Cruel Enchantment

by Bast, Anya

  “Come back to me.”

  She stopped and turned around. “What?”

  He closed the distance between them and pulled her against him again. Burying his nose in her hair, he inhaled like it was the last time he’d ever catch her scent. “Come back to me, Emmaline.”

  “I will. I have to.” She laughed. “The piece, remember?”

  He held her away from him so he could look into her eyes. “Be careful, all right? Watch for anything suspicious. The Phaendir are tricky. Just make sure you come back to me.”

  She reached up and cupped his face. “I promise I’ll be careful, Aeric. This is what I do. I’ve been swimming with these sharks for years now. I know how to avoid getting bitten.”

  He leaned in and gave her a lingering kiss. She savored it, stretching it out for as long as she could. After Aeric broke the kiss, she turned away and cleared her throat, trying to get a handle on her emotions.

  She started down the road she’d come in on, looking back once to see Aeric standing silently, dust motes making a halo around his already fading figure.

  EMMALINE made it out the other side of the gates in full glamour and with the key—wrapped in fabric to keep it away from her skin—secured safely in her bra. It was the only place she could think to put it where she wouldn’t be searched . . . if the Phaendir even searched her, which was doubtful. They trusted her and as long as no one had delved too deeply into her cover story, she’d be okay.

  If they had delved deeply, well, then all bets were off. She had her crossbow, at least. Its weight was surprisingly reassuring over her shoulder. Like an old friend who had her back.

  In the distance, she could see Brother Gideon striding toward her. Oh, hell. Of course, she should have known he’d come to greet her. The Phaendir guarding the gate would have called to tell him who was coming through. She’d so successfully put the ruse that she was working for the Phaendir out of her head during her time with Aeric that she’d forgotten that little point. Brother Maddoc would be close on Gideon’s heels.

  Luckily she’d remembered to don her Emily Millhouse suit. It had felt strange to cover her true appearance. As strange as it had felt when Aeric had first forced her to wear her true self.

  She summoned her courage and forced a smile. “Brother Gideon. It’s so good to see you again.”

  He embraced her. The sensation of oil slicking through her aura made her shudder. He backed away and pushed a hand through his thinning brown hair. “Your stay was more extended than we’d originally presumed.”

  “It was.” She gave him a shy smile. “But I gathered some good information.”

  He took her by the upper arm and began to guide her toward the Phaendir headquarters. “Come. Let’s not talk here. Brother Maddoc is waiting for us and I’m sure you can’t wait to get as far from Piefferburg as possible.”

  They began to walk. “Oh, yes. It’s even more frightening in there than I could have ever imagined.”

  “I’m sure,” he murmured. He walked for several moments, saying nothing. Finally, he said, “I’m surprised that such a fragile, pious flower as yourself could spend three weeks in the Shadow Court with all those . . . animals.”

  She almost missed a step. It was a stretch to think that Emily could. He was suspicious of her. “Oh, Gideon.” She stopped and turned toward him, taking his hands in hers. “It was awful. I can’t believe I made it through. I—I—” She threw herself against him, sobbing against his shoulder. She had to be careful he didn’t put his arms around her and feel the crossbow. She could glamour it away from the eyes, but it was still a physical object on her person.

  Gideon stiffened for a moment, in shock, and then patted her shoulder. “There, there. You did an exceptional job. We’re all so proud of you.”

  She sobbed harder for a moment, sniffled, and looked at him. “I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through a couple of times.” That wasn’t even a lie. “Being around all those monsters.” She swallowed hard and made a show of steeling herself. “But I knew how important my mission was so I stuck it out. I stayed strong.”

  “Admirable of you.”

  “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

  He looked at her for a long moment, his watery brown eyes warm and soft. They were of the same height, which meant they were looking into each other’s eyes right now. Far more intimate than she wanted to be.

  Just as Gideon had clearly decided this was “a moment” and was leaning in a little for a kiss, she collapsed weeping onto his shoulder.

  “Oh, poor Emily. It’s all right.” He patted her shoulder, his other arm snaking around her waist. She had a moment of panic. Gideon looked so very harmless . . . right up until the moment he gutted someone. “You should have a reward for your service. Jewelry, perhaps.”

  She left off on a loud sniffle and raised her head. “Jewelry?” How random a comment was that?

  “Don’t you like jewelry, Emily?”

  She blinked. Emily Millhouse wore nothing but a watch. She didn’t even have her ears pierced.

  “How about antique jewelry? Do you collect it?” His eyes were glittering dangerously.

  Her blood went cold. She kept a box of jewelry she’d collected over the years in her underwear drawer. The signature piece was a pendant that had been her mother’s. She’d been wearing it the day she’d run away after killing Aileen. Had this toad broken into her apartment and gone through her underwear drawer? Undiluted rage was quick to follow on the heels of panic that he might have uncovered her true identity.

  Gideon’s cell phone rang, interrupting the exchange. “Yes, we’re on our way,” Gideon snapped and then closed the phone.

  “Brother Maddoc?”

  “Who else? Let’s go in and have a cup of tea. You can tell everything to me and Brother Maddoc and we can discuss a reward for you later.”

  She sniffled loudly and pulled away from him. Frowning, she studied him. “Are you all right, Gideon? You look like you’ve been ill.”

  “I have. I’m better now, though. Don’t worry about me.”

  They began to walk down the wide paved road that led away from the gates of Piefferburg and to Phaendir headquarters. Normally only trucks traveled it, either delivering goods to Piefferburg or taking them out. Every truck was thoroughly inspected, of course. Other than vehicles, only the occasional stray human traveled past Phaendir headquarters and came up to the gates.

  On one side of the road was the old Church of Labrai, the first one founded on American soil, with its large graveyard where all the Phaendir were buried. Above it circled about twenty black vultures. They had a roost here, the biggest in the country. Bird-watchers came from miles around to see them. That the vultures circled a graveyard full of dead Phaendir was fitting on two counts, since the vultures and the Phaendir both liked to pick at the dead.

  Phaendir headquarters dominated the opposite side of the road. Rising seven stories—a sacred number in their religion—and constructed in a U shape, it housed almost the entire order of Phaendir. A few were stationed here and there around the world, but most of them needed to remain in close proximity to each other, in order to sustain the magicked portion of their minds that kept the warding up. Very rarely did they venture out into the world beyond. They were too afraid they’d be negatively affected by the outside. In nearby Protection City, their houses were side by side; they shopped at the same stores; they worshipped in the same churches.

  She and Gideon entered the building and passed several of the brothers. Each of them watched her curiously as she walked by. She wasn’t sure if it was because they knew where she’d been or because she was a woman. There weren’t very many women here. Only the few who worked at HQ and the occasional female Worshipful Observer, who were a little like Phaendir groupies. Most Phaendir didn’t marry.

  They passed through the echoing foyer and climbed a steep set of stairs to the top floor. At the end of a long corridor lay Brother Maddoc’s office. She knew it well, of c
ourse; she was his personal assistant. They passed through the small outer chamber where she normally worked. A trim brunette—the temp—smiled at her as she passed. The woman had a shine to her eyes that was typical of a Worshipful Observer, one that Emmaline had practiced for hours in front of a mirror to achieve before she’d come to work undercover.

  Archdirector Maddoc was waiting for them, excitement clear on his rather handsome face. That was one more reason for Gideon to hate him, of course. Maddoc was more attractive than he was. It was a fact she subtly taunted Gideon with every chance she could. The more discord she could sow, the better.

  “Maddoc,” she cried and rushed to him. Laying her head against Maddoc’s broad shoulder, she glimpsed Gideon standing in the doorway, gnashing his teeth.

  Maddoc kissed her temple, his hands on her shoulders. They hadn’t slept together, though she was aware Maddoc wanted her. All of headquarters presumed they were working “overtime” together, Gideon included.

  “I’m so glad you’re back,” Maddoc purred into her ear.

  “Me, too,” she said, pulling away. Having learned a while back to cry on command, she wiped a teardrop away.

  He went to the small tea stand set up behind his wide, heavy desk and poured her a steaming cup. She took it gratefully and sat down in one of the huge leather chairs, careful to sit forward because of her crossbow. Maddoc didn’t offer Gideon any. He was still on the outs with the Phaendir for what he’d tried to pull last year with the Book of Bindings, but the cold glance with which Maddoc favored Gideon made her wonder if something else was afoot.

  “Now,” said Maddoc, settling behind his desk with his own cup of tea, “tell us everything.”

  She would tell them a pack of nice lies, hope they didn’t suspect, and then be out of here. She’d arrange for some time off after she’d done this for them—to “recuperate.” First thing she’d do when she had a chance would be to contact the HFF safely and make arrangements to get to Israel.

  She sipped her tea, hyperaware of Gideon, who’d moved in from the doorway and now hovered directly behind her. “Well,” she started slowly, “I went in with the objective of heading straight to the Rose Tower, but, as I told you, I was kidnapped and ended up in the Black.”

  “In the Black?” Maddoc chortled. “You’re using their lingo.”

  “Yes.” She smiled shyly. “Stay there as long as I did and you would, too. Now, as I said, I was ambushed . . .”

  She told them a much modified story. According to her revised version, it was a horrible Unseelie creature who’d attacked her in the Boundary Lands. She’d escaped with her life, barely. The queen had been so aggrieved at her situation that she’d set her up in excellent quarters and had offered her a monetary recompense for what had happened to her.

  She told Maddoc and Gideon that since she’d developed this special relationship with the queen of the Unseelie Court, one she didn’t have in the Rose, she’d decided to stay there and glean what information she could.

  “And the piece?” Maddoc asked, leaning forward, his tea on his desk, now cold and long forgotten.

  “They’re unable to get to it, but you can.”

  “Where do they think it is?” asked Gideon, breathless. He’d sunk into the chair beside her. By Gideon’s reaction to her story—hanging on her every word—she was now sure he didn’t know her true identity. The jewelry comment had certainly put her on edge, but maybe it was nothing.

  “I can even give you coordinates of its likely location, though much digging may be required. Much digging. The spot is in Wales.” She paused and tried to look apologetic. “There’s a large manure farm there right now. . . .”

  “I think you’re moving too fast with this woman,” Calum said, watching David from across his suite.

  “Thanks for your concern, Calum, but I know the real thing when I feel it.”

  “Dude.” Calum paused. “I hate to point this out, I really do, but you’re divorced. I think your track record where the ‘real thing’ is concerned is pretty skewed. I hope one day I don’t have to say I told you so.”

  “Yeah, I know my marriage with Emmaline didn’t work out. I don’t need to be reminded. Anyway, it’s not like I’ve asked Kiya to marry me.”

  “Not yet. Give it a couple weeks and I bet she’ll have a ring on her finger.”

  David’s irritation flared. He grabbed his coat from where it lay on the end of his bed and started toward the door. “I love her, man.”

  Calum stopped him before he could leave. “No. You still love Emmaline and everyone knows it. Kiya is beautiful and charming, but she’s just a rebound for you. Consider what’s best and fair to her, if not to yourself.”

  David looked Calum in the eye. “Don’t worry about me or Kiya. I have no plans to jump into a rebound relationship and really have no plans to hurt Kiya. It took me a long time to get past my feelings for Emmaline, but I’m over her now. Really.”

  “You’re lying to yourself.” Calum sighed and held up his hand. Backing away he said, “Hell, you’re also an adult. You don’t need a relationship nanny.”

  “Especially not one as ugly as you.” David grinned.

  Calum laughed. “I think I’m just tense, you know—”

  “Yeah,” he answered quickly. “I know. But Emmaline will be here soon. She’s alive and she’s got the key. We can help her deal with whatever mess her head is in when she gets here.”

  David had been incredibly relieved to get the message from the HFF. Emmaline was out of Piefferburg—finally—and was in possession of the key. She’d be in Israel tomorrow. The HFF had also said she wasn’t quite herself. Obviously something had happened when she was in Piefferburg. As usual, he wanted to jump right in and make the hurt go away.

  This time, he reminded himself firmly, it would be strictly as a friend.

  “Now can I please leave? You’re blocking the door.” David added a friendly smile, but he was sure that Calum understood he wasn’t happy about his friend’s intervention.

  Calum backed away. “Of course.”

  “What are you doing tonight?”

  “Me? I was planning to get stinking drunk. There’s a minibar, you know.”

  David took a moment to smirk at him as he opened the door. “Yeah. Don’t act like you’re surprised. You’ve gotten nice and cozy with the minibar every night this week.”

  He stroked his beard and nodded. “So I have. So I have.”

  David went crosstown in his rented car to Kiya’s small two-bedroom apartment. He had a rather important question to ask her tonight and his palms were sweating that she might say no. It wasn’t the question, of course. He hadn’t lied to Calum about that, but it was a big question. Her answer would define where their relationship was going.

  She let him in and he walked through a cloud of her subtle scent. “Ready to go?” she asked as she reached for a light wrap. It was a little chilly tonight.

  “Uh. Can we sit down and talk first?”

  “Sure. What’s going on?” Her face took on a serious expression as she closed the door and went to sit on her dove gray couch. “You know we can always talk about anything.”

  He sank down next to her. “That’s just the thing. I feel like you know me better than any other woman ever has and I feel I know you.”

  She reached out and poked him in the chest. “See? I told you my question game would be fun.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him. “My time here will be over soon, Kiya—”

  Confusion clouded her face and her smile faded. “It will? But I thought you said it was open-ended.”

  “We were waiting on something, a delivery. That delivery will be here tomorrow and we can commence our work. That work probably won’t take long, so—”

  She pulled back away from him, her eyebrows knit. “But I thought you said you were going to explore the ruins of Atlit Yam and you wouldn’t know how long it would take until you got down there.”

  God, he hated lying t
o her this way, but he still didn’t feel comfortable telling her about his work with the HFF. She was sensitive to the plight of the fae; that had been one of the first things he’d found out about her. He just felt there needed to be a larger commitment on both sides of this almost relationship for him to reveal that kind of information.

  He licked his lips, wanting more than anything to come clean with her. “Things have changed. I’ll probably be leaving Israel within the week.”

  She wilted. “By the end of the week?”

  “I don’t want this to mean the end of us.” Gathering strength, he took her hand, now limp, in his. “I hoped you might consider a trip to the States. Just a couple weeks. So we can see where this might be going.” He paused, unhappy with the blank look on her face. “I wouldn’t ask you to relocate or even to have a long-distance relationship. My job might allow me to move here.”

  She pulled her hand away and stood with her back to him. “Wow, this is all so sudden.”

  “I know. I’m sorry, Kiya. Our whole relationship has been a whirlwind, but I think there’s something here, don’t you?”

  “It’s a big decision to make.” She sniffled.

  He stood. “Right now, all I’m asking for is two more weeks with you. If you would prefer, I can go back to the States, take care of my business, and then come back. I—”

  Kiya’s hair melted.

  Then her shoulders.

  Her back.

  Her legs.

  Then it all rebuilt in another form. One that was not Kiya.

  He stood arrested, watching it happen, his tongue suddenly several times too large for his mouth.

  The strange woman turned with a sly, self-satisfied smirk. Her skin was milk white and pockmarked, marring what once might have been great beauty. Her thick, dark red hair tangled around her face and curled down her shoulders, framing the coldest set of pale green eyes he’d ever seen.

  David stood staring, struck completely dumb. God, he’d been totally fooled and so had Calum. This woman was a fae, one with the same ability with glamour that Emmaline possessed.