I shook my head.
“Then your mother came. What happened next?”
“She and I went inside. I should have checked on him when he didn’t appear but your father’s appearance threw me off. I forgot all about Orin.”
“Did my father go inside with you?”
“No.”
“Kylie, think about it. You left Orin alive, but you also left my father out there. How do you know it was you? He’s an earth user too. What if he finished what you’d started?”
“You don’t believe that, do you? He wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t he? Even after hearing about his plans for Grant, do you really think this is beyond him?”
“I don’t know. Maybe not, but, Liam, how would I ever prove it? I was the last person to see Orin alive. Call me crazy, but if it comes down to my word against the king’s, I won’t have a fighting chance.”
“Well, if he did it, there’s a reason behind it.” He paced in front of me.
“You’re missing the big problem here. What if he didn’t do it? I did. I’m a murderer. My magic killed someone.”
“No. I can’t believe that.” His tone carried gentleness. “I know you feel guilty and, as the last person with him, maybe it makes sense, but I know you and you’re not capable of this. His bindings were loosened. Orin’s twice my size. He could have freed himself from some moss and roots. Think about it, Kylie.”
Orin was one of the bigger guards. He should have been able to break through some moss. “Unless, I didn’t loosen his bindings enough.”
“Okay, for the sake of argument, let’s say you didn’t. What killed him? A night in the garden wouldn’t have killed the guy. How did he die?”
My grip loosened from the chair. When I’d walked away from Orin, he could breathe. His nose had been uncovered. How would he have died? “I don’t know.”
“You see my point now? You didn’t do this, someone else did. Maybe it wasn’t my father, but someone did it, and beside you and Aislinn, he was the only other person in the garden last night.”
“But why? Why would he do this? Just to blame me?”
“Maybe, or maybe to silence Orin about your abilities.”
“Orin wouldn’t have said anything. I scared him, really scared him. Oh God.” Tears dripped down my face. “I scared him so much. It was me who trapped him there in the first place, so it’s still my fault.”
“You can’t believe that. If you hadn’t bound him, what do you think he would’ve done to you? He would’ve over-powered you. You did the right thing.”
“Did I? The guy’s dead, Liam.”
“Absolutely. You could have been hurt.” He knelt in front of me. “Kylie, something bad could have happened to you. Something I don’t even want to imagine, because quite honestly, if he’d touched you, I would have killed him. He was dead either way. At least this way, you’re okay.”
“Why would your father do this to me, though? I don’t understand.”
“What makes you sure anyone even thinks it’s you?”
“I don’t know what other people think, but your father approached me this morning and mentioned I was the last to see Orin alive. I don’t know who else knows besides him, but he’s going to blame me.”
“We don’t know that. He may have some ulterior motive. Let’s see what happens. Maybe it’ll pass. We shouldn’t rush around incriminating you if no one else is. And, if I need to, I’ll say we were together.”
“I don’t want to get you involved in this.”
“If you’re in this, so am I.”
I hugged him.
“Have you told Conor yet? Maybe he could talk to some guards and see what people are saying.”
“I kind of sent him on a favor. He’s already gone. He doesn’t know anything about it.”
“A favor?”
I looked down. “A message to Grant. I worried about him. After everything your father said last night, I’m sure he knows I know about the oracle. I’m worried he’ll have Grant hunted and killed. He wants to break me. Your father is chipping away at me. First Grant, now this. He’s going to succeed.”
“No, he won’t. That won’t happen. You’re too strong.”
“After last night, and him seeing me use magic, I don’t know what he’s up to. It’s not good. He asked a lot of questions. I told him my emotions triggered it. Then he brought up love. He’s planning something.”
“I guess it’s good you sent Conor. If my father thinks he can prevent this oracle by killing Grant, you’re right. He’s in a lot of danger.”
It was too late to prevent Grant’s role in the oracle, and after what Alastar saw last night, I think he knew too. So instead, he would kill my true love and leave me so heartbroken I’d have no energy to fight him. Maybe turn to Liam for comfort and ultimately be under Alastar’s control.
“You’re going to lay low today. Stay in my room. No one will bother you. I’ll have Lexie sent over so we can talk to her as well. We’ll wait until Conor gets back. If anyone asks we’ll say the murder has left you shaken and scared, and I’ve asked you not to walk about the castle grounds until we know it’s safe.”
“Thank you, Liam, for everything. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“I told you, I’ll always be here for you. Are you hungry? Should I send for some food?”
I shook my head, still sick over everything which had happened.
“Okay, let me get Lexie. Lie here and rest.” He gestured to his bed.
My body wouldn’t move. I stared at the carpet. Its swirling pattern reminded me of vines. An image of Orin lifeless flashed and I shuddered.
Liam pulled my hand and led me. “You need to rest. You look like you’re in shock or something. Lie down for a while.”
I let the plush blankets and pillows absorb me in a cloud of comfort. I snuggled in and tried to stop the replaying images of Orin, his eyes large with fear. Terror I’d caused.
The door opened and closed.
I took several calming breaths and thought of Grant. My personal happy place. Had Conor found him yet? What messages would he have for me in return? Blissful memories filled me, repeating every moment ever spent with Grant. From the first time I saw him, to my birthday, to him admitting he loved me. My body tingled as I remembered our perfect night in the forest, glad I’d waited because it never would have been the same with anyone other than him. I fell asleep to the image of Grant looking down on me, full of affection as he whispered words of love.
* * * *
I dreamt of Grant. In the faery forest, I’d produced a plush bed of grass for us. We laughed and were free of worry, as we should be.
A familiarity settled over me. My mother. She’d entered my dream.
I felt her, but couldn’t see her. Turning to Grant, I found him gone.
Annoyed, I stood, dusted the grass off my clothes and prepared to find her. I followed the pull over the leaf-cluttered floor, down a narrow path surrounded by trees.
Wearing a long, flowing white dress, my mother stepped from behind an oak tree. Her blond hair lifted in the wind, her green eyes sparkled and her skin beamed radiance. Add a crown of flowers and some wings, and she could have been from a picture book. “This is the safest place to talk right now. I’m sorry to intrude upon your dream.”
Not as sorry as I was. I leaned against a tree.
“Alastar spoke with me today. He implied you had something to do with Orin’s death. Of course, I don’t believe him, but you should know he wants to use this as leverage. He hasn’t told anyone else yet. He feels this secret will keep you loyal to him.” She hadn’t asked what happened, just assumed my innocence. It was either really loving or very naive.
“I figured as much. I didn’t do it, though. I went inside with you last night, leaving him alone.” I let her put two and two together.
“If this ever comes to light, I will say you were with me.”
“Liam offered the same thing.”
“Goo
d. It looks like you have plenty of alibis. I wish he’d put this notion to rest. With this hanging over you, he means to control you. We need to get you out of this castle. Far away.”
“How? I can’t run away. We already tried. Didn’t work.”
“Convince Alastar he doesn’t want you around.”
“I thought about that. What if I promised him I’ll leave Tir na nOg? He’d have nothing to fear if I didn’t even live in the same realm as him.”
With a pained expression, she said, “As much as I don’t want to see that happen, maybe it would be for the best. Even though you aren’t safe on the other side, it seems safer than here. Though it’d be terribly sad. I just got you here and you’re already leaving.”
“I know. I do like it here. When my life’s not in mortal danger,” I added dryly. “Magic is amazing, though. I feel such a strong affinity to the earth, as if I belong here.” I grazed the bark of the tree with my palm. “But I can’t keep doing this. I’m miserable and it’s not safe.”
She placed her hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I want nothing but your happiness.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll leave you to your dream now. If you want to meet again, let me know. It’s safe to talk here.”
“I will.”
Her dress floated above the leaves and brush. Her slender frame moved with grace, until she disappeared.
I walked back to where Grant had been, but my patch of grass remained empty. I plopped down and waited to wake.
As my eyes fluttered open, Lexie sat crossed-legged on Liam’s bed, staring at me.
“Rise and shine.”
“Is Conor back yet?” I rubbed my face.
“No, silly. You haven’t been asleep long. He won’t be back until tonight.”
“Please tell me the whole Orin thing was one big nightmare.”
“Unfortunately, that really happened.”
I sat up and found Liam in a nearby chair. “How long did I sleep? Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Figured you had to face reality soon enough, might as well let you dream while you could,” Liam said.
“Well, I’m up. So what reality am I facing?”
The two exchanged glances.
I groaned. “That’s never a good sign. What now?”
“My father requested a private meeting with you. I told him you wouldn’t be speaking to him without me present. He didn’t like that too much, but he agreed.”
“Okay, so that’s bad, but not awful. Is that it?”
“He’s also launching an investigation into Orin’s murder. You’re the prime suspect.”
The air pushed from my lungs as though I’d been punched. This was really happening.
Chapter 20
“How many people know about this?” My hands trembled in my lap.
“For now, just us. I think he told me to gauge my reaction. Well, that, and he knew I would tell you. I’m sure he wants you to know what cards are on the table going in.”
“So, this is how he gets me. Alastar will control my decisions over something as stupid as Orin. If only I hadn’t gone to the garden last night. I never would’ve run into him. My magic wouldn’t have gotten out of hand.” Frustrated and angry, uncertain whether at Alastar or myself, I fisted my hands.
“We’re going to figure a way out of this, okay? We know you didn’t do it. That’s gotta count for something right?” Lexie’s large brown eyes held so much innocence and concern. Did she think I would win against Alastar? Then again, maybe I should quit acting so defeated. We hadn’t even talked to him yet. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Yeah, right.
“Do we go now?” I stood and smoothed my nap-wrinkled clothing.
“Are you ready?”
“No.” I said, as I approached the door.
Liam followed, mentioning to Lexie to stay put in his room, where he believed it safest until Conor returned.
We trudged down the long hall leading to the king’s chambers. Guards lined the walls on each side of us, stoically facing forward. When we reached his door, two guards greeted Liam with proper etiquette.
“The king is expecting you.” A guard opened the door, announced our arrival then stepped back.
I’d never been anywhere near the king’s chambers and tried hard not to let it intimidate me. Tucked behind a desk bigger than my kitchen table back home, lounged Alastar in an ornately carved chair padded in red velvet. To each of his sides stood potted Meyer lemon trees. Being an earth user, I related to his desire to have a piece of his element nearby.
He dismissed the two guards standing in the corners of his office. Hands down, that had to be the worse job in the castle. I’d scrub toilets before standing by his side as a silent protector. But I was glad this would at least be a private conversation.
As the guards left the room, I studied the fireplace in the corner. I couldn’t imagine ever using it since I had yet to see cold weather here. Several chairs and a sofa faced it, and between the two, a large oak coffee table. Atop that, a decanter of ambrosia wine and several embellished goblets sat on a silver tray, ready for entertaining, though I couldn’t imagine who hung out with this guy for leisure.
The door shut with a click and I faced forward but the gigantic painting of Alastar adorning the wall behind him demanded my attention. That didn’t intimidate me. I found it comical. To complete the ridiculous work of art, he needed his leg propped on a tiger’s head with an elephant gun over his shoulder.
He cleared his throat and gestured for us to take seats in two smaller chairs in front of his desk. I almost scoffed aloud. Compared to his set up, they were kiddie size chairs. I refused to let him belittle us and literally look down on us while he accused me of a crime I didn’t commit. At least, I didn’t think I did. “I’ll stand. Thanks.” I met his smug grin with a stare.
“Suit yourself. Let’s get down to business. I’m sure Liam has informed you of my concern with your involvement in Orin’s untimely demise.”
“He has, but I’m sorry to inform you, I’m not involved in his demise.” I mocked his words.
Alastar’s jaw tensed and he ground his teeth, the smile never leaving his face. “So you say, but I witnessed you torturing him.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, but regained my composure.
“Actually, Father,” Liam said, “I don’t believe self-defense is a form of torture.”
Alastar glared but Liam didn’t back down. It made me want to hug him, but at the same rate, my girlie display of pride would hurt the icy exterior I clung to.
“Self-defense? Is this true, Kyla?”
“Yes.”
“And what, exactly, were you defending yourself from? Did he attack you?”
“Well, no–”
“Did he physically harm you?”
“He didn’t harm me, but–”
“Did he say something, verbally attack you?”
“He–” My throat burned dry.
He’d never said anything. He’d never technically done anything but he’d planned to harm me. He would have, and I hated Alastar for twisting this around on me. Orin had threatened me before in the hallway, but I couldn’t mention anything without questions arising over my whereabouts. Alastar would question why I’d been in that hallway that day, and I’d never tell him about my search for the dungeon.
“He wouldn’t let me pass. He blocked me, and told me he couldn’t stop thinking about me. I was all alone and felt threatened.” I’d rushed the explanation out before he could cut me off again and twist my words.
Alastar strummed his fingers on his desk. “Why couldn’t he stop thinking about you, Kyla?”
But, of course I faced another question I couldn’t answer. My nails bit into my palms as I squeezed my hands. “I don’t know.”
“So, a guard had a little infatuation with you. Is admitting such a small thing reason for murder?”
“I didn’t kill him,” I said through clenched teeth. “You can manipulate
my words. You can say what you want, but I know what he had planned. I’m not an idiot, Alastar, as much as you would like to make me out to be one. Nobody will threaten me without me fighting back.” I straightened my shoulders and relaxed my hands. “That being said, I’m not a murderer. Teaching a guy a lesson and killing him are two very different things. You saw me following my encounter with him. Obviously, I didn’t seem too suspicious then. You and I both know I walked inside. When I left him, he was alive. Where exactly did you go after my mother and I left?”
Liam stiffened.
Alastar’s icy glare sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to cower.
“Kyla, you are treading on dangerous ground. I would proceed with caution before you speak further.”
“From the moment I stepped into this castle, I’ve tread on dangerous ground. It doesn’t scare me anymore.”
A heavy silence settled over us. I didn’t doubt if he could get away with it, he would strangle me right then with a big fat smile on his face the whole time.
Liam broke the stare-down. “I spent the evening with Kylie. I know she didn’t kill him. And, what I think she’s trying to say is, his murder occurred after she left. Someone must have done it later and maybe you saw something suspicious.”
I rolled my eyes. That’s not at all what I meant, and though I appreciated Liam’s attempt to smooth things over, if Alastar wanted to point fingers, I’d point them right back.
“Interesting perspective, Liam. Though it seems contrary to what I just heard. But, if you are wondering, I saw nothing. I went inside as well so what became of the young man is beyond me.”
“Well, looks like the mystery remains unsolved,” I said.
“You think so?” Alastar smirked.
“Unless you’re confessing then yes, I do.”
Liam sucked in a sharp breath and went rigid.
Alastar slowly rose. “I don’t know who you think you are, but murderer or not, speaking to the king like that is enough to be sentenced to death. It’s treason, something you should be very familiar with.”
“Interesting you ask, but I think I know exactly who I am. And so do you.”
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