by Rye Brewer
Anissa sniffled. I realized she was trying not to cry. “What is it now?” I asked. “What did I say?”
She shook her head, waving her hands. “I’m overly emotional right now. So much has happened. You understand.”
“Of course.” That didn’t mean I believed her excuse. There was something else under the surface.
I remembered the grief she had given me over being so cold toward Sirene’s relationship with my father. She didn’t want to say she’d told me so. Just another reason why she was so perfect for me.
We reached the entrance to Avellane and, much to my surprise, we stepped through. The surprise stemmed from the fact that I was doing it at all. I never would’ve had a reason to step foot in the fae kingdom otherwise.
That would’ve been a great loss, since the kingdom was far more beautiful than I ever could’ve imagined. Like something out of a dream.
The air was warm and dewy, just like the grass beneath our feet. Thick, lush grass like nothing I had ever seen, a shade of green I didn’t realize existed, blanketed by clusters of fragrant flowers. Even at night, with the moon hanging ripe above us, butterflies flitted around, and the buzzing of bees filled my ears. Stars spangled the sky.
“Exquisite,” I murmured in awe.
“You should see the Hermitage if you think this is impressive,” she replied, taking my hand. “Come on. Gregor’s home is this way.”
I let her lead me to one of a series of tall trees which were connected by rope bridges. Like a city built out of the forest. The twinkling lanterns which lit the way for fae men and women to cross back and forth added an air of magic to the scene, and the stars were visible here and there beyond gaps in the branches above us.
“How does anyone ever get anything done here?” I asked. “I would spend my days gazing around in wonder.”
She chuckled. “I’m sure the fae would feel the same about their first visit to Manhattan. The high rises there aren’t much different from the trees here, when you think about it. They like to live high up in the air, too.”
“But they get to see the stars. That’s one thing I’ve missed over the years, and something I enjoy when I visit headquarters—with it being so far out in the middle of virtually nowhere, the stars are visible.”
“Yes, but it meant you would likely have to see Marcus or at least, Lucian.”
“An unfortunate drawback.”
We shared a smile, then continued our journey. To my surprise, no one tried to stop us. It didn’t seem as though my presence was a problem. We coursed up a steep set of stairs which led to the top of one of the many trees—I wondered how Anissa could tell them apart, since they all looked the same to me—before reaching a door which sat ajar.
Anissa tapped on it before opening it further, revealing a room carved out of wood. Richly furnished, rather old-fashioned in comparison with the more modern furnishings in the penthouse.
Gregor hadn’t touched any of it in a long time. Decades, at least. He sat in a large, cushioned chair beside the fireplace. A fireplace? Clearly, the flames had a magical quality, or else they would burn the entire tree down.
Sitting near Gregor, Felicity rose to greet us, hands extended. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she murmured as she hugged Anissa. “Have you seen Allonic since you left Shadowsbane?”
Anissa frowned as they parted. “No. Why? Should I have been looking for him?”
“No, no, of course not.” Felicity’s face fell. “I was only hoping. He seems to have disappeared as well.”
“What?” Anissa gasped.
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Gregor hugged Anissa as well, holding her tight. “He simply hasn’t been back since he hurried off. That’s all.”
“Oh.” Anissa’s laugh was shaky but relieved. “He tends to go his own way. I wouldn’t worry about that. He’ll sometimes just show up out of nowhere, then go away again.”
“I see.” This clearly wasn’t enough to ease Felicity’s mind.
“Is everything all right between you two?” Anissa asked, raising an eyebrow.
“It’s a long story,” Felicity replied, waving a hand. “We’ll talk about it some other time. There are so many more pressing matters at hand.”
“I agree,” Gregor said before shaking my hand. “Such as your impending wedding.”
His jovial nature was so opposite the raging, blustery ruler I knew him as, I wasn’t sure what to say at first. “Thank you for allowing me here.”
“Not at all. You’re welcome here at any time.” He extended an arm in the direction of the crackling fire, and we took it as an invitation to sit.
The four of us settled in, Anissa’s hand in mine while Gregor and Felicity sat across from us.
Gregor leaned forward. “First: how is Fane?”
“How is Fane?” I looked at Anissa, who was glaring at her father. “Why? What happened to him?”
Gregor stammered, saying absolutely nothing, while Felicity blushed and looked away. Anissa spoke slowly, carefully. “He was injured during the battle.”
My heart seized. “What? You said everyone was fine! What happened?”
“He is fine,” she insisted. “But yes, he was injured. Gregor and Felicity left before the nature of the injury was clear. He’s all right now.”
Was he?
Her eyes cut over to Gregor and a silent message passed between them. His mouth snapped shut.
“I feel like there’s something you’re not telling me.”
“He really is fine, and he really is in Duskwood by now. I’m sure you’ll see him again when it comes time to find Vance.”
Gregor and Felicity stayed silent. I wondered if they knew how guilty they looked.
“Let’s talk about Tabitha,” Gregor suddenly announced.
It seemed an abrupt change of subject, but we had gone there to discuss her, after all.
“Yes. We were thinking about going back to ShadesRealm to look for more clues as to where she could be,” Felicity murmured, eyes glowing with apprehensive excitement.
I leaned closer to Anissa. “I thought you said she was dead.”
She winced. “I think that’s a safe assumption, based upon what they found in the tower.”
“But there was no body,” Gregor explained.
The pain etched on his face made me regret being so blunt. He still loved her.
Gregor rubbed his face. “While I know what that most likely means, I would like to know what happened to her. And who did it.”
“Naturally.”
“There’s no way you could make it back in there,” Anissa mused, almost to herself.
“I’m sure Garan would take issue with our return,” Gregor agreed, before exchanging a look with Felicity. “Which reminds me…”
“Oh, yes,” Felicity said, tilting her head to the side.
“What?” Anissa asked, looking from one of them to the other and back again.
“Would you happen to know anything about who killed Garan’s father? Ressenden?” Gregor’s gaze was sharp, penetrating.
Anissa gulped. “He died?”
“Yes, and strangely enough, it was a white-haired vampire who did it. With a blade. He didn’t die right away, mind you. He did survive long enough to describe who delivered the blow.”
She shrank back in her chair as I turned to her with my mouth hanging open.
“It was you?”
“Do you know of any other white-haired vampire who’s good with a blade?” she asked, holding her head in her hands. “I forgot to tell you about that. I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” I gaped.
“It was self-defense. He was going to hurt me—or Allonic,” she added. “Both of us, even. He was evil and rotten. Trust me on that.”
“Everything I’ve ever heard of Ressenden affirms that part of your story,” Gregor agreed.
I frowned. “Even so…” It wasn’t that she killed him. I knew she’d killed before. We’d met because she was supposed to kill me. I c
ouldn’t forget that. “I wish you had told me. This is the sort of thing I would tell you right away. Killing someone.”
Her nostrils flared as color flooded her cheeks. “I didn’t have the chance. There haven’t exactly been many instances in which we’d had time to sit together and talk about our day.”
It wasn’t the time or the place to argue the topic, not in front of the others, but it was something we would have to work out. There were still too many secrets. How many others had she killed without telling me?
And what happened to Fane?
36
Anissa
Jonah seemed ready to let the subject drop—just for the time being, of course, since I knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t let it go forever.
I didn’t like fighting in front of my father or Felicity, either. They were clearly uncomfortable with the situation, and neither of them needed to be a part of our argument.
I also didn’t enjoy the idea of sharing my past with my father. It was bad enough that he knew about Ressenden. At least he understood why I had to do it. What would he think if he knew how many others I had killed?
He looked so sad, and older than he ever had. I went to him, kneeling by his chair. “Are you going to be all right? I’m worried about you.”
He pressed his lips together into a tight line. “I’ll be fine. Much better once we discover what happened to your mother, of course.”
“Of course.” His hand rested on the arm of the chair, and I covered it with mine. “I’m not certain how we can get back to ShadesRealm to find information, but Allonic could do it. The moment I see him, I’ll send him back there—if he doesn’t already know anything.”
“I suppose that will have to be enough for now.” A ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “There are other things to think about now. Happier things.” He looked at Jonah, and his smile widened.
The fact that he was even thinking about my wedding, and that the thought made him smile, warmed my heart more than I could have imagined. I was fortunate to have a father who cared so much about my happiness, just as Jonah’s father cared about his.
Jonah cleared his throat. “While we’re on the topic, I had an idea I wanted to broach with you, sir.”
“Please. Call me Gregor.”
“All right. Gregor. I thought it would be nice for Anissa if we held the wedding here.”
Gregor’s face lit up. So did Felicity’s. I could’ve kissed Jonah at that moment. He had turned everything around with just a few words. It was nothing we had discussed before, and I knew he hadn’t even considered it until that very moment. But it gave them something positive to focus their energy on, which made it even more meaningful.
“And I would like it if you gave me away during the ceremony,” I added, patting my father’s hand.
He tried hard to hide his glee, but it didn’t work well. “Oh, the two of you have made me so happy. Of course, I would be honored, and your wedding will be the most lavish Avellane has ever seen.”
“I can only imagine how beautiful it would be.”
“You’re correct—you can only imagine it. I promise you, what we have in store will surpass all of your expectations. We’ll drape the trees with flowered garlands—”
“I’ll have the women get started on it tomorrow,” Felicity promised. “And I can place a simple enchantment on the flowers to ensure they stay fresh for as long as necessary.”
Gregor nodded, more eager than before. “Yes, yes, do that. There’s a small lake not far from our city, with a tree-lined path which leads to it. The branches crisscross overhead and form a natural tunnel.”
“Oh, and the flower petals will drift down as you walk through, pink and white,” Felicity breathed, hands clasped over her heart. “It will be so beautiful.”
“The priest who presides over the ceremony will bind your hands together with a flowered vine, symbolizing the growth of your love and the flowering fruits of it,” he added, eyes glowing.
“One step at a time,” I laughed.
“Anissa, would you mind if your dress was made here?” Felicity gushed. “Our seamstresses will create something exquisite, just for you.”
“I would love it. I have to admit, I wouldn’t know the first thing about finding one on my own.” And it wasn’t as though my mother could help me. I bit back the stunning, piercing sorrow at the thought of her. I could mourn her privately, without dragging Gregor into it.
“It all sounds wonderful,” Jonah smiled. “Would I be allowed to bring my family through for the ceremony?”
“Of course—they will play a part in it as well,” Gregor explained.
“How so?”
“Each of a bride’s or groom’s loved ones offers something meaningful to the couple during the ceremony. Typically wine or bread or a lit candle, something to symbolize what they wish for the marriage. Prosperity, abundance, and the like.”
“I’m sure they’ll all be happy to participate.”
What Jonah wouldn’t say but I knew he was thinking, it depended on how many of them were available. Gage was still off somewhere, Scott was sulking. And he didn’t even know the truth about Fane yet.
“I can hardly wait.” I hugged Gregor, then Felicity. “Thank you for everything. But do not put yourselves out—I mean it. If I find out you’ve been losing sleep over this or stressing yourselves out, I’ll be very disappointed.”
“Fine, fine,” Gregor replied, waving me off. Not listening at all. He would do things exactly the way he wanted them done. Incorrigible as always.
“We’d better go.” I looked over at Jonah, who nodded in agreement.
“Yes, there are many concerns for me to follow up on.”
“The life of a leader,” Gregor observed, and the two of them shared a knowing look.
“I’ll contact you when it’s time for your dress fitting,” Felicity whispered. I was glad to give her something to be happy about.
I took a guess and went along with it. “And I’ll contact you when I see Allonic.”
“Thank you.” She squeezed my hands.
He meant a lot to her—I had never considered that either of them would have a romance, much less with each other. It would be nice to see the two of them happy together. I would just have to locate my brother first. And find out what happened to my mother. Felicity and Gregor weren’t fooling me. Their exuberance about the wedding was to cover their worry about my mother. I didn’t expect them to be resigned to her being gone, I certainly wasn’t. But I couldn’t just go on as if nothing had happened, at least not on the inside.
As we were walking back to the entrance together, I wrapped my arms around Jonah’s arm and leaned against him. “All right. Admit it. You weren’t thinking about having our wedding here at all.”
“Not until that very moment.” He stopped, taking my face in his hands. “It doesn’t matter to me where we’re married, or how.”
“Just when I thought I couldn’t love you more.”
“Funny how that works.”
37
Cari
“Is everything all right?” I glanced at Micah, walking a few steps in front of us.
He’d been strangely quiet ever since we left the Catacombs. Not a normal quiet. An ominous, dark silence that made me wish he wasn’t with us at all. This was new. I normally loved his company.
“Sure. Everything’s fine.” Only Gage didn’t look as though he meant it. And he certainly didn’t sound like it.
I snorted, trying to cheer him up. “Did you two have a lover’s quarrel or something?”
“That’s not funny,” he warned, brows knitting together as he scowled.
“I’m sorry. I was only trying to lighten the mood.”
We were coming up on the windmill advertising the Moulin Rouge, what was becoming our regular hunting ground. The fact that there were so many tourists coming and going, rarely the same people twice, made it ideal. That plus the fact that visitors rarely made eye contact
with fellow visitors. Nobody wanted to advertise their dirty doings to the rest of the world. What if they ran into somebody they knew from work? Or church?
“It’s all right. I’m too tense.” He flashed what I guessed was supposed to be a carefree smile. It was anything but.
Something must have happened, something big. He wasn’t the Gage he’d been when we were at the museum, and definitely not while we were walking home.
“I wish you would be honest with me. The two of you were so close, and now there’s all this tension.” I took his hand to hold him back for a minute, the tourists who’d been walking behind us parting to make way. They didn’t exist to me at that moment. “It’s not because of me, is it?”
“Why? You haven’t done anything wrong, certainly.” But his eyes flitted away from my face, landing somewhere over my shoulder.
“No, I don’t think I have. I’m sure I haven’t.”
His jaw was firm as he nodded. “Then, you have nothing to worry about.”
“Spare me the macho stoicism. I know when there’s a problem.” I looked in Micah’s direction.
He stood on the corner, hands in the pockets of his jeans. When he leaned against a light post, he reminded me of something from a magazine ad. Mr. Cool, Mr. Untouchable. The guy every passing person stopped to take a look at.
“I’m not trying to patronize you. I’m truly not.” He looked over to where Micah waited for us. “I love you. You know that, right?”
“Of course.” I ran my hand over his cheek. “I love you, too.”
“That’s all I need to know.” He took my hand and led me down the street.
There was most definitely something going on if he needed a reminder of my love for him I’d have a conversation with Micah once the hunt was finished. If our friendship or whatever was between us got in the way of Gage and me, I knew what my decision needed to be. No contest. I would rather live as a nomad, exploring Europe like a couple of backpacking kids and sleeping in hostels, than lose my love. I needed him more than blood.