Innocent Darkness

by Suzanne Lazear

  He tired to remain calm and ignore her amusement at their plight. “I haven’t precisely figured that out, your majesty. Perhaps you have a suggestion?”

  Her lips pursed as if holding her real reaction inside her mouth. “For the right price, I might consider helping you.”

  There was always a price—a high one.

  “You would grant me the knowledge?” That would be preferable.

  She laughed again, tossing back her golden hair over her shoulder. “You are so funny, Stiofán. Certainly, you didn’t get that from your father.” The queen turned to James and Charlotte. “I’ll see you both tomorrow for tea.”

  Without waiting for a reply, she left, entourage trotting after her. Steven wished he had a brick wall to smack his head against.

  “That went well.” Rolling his eyes, James plopped back down on the window seat.

  “If you say so,” Steven replied, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I’m going back outside. Oh, Charlotte, Noli wanted me to tell you it’s nearly finished.” But they’d already resumed their story.

  Thirty Three

  Decisions

  Kevighn returned to the House of Oak. His sources told him Noli still dwelled there. A girl like her would prefer it. He knew more ways to sneak in and out of the high palace, though.

  Laughter greeted him as he approached one of the bigger gardens on the property. A lot of Spark dwelled in that garden and not all of it felt like Noli’s.

  Making his way into the garden, he saw Noli speed across the grass while pushing a redheaded girl in a chair with wheels on it. He recognized her as the friend from the school, the one who’d been dragged away and possessed quite a bit of Spark in her own right.

  That whelp of a prince watched the girls from the sidelines. Another young man stood with him, one with darker blond hair and a more manly appearance, but he, too, was naught but a child by their standards. He wore the same sigil around his neck. Ah, the other exiled prince. Had the Quinn the Fair and the exiled king come as well? Kevighn had a score to settle with the both of them.

  “Go faster,” the redhead squealed as they ran.

  “If you say so, Lottie.” Grinning recklessly, Noli ran faster as she pushed the chair over the uneven grass.

  “Careful, Noli,” Stiofán called. As he spoke those words of caution, the girls hit a bump. Lottie, Noli, and the chair all went flying.

  “Lottie!” The other prince ran towards the girls.

  “Noli!” Stiofán took off after him.

  For a moment Kevighn’s insides twisted. Was Noli all right?

  The girls erupted in a fit of giggles.

  “We’re fine, V.” Noli stood, brushing the grass off her green and brown gown.

  “Truly, we are.” Lottie grinned as the other prince fussed over her. She, too, wore green. So, both young princes found themselves mortal girls with the Spark.

  Which one was the sacrifice?

  “Be careful, Noli,” the other prince chided. He scooped the redhead up in his arms as if she were a small child.

  Lottie rolled her eyes. “Noli, I thought V was the fussy old bodger, not James.”

  “Me, too,” Noli laughed.

  No. Now that he saw her, he could tell Noli wasn’t the chosen girl. Relief cascaded over him. How had they managed that? But it didn’t matter. A sacrifice had been found and it wasn’t Noli. The prospect caused excitement to course through him.

  He continued to watch as James fussed over the redhead, putting her back in the chair, which Stiofán righted.

  “Please be careful, Noli,” James added, tucking a blanket around Lottie.

  “I’m crippled, not made of spun sugar. Besides, I like the chair Noli made me.” Lottie grinned, tipping her face up for a kiss, which the other young prince gave her.

  Crippled? Kevighn could never remember a crippled chosen girl before—extremely ugly, dumb as a post, not right in the head, but never crippled. Still, the magic only needed the Spark, not a sound mind or body.

  “I’ll make you a better one, I promise. I really, really want to find out how the floating chariot works. A bath chair like that would be glorious.” Noli put her arm around Stiofán.

  Watching them cut Kevighn to his very soul. Stiofán would break Noli’s heart.

  The whelp of a prince stiffened, then focused on Kevighn and his place on the sidelines of the large garden. “What are you doing here, huntsman?”

  Noli froze when the prince spoke his title and Kevighn suppressed a smile at her reaction.

  “Why do you think I’m here, prince?” Kevighn spoke prince as if it were a dirty word, lips curving into a dangerous grin.

  The prince wrapped his arms around Noli. “She’s mine. The queen gave her to me.”

  Noli bristled. “Did she now? What am I, a marble to be lost or won in silly boy games?”

  Stiofán ran his fingers through her unbound hair, attempting to sooth her. “It’s protection. It keeps people like him away from you. It also enables you come and go so when we return you to your mother you can still visit.”

  “Oh.” Noli nestled back into the princes’ arms.

  Anger and jealousy raged within Kevighn. His hands fisted. Usually he didn’t hurt children, but Stiofán was near enough a man that he didn’t care. Except for the whelp being the high queen’s son. That thought made his fists unclenched. He was in enough trouble as it was.

  “Wait, you told her she could return?” Kevighn smirked. “What other lies are you feeding her?” Privately he hoped Noli would smack the prince. Hard.

  Stiofán shook his head. “I didn’t lie. She knows it’s something we have to work on.”

  “How are you going to do that?” he scoffed. The whelp could simply ask his mother, but he turned down the earth court throne for a mere mortal—though the mortal was Noli.

  The prince shot him a privileged look as he ran a possessive hand through Noli’s hair. “We’ll figure it out together.”

  Sure they would. If the whelp believed that, Kevighn had waterfront property in the middle of fire court territory to show him …

  “Go away, Kevighn. I have no use for men like you.” Noli didn’t meet his eyes, but he could tell from her body language that she teemed with inner conflict. His belly jumped.

  “He’s bad for you, Noli.” He took a step closer, speaking as if they were alone in the cottage kitchen, instead of in the middle of a garden with an audience.

  “No. V is a good, kind, smart, respectable man. You’re nothing but a lying rogue. All the good looks and sweet words in the world won’t make up for your errant ways.”

  She thought he was good-looking. His heart sped.

  “Leave, Kevighn.” Stiofán shot him a hard look.

  His attention turned to the prince. “Give her to me. You might be earth court, but you princes don’t grow and nurture love—especially with girls like Noli—no, you destroy it.” Memories of his sister grew and built, like a powder keg ready to explode. “Don’t you know how bad you are for her? You’re going to hurt her. Please, Noli.” Turning to her, he itched to take her hand. He should have brought her something. “Come with me. I’m done being huntsman. We’ll live in the cabin, you can work in the garden and do all the lovely things you did to make it a home again.”

  He reached out to her, praying to the Bright Lady she stepped away from the prince and took his hand, but knowing deep down she wouldn’t. “You don’t understand, Noli. He’s going to hurt you. I don’t want you to suffer at the hands of an earth court whelp like Creideamh … ” “And suffer with a rake and liar instead? A cheating fiend who frequents opium dens and consorts with fancy women? One whose job is to trick innocent girls into dying?” Noli’s face contorted. Her voice came out as a wail, hands twisting.

  He wasn’t a cheat—except at cards. Everything else she said held true.

  She looked at the ground as the toe of her boot made designs in the grass. “For reasons unbeknownst to me, I could easily fall for you, if I let
myself—even though I know better.”

  Kevighn took another calculated step forward, ignoring the venomous looks from both princes. “I know how to care for someone like you. We can do whatever we want, whenever we want, there’s so much I could show you.”

  She stepped out of the prince’s arms and for a moment Kevighn’s heart leapt. Would she actually choose him over the prince?

  “I’m sorry, but men like you are bad for girls like me. As fun and interesting as you might be, you’re not what I need.” Her eyes told him that he was what she wanted.

  “I can be.” Even though she possessed an earth spirit, like Creideamh, he could feel the fire, the passion, within her. That he could nurture.

  “No!” She held out her hand, as if trying to physically cut the connection between them. Noli turned away, biting her lip, her arms wrapping around her as if trying to hug herself. “No.” Her yelp sounded like the mew of a helpless kitten. “I made my choice, Kevighn. I didn’t choose you. I choose V.”

  Prince Stiofán wrapped his arms around her protectively, a smug look on his face.

  Unfair. Why couldn’t Noli run into his arms like every other girl? Not only did his heart ache because this would end badly for her, the rejection itself stung. He never got rejected by women—especially mortal ones.

  The prince’s eyes met Kevighn’s. “Leave. Now.”

  Kevighn gave the prince a mock-bow, voice snide, “Yes, your highness.” His expression and tone softened as he focused on Noli. “Noli, my little blossom, when he breaks your soul, you can still come to me. I’ll still love you. I promise.”

  “My brother asked you to leave.” The other prince held a sword, eyeing him menacingly.

  What was it with princes and their swords? It was as if they were compensating for something. Oh wait, they were.

  “Of course.” Kevighn’s voice dripped with disdain. “Your highnesses, ladies.”

  Spinning on his heels, he left the House of Oak. Perhaps he should simply find the queen instead of making her seek him out. Perhaps she’d put him out of his misery quickly.

  No. That wasn’t her way. Besides, if she killed him, he wouldn’t be around to help Noli when that whelp hurt her. No matter what the prince thought, he’d hurt her eventually. Kevighn could tell from her words, her look, that she wanted him, desired him.

  He was a huntsman. Eventually, Noli would be his.

  Noli buried her face in V’s shoulder. She hadn’t counted on Kevighn returning and asking for her to come with him. She hadn’t expected facing him, stating her choice, to be this difficult.

  “Shhh, Kevighn can’t hurt you; he can’t take you from me. You’re safe.” V whispered sweet words over and over as he caressed her hair, her shoulders.

  Kevighn hadn’t even apologized for deceiving her. The fiend.

  Her mind wandered back to last night with V, which had been quite … satisfying. Even though he never touched her bare skin, she still felt a little naughty.

  “I made the right choice,” she whispered.

  “You did.” His lips trailed little kisses down her neck. “I’m not sure what his problem is with earth court princes, but I’ll take care of you. I’ll never hurt you.”

  She groaned softly at his caresses. James cleared his throat. Charlotte giggled.

  Noli didn’t protest when V scooped her up in his arms. His lips pressed to her forehead. “I love you, Noli.”

  V carried her to his room, shutting the door with his foot, and laid her down on the bed. “I need a new nickname for you. I’m not about to call you my little blossom now.”

  “I don’t need little syrupy nicknames like James and Lottie.”

  “Good.” He attacked her throat, sucking and teasing with his lips and tongue. His other hand roamed. “Will you give yourself to me? I need you.”

  He body went aflame at his touch, but fear still lingered in the pit of her belly. “Give myself to you? As if we were man and wife?” It all made her feel a bit dizzy and, well, not dirty, but definitely wicked. “I … I … ”

  His lips met hers, silencing her, but her mind sped. She loved V, but if she lay with him, she would be unmarriageable and what if his father didn’t permit them to marry? How much more could she possibly shame her family? Her absence alone could prove suspect. The double standard just wasn’t fair.

  “Shhh, don’t tremble.” His hands glided over her body, lingering on her uncorseted breasts, making them yearn for his touch. What would it feel like for him to kiss them?

  “I’m … ” Oh, how she wanted him. He could quench that ache inside her. “I’m not ready, V. Not to do that.” Parts of her protested, but common sense won out.

  “We can do other things.” His lips brushed her breasts, the heat of his breath making its way through the fabric, causing her body convulse with pleasure.

  “Things that wouldn’t ruin my reputation?” She laughed as he attacked her with kisses.

  “I don’t understand why you’re worried. Things are different here.” His hand trailed down her stomach.

  “What about when I return? I will return, right?” Fear struck through her like an arrow.

  “Oh, Noli.” He bundled her into his arms. “Would you consent to stay here with me?”

  Invisible hands choked her as she twitched. “I want— no, I need—to go home. If you really love me you won’t keep me here.”

  His lips brushed the back of her neck. “I do really love you. I’m having trouble finding a way to send you back without making a bargain with the queen.”

  Noli leaned into him. “She can do that?”

  “She could release you, and send you home, but,” he warned, “it has a price. Everything has a price. With her it’s always a high one.”

  “Like what? What could she want from you?”

  He stroked her hair as they lay there on the bed. “Remember when I told you she cast my father out because he made a choice she didn’t like?”

  She nodded, remembering.

  “The choice was that he wouldn’t give up his court for her. There’s no such thing as a high king, and the high queen’s consort can’t have his own court—it would upset the careful balance of power. Every court has an opposite.”

  The dour Mr. Darrow and Queen Tiana? That thought seemed as ludicrous as her mother and Officer Davies. She recalled the five-circle symbol in the high palace. “What would be the converse of the high queen?”

  “The dark king, he leads the dark court. For there to be balance, everything must have an opposite. The high court unites the other four courts, the dark court is not actually part of the unification, yet is just as necessary.”

  Noli pondered that. “For every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction?”

  V laughed. “Something like that.”

  “The high queen wished to court your father?” She still couldn’t imagine the two of them together. They were so, well, different.

  “She wasn’t high queen when he met her, just a younger sister. He was king. She broke a promise to him, then cast him out.” V’s face contorted in pain.

  She kissed his forehead, trying to sooth his worries away with her touch. “Wait, that means … ”

  “Once we called her Mum, before she chose her position over us.”

  Noli blinked, mind swimming. “I thought she was dead.”

  “To us.” He closed his eyes, as if shutting out the pain. “It was easier to tell Elise that our mother was dead instead of telling her she abandoned us. Father plans to tell her the truth when she’s older.”

  That didn’t seem to be the smartest idea. Personally, Noli would feel betrayed and hurt.

  “James and I support our father’s decision,” he added.

  “That’s why you never call her Mother?” Noli asked. His mother was high queen. Also, Queen Tiana had cast away her own husband and children. Certainly, that didn’t make her seem very likeable.

  “Exactly.” Lightly, he stroked Noli’s arms.

&nbs
p; “What would the price be?”

  “I don’t know. I’d have to word it very carefully to be a single task with a time limit, so I’m not bound to her for eternity.”

  “Be careful when making deals with the Fae?” Her fingers brushed the length of his face.

  Grabbing her hand, he kissed her fingertips. “Precisely. The last thing I wish to do is to become her new huntsman. She’d delight in the irony of the situation.”

  “Isn’t Kevighn the huntsman?”

  “He failed. At the very least she’ll banish him, but if she’s in the right mood she’ll kill him.” For some reason that made V look happy. The thought made Noli shiver.

  Misunderstanding, V pulled the butter-soft green blanket over them. “I don’t want to go to her unless we have to. But, I’m willing to, if you wish, we’ll simply have to bargain carefully.”

  She gazed into his eyes. “You’d do that for me?”

  “I’d do anything for you.” He kissed her on the nose. “You are my love. Regardless of how much trouble we get in, I’ll love you forever and stay with you always.”

  His sweet promise made her insides quiver. She brushed his lips with hers. “I love you, too. I really would like to see what she could do—after all, if we don’t like the bargain we don’t have to accept, right? We could keep looking.”

  “If we don’t accept her first offer, the price would go up a hundred fold if we should ever have to go back to her.”

  “I can only imagine.” She enjoyed snuggling in V’s arms. So safe, so comfortable.

  “We could go tomorrow. James and Lottie have a royal invitation and we should be good friends and accompany them.” His smile grew pained. “We can speak with her after.”

  “Thank you.” She touched a finger to his nose. “I mean it.”

  “Be careful, or I might take advantage of you.” His warning came between delectable kisses that started at her temple and worked down her jaw, her neck, her collarbone, making every inch of her body become alive with anticipation.

  “You can do anything to me you wish as long as my dress and your trousers remain firmly on, and it’s nothing that would sully my reputation.” Wrapping her fingers in his golden hair, she steered him to the spot where her neck met her shoulders that especially liked to be kissed.