The Spider Queen

by Emma Slate

  “You mean to tell me,” I began, “that we’re both traipsing through Ireland without a fucking idea of what’s really behind door number three?”

  “That can’t actually surprise you can it? I mean, you just spun spider silk from your mouth. I have no idea how you did that. Do you?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Did you ask Thane?”

  “No, I didn’t ask Thane,” I mocked. “I’m not talking to Thane.”

  He snorted. “Mature.”

  I shrugged. “Like he would even tell me anything anyway. Did you ask Thane about the spider silk stuff? Can you even talk to him?”

  “Yes, I can talk to him—and I wouldn’t dare ask him anything.”

  I leaned my head against the seat rest and closed my eyes. We were still a few hours from dawn. “My life is never going to be normal again…is it?”

  “No, Poppy. It won’t be.”

  “I should stop thinking I can go back to being a normal college student…”

  “You were never normal.”

  I laughed, but it didn’t sound joyful. “You’re right. I am into spiders. Look where that got me.”

  Chapter 42

  The car coming to a stop jarred me awake. It was morning. I stretched and groaned. Sleeping in a moving metal can, be it a car or a plane, wasn’t very restful. I couldn’t say I cared for it. My neck didn’t care for it, either.

  I looked over at Hunter as he parked the car and I felt a surge of gratitude. No matter how tired I was, Hunter was the one who kept us going, even though I knew he was running on empty. He stayed awake so I could sleep. He protected me—at all costs. Grooves of exhaustion bracketed his mouth, and his bright blue eyes were bloodshot.

  “Thank you,” I blurted, causing him to still.

  “For what?” he asked.

  “Being here. I know it’s your duty, your obligation to protect me, but I don’t know if I ever really said thank you. Well, thank you for protecting me, and thank you for making me feel not so…alone.”

  He didn’t say anything, but instead just nodded.

  What could he say?

  That he didn’t hate his duty? That he didn’t plan on seeing it through?

  Love and obligation were at war with one another.

  I looked out the window. The weak Irish sun had risen, the green hills sparkled with the previous night’s rain, and the quaint cottage sitting on a knoll couldn’t have been more picturesque if it tried.

  “Where are we?” I asked.

  “About ten miles outside of Doolin—the closest town to the cliffs.”

  “Okay. But where are we really?”

  “Ah, yeah. Okay. We’re at the Darcys’. They’re—uh—witches.”

  “Witches,” I repeated. “Oh, sure. Because let’s bring witches into all of this.”

  Hunter smiled. “They’re a little eccentric, but we’ll be safe here. The lands around their cottage are warded. Thane’s enemies can’t get to us here. We can take a moment to rest—”

  “I don’t want to rest. I want to go to the cliffs, free Thane, and get the hell out of Ireland.”

  “Poppy—”

  “Don’t ‘Poppy’ me, Hunter!” I snapped, my temper fraying. “I used to love the idea of coming to Ireland one day and having a good time, but you know what? It’s kind of fallen short of my expectations!”

  “You just got done thanking me for protecting you. Now you’re turning on me.” He tried to cover his mouth to hide his smile, but he didn’t succeed and it only enraged me more.

  “You’re a—a—”

  “What am I?” he prodded.

  “A butt face.”

  He let out a laugh, bending over and draping his arms across the steering wheel. Usually Hunter’s laughter was contagious but not at that moment. Finally, he quieted.

  “God, I needed that.”

  “Let’s keep driving, let’s go right to the cliffs. Come on.”

  He sighed. “We need food and supplies. The Darcys have the necessary gear.”

  “Gear? What kind of gear?”

  “Hiking boots for one. Rain slickers for another.”

  “We have to hike down this stone staircase in the rain?”

  “Potentially. I mean, it’s Ireland, so rain is a safe assumption. And before we do all that, I want a hot shower, a home cooked meal, and a moment to catch my breath. And maybe a nap.”

  I’d been thinking of no one but myself and my emotions, which were vacillating every five seconds. I thought of saying I was sorry, but I’d told Hunter to stop using the phrase. It would ring just as hollow coming from me.

  “You’re right,” I said instead. “You deserve a nap and hot food.”

  We got out of the car and headed for the cottage. I had no idea what to expect, having never met witches before, but the plump, gray-haired woman with a smile on her face wasn’t it.

  “Hunter!” she greeted, wrapping him in a hug. She chattered at him in quick succession, her strong Irish accent making it difficult to understand what she was saying.

  “Maggie,” Hunter said, pulling back, but keeping his arm around her. “This is Poppy.”

  “Oh,” she breathed, moving to embrace me.

  I wasn’t prepared for her warmth and openness. I looked at Hunter over Maggie’s shoulder. His grin widened.

  “Come in, come in,” she said. She gestured to her home, and we trailed in behind her. From the outside, the stone cottage looked quaint, but inside…

  The ceilings were high, far higher than the structure would allow, and the spacious den to the right of the entry room had a blazing fire in an old fashioned hearth. Two massive staircases on either side of the foyer led to another floor.

  “How did—”

  “Magic,” Maggie said with a wink. “Not much to look at from the outside, is it?”

  I wouldn’t have believed it, but then my science-oriented mind had been challenged as of late.

  “You redecorated since the last time I was here,” Hunter remarked. “It looks nice.”

  She waved away Hunter’s compliment and gestured for us to follow her. We took seats in the den. I chose the spot by the fire and shivered in delight as warmth encompassed me. Hunter took a seat on the L-shaped, brown leather couch while Maggie moved to the other side and sat near him.

  “Where’s Seamus?” Hunter asked.

  “Town. He’ll be back soon.”

  “Did you know we were coming?” I asked. “Did Hunter call and—”

  “He didn’t need to. I felt his presence the moment he landed in Ireland. But you,” her blue eyes roved over my face, “I didn’t feel at all. Interesting.” Her eyes slid to Hunter. “You’ll be needing some things?”

  Hunter nodded.

  “You look exhausted,” she commented.

  “We had a bit of trouble back in Dublin,” Hunter said.

  “Ah. A Callaghan came to your aid?”

  “He did.”

  “Then you needn’t worry. Besides, we’re warded here.” She glanced at me. “How are you handling all of this, Poppy?”

  I blinked. “Oh, you know—”

  A kettle whistle drew Maggie’s attention. She hopped up, like a spry young chicken, and headed to the kitchen leaving Hunter and me alone.

  “You’ve met her before?”

  He nodded. “On that trip I took with my father.”

  “Ah.”

  “Hunter!” she called out. “I need you! I can’t reach the top tea shelf!”

  Hunter threw me a smile. “Be right back.”

  I gazed around the den. It would be too easy to fall asleep on the couch, which was why I had taken a seat by the fire instead.

  Maggie returned carrying a tray of cookies and two mugs of tea, which she set down on the coffee table. She handed me a cup. “I sent Hunter off to bed. He looked done in.”

  I nodded, reaching for a cookie to nibble on. My hours were so out of whack my body didn’t know when it was hungry. “I got to sleep a little i
n the car. Hunter did all the driving.”

  “Not a complainer, that one.” She settled on the arm of the couch.

  “No, he’s not.”

  “So, Poppy, tell me something.” Her stare hardened. “Are you trying to get Hunter killed?”

  Chapter 43

  “Excuse me?” I breathed. “I’m not trying to get Hunter killed!”

  “You’re in love with him.”

  “I—”

  “And he’s in love with you. Thane is…well, he’s possessive. And he won’t take his anger out on you. He’ll take it out on Hunter.”

  Blood drained from my face. “You know Thane?”

  “No, I don’t know Thane. It’s not like we’re friends and we sit down and have tea together.” Her gaze darkened. “I feel the essence of beings. I know the makeup of them intuitively. The Darcys, like the Callaghans and the Joneses have been in Thane’s servitude for generations. The Darcys are witches. We feel power. Thane is power.

  “I met Hunter when he was sixteen. The boy had no darkness inside of him…until you.”

  Her words caused the sugary cookie in my mouth taste like dust.

  “That boy killed for you—to protect you—and now his soul has a dark spot on it. Over time, that dark spot will grow and overtake his heart. You will overtake his heart.” Her eyes blazed. “Your love for him is dangerous.”

  “I didn’t plan it,” I said, feeling defensive. “But he’s Hunter. How could I not fall in love with him? And Thane? I’m not Thane’s. Why does everyone think I am?”

  “Foolish girl,” she snapped. “You will free Thane and his retribution will be swift and merciless—but not against you. He will want to possess you—possess every part of you. And he will not tolerate you giving your heart to someone else. And most definitely not to one of his Hunters.”

  “Then I won’t free him,” I said.

  She smiled, but it was condescending. “Even you cannot be that naïve.”

  “The pull, right?”

  Maggie nodded. “Thane’s enemies will stop at nothing to ensure he is never freed. They won’t stop until they kill you—and kill everyone sworn to protect you.”

  My breath hitched. The idea of Hunter—

  No.

  “What’s stopping his enemies from killing me after I free Thane?”

  “Thane can protect you in a way no one else can.”

  “Because he’s powerful?”

  “Among other things.” She stood, signaling the end to our conversation. “I’ll show you to your room.”

  “What? That’s it? You dump all of that in my lap and then expect me to go off to bed and be okay with it? You basically just told me that Hunter is cursed either way. Free Thane and Hunter dies. But if I don’t free Thane, then Thane’s enemies kill Hunter anyway, and probably me, too.”

  “Yes.”

  “Does he know?” I whispered. “Does Hunter know?”

  “Of course Hunter knows.”

  And we’d fallen in love anyway.

  Sick to my stomach, I pressed a hand to my mouth. “I’m ready to see the room, now.” I needed privacy to fall apart.

  I followed her up one of the front staircases in the main room and walked down a long hall. We arrived at the end, and she placed her hand on a brass knob attached to a broad oak door.

  “Get some rest. You have a long afternoon ahead of you.”

  “Maggie I—” I sighed. “Thank you.”

  The woman looked like she wanted to snap out a retort, but she surprised me when she said, “You’re welcome. Clean clothes are in the armoire.”

  I wondered if Maggie always had a revolving door of guests, or if my presence was something special that she had been waiting for.

  She’d been overjoyed to see Hunter—she’d been welcoming and warm. After our initial greeting, she’d been nothing short of cold. I understood. I really did, and I didn’t begrudge her for it.

  But she’d reiterated what I already knew: Hunter was good, and he had a beautiful heart. And I was changing that. I was the one who would cause his death, no matter which choice I made.

  I knew I should try to get some rest, so I crawled into bed, pulled the covers over me, and closed my eyes.

  There was a knock on the door.

  “Come in,” I called faintly, cracking open my eyelids.

  “Hey,” Hunter said as his form filled the doorway.

  “Hey. I thought you were asleep.”

  “Tried. Couldn’t.”

  I knew what he was really saying. He wanted to hold me in bed one last time before our lives changed again.

  Drawing back the covers, I nodded. Hunter collapsed next to me and opened his arms. I snuggled into his chest, closing my eyes, but not wanting to fall asleep. I didn’t want to miss the last time he held me.

  “What would’ve happened?” I asked. “If we’d been different people and I was just Poppy the science nerd, and you were Hunter pre-med. What would our lives have looked like?”

  His hand snaked underneath my shirt to rest on the small of my back. “We would’ve dated the rest of the semester. And for the first summer in college, I wouldn’t have gone home. I would’ve stayed in Charleston, so we could be together. I would’ve asked you to move in with me our senior year. You would’ve called me crazy, smiling while you did it, letting me know you were just as crazy, that you loved the idea of living with me as much as I loved the idea of living with you. And then after college… We would’ve had a beautiful life together, Poppy.”

  I raised my head to look at him. His eyes were closing, and I let him fall asleep, let him dream of the life we’d never have.

  When I felt the deep and steady rise and fall of his chest, I eased away from him. I needed time alone. Time to come to grips with the crippling guilt I felt about falling in love with the wrong man, about damning him either way.

  I went into the bathroom, stripped out of my clothes, and turned on the faucet of the claw-foot bathtub. It was old-school white porcelain and it was cold to the touch. I made the water as hot as I could stand it and filled the basin.

  You’ll be free soon, I said to Thane.

  Yes.

  I’ll hate you for it.

  I know.

  With a sigh, I cut off communication. I sank into the hot water until my chin was submerged and closed my eyes

  Then I felt the push.

  Like a hand on my head, shoving me down until water covered my nose. My eyes blasted open, and I struggled against the invisible power holding me underwater, trying to drown me.

  Chapter 44

  Drowning sucked.

  It was painful, and there wasn’t a white light like they showed in movies—there was just a black abyss.

  Nothingness.

  It was terrifying.

  At first I fought, desperately trying to prevent what was coming, but eventually I stopped struggling. It hurt too much to keep fighting, and it hurt for so long that eventually I wanted the pain to stop.

  So I gave in.

  And then I discovered it could get worse.

  My ribs felt like they were being split open and there were hands on my heart.

  Open your eyes, Poppy, Thane commanded.

  No…

  Open. Your. Eyes.

  The pressure on my heart eased. I felt weightless, like I was floating.

  This is nice, I told him.

  Poppy, Thane growled. Wake up. You do not get to do this. You do not get to die.

  If I die who will free you? That’s all I am to you, a ticket to freedom.

  I sank deeper into the weightlessness, the nothingness.

  You’re more than my ticket to freedom.

  What am I to you, Thane? He was silent. Thought so.

  You’re more than my ticket to freedom, he repeated. You’re my chance at really living.

  You had a life before you were imprisoned, I pointed out.

  He sighed. I had a life of duty and obligation. I will have that again when I’m fr
ee, but—

  What, Thane? I demanded in exasperation.

  You cannot leave me, you’re the only person that has ever given me hope.

  I opened my eyes.

  Three heads appeared over me. Two I recognized, the third I didn’t.

  Hunter got on one knee and helped me into a sitting position. Maggie brought me a towel and draped it around my shoulders.

  I was on the cold tile floor of the bathroom, attempting to piece together what had just happened.

  “Poppy—”

  “I’m okay. I think. I need just a—”

  “You’re not okay,” Hunter growled. “You almost drowned.”

  “Not almost. I did,” I corrected.

  Hunter rose, his eyes darting between Maggie and the silver-haired man I didn’t know. “I thought you said the house was completely warded.”

  “It is,” Maggie breathed. “It was.”

  Her face was pale, and even though I was the one who had drowned, she appeared more shaken than me. Stunned with the realization that her haven was no longer safe. I knew how that felt. It was clear I was being tracked.

  Hunted.

  Maggie and the silver-haired man exchanged a look. “I didn’t feel a ripple,” he explained.

  “Ripple?” I asked. My throat was scratchy, and I wanted something to drink.

  The man looked at me with striking golden eyes. “I cast magical wards. Our house and land are under the protection of the wards. I am supposed to feel when there’s a disturbance,” he explained. “I’m Seamus. Maggie’s husband.”

  I nodded. “I assumed. You’re a witch, too?”

  “Warlock,” he corrected.

  I looked at Hunter. “I felt like someone was pushing me under the water and holding me there. How did you know—”

  “Thane,” Maggie interrupted. “I felt Thane’s presence. I ran to you and called for Hunter—”

  “And I got you out of the tub,” Hunter finished. “We set you on the floor and…” He looked at Maggie. “I don’t even know what I saw.”