, my lady. Let’s get down to business then, shall we?”

  I took a long breath and forced my gaze to stay on his face. “I need you to help me break into your court or rather under it.”

  His face didn’t change, but rather went flat.

  “I know of servants that belong to our court that are hidden there that should be allowed to go free.”

  “And you naturally thought of me?” his voice was guarded pelting me with emotions he hid well.

  “Well, yes. You are the only one who can help me.”

  “And you think I will help you?”

  Yes! “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think you’d help me.” I pushed a slow smile to my nerve- wracked face returning a bit of his own flirtatious nature at the thought he might not actually come to my aid.

  “And there aren’t any other motives present among your two suitors outside my door?”

  “Yes. Pike’s mother is there if that is what you mean, but I assumed you’ve known this for years just like I assume you knew about my father.”`

  His stiff composed body stretched across the sofa still hadn’t moved from the comfortable way he felt in his own skin even in threatening situations. To most women, he controlled an entire conversation with his body leading it alone. Not with me, I knew him too well. I didn’t mean to, but my eyes moved along his arms, up to his chest, and down his length. I was only checking for his reaction to the comment about my father, but Kin of course didn’t see it that way.

  “Your boy out there is reading your unfiltered thoughts my lady. Tree boy is furious.”

  “And Pike knows that they are unadulterated guesses as to what you are thinking.” Another truth hit me. Kin had known a lot of things for many years. The term “tree boy” just connected all together in the synoptic part of my last nerve. And worse, he could read me now and knew that I know now what he knew about me for a long, long time. As the summer court Fey, we are heavily connected to the earth and its living things. His court made them dormant or dead for the winter, not alive and hearty.

  Summer court Fey worked with nature. It’s why I was so in tune with every growing thing. Though once I heard Kin reference the term about Both Ian and Pike, but really it was childish and petty. It was only meant to anger me and really was just stupid to begin with.

  “As casual as you try to make yourself Grace, you will never be completely comfortable around me in the way you wish.”

  “Changing the subject doesn’t take my mind off what I’m here for Kin so let’s just get back to what I asked and make a decision,” I said as calmly as I could muster. He knew my thoughts and even my hidden thoughts.

  “If I do this, it is for you, Grace,” he paused breathing through his nose, “not the little prince wanna be. And he will have to thank me after.”

  “I will make sure of it,” I felt invincible for a split second. He deflated that courage with his next remark.

  “I will do this only if you will allow me to tell you one more item that has been hidden from you.”

  Who could hide a reaction to that? As slow and keen as even my nod seemed, he was attuned with what he wanted. I leaned forward in anticipation.

  “You are the Firebearer of the Seelie Court.”

  Oh, no! I knew what was coming. My hands flew to the sides of my head to try to hide the sound of his voice. The burn in my hands didn't disappear by chance or by a prophecy, but by him. He told me this once. It is what I thought Pike and Ian wanted to tell me when I learned about Pike’s mother.

  “And I am the Firebearer of the Unseelie court. You knew this already I see. Did anyone but my father and I know before now? That would be interesting and very sad, but I believe they don’t.”

  I shook my head in my hands. “No, no, no!”

  “We are meant to be together. I feel your frozen touch in my hands when you near. I had my father place a protection on you to remove the burn from your hands. I couldn’t bear to see you in pain anymore no matter how much it drew me to you. I’ve tried to stay away from you and I just can’t.”

  I peeked out of my hands. “Do you still feel the pain?”

  “Yes,” he was still staring at me unabashedly.

  I covered my face again wanting him to stop now.

  “I will release only his mother. I cannot be accosted for a crime in my name to my court. The Nyms will do this for me and know this Grace, the chosen will be put to death. Are you ready to let that be on your conscious?”

  I wasn’t ready for that. I couldn’t be the decision maker for allowing someone to die for Pike’s mother, but it had to be done. “Yes!” I was ashamed of my infallible amount of disrespect I seem to be accruing as of late. At least to myself.

  Kin finally moved, sitting up with his elbows on his knees allowing him to be ten inches closer. “Perhaps you have the making of an Unseelie queen yet.”

  Now I was disgusted with myself. “Are we done?” I wanted to throw up.

  “Don’t leave like that. You think because I am frank and a realist that I am heartless? I am only able to do as I am bound to do as you know now you are part Unseelie as well and have much explained in the way you think. I have boundaries to abide by and you’d do well to remember that you have your own. Today, you crossed that boundary asking this of me. I hope that gives you a small awareness of how I feel about you and where you are meant to be. You are Unseelie.”

  Because he would kill for me! Once again, I would throw up if I’d had breakfast.

  “I am not. My father was your human slave.”

  His nostrils flared, but nothing was said to protest it.

  “I am in your debt,” I stood and aimed for the front door.

  His arm was fast. His breath on my ear made me shiver. “I will collect.”

  I refused to look up so he made my face turn with his hand. I shuddered not from fear, but what he might do and cause Pike, the big bad wolf, to break down the door.

  My hand felt for the doorknob behind me and only stopped moving when it opened. Pike was in the door and Ian was pulling me out.

  Chapter Twenty One

  concealed- v. 1. keep from sight. 2. keep secret’ prevent from being known or noticed.

  The first punch came from Ian with Kin still latched onto me all the way out the door. I didn’t particularly like it either, but only because it would cause friction between them. Ian blasted Kin’s jaw
fast with a crunching knuckle pop. Pike grabbed both of Kin’s arms from behind and held on, but he was a brute force not to be reckoned with. Kin aimed to hit him back, and lucky me, made the mistake of stepping between them. The swing intended for Ian’s jaw hit the door frame instead of my face, but was enough to rattle Kin away though.

  Screaming. Growling. Grunting. All three were at each other as soon as I slid against the door leaning inward within the lair. After ten seconds or so, they were rolling on the ground pounding each other. I caught sight of each of them glancing my way punch-drunk and swerving to and fro, but at least checking on me. I settled myself onto the one step that led to the door and watched, bored. They seemed to like to fight no matter the reason. It was in some way, just an excuse to be boys, Fey or not.

  They finished their romp and grunted some more without any apologies, but I’d never heard a boy every say sorry for throwing a fist at another guy. He hit him for a reason. A few curses flew in each direction and we parted ways. This would not make my list of worst days necessarily. I was accustomed to boys and their fisted energy outlets.

  Cleaned up and back at court, I hid in my room to think.

  Kin is the lost Firebearer that his father kept hidden all for this moment concealed for a finale that involved me. His father was trying to sway me in his malign way towards their court. King Sane knows what both of us are. Kin can sense cold when I am near. We sense each other. An old prophecy had the Firebearers of the past interconnected to alert each other of their presence, but it hasn’t resurfaced for hundreds of years. Now, Kin used it to make it look like it should lead me to believe that the prophecy indicates he is my soul mate, but shouldn’t one return the same feelings of that of a soul mate?

  “Can I join you?” Ian’s voice gave him away a second after I sensed him near. I didn’t move at first, but then decided he might ask if I seemed preoccupied. Still, he’d know something was up.