I look left then right to ensure no one’s coming and then press my ear to the cool stone wall to listen.
“The Druid must be found.” Says King Teag, his tone harsh.
“We are making progress, Teag, but without our best trackers, it is slow.” His advisor and a man I loathe, Tore MacDouglas, speaks in a calmer tone.
“Then get them on it! Sources say that she is no longer welcome at MECA. This should solve all of our problems.” The sounds of shuffling feet proceed the sound of wood scraping across the floor.
“They are keeping watch over her, and Darrow will not leave her side. He’s told us both as much.”
Teag scoffs. “Stubborn boy. He’s had a taste of her and now he can’t see straight.”
Tore clears his throat.
“Sorry, old friend. I know she is your daughter.” Teag chuckles. “At least you know that she will have a good mate.”
The sound of papers being shuffled floats through the air. “She says they aren’t mates. She denies it, and Dare won’t speak on it. How do I know if he isn’t using her as a distraction?” The question holds no hint of malice or anger, just curiosity.
I roll my eyes. Men. They will always think with what’s between their legs instead of asking the right questions and paying attention to what is right in front of them.
“I’ve no idea what is going on between them, only that Dare grows more and more harsh in training and that he is scaring the new men.” Teag laughs. “What can we do to bring her into the fold? What will make her trust us?”
Wood creaks and a fire crackles while I hold my breath, waiting for the answer.
“I do not know, my King. She was kept from me, and I do not know her well. She does not have trust in me. She only trusts in her crew and what she knows to be fact.”
“Speak with the boys. See if they have any insights. This is of the utmost importance. She must be aligned with us. War’s brewing and I’m afraid we wouldn’t fair well without her on our side. She’s more powerful than she knows.”
I scowl and clench my skirts. I pull my head back, having heard enough of this rubbish. I will not stand for this little mixed blood bitch ruining all of my plans. I won’t allow it. I stride through the halls and head toward the brood of annoying children that I’m obligated to share my precious time with, and a plan starts to form.
Since seeing the brood of children arrive at the front steps of my castle, I smile a real smile. I’ll get rid of that bitch and all my problems will be solved. Satisfaction curves my lips upwards. And I have just the right person to do my dirty work for me.
*
–Puck–
I hang back while I watch the Goblin Queen listen in on King Teag’s conversation. I stay invisible and undetectable to her as I observe. I run a finger over my lips and watch as her cheeks become redder and redder with every word she hears.
She’s a powerful woman, and a tough one. But she is also an elitist snob and I hate those. I listen in to the King’s plans for Ever. I smile when I hear that they are looking for some of my old friends, the Druids. I’d helped to get the Druids into hiding many, many years ago when their knowledge of the Fae had aggravated one of the previous Unseelie Queens.
Teag would never find them unless they wanted to be found. I cock my head to the side and smile. Meddling would have to be done, and I love nothing more than helping where I can. With a final pitying glance at a Queen desperate to keep her station, I sift into the air in a puff of smoke.
*
–Cashel–
After the final goblin had gone, I slowly approach their house in the middle of the clearing. My last viewing spot had been discovered, so I’d been forced to abandon it. Silly trees, giving up my tricks. I smile and twist my hands. My new spot has a better view of Ever’s room, so I don’t mind it too much.
Slowly I let my senses out and feel for magical traps and tricks. Nothing, so I move a few feet closer to the house. Still hidden by the trees, I take a moment to look around. They have chairs outside like peasants and there’s a fire pit with more chairs around it. I shake my head. Training Ever to court standards will be no easy task but I’m up for the challenge. And I can be very convincing. A giggle escapes my lips and I clasp my hands over my mouth. I look around to ensure only the trees heard me.
Slow and steady as to not miss anything and bring those three goblin scums here, I make my way to the planks of boards they have around the house. Up the steps, and across the beams, I stop for a moment. A hint of rain and warm cookies floats past and I inhale deeply. I can smell her. I lift my nose to the sky and inhale the sweet smell again. Her presence here is stronger than I’ve ever experienced. Without thought, I unlock the door and step inside.
The moment my foot clears the threshold I freeze, realizing my mistake. I wait. For a few seconds, and then a few more. For five minutes I don’t move. I only allow my gaze to bounce around the room, taking in all the details. When I can wait no longer, I take a step and then another and spin around in excitement. Here, I can feel my Ever. I can feel her presence and can taste her scent on the air. With child-like glee I walk through the small dwelling and inspect everything. I pick up a small pastry with a paper wrapped around the bottom. The shape like a mushroom, but the golden-brown color is unlike anything I’ve seen before. I poke at it with a finger and it falls to pieces in my dirty hand. The texture is not unlike a cake, but with pieces of a blue fruit in it. I frown and wipe the remaining substance off with a strangely sized bath sheet.
I run my hand across the cool stone on top of square boxes and continue my exploration. Slowly I walk through each room in the house. At the end of the hall on the first floor I find a man’s things. My upper lip curls. One of the goblin’s, judging by the style and size of the clothing. I pick through it and commit the feeling to memory should I need to get away from them.
Carefully so I won’t alert them to my presence here, I back out of the room. I wander up the stairs where there is a mass of essences and imprints of energy. I look into each room and grow impatient with my search.
Where is my love’s room?
The last room on the right brings me victory. Cluttered and with clothes strewn everywhere, this is where my Ever sleeps. My hands itch to touch her things. I step into the room and touch a hand to her pillow. I can still feel her energy from the previous night. She was upset about something. I grit my teeth. When I’m King of the Light Elven Kingdom I’ll kill anything that displeases or upsets her.
I go through the room and leave nothing untouched, nothing not inspected. With each item, my chest fills with more and more warmth. I finger a necklace hanging from her looking glass and vow to gift her with more. I’ll have to gift her with many maids as well so she won’t have to worry about cleaning. I know she’s busy, and she must be between house servants, or she would never have left this mess for me to find. Not when she has to know I’m near. I could tell from the look of longing on her face last night in the forest. She misses me.
Slowly I walk back toward the bed so I can leave my gift for her. Made of elder branches and twigs and adorned with the finest of jewels woven together with heather, I leave it in the center of her pillow.
“Farewell, my love. Soon we will be together again.”
I turn and retrace my steps through the house. I only come to a stop when I brush past a jacket hanging on one of the walls. I don’t stop to ponder why they have put clothing on the walls like tapestries but instead I grab at one in particular. It is leather and smells of Ever. I hold the supple material to my face, but my nostrils flare with the hint of earth mingling with Ever’s pure scent. The same scent of the goblin in the room down the hall.
I see red. My blood pumps through my veins and I roar. Without a second thought I rip the jacket to shreds and remove the rest of the garments from the wall. I spin around and return to Ever’s room. I must punish her. I move to her chest of drawers and swipe everything off the top with my arm. Glass bottles crash and break a
nd I huff in an angry breath. Not enough. I pull out each drawer and upend them. It brings me no joy. Rage still fills my heart. I pull at the clothing and shred them to ribbons. I remove wall hangings and light fixtures and throw them at the walls, leaving holes upon impact. I breathe heavy but don’t stop. I remove my blade and puncture her bed and then her pillows. Feathers fly everywhere. Some sticking to me, others still floating around the room.
With a final thought, I prick my finger with the blade and ensure she will know who did this.
She will know that she angered me.
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
I breathe deep when we turn the corner and drive down our driveway. Home. My hands stop shaking for the first time in hours, and I let go of my punishing grip on the door handle. The house comes into view and all the tension that had just drained out of my body comes rushing back.
Something is wrong. I can feel it in my bones.
“Something’s not right.” I scan the area and look for anything out of place.
Kirin pops his head between the two front seats. “MECA?”
I rub at my temples. “No. They wouldn’t be this quick to come at us when tempers are high.”
Doyle puts the SUV in park and looks around, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.
I reach for the door handle and pause. “Stay sharp.” I open the door and jump out, my hand on the butt of my gun in my thigh holster.
Three other doors thump close behind me but I stay focused on the house. I take in every detail. The chairs we have on the deck. The grill and the line to the gas doesn’t look like it’s been tampered with. The doors are all closed, not hanging askew.
I turn in a circle, scanning the tree line. Something is up, I just can’t put my finger on it. The back of my neck tingles like someone is watching.
“Axel, check the storage shed. Eryn, go with him.” I keep my voice soft so an intruder won’t hear what we’re doing. “Kirin and Doyle, with me. Let’s check out the house.”
As one we move up the steps. Kirin keeps his back to mine so he can watch our backs. Doyle scouts ahead of us and checks the door for any wires.
Doyle signals it’s clear and Kirin and I move forward. We get in position around the door. I hold up a hand and count down from three on my fingers.
Three. We all check our weapons.
Two. We give a final glance to our immediate surroundings.
One. Doyle and Kirin shoulder the door open forcefully.
We pile through the door, shards of wood littering the floor. Guns raised, eyes keen, we look around. Nothing in the kitchen. As one we advance into the living room. Shreds of fabric are piled up on the floor near the side door.
I point and Doyle and Kirin acknowledge it. “Keep moving.” I whisper.
Room by room we check every nook and cranny. Under the beds, in the drawers, behind the doors, and in the closets. Nothing downstairs. We file down the hallway and head for the second floor. The crunch of boots over wood makes me freeze. I crouch down, and aim. Sights trained on the entrance into the living room, I wait.
Axel peers around the entry way, his head at my level. I lower my weapon and wave him and Eryn forward. They approach on quiet feet.
“Anything?” I mouth the word.
Axel holds up his hand, his fingers forming a zero.
I press my lips tight and point up the stairs and they both nod. Like the tumblers of a lock clicking into place we all move together. We approach the top of the stairs and I flatten myself, keeping my head just under the lip of the top step. Slowly, I peek over.
I see nothing.
I wave Doyle and Kirin forward and cover them as they advance. They clear the first bedroom to the left in silence. I signal for Axel and Eryn to hold while Doyle and Kirin check the second bedroom across the hall. Nothing. I flex my trigger finger in agitation.
I stand and mount the steps, Axel and Eryn close behind me. I motion Axel and Eryn to the left, Doyle and Kirin to the right and at the same time they check the final two bedrooms while I watch their backs, my gun trained on the steps. My hand steady, my mind clear. I breathe in and out and listen for the slightest of sounds.
“Clear.” Axel says at the same time Kirin says, “Ev, you might want to come in here.”
I holster my gun and let out a relieved breath. I walk the few paces to my room where Kirin and Doyle are. I stop in my tracks at the door. My room is destroyed. My clothes lie in tatters and feathers float in the air. My mouth drops open in horror and bile stings the back of my throat.
“Who would do this?” I look around and try to take it all in. “Why?”
I look to my dresser and see that all of my clothes in there are also shredded to pieces. I look to my bed. It’s ripped apart and full of holes from a knife. Springs pop through the holes and the stuffing is spilling out. I lean my back against the door frame and let my shaking legs give out. I slide down and stare in shock. Who would do this? I have enemies within MECA but that’s mostly jealous guards who want our top spot. They have a chance at it now, so why do something like this?
What have I done to deserve this?
Kirin and Doyle start taking pictures on their phones while I watch, paralyzed. I feel violated and unclean. I rub my sweaty palms on my pants trying to get the phantom dirt off of them.
“Ev. You need to see this.” Axel’s voice is calm and he holds his hands out while he approaches me.
I stare past him blankly and blink. One thing after another today. Every time I think I have it all together another blow hits me right in the chest and knocks me on my ass. “What?” I ask him and turn my head to look at him.
He crouches in front of me and keeps eye contact. “You need to see a few things. Can you do that? Do you need a minute?”
I focus on Axel and let the rest of the room fade out. Can I do this? Can I see what else has been done to violate my privacy? The answer is yes. I can. I’m stronger than this. I’m stronger than feeling sorry for myself. Stronger than slumping to the ground when another wrench is thrown at me. I don’t answer him. Instead I get up and throw my shoulders back. I ignore my rolling stomach still clenched tight in disbelief and nod.
“I’m good. Show me.”
Axel takes me at my word and walks toward the head of my bed. All I see are feathers and fluff everywhere. I watch as he pulls back a piece of fabric to reveal a pillow left unscathed. Atop it sits an object I can’t quite make out from where I stand. I move closer and curse.
It’s a crown of elder branches and heather. The crown typically worn at a pre-coronation festival. I reach for it but Kirin blocks me.
“There’s something wet on it. I don’t know what it is.” He purses his lips. “Don’t touch it just yet, okay?”
I look around and find a hanger snapped in two. I grab it and hold it up. “This work?”
Kirin shrugs. “Better than touching it directly. Go for it, but be careful please.”
I step closer to the crown and squat down. The liquid is dark in color and looks thick. I frown.
“The liquid is dark and thick. What could it be? Give me possibilities.”
“Honey, yogurt, pudding…” Kirin trails off when we all just look at him. He holds up his hands defensively in front of his chest. “What? I’m hungry. Sorry.”
My lips twitch and I huff out an amused breath. “Anything else? Non-food related?”
Kirin throws his hands up. “I got nothing that isn’t food like. Maybe a plant based paste? A cream of some kind?”
I poke at the crown with the hanger and bring the end dipped in the liquid in front of my face. “It’s red. Tomato puree?”
Kirin leans in for a closer look. “Fuck if I know.”
I bring the hanger under my nose and sniff. Iron and must. I turn wide eyes to my crew. “Blood.” I look back at the crown with my upper lip curled. “It’s fucking blood.”
Eryn chokes and we all look to her.
“What? What is it?” I ask.
“A crown of elder branches and heather, covered in blood.” She looks at us like we’re supposed to know something, her hands outstretched.
I raise a brow and look at each of the guys. Doyle scratches his head and Kirin looks pained. Axel is tapping a finger against his lips.
“Nothing?” Eryn asks. “Did none of you pay attention while we learned this stuff in class?”
We all look at each other and laugh before answering at the same time.
“No.”
“Hell no.”
“Uh-uh.”
“Nope.”
Eryn’s hopeful smile slips and her expression becomes pinched. “Before the Light Elven Declaration, it was customary to marry one goblin and one elf from each kingdom to keep the peace.” Eryn pauses for a second to see if it rings any bells. “Ugh. Okay fine. During this festival where the two kingdoms would come together on the border between their lands, each of the intended would create a crown of heather and elder branches and gift it to each other–”
Kirin raises his hand like a child in school and cuts Eryn off. “Oh, so it’s like a gift? Kind of like leaving flowers? What’s with the blood then? That’s creepy.”
Lines appear on Eryn’s forehead and she snaps at Kirin. “If you would shut up, I’ll tell you.” Eryn stomps her foot and places her hands on her hips with a huff. Kirin’s mouth audibly snaps shut and Eryn continues. “On the night of their betrothal they would each slice their palms and make a vow. They would smear their blood across the crowns and then exchange them so they would be reminded of their vow to bring peace to the kingdoms even if it required sacrifice. By spilling their blood, they made an oath to spare others the same fate in battle.”
Like a light bulb went off, the four us all say the same thing. “Ooh.”
“Do you get it now?” Eryn asks.
“No.” Kirin rubs the back of his head after Axel smacks him and winces. “What? I’m being honest.”
Crown of Betrayal (Wicked Kingdoms Book 2) Page 8