Innocent Darkness

by Suzanne Lazear

  She’d been in the grove, planting, and came in for something to drink when she’d noticed someone in the kitchen with Kevighn. Even though she’d only caught the end of the conversation, she’d heard enough.

  Her hands went to her hips. The hand that struck him stung. “Explain fast.”

  “Remember when I told you someone could help, but might be unwilling. That was her.” Kevighn looked displeased. He should be ashamed.

  “The one you promised to take me to but haven’t yet? Like you promised to help me find the way home but haven’t done that either?” She didn’t hide her hurt as it flowed into her voice with the force of a waterfall.

  “Noli,” his expression softened. “I told you, things are complicated. What did you hear? You probably just took it out of context.”

  “More lies.” Guilt overcame Noli when his face crumpled. She huffed, trying to quell her anger. “Fine, go ahead and explain.”

  “I appreciate that. Have a seat,” he gestured to the table. “Perhaps I should have told you the truth from the beginning … ”

  “You should have,” she snapped as she sat down in the wooden chair that she thought of as hers and arraigned her skirt, smoothing a bit of dust off the russet fabric of her skirt.

  “If I had, would you have come with me?” He went to the cabinets and rummaged through them.

  “No.” She never should have gone with him to begin with. No, she should have marched up to the faery tree and demanded it take her back to Findlay.

  Wait. That sounded so silly. She stifled a laugh.

  “What are you giggling about?” He took down two glasses and a bottle.

  “If I’d walked right up to the faery tree that brought me here and demanded to be brought home, would it have listened?” She continued to laugh at the notion.

  “You aren’t a tree-speaker, so it probably wouldn’t have listened unless you know how to use a wild gate.” He smiled, carrying the earthenware goblets and glass bottle over to the table. “I like it when you laugh. You’re so beautiful when you laugh or smile.”

  She stopped laughing and narrowed her eyes. “I will have none of your honeyed nonsense, Kevighn Silver—is that even your real name?”

  Shrugging, he opened the bottle and filled both goblets with a dark liquid that seemed to shimmer in the light. “One of them. Usually they call me Kevighn SilverTongue.”

  “For your lies?”

  “Or my kisses, depending on whom you ask.” He said this lightly, easily.

  She stared at him in partial disbelief. “You really are a rake, aren’t you?”

  For a moment he looked sad—but only in his eyes. “Only when I need to be. My job is complex and I often must do a variety of things you’d deem distasteful. Things are different here.” He pushed a goblet towards her. “Here, try this. My friend made it. It’s nice—strong, but nice.”

  Taking the brass goblet in her hands, she eyed the burgundy fluid. “This isn’t tea.”

  “Not at all.” He took a sip. “It’s made of those berries you like so much, and honey.”

  Fermented until they became alcoholic, most likely. She took another sip and it exploded over her tongue in an overpowering sensation bringing forth memories of summer days, berry picking, and lounging in meadows blooming with flowers. “It’s like summer in a bottle.”

  “That it is.”

  She took another sip, drinking in the heady experience. The act of drinking it was even better than the drink itself.

  He chuckled. “Careful, it’s strong.”

  “Who is she and what does she want?” Realizing how jealous she sounded, her cheeks blazed. Hopefully he’d miss that. When she peered at him through veiled lashes, she realized he hadn’t.

  He arched a dark eyebrow. “Jealousy becomes you, sweet Magnolia. But you need not worry about her. She’s not the kind of woman I prefer to relate to.”

  “You prefer painted ladies.” Magnolia took another sip. It didn’t taste strong to her, but she was hardly the expert on spirits.

  “Not always. I told you that you weren’t supposed to be here. I should have brought you directly to her, but I didn’t wish to—for a number of reasons.” He toyed with his goblet.

  “Why?” She took another swallow. It was so good. Better than anything she’d ever had.

  “To protect you, as I’ve said before. She has uses for those such as yourself and is extremely powerful. If you set foot in her palace, you’ll only be permitted to leave if she wishes, and as you probably heard, she doesn’t wish it.”

  Noli’s forehead wrinkled as she tried to understand. “But why?”

  “Here we understand people like you, we treasure them. I knew from the moment I met you that she’d be enchanted and delighted by you; that she’d want to keep you.”

  Her heart froze at his words, voice dropping to a bare whisper, “She will?”

  “Yes. That’s why I’ve been discreet in my questioning, so I wouldn’t draw attention.” He looked right at her with such intensity it felt he looked clear through her.

  “Oh. How did she get here?” Travel here seemed so strange.

  “Like we did, through a gate, but not the one I brought you through.” He didn’t look pleased at the idea of that woman’s visit. Good.

  “What did she mean, two days?” She took another gulp.

  He eyed her glass. “You might want to go easy.”

  Defiantly, she took another swallow. “I’m fine.”

  He took a sip of his own drink. “I have two days to convince you to stay here with us. After that she’ll take you from me and bring you to the palace.”

  “She won’t let me go?” Fear grew in her and she took another drink to fortify herself.

  “—Unless,” he looked away. “Unless we can convince her to send you back. Your argument would have to be clever. I’d planned on doing that, if needed—bringing you to her in hopes you could enchant her so much she’d allow you to go home.”

  “I don’t think I’m that clever. Who is she, again?” Hopelessness pressed down on her. Looking into her glass, she found it empty. Without asking, she filled it.

  “She is my queen—high queen over all the kingdoms. We all must do as she commands.” He sighed unhappily, taking another swig.

  “Oh.”

  “Usually when mortals find themselves here, they want to stay, having fled terrible situations in their own realm. Not all are lucky enough to have those who love them.” For a moment he looked far away.

  Noli pondered all this, thoughts heavy. It was like trying to wade through molasses. “I don’t want to stay. I want to go home. Are you close to finding a way home for me?”

  He put a hand on her shoulder. “It no longer matters now that she’s ordered me to bring you to her. I cannot defy an order from her even if I wished.”

  “Do you want to?” Swirling the liquid in the goblet, she drank more.

  “To bring you to her? No.” He looked into his cup, shoulders rounded in defeat.

  “Do I want you to go home … no. But if she permits you, I won’t stop you.”

  “You don’t want me to go home? Why?” Noli’s stomach fluttered with several different emotions and she finished the rest of the drink to hide her face.

  “Why do you think?” His voice grew ragged.

  Startled, she nearly dropped her empty cup. Kevighn took it from her, placing it on the table in front of him.

  “It’s true,” he added.

  “Lies,” she spat. It must be.

  “Look into my eyes. I’m not leading you false.” Taking her hand, he pulled her up out of her chair and towards him.

  She looked into his eyes, biting her lip. “Why?”

  “I don’t know.” For a moment his eyes flashed, voice unsteady. “I’ve seen many, many girls in my day, Noli. I’m far older than you could understand, though I’m relatively young for my people. No one, not one of my people nor one of yours, rich or poor, beautiful or plain, debutante or strumpet, has eve
r drawn me the way you do.”

  A sharp breath escaped her lips as her hear pounded with a million drums.

  “Stop lying, please.” Her voice broke as she looked away.

  “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the queen so you can plead with her to send you home.” He took her hand. Her insides went wobbly at his touch and everything seemed as if she viewed it through a dense fog.

  “Tomorrow? Don’t you have two days?” she asked. Wait. That was one day sooner that she could get home. If she could.

  Why wouldn’t the queen send her home? Surely, there was no good reason to keep her here. If she were an opera singer, a harpist, or a ballet dancer, perhaps, but Kevighn himself said her talents lay in gardening and fixing things. What use would that be to the high queen?

  They made their way down the hall and Kevighn pulled her into his room. When Noli opened her mouth to speak, his mouth met hers.

  He kissed her hard, lips crushing hers, tongue darting into her mouth like a snake. His arms tangled around her like vines, pressing her body against the length of his.

  Noli had never been kissed before—outside of her dreams about V. Kevighn’s were most unlike those kisses. No, these fiery kisses consumed, tasting of spice and passion. The arms around her weren’t feather light and comforting, but possessive and stalwart.

  Fear raged within her. So did a sudden—and strong— yearning. Putting a hand in the center of his chest, she pushed him away hard enough to break off the kiss. Even thought the thought of curling her hands in his long, dark hair tempted, she needed to pull herself together and take control of the situation before it got out of hand.

  “What are you doing, Kevighn? I’m not one of your fancy women.” It came out ragged.

  “No, you’re not, and I’m glad.” His hands stroked her hair as she gasped for breath. “This is your last night here and tomorrow … ”

  “Tomorrow I’ll be home.” The fear faded, replaced by excitement and anticipation.

  “We hope.”

  She nodded blithely. “Of course.”

  “But tonight … ” He kissed her again, moving her backwards towards his bed.

  Kisses could easily lead to other things, especially when in someone’s bedchambers. She should break this off right this second. Her head seemed so fuzzy, so heavy. It seemed so much easier to simply go along, rather than muster up the strength to stand up to him—or think.

  Also, part of her liked this. His fiery kisses seared her, making her toes curl. A fire blazed deep in her belly—one of those unquenchable infernos that came to her at night.

  His hands roamed her body, touching her as they kissed, sending shivers of pleasure through her, causing little gasps to escape her lips. She allowed her hands to tangle themselves in his unbound black hair.

  “That’s my little blossom.” His whisper caressed her ear as his hands roamed her still-clothed body. “I can give you a memorable night—one that if it doesn’t convince you to stay, will at least keep you company in your dreams for all your days. Though I could visit you if you wish.”

  One hand cupped her bottom; she could feel the warmth of his fingers through the fabric of her skirt, blouse, and petticoats. The other hand moved from her lips to behind her head. His heat scorched her very soul as he pressed against her. She could nearly imagine them fitting together.

  Warning bells sounded in her head. She should stop this. Poverty aside, she was a lady.

  “But … ” It took all her willpower to break off his sweltering kiss and force out that single word.

  He laid a finger upon her lips. “I’ll not harm you. It will be sweet, gentle, and beautiful—just like you.”

  She opened her mouth, but once again, instead of words, his mouth pressed to hers, hands picking up the pace, sending thrills shooting through her body.

  Her dreams of V were nothing like this.

  But this wasn’t a dream.

  “Kevighn.” It was a warning, a plea for help, and a cry for more all at the same time.

  “I’m right here.” His kisses trailed down her neck, each one sending tingles to her very core, as his fingers undid the buttons on her blouse. Next, he pulled the strings of her skirt waist. Free, the skirt slipped to the ground, leaving her in her chemise, corset, and petticoats.

  More than cold chilled her, cutting right through her. It hurt to think, to stay in the present, it would be so much easier to float way on clouds of sensation and delight. Clearly, he had ideas—ideas that, at the moment, sounded good to her. Both prospects frightened her.

  But she wasn’t sure she wanted to stop.

  “Noli, little blossom, what’s this? I haven’t seen it before.” His hand hovered close to her medallion resting on top her corset, but didn’t quite touch it.

  “Oh, my best friend V gave it to me, to protect me from aether, faeries, and other unscrupulous things.” She laughed. “He told me to wear it always. Some help it was.”

  “Did he now? This is your friend who lives next door?” He continued to examine it with his eyes, expression unreadable.

  “He did. He’s such a fussy old bodger sometimes, going on about such nonsense as faery trees and aether—” She paused, as her words made sense—a little. “Oh, I suppose he was correct.” Would she tell him about her adventures? Probably. He’d believe her, and not simply pat her on the head and dose her with poppy syrup and a cold compress like her mama would.

  “Could you take it off for me? Please?”

  “Why? I promised I’d always wear it.” Why she clung to that, she didn’t know, but for some reason it seemed important.

  “I can’t take it off you, and I fear we can’t go forward until you do.” He kissed her again. Breaking it off, he cupped her face with his hands so he could look straight into her eyes. “Don’t you wish to continue?”

  Things became as clear as freshly washed windows.

  “I … I’m sorry, Kevighn, but I don’t think I want to go any further.” Eyes downcast, she twisted her hands and bit her lip as she tried to sort out her thoughts and feelings. After all, as nice as this was, she didn’t want to become some sordid cautionary tale.

  If only the fire within her would cease.

  “I’m sorry as well, little blossom.” Close to her, he continued to trace little kisses down the back of her neck like little breadcrumbs left as a trail. “Could you take it off for me anyway? I’ll give you something far nicer. Green does nothing for you.” He kissed that place between her neck and ear and she gasped. “Please, take it off for me. It’s just a silly necklace.”

  Something about his voice compelled and she raised her hand to take it off.

  “Yes, that’s it,” he murmured, voice smooth as imported silk.

  Noli stopped, letting the medallion drop back around her neck. “If it’s a silly necklace, why do I need to take it off?” She stepped away, breaking contact with him.

  He closed the space between them, but didn’t touch her. “Perhaps the idea of you wearing a gift from another man makes me jealous.”

  “He’s just my best friend.” Immediately she knew that to be a lie. She felt confused and weary. Could she go to sleep and deal with everything later? A thought pierced the cobwebs of her brain. “It is protection against faeries, isn’t it?”

  “Of sorts. I’d like to know why he possessed such a powerful token.”

  She shrugged, not actually surprised by its properties. “V has all sorts of odd things and bits of knowledge. It’s part of what makes him so interesting.”

  “I see. You seem tired. Why don’t you lie down with me?” He offered her his hand.

  Tempting. But …

  “I want to go home.” She turned away from him as if doing so would make dealing with this, with him, easier. So many emotions churned within her. “I appreciate all you’ve done for me, but truly, all I want is to go home.”

  “Please, sweet blossom, is there not anything I can say or do to make you stay?” His voice sounded so wistful, so full of w
ant, that it was difficult to not say yes.

  She steeled herself against those traitorous feelings inside her, the ones that urged her to embrace the moment. “I only want to go home.” Her voice broke. “Perhaps it would be best if you took me to the queen now.”

  “I could, if that’s what you desire. When I told you I care about you, I spoke the truth. I do care about you and can love and cherish you as no mortal can. But,” his expression turned hard and her stomach clenched. “I guess your friend never told you that if you should happen to find yourself in the realm of Faerie to not take any food offered.”

  Biting her lip, she thought for a moment. “I don’t remember that one. Certain words, dancing circles … ” His words hit her like a sack of flour and her hand went to her mouth.

  “I’m very sorry, my little blossom, but you’ve eaten faery food. That means you can no longer return to the mortal realm.” His voice wasn’t hard or mean but the words were poison nevertheless.

  She looked up at him, betrayal coursing through her as if she’d been shot with one of his clockwork arrows. It made her knees shake and for a second her heart ceased beating.

  “You are nothing but a rake and a liar, Kevighn Silver.” She put as much anger into her voice as she could. A lump formed in her throat. “I never should have trusted you.”

  Breaking out of his arms, she shoved the fiend away with all her might, and ran out of the room.

  Twenty

  Noli’s Flight

  Noli ran straight out of the cabin, tears streaming down her face.

  “Wait! Please, Noli. Wait!” he called from the backdoor.

  Fueled by betrayal, she continued to run, not even looking back to see if he followed. Chest heaving with exertion she gazed up at the tree house when she found herself in the grove. No. He’d expect that. Like the last time, he’d lure her back with pretty words and surprises.

  Ignoring the little faeries who vied for her attention, she ran through the grove, even though she’d never been past it. The trees grew into a dark tangle of branches. Everything seemed darker and scarier here causing her skin top break out into gooseflesh. Still, she pressed on as her legs burned and sweat tricked down her back making her chemise stick to her skin.