The Fae sizes me up in return, his gaze taking me in from head to toe. “She’s leath cine. Ringin’ any bells now?”
“I may have seen one or two lasses that fit the description. I can’t say for sure without more information though.” I shrug and start wiping down the bar with a wet rag.
The stranger nods. “I’ll ask around if ye don’t mind?”
I wave a hand. “Be me guest.”
For the next few hours I keep a close watch on the stranger. I listen in to his conversations and the questions he’s asking. His features are nondescript. Nothing pointing directly at a particular species of Fae. I grow tired of tending bar and listening to the man come up empty handed after a few hours and I stretch my arms above my head. I’m pretty sure it’s the same leath cine female I’m am looking for. Which means I need to act faster than I had planned and get to her before this stranger does.
I summon my other bartender with a thought and whip off my black apron.
“Have a good night, lass.” I grab some human cash from my safe and walk toward the doors leading out of the pub.
“Night, Adam!” My bartender waves goodbye once I’m at the door.
Without saying a word, I wave back and head out into the night, an idea brewing in my mind.
CHAPTER
SIX
The next day, we’re all still ironing out the details of our plan. Each possible scenario, each possible wrinkle, ironed out with precision.
Eryn nods at something Kirin was saying. “So, what will happen if…”
“What’s going to happen is nothing. You are going to let what is supposed to happen, happen.”
I whip around, gun raised to face the intruder in our kitchen. I line my sights up with the middle of his forehead. The click of safeties being disengaged echo in my ears as I size up the intruder.
“Who the fuck are you?” My tone is deadly, my words like shards of ice.
The intruder is Fae. What flavor of Fae I’m not sure, but he’s powerful. Powerful enough to break through not only our shields, but the goblin’s added shields as well. The intruder bows low in a grand gesture and rises back up. Calm as a cucumber.
“Let me introduce myself. I’m P–
“Get down. Where is she? Ever!” Dare arrives with a puff of smoke, screaming my name, his gun raised as he assesses the situation. Every muscle in his body is bulged and tense. His pulse visible in his neck while he searches for me.
Dare stands with Dagan and Dax, all three of them on red alert. Each of them have weapons drawn, their faces drawn into hard lines. One at each corner of the room, they form a deadly triangle with my crew and I in the middle.
“I’m right behind you.” I lay a hand on Dare’s shoulder and step to the right, out from behind his broad back. I readjust my aim and point my gun back at the intruder. “You were saying?” I raise a brow.
He raises a brow of his own and his lips twitch. “I’m here to help. But you can just call me Puck.”
“Puck?” I look around our group of heavily armed and tense guards for their reactions to his name. “Puck who?”
Dare’s eyes are narrowed, his focus steady. Dax has lowered his weapon so it points at the floor. Dagan looks to be taking a headcount. I don’t see Arela, so they must have left her in the Goblin Kingdom when the alarm went off. Eryn is shoved behind Kirin and Axel, both at the ready. Doyle is looking back at me when I take stock of him. We’re all okay. Physically. Mentally I’m sitting pretty around a class five homicidal bitch.
“Yes, Puck. I’m here to help.” He smiles wide, all of his teeth showing.
I step toward him and ignore the growl rumbling out of Dare’s chest behind me. “Well, Puck, none of us know you. Or know how you got in here through our wards. So how about you start talking before my crew and I add a few extra holes for you to breathe through.”
Puck crosses his arms over his chest and leans back against the fridge. “In response to your questions, you don’t know me, but I know you. And I’m magical, that’s how.”
I asses him while he lounges nonchalantly against our fridge. He’s lean, but muscular. Dark brown leather pants are held up by a simple belt with a small bag hanging from it. He wears a black tunic, his arms filling out the sleeves nicely. His face is delicate, but manly. Sharp cheekbones and thin lips accentuate his pale face. His nose is crooked, probably from one too many fights, and his eyes are black. Just a flat black, not black ringed with another color. I tilt my head and watch his skin for any glimmer off the harsh lights in the kitchen. Nothing. Which rules out him being elven or goblin and a few other flavors of Fae.
I take a moment to listen to what my gut tells me. He could have popped in here and killed all of us without announcing himself. But he didn’t. My gut says to trust him. I lower my gun but keep it in my hand instead of holstering it.
I signal my crew to do the same. “Guns down, guys.” I keep an eye on Puck while I check each of them to see that they followed my command. Kirin’s frowning but he does what I say. Axel goes from tensed to slumped in his seat, but keeps his knife in his hand. Eryn holsters her gun and Doyle does the same as me. I look to the three goblins and clear my throat. “You too guys. Put ’em down.”
“I don’t think I will.” Dagan doesn’t even look at me, just keeps his focus steady on Puck.
Dax had already lowered his weapon so he just smiles at me before snagging a cookie off the counter.
Dare steps up behind me, the warmth of his body enveloping me and easing the tension in my muscles. Butterflies flutter in my stomach when his hand comes to rest on my hip and I hold back a sigh. His touch soothes a raw part of me that I didn’t know needed soothing. Not until I felt his touch.
“State your business, Puck. And then be gone.” Dare’s tone is rough and his words are clipped.
I tense at the sound of his voice. I remember why we can’t be together and I step out of his hold. My body riots against me, every nerve ending screaming for me to step back into his embrace. I grit my teeth and ignore it, focusing instead on the pain in my jaw and the problem in front of me.
Puck turns his attention from Dagan to Dare and smiles at him. “Ah, you must be Dare. I’ve heard a lot about you.” He looks between the two of us and tsks. “I’ve heard a lot about the both of you.”
I roll my eyes. “Cut the riddles, Puck, or I’ll have Axel cut you.”
Puck frowns at me and I give him my widest smile in return.
He holds his arms wide and looks at each of us. “I’m here to help you with all your problems.”
My crew and I burst into laughter. I point at Puck. “You? You’re going to help us with all of our problems?” I brace my hands on my knees as I double over. “How much time do you have? The list grows by the minute.” I suck in a breath between giggles and grip my cramping side.
Puck looks to Dare beside me. “I don’t get it. Why is that funny? I’m serious. I’m here to help.”
Dare just shrugs and keeps his attention fully on Puck and his movements.
Puck clears his throat. “I know you are being called in for a formal hearing at MECA on Wednesday, and I know who stepped forward.”
We all turn sober expressions on Puck as silence descends over the room like a nuclear bomb.
I turn and take in Puck’s presence again. I send out my senses and get a feel for his energy. He’s powerful, more powerful than all of us, but I can’t put my finger on what exactly he is. I narrow my eyes and cross my arms over my own chest, mimicking his stance.
“How do you know anything about that? That’s official business. Need to know only.”
“I know lots of things, little Ever. If you’d listen, I can help you.”
“Well let’s hear it then. Don’t keep me waiting.” I turn my back on him and head toward a stool. Instead of taking the bait and attacking me while I’m vulnerable, Puck stays where he is. I sit and motion to a stool across the counter. “Let’s talk.”
Puck uncrosses his arms an
d accepts my invitation. Dare comes to stand behind me, his hands on the back of my stool. His actions don’t go unnoticed. I roll my eyes but don’t say anything. Eryn sets about getting some tea going, and the rest of the boys take up strategic spots around the room, each of them seemingly relaxed. Their easy-going smiles aren’t fooling anyone though.
Puck smiles when Eryn places a cup of tea in front of him and thanks her. “I know that you want to strike back at MECA to prove a point, but you mustn’t. You must let whatever is going to happen happen. It is vital to your future.”
I shake my head. “You don’t get how MECA works. You’re an outsider. Our plan will work.”
Puck purses his lips. “No it won’t. It will only show them that you do have something to hide. What about Arela? You won’t be able to hide her existence from them when they use the truth spell.”
My shoulders tense at the mention of Arela. “How do you know about Arela?”
Dare shifts behind me and Dax steps forward. “I’d think carefully about your answer. Very select few know of her, and your answer could end with a blade across your throat.”
I sit back in my chair. Dax is the easiest going of each of the three brothers. For him to speak up about something means it’s serious. Puck must know more about the brothers than most because he dips his head in acknowledgment. “Matter of fact, where is Arela?” I turn and look past Dare’s corded arm to Dax.
“She’s safe with Anghus. He’ll bring her here when we call him.”
“Call him. Now.” My tone is calm, but my pulse spikes. I want Arela safe here with us. Not in the Goblin Kingdom where I just got in a fight with their King. They said they meant us no harm, but actions speak louder than words. So far, I’ve gotten more words than action from them.
“I mean her no harm.” Puck pipes up. “In fact, I am aligned with you in keeping her safe. I give you my word on that.” He holds out his hand, palm up, and slices across it with one of the knives on the counter. “On my blood, I mean Arela no harm.” He makes eye contact with me.
“What else do you know about?” I turn back around after watching Dax pull out his cell phone and tap the screen a few times. I watch out of the corner of my eye as he walks a few steps into the dining room to make the call.
Puck laughs. “It would be easier to list what I don’t know, my dear.”
I blow out a breath. “Enough. Enough with the riddles. Give me facts and talk fast or I’ll stab you just for fun. I’m sick to death of all the politics.” I pound the counter with my fist. “Give me answers and help me figure out how I can keep my crew intact, keep Arela safe, and maneuver through all this Fae bullshit, or get the fuck out.” My tone is deadly. I lean forward while I speak until I’m stretched across the counter and in Puck’s face.
Puck blinks a few times. I stare back at him, unblinking.
“As you wish, Ever.”
*
Arela arrived safely with Anghus a few minutes after Dax’s call, and for that I was grateful. I want her where I can see her. We have plans in place for this sort of thing, and we’ve prepared her as much as possible for something like this. It scares me to think that she could be used against us, but I gave her my word on keeping her safe and giving her a family. Unlike the rest of the Fae, I don’t look for ways to break my word, I look for ways to keep it.
After the mysterious Puck left and Arela finally fell asleep, my crew and I argue for hours. Past lunch, past dinner, we argue until I can’t take it anymore. I leave with my ears ringing and my head throbbing. I put my shoes on and walk out the door and into the forest.
I’ve been walking around for I don’t know how long, racking my brain for answers. Hoping that if I can just clear my head all the answers will come. My stomach is in knots. The sandwich I scarfed down for lunch threatens to come up every time the thought of losing my crew crosses my mind. I would be lost without them.
Eryn, who is kind and gentle and keeps us all in a semblance of order. Kirin, who behaves like a large and annoying older brother. Axel, who’s quiet presence gives me peace. And Doyle, who has my back even when I don’t know that I need it. My life would fall to shambles without each of them.
I’ve worked hard each and every day to be the best of the best. The one the young cadets at MECA look up to while they’re in training. The leader of the crew who strikes fear into errant Fae children. I worked for years to get where I am. To make something of myself despite my family name, despite not knowing who my father is. I’ve worked tirelessly. One decision, one choice to try and find out what is going on in the Light Elven Kingdom and my whole world is on the edge. With one word, everything I’ve done for MECA, and for the leath cine, will be called into question. With one word, my world will tumble off the edge of a cliff and I’ll fall down. I’ll fall down, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to pick myself up after a fall like that.
A crunch of twigs and dried leaves brings me out of my own head and I crouch low to the ground. Ears sharp, I slow my breathing and listen. Whoever is out here is being careful where they step, which means they’re not friendly. I slide a knife out of my boot without making a sound. The knife is matte black so the beams of moonlight filtering between the branches of the trees above me won’t catch on the metal.
A whisper soft noise to my left sounds, and I tense further. I ready to spring at the intruder. Without another sound, the figure appears in my line of vision. About five hundred feet from me, the figure leans against a tree. Their arms look thin in the moonlight, spindly, but I don’t let that fool me. I watch and I wait.
The snap of another branch behind me sounds, and the intruder turns in my direction. I stay still. I wait to see if they can see me through the shadows. They pause for only a moment more before they take off in the other direction at a dead run. I don’t give chase. Instead, I reach into my pocket and send out a text to my crew with my location.
A minute later, I can hear them as they track me through the forest. Quiet as a whisper, they get closer and closer to me as I stay in place, watching in the direction the intruder left.
I hear four sets of boots sound behind me and I stand up, making myself known to them.
“Here.” I tell them. “There was an intruder.”
“Where was the intruder?” Doyle asks.
“Over here.” I wave them to follow me and we walk the short distance to the spot the intruder stood.
“Axel and Kirin, take a look around. Make sure the area is clear.” I look to Doyle. “Arela?”
“She’s safe.” Doyle puts his hand on my shoulder and gives it a comforting pat.
“You got it, Ev.” Kirin nods and disappears in one direction. Axel says nothing, his face a mask of concentration before he turns away to do what he does best.
“Eryn, what kind of feeling are you getting?”
She walks around the area and goes right for the tree the intruder touched. She places her hand over the same spot before snatching her hand back quickly like she was burned.
“What? What is it?” I step toward her.
Doyle stops combing the immediate area and walks toward us at my questions.
“Menace and death.” Eryn whispers. She holds the hand she touched the tree with in her other hand and stares down at it.
I run my hand over her back and wait. I know she’ll tell us more when she can.
“Whoever was here meant someone else harm. They were bloodthirsty.” Eryn inhales a breath. She looks away from her hand and looks at Doyle and me. “I can’t stay here. I feel like a film of evil is coating my skin.”
I look to Doyle. “Take her back. Check on Arela and our houseguests.”
With his hand on her shoulder he leads her back toward the house. I whistle and wait for my signal to be answered. Two whistles sound off and I know Axel and Kirin are all right. I hear them approach because they let me know they’re coming. First Axel and then Kirin appear in front of me.
“Well? Did you get anything?”
Kirin
shakes his head and shrugs.
I look to Axel. “How about you?”
“Yeah, I found something. It looked like a sniper’s nest. High up in the trees but with a view of the clearing around the house.” His lips are drawn together, his face pinched. “I don’t like it, Ev.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. Eryn got a feeling that someone means one of us harm.” I shake my head. “Doyle is taking her back to the house now. Spread out and keep sharp while you head back. I’ll be behind you to see if anyone follows.”
“Ev–” Kirin starts.
I cut him a sharp look.
“Got it. Consider it done.” Kirin takes off to the left and Axel to the right.
I wait a few minutes before I follow them. I take my time as I walk back. I let my senses expand and take every little detail in. The sound of a frog croaking. A bird rustling its feathers above me in the branches. The rush of the river over the rocks in the stream. The smell of the moss on the rocks. The sharp earthy scent of the tree’s bark. I miss nothing.
I’m a few minutes from the house, the light streaming from the windows breaking through the murky darkness of the forest when I see him. Leaning up against a tree, waiting for me.
Dare Fitzpatrick.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
My heart thumps against my ribs as I walk closer to him. Against my will, my palms start to sweat and thousands of butterflies take flight in my stomach. I inhale a deep breath and hold it for a moment before I exhale in a rush.
I step close enough that I can see his face, but can’t feel his warmth, and stop. I tuck my hands into my back pockets to keep from reaching out to him. To keep from touching him and letting him comfort me in this chaotic mess that is my life.
“Dare.” I say his name and his face changes from harsh and unforgiving to something softer. Lines no longer bracket his eyes and his forehead isn’t creased in worry. He isn’t smiling, but for him it’s close to it.
“Ever. You should not have left. You could have been injured.”
Crown of Betrayal (Wicked Kingdoms Book 2) Page 5