Innocent Darkness

by Suzanne Lazear

  “Really?” His green eyes danced with mischief.

  “Really. I rather liked last night.” She caught his lips with hers.

  “Me too.” His voice ragged, his hands, his mouth, increased their intensity, stoking her internal inferno, making her gasp, pant, and moan with pleasure and expectation.

  He took off her boots. His hands worked their way up her dress.

  She swatted at him. “Our clothes stay on, remember?”

  V’s grin became devilish. “I remember. But you said nothing about your drawers.”

  Fabric ripped and he dangled them in front of her, chuckling in delight.

  “V!” Fear and anticipation swirled in her deepest places. “That’s not what I meant.”

  His face drew close to hers. “Always word your bargains with the Fae very carefully. We’ll take advantage of you to the full extent.”

  A sharp gasp escaped her lips as his fingers caressed her bare skin in a place she’d never even touched herself.

  He smiled. “Oh, you like that.”

  She did—too much. “My … my reputation!”

  “I won’t do anything they can check for, promise. Not that the mortal idea that it can be checked for is accurate.” His gentle touches firmed and she moaned. “The things I can show you … ”

  “Like what?” Her words became gasps as his mouth fastened onto her covered breast.

  “Patience, Noli.” His mouth worked down her body as his hands continued to tease her.

  She writhed in pleasure meeting his touches, running her hands over his firm body as the heat within her continued to build. What would happen when it came to head? Would it tear her apart? As anxious as she was, she didn’t fight it.

  When his breath brushed her bare thighs, the inferno within exploded. Every fiber of her being became alight with fire for the man who kissed her where no one had ever touched her before.

  Thirty Four

  The High Queen is Law

  The few things Kevighn cared about in his palace chambers fit in a leather rucksack. Regardless of what the queen said, he was finished being huntsman. She’d probably already found his replacement anyhow.

  As he walked through the marbled halls, bustling with servants and courtiers he realized that though he’d grown accustomed to this life, he wouldn’t miss it much. It didn’t take long before he found the queen, bustling through the hall in a flurry of pink silk with a trail of flustered servants, guards, and courtiers.

  Stopping dead in her tracks, she looked down her nose at him as if he were something distasteful. “What are you doing here?”

  He bowed deeply. “I’ve come to give you my resignation, you majesty.”

  “Pity, I had hoped to send the wild hunt after you and watch them rip you to shreds.” She said this as easily as she might inquire what fabric someone used for their new ball gown or demand someone make her some new mechanical toy or game.

  “And resignation?” she scoffed. “You failed, Kevighn Silver. Failed.” Anger raged in her voice. “You could have killed us all, yet you don’t seem to care. Do you care about anything anymore?” She tossed her golden hair over her shoulder, which someone had woven into hundreds of tiny beribboned plaits. The pink ribbons matched her diaphanous pink gown, which seemed to be made of many layers of sheer fabric, making her look like a rose in bloom.

  What a curious question. He didn’t have anything to care about, not anymore.

  “You are relieved of duty for substandard performance.” Her eyes narrowed at him.

  His belly clenched. Would she order his death? Or perhaps have her guard haul him off to be publicly flogged as entertainment for her tea?

  “Killing you is too lenient a punishment. Kevighn Silver, also known as Kevighn Silver-Tongue and Kevighn Woman-Maker, I hereby banish you. You are banished from the high court and the four elemental courts. We owe you nothing, and you are nothing to us. All that should be yours is hereby taken from you.” She waved her hand in the air.

  Kevighn sensed the magic tighten around him and prayed to the Bright Lady it disagreed. He felt no such rebellion. His stomach sank. Banishment meant he was not welcome in this court or any of the elemental courts. It also meant that his parent’s lands were lost to him; they held no enchantment like the House of Oak. That loss meant little. But his cabin and Creideamh’s grove would also disappear and that cut deeply—as it was meant to.

  “We no longer recognize you as one of our own. Guards, take this exile away. Do as you will, then cast him out,” she ordered, a little too happy for his comfort.

  The guards descended upon him gleefully, dragging him down the hall as the queen looked on, cackling in delight.

  Noli fidgeted, holding V’s hand too tightly as they walked down the path to the front of the palace. James followed, pushing Charlotte in the chair.

  “It’ll be fine, Noli.” V squeezed her hand in reassurance. A small comfort.

  “It’s only tea,” James teased. He and Charlotte didn’t know she and V planned on speaking with the queen afterwards.

  They approached the gates of the palace, the purple uniformed guards letting them through. One led them to the room where Noli had been the last time. It must be her sitting room. The high queen burst into the room, a vision in rose silk, resembling a flower faery from a painting.

  The queen appraised their group, frowning in displeasure, lower lip jutting out slightly. “I didn’t know you were all coming.”

  “I’m sorry, your majesty.” V bowed. “Noli and I will go for a walk in the gardens. I would like to speak with you at some point, though.”

  Noli simply curtsied, stomach clenching, having nothing to say. James and Charlotte greeted the queen, as well. LuLu looked up at them from her purple pillow in front of the fire.

  The queen waved her hand. “Never you mind. I’ll have the table set for more. I always have time for my boys.”

  V looked away; James stifled a snort.

  Queen Tiana flashed them one of her fake smiles. “Please, sit, I want to know all about what you four have been up to.”

  Noli sat next to V on a settee in the queen’s library, holding his hand in a death grip. The high queen sat across from them looking prim, a smug expression on her pretty face.

  “What do you wish to talk about, son?” The queen laid the last word on thickly, ignoring Noli, as she stroked LuLu who lay on her lap. Actually, the queen had ignored Noli all through tea, which she didn’t mind. Poor Charlotte got a lot of tough questions. Right now James was taking her for a walk, trying to soothe her.

  “I’d like to speak with you about helping Noli return to the mortal realm. Though she’s still mine. I’m not giving her up.” V spoke slowly, carefully, and Noli flashed him a reassuring smile. He’d been practicing; trying to make their bargain so airtight even the queen couldn’t manipulate it.

  She waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “What do you see in this mortal, anyway?”

  “I love Noli’s spirit, her independent nature, her individuality.” V looked at her and smiled at her in a way that made her feel warm inside. “I love her curiosity and inquisitiveness. I love how she’s so different from all the other girls they call ladies in the mortal realm.”

  She’d sooner die than be like those simpering idiots.

  “Why do you wish to go back to the mortal realm in the first place, Magnolia?” The queen’s face scrunched in puzzlement. “It’s much nicer here, we have fine gowns and parties and feasts, you don’t have to go to school if you don’t wish to, no one will yell at you, punish you. Also, Charlotte is here. Don’t you wish to stay with your friend until it’s time?”

  Her tone and expression made Noli feel like a heel for even thinking otherwise. “I’m not averse to returning, your majesty. In fact, I plan on it.” She looked at V, who nodded. “I miss my mother and don’t want her to worry. After all, she’s my mother, and I love her. I miss her. Even though I love V, all I want is to go home.”

  Queen Tiana d
idn’t look moved. “But you ate faery food, which means you are ours.”

  “Kevighn tricked me, your majesty.”

  The queen smirked. “We invented tricky, my dear Magnolia. If you’re not clever enough to figure it out, perhaps I’m doing the mortal world a favor by keeping you.”

  V’s hand tugged on hers and she realized she’d stood.

  “This is why we wish, I wish, to strike a bargain, your majesty,” V interjected.

  “Do you now?” A predatory smile spread across her lips like an ink stain. “What do you wish to bargain, Stiofán?” She practically rubbed her hands together in glee.

  V took a moment to compose himself. Noli knew he needed to offer her something she’d take, but if he didn’t word it carefully V could find himself in her service for eternity—or doing something distasteful.

  “I wish to offer myself for a future favor—” He held up a finger. “Under the following circumstances. I need advance notice, at least two weeks mortal time. The duration of said favor—a single task—can’t last more than two mortal months. The task can’t be impossible or anything where I could die or be disfigured or otherwise rendered incapable of serving eventually as earth court king.” Cocking his head, he shot Noli a look that said did I get it all? She thought for a moment, going over her own mental list, then nodded slowly.

  The queen nodded, stroking LuLu, who wagged her tail. “What a bargain. You are my son, after all, aren’t you?”

  V looked away as if insulted.

  “I still don’t understand why this mortal is so important to you. Especially with your aspirations.” Queen Tiana shrugged. “Children.”

  “Oh,” V added. “The task can’t be anything that requires harming any of my family or friends, nor can it be something my father would disprove of.”

  Noli squeezed his hand. Good save.

  “You are no fun, Stiofán.” Queen Tiana tossed her golden braids over her shoulder in annoyance.

  “I stand by my conditions. In return, you release Noli and immediately return her to Los Angeles—after I get to say good-bye, of course, and she’ll still belong to me. She’ll be returned as time is now, versus her being returned to find many years had passed, and has safe passage while in the Otherworld, and the ability to travel back and forth as we do. Time would pass as it does for us, it wouldn’t cause her to age unduly, she wouldn’t be bound to stay a certain amount of time, nor would her trips be limited.” He exhaled sharply.

  So far it went as planned. Noli couldn’t help but feel the tiniest bit of excitement in the deepest pit of her belly. She couldn’t wait to see her mother.

  The queen considered the proposal for a few moments, each second feeling like an hour. “Anything else?”

  Furrowing his brow, he thought again. She could almost hear him going over his own mental list.

  V shook his head. “Noli?”

  Closing her eyes, she went over her own list one last time. Check. Check. Check. No, they seemed to have gotten everything. She nodded, biting her lip in apprehension.

  He squeezed her hand; she could practically feel his nervousness. “That’s all, your majesty.”

  “I accept your bargain as is.” The queen’s expression became carefully neutral. She sat primly in her chair, hands folded in her lap, LuLu climbing down and curling at her feet.

  “You do?” Noli wanted to jump up and down. V shot her a warning look.

  “I do.” Her lips curved into a fearsome smile. Noli’s stomach sank. “I have the perfect task for you, Stiofán— when you’re ready, of course.”

  V went as pale as a sheet.

  “Come here, Magnolia.”

  Suddenly, this didn’t seem like such a good idea and her stomach knotted.

  Too late.

  She prayed this would work out for the better—and in their favor. Taking a deep breath, she stood. V squeezed her hand.

  “Yes, your majesty.” Noli curtseyed, trying not to fidget.

  The queen noticed her nervousness, flashing a predatory smile. “You look dreadful in that color. I detest green and brown, such dull colors. I will release you, returning you as time is now, granting you both safe passage and the ability to come and go as set forth in the agreement. Come closer.”

  Biting her lip, she approached. She had a sinking feeling she and V had walked into a trap, and no matter how carefully they’d worded their bargain, the queen would get them coming and going.

  The queen cupped her face with a boney hand. “Don’t worry. This won’t hurt … much.”

  The queen face curved into a ferocious grin. Everything went black, as if back in Dr. Martin’s isolation box. Only this time an invisible weight pressed on her chest, pain pricking her like a million pins. A high-pitched scream ripped from her throat as the pain consumed her.

  Thirty Five

  A Bad Bargain

  As soon as a high pitched, soul-scraping scream came from Noli’s lips, Steven jumped to his feet. Queen Tiana’s face radiated pure joy as she relished in Noli’s pain.

  “What are you doing, your majesty?” he yelped. All she needed to do was make it so; there was no need to hurt Noli.

  But he hadn’t stated that in the agreement.

  His stomach sank all the way to the carpet. What else had he left out?

  Alight with glee and malice, her eyes riveted on his. “I’m doing you a favor. This way you won’t come to me in a decade when she starts to grow old.” Her hand still clutched Noli’s arm. “You’re my son; it’s the least I can do.”

  “Stop. Please.” His voice choked.

  “What, you mean you didn’t want me to change her?” She placed a hand over her mouth in mock horror. “Oops. You didn’t state that in your bargain.”

  His knees threatened to give out. She was right. He hadn’t told her not to alter Noli. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. “What … what are you doing to her?”

  How he wanted to cover his ears so he didn’t have to hear her pitiful screams, close his eyes so he didn’t have to see her writhe in pain. Instead, he took Noli’s hand. If he used magic to fight the queen, or even physically broke the connection, he could kill Noli.

  “Making it so she can leave us, of course, and can come and go freely, like we do, oh, and so she can stay with you always—since I know that’s what you want.” Her lips curved into a cross between a sneer and a smirk.

  “Stop, please. I beg of you, Mother.” Knees giving out, he sank to carpet neck to her stupid dog, Noli’s hand still in his. The queen was turning Noli into one of the Fae— and since they hadn’t specified it in the bargain, she’d get to choose what sort.

  Her laugh came out cool and maniacal, eyes flashing with her own kind of insanity. “It’s better this way for both of you. Don’t worry; she’ll be earth court—and a pretty one, too. You rattled off all sorts of nonsense, but I know what men really want.”

  Steven’s mind raced as he went through the list of earth court Fae. “Flying figs.”

  The prettiest of the court folk, outside of their kind, also tended to be the stupidest. He remembered what she’d asked about what he loved best about Noli. It was as if he’d been run through with an iron sword. The queen not only was taking away Noli’s humanity, but everything he loved about her, everything that made her different, special— and he’d caused it by simply not stating that Noli needed to be returned as she was.

  Truly, he was an idiot.

  “I take it back,” he cried with such ferocity LuLu looked at him. “I take it back.”

  “Too late.” Triumph etched on her regal face, Queen Tiana released Noli from her clutches. Noli slumped to the ground. Evil laughter tickled his ears as he gathered his love’s crumpled body into his arms.

  The queen loomed over him, glowing with satisfaction. “Didn’t anyone ever teach you to be exceedingly careful when bargaining with the Fae? Also, never, ever bargain with a high queen. You’ll pay far more than your wish was ever worth.”

  That was for certain.


  Tears of betray—and for his love—welled up inside him, but he held firm. No weakness could be shown in front of hee. He’d shown far too much already.

  “I’ll be in touch… son.” With another insane laugh, she left, mechanical dog at her heels.

  Already, he could see the transformation taking place in Noli. He’d have a little time, but only a little. They needed to return to the House of Oak quickly.

  Noli’s lifeless body in his arms, he ran out of the room, hoping James and Charlotte hadn’t wandered too far.

  They were exactly where Steven expected, a nightblooming garden with a gazebo that had always been James’ favorite as a child. They’d come here often with their mother to visit her sister, back before she decided she wanted to be high queen. Actually, his mother wasn’t a very good high queen, but he’d never say that out loud. Not even to Noli, James, or Quinn. He valued his life far too much and the queen possessed ears everywhere. Even in the mortal realm.

  James looked up with a start when he tore into the garden. His eyes fell on Noli. “By the Bright Lady, what happened?”

  “I made a bad bargain.” Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. His mouth formed an “o” of horror. “You did it? Flying figs, I didn’t think you would.”

  “I wish I hadn’t.” Steven pressed his lips against her pale forehead. “She wanted to go home; I didn’t know what other choice I had.”

  James put a hand on his arm. “Only three people could help you in this situation.”

  “I know.” But that didn’t make him feel better. “Approaching the Bright Lady or the magic itself would be even more fearsome.” James’ eyes flashed with fear. The queen, the magic, and the Bright Lady were a triumvirate of power, keeping the balance, keeping each other in check, each one representing a different aspect of the Otherworld and every one of them beautifully terrible. “I don’t understand.” Charlotte’s voice lowered as she looked at Noli’s still form.