Roses & Rye (Toil & Trouble Book 3)

by Heather R. Blair

  Shit. I’m here to parley, not fucking kill people. I drop the bruin with a curse, trying to get my temper back under wraps before I turn back to Krueger.

  “I know what Seph was to you,” I say with as much evenness as I can muster. “I know what your king declared her.”

  Blue eyes narrow, flashing in the russet-gold light from the curtained windows. “How did you know that? Only Georg and I…” Then his face darkens. “That fucking fairy. Goddammit, Frost—”

  “I put myself at the mercy of the bruin court. To be tried according to the law of your people for the crime of killing one of your own. Persephone Gosse.”

  Stephen’s jaw drops as I go to one knee, bowing my head. Dominic lets out a disbelieving laugh. “Who in the name of the horned one would stand as witness for you? Without a witness—”

  “I’m his witness.” Thomas finds his voice. “I believe Jack Frost did not kill Seph because I know him to be an honorable man.”

  Okay, Thomas that’s laying it on a bit thick. I risk lifting my eyes to see Stephen looking him up and down, his expression considering. “How long have you known Frost?”

  “About ten years.”

  The bruin king’s gaze burns bright. “And he told you what being a witness entails?”

  Thomas nods, his eyes wide, but determined. “I owe Jack my life. If it comes to that.” He gives me a look that clearly conveys his hope that it does not come to that.

  For a long, quiet moment, so long and so quiet I swear I start to hear the waves of the lake over a mile away, Stephen doesn’t move. Then just when I’m certain I’ve wasted my time coming here, he reaches out a hand, pulling me to my feet with more force than absolutely necessary.

  “You’ll accept my judgment even if it should demand your life?”

  “Yes.”

  “How the hell can we enforce that?” Dominic again. “This is bullshit, Stephen. We can’t kill the son of a bitch, his magic will rain down hell if we try.”

  Just then there is a flicker of crimson at the bottom of the steps.

  “Took you long enough,” I say as both bruins immediately growl. Tyr holds out a hand, palm up. The gesture of peace. Which when offered by an assassin of the realm is the baldest of lies.

  Obviously Stephen agrees. He shows his teeth and Tyr drops his hand, glancing at me.

  “I had to take care of an errand, Frost.” Then to the bruins, “I’d like to offer a solution to your magic problem, if Jack’s word isn’t good enough for you.” He smirks and holds up the vampire fang. “It’s not lethal injection, but it should give you bruins time to take his head. If not, I’d be happy to offer my sword as well. My hangman’s fee is very reasonable.”

  “Somebody’s already paying you to see me dead,” I growl. His avarice knows no bounds. Not that I’m surprised.

  Tyr shrugs. “A lad’s got to eat.” He looks at Stephen. “What say you?”

  The bruin nods slowly, looking at me. “That’ll do. If we require your services.”

  “Yes. If,” I emphasize, mostly for Thomas’s benefit. He’s looking a little ill, turning his head from side to side and rubbing at his shoulder. He has scars there, too, from wounds even worse than the ones on his face. I know because they bled all over me. I frown as he sways slightly. Before I can try to reassure him further, Stephen yanks open the door, roaring out a warning. I assume to Ajax, the other Schade brother, whom I haven’t seen yet. “Inside, all of you. And assassin, if you cross this threshold with the intent to harm any within, you’ll leave in pieces. Small, bloody ones.” His teeth gleam again.

  “Understood.” Tyr steps through the doorway, followed closely by Thomas.

  Before I can move forward, Dominic yanks me back. “Coming here is going to be the end of you, Frost. The Council may have absolved you—” My lips tighten. Cerunnos took that measure on his own, but I let him, for obvious reasons. “—but that doesn’t mean shit here.”

  “Prepare to be disappointed, bruin. I didn’t do it.”

  Dominic makes a disgusted sound in the back of his throat, but a soft growl from Krueger stops him from saying anything further. The redhead pushes past us into the cabin, slamming his shoulder into my chest on his way.

  I lock gazes with Krueger. He lifts an eyebrow. “What did you expect? We all liked her. But Dominic, he spent a lot of time with her, that week before Georg…” Stephen shakes his head. “Let’s just get this over with, Frost.”

  “You don’t believe me.”

  He just looks at me. Bruin judges don’t pretend to be impartial. Usually they’re decidedly not. Technically, there is only one capital offense in the bruin world, but it covers a lot of crimes. Betrayal. Betrayal of their kind. Betrayal of their ways. Whether that betrayal takes the form of treason, murder or theft, they really don’t care. You’re not presumed innocent in bruin court, you’re presumed guilty. Hence the requirement of a witness to your character. It’s the only way they hold a trial at all. Otherwise, if you’re accused of such a crime, they pretty much just gut you where you stand.

  So it’s hardly a surprise that there’s no mercy in those legendary blue eyes.

  “I looked at the tracks the next morning when we got the news. You and her going in. You coming out. No one and nothing else.”

  “Things aren’t always what they seem.”

  “Actually, Frost, they usually are.” There isn’t much else to say. He waves me into the cabin and shuts the door behind us.

  The Den is big and warm, wood gleaming, fire crackling. I’ve never been inside, which is hardly surprising. Neither is the litany of curses aimed my way as a slim brunette gets up from one of the enormous leather couches, right before she launches herself at me.

  A big redheaded bruin covered in tats and metal—the other Schade brother, Ajax—locks an arm around her in midair, stopping her short. She kicks and screams at him as he glares at Krueger.

  The sight of Syana hits me like a punch to the gut, my mind wanting desperately to place Persephone next to her. So much so that for a moment I actually think I see a glitter of blond hair in the firelight, a sheen of pink dancing in the air. But when I blink, it’s gone. There’s only the best friend of the woman I loved with murder in her hazel eyes, clawing at Ajax while she screams at me.

  “How could you, Jack? How could you fucking kill her like that?”

  Before I can respond, I catch sight of Thomas. He’s drawn to one side, off by himself, which isn’t surprising. The expression on his face is. He looks like he’s seen a ghost. Turns out, for Thomas, it’s probably worse.

  He lifts a shaking finger as I watch, pointing it at Syana, his voice hoarse. “You’re one of them,” he whispers.

  For a minute I’m confused, then it hits me. Oh shit.

  Tyr laughs in the sudden deadly silence. For once the assassin is a little slow on the uptake. “Bruins don’t turn people, silly human.”

  “Not a bruin,” Thomas croaks. “She’s a goddamn werewolf.”

  5

  “Well, this is awkward,” Tyr whispers to me.

  That’s an understatement. Syana is on the couch, wrapped around Ajax, who looks like he wants to murder everyone in the room. Tyr and I are still next to the door, being very quiet. The mood seems to demand it.

  At least I figured out why Krueger hasn’t declared war on the wolves. Funny thing about bruins. When they are at war, any member of the opposing faction is not only considered fair game, but required prey. Meaning that, if war is declared, Ajax will be honor bound to kill the woman in his arms right now.

  I could’ve guessed that Syana would turn. Being bitten by a crazed werewolf in the light of a full moon was pretty much a guarantee, but I’d almost forgotten about her. My mind has been occupied with a singular goal these past few months. She looks pale, her eyes on Thomas, who won’t meet her gaze.

  Stephen is talking to him in low, urgent tones. I can see the human swallow several times before nodding. Thomas’s ability to sense wolves is an odd one. Hu
mans are usually worthless in that area. They can cozy up to a damn vampire and be none the wiser. Even in the FTC world, unless you’re one of them, it’s hard to recognize a shifter as such when they’re in human form.

  Tyr and I wouldn’t have had a clue without Thomas’s observation. Ignorance would’ve been a damn sight safer for everyone.

  Finally the bruin’s attention turns back to Tyr and me, those eyes locking on us like lasers as he strides across the room.

  “Thomas has promised to tell no one, no matter how the trial ends. I believe him. But you two…”

  For once I’m glad the assassin’s here. I have a lot of faith in Krueger’s honor, but it would be a simple thing for him to ensure my silence—and Thomas’s—simply by finding me guilty. Tyr, though, is a wild card. Even at four bruins and one newbie wolf to one, the assassin might make it out of here alive. Assassins of the realm are slippery creatures and he’s one of the best.

  “You can’t keep it quiet forever,” Tyr says evasively.

  “Forever isn’t in the cards.” The dark look Stephen sends over his shoulder at the couple on the couch has me frowning. What does he mean by that?

  The bruin shoves me and the assassin outside, kicking the door shut behind him.

  “She’s infected,” he grinds out.

  “We gathered that.” Tyr’s tone is dry.

  “I’m not talking about her being a werewolf. She’s infected. With moon madness.”

  The assassin isn’t the only one to hiss in a slow breath.

  I feel a pang of sympathy—for Sy, yes, but for Ajax, too. “How do you know?” I ask. I hadn’t noticed any white in those furious eyes.

  “We can smell it. Well, Ajax can.” He leans against one of the carved oaken posts. “He’s known for a couple weeks now.” The incubation period of moon madness is months. Cerunnos wanted it that way in order to affect as many as possible. It’s a slowly progressing disease, at least at first. Once the eyes turn white, though…

  “How long do you think?”

  He shrugs. “A month, maybe two. I want to give them that much. But war is coming if I don’t find those fucking wolves soon. It’s like they dropped off the face of the earth.”

  In a way, they have. It was part of Cerunnos’s deal with the wolves. He put a spell on their hideout in the Boundary Waters to conceal it. More for his benefit than theirs. He wants to keep his mice in their trap until his experiment is over. “Not really. In fact, they’re not that far away.”

  “You know where they are?” Krueger straightens, that giant frame looming over both the assassin and I.

  “I do. And I can take you there. After we’re done here.”

  “Awfully confident, aren’t you?” The bruin stares at me. “This isn’t going to sway my judgment. What if I find you guilty?”

  “Then I’ll take you there first, either way. I swear it.” More vows. I’m really racking them up. Not that it matters. Nothing matters except my end goal.

  His gaze fixes on the assassin. “And you’ll agree to keep your yap shut about Syana for now?”

  Tyr shrugs. “Fine. I see no gain to blabbing, but if that changes…”

  Stephen rolls his shoulders. “It won’t. Let’s get started. And not a word to Sy about the moon madness, either of you.”

  “She doesn’t know?” I stare at him as Tyr shakes his head.

  “No. And you’re gonna keep it that way.” The bruin opens the door, striding back inside without waiting for us or our agreement.

  “You’re just full of surprises tonight, Frost.” Tyr gives a low whistle before he follows Stephen over the threshold.

  You ain’t seen nothing yet.

  Bruin court is pretty informal. There’s no pretrial, no jury. Just the accused, his witness, anyone with relevant testimony, the judge and at least one other bruin to stand as witness to the proceedings. Most trials are over in an hour or two, and that includes the execution.

  The fire crackles as we arrange ourselves around the room, its bright cheer at odds with the tense mood. It’s a small group; only the three bruin males and Syana frequent the Den these days. After Kivistö’s death, his aunt went back to Russia and except for Ajax, none of the bears are attached. Or so they want people to think.

  I eye Krueger, knowing I’m about to put my life in the hands of a man who just might lose it when he hears the truth. Something tickles the back of my neck, like a whispered warning, but I shrug it away as Stephen gets to his feet.

  As per usual, the proceedings start with the judge declaring the facts of the case. Unlike what I’ve seen of human court, bruins spend little time on the victim. Their character, morals and history are considered irrelevant. After all, they are not the ones on trial. Krueger does spend a moment clarifying Seph’s place in their world, since this is an unusual situation.

  “Persephone was a witch, but also a bruin under the law. Georg Kivistö declared her his mate of intention. To me, his second, almost one year ago. I swear this, with my brothers as witness.”

  Ajax and Dominic nod tightly. Neither looks surprised in the least. Georg may not have said the words to them, like he did Krueger, but shifters share a bond that makes it impossible to keep any real secrets. Tyr leans back in his seat with another low whistle, which earns him a frown from the judge. I ignore them both, my eyes on Syana, who is staring at Krueger open mouthed.

  “But she said no,” she says, the confusion clear in her voice.

  “Doesn’t matter to them,” I answer before Krueger can. “It’s the male’s decision that carries the weight of the law; the female’s is irrelevant.”

  “That’s bullshit.” She straightens, her voice biting. I smile innocently when Ajax glares at me.

  “It’s our way,” Krueger says simply.

  “It’s meant to protect the female,” Ajax says softly, turning Syana’s gaze to him. “Once intention is declared, there is no backing out. No changing your mind and taking a different female. Ever.”

  “Ever?” Syana looks floored.

  Ajax shrugs in answer. Next to me, Tyr mutters something about shifters being bloody nutters. Thomas only looks dazed, still staring at Syana like he’s never seen her before. I’m not sure he’s even paying attention to the trial.

  Syana blinks. “So Georg couldn’t… Wow. No wonder he was pissed when she said no.”

  “That’s part of it,” Krueger acknowledges. “But Georg also never told her he made the declaration. Usually a male would make sure of a female’s acceptance before taking that step.”

  “I bet,” she whispers, then straightens. “Wouldn’t that have made her queen, then?”

  “No.” Krueger’s tone is short. “They never consummated anything—”

  You’re damn fucking right they didn’t.

  “—and she would’ve had to bear him a child to be officially queen in any case. His intention alone, though, is enough to entitle her to protection under bruin law. Which is why we’re here. Let’s get on with it.”

  “I request the right to choose the venue,” I say before he can move on.

  Krueger gives me a startled look. “Not granted. Thomas—”

  I’m not letting this go. If I don’t get this concession, I’m fucked. “I need to do this in front of Persephone’s families, Krueger. Both of them. I want to be in her home when I tell you all what happened that night.”

  “You son of a bitch,” Dominic breathes. “Haven’t they been through enough?”

  I keep my eyes on the heir to the throne. “They’ve a right to hear this, too. You know they do.”

  The bruin frowns. “They’ll never agree. If you show your face within a mile of that house, they’ll come at you with everything they have.”

  Tyr leans forward, that damn fang glinting in his fingers. “I don’t know, they might be tempted when you tell them you have his balls in your fist.”

  Both the bruin and I glare at him. Tyr only grins. “Magically speaking, of course. I think that oldest sister—what’s h
er name? Oh yes, Anastasia. She might agree. It’s worth a call, don’t you think?”

  Krueger glares at both of us, looking suddenly suspicious.

  “I know witches have been disappearing, Frost. Do you think I’m stupid? Perhaps Persephone was only your first kill. Perhaps the assassin is in on all of this with you. Perhaps this is all just some fucked-up plot get to her sisters.” He’s working himself into a rage.

  Not that he’s entirely wrong, but I hold up a hand as the other bruins get to their feet. “Now you are being stupid. If I wanted to go after the Gosse sisters, Krueger, I’d take them out one by one. Not put myself at your mercy, invite along an assassin who can bleed my powers and request to be tried at a house that’s enchanted against me. Despite what you might have heard, even I’m not enough of a badass to court those odds. I’m just looking for justice here. If I was after anything else, do you honestly think this is the route I’d take?”

  He rubs his chin, considering. Some of the fire fades from his eyes, though he still looks wary. “Fine. I’ll call Ana. But we’re using that fang on you before we go.”

  Relief makes my vision go briefly hazy, but I keep my expression neutral. “Of course.”

  I step outside while he makes the call, needing the air. Tyr follows, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

  “I’m liking the performance so far, Frost.” The assassin reminds me of Loki. Probably why he irritates me so much. “I’m curious how they’re going to take the finale, though.”

  “I told you, I have proof.” I think. “You aren’t going to be collecting on that hangman’s fee.”

  “I’m not fussed. I got one person paying me for your life, another for your blood. You’re a regular cash cow, Frost.”

  That stupid vial slipped my mind. Again. That’s why the fucker was late getting here. He made a stop first. Son of a bitch. “Who’d pay you for my blood?”

  “There’s a rather interesting answer to that.” He grins before lighting his cigarette. “Not that you’ll be hearing it.”