by Nina Bangs
“Sit.”
“I have to go to Kellen and—”
“Sit.” Sparkle infused a little more command into the word this time. “He’ll be fine for a few minutes.”
Ivy drew in a deep breath. Murmur could almost see her trying to collect her scattered thoughts and then herd them into a mental corral.
She nodded. “I guess a few minutes won’t hurt.”
Ivy sat in one of the seats across from Sparkle. She didn’t cross her legs. Instead, she tapped out a nervous rhythm with one foot. He controlled the urge to supply a few stringed instruments to accompany her.
Sparkle glanced at him. “You should stay, Murmur. I think Ivy will need you.”
Murmur took the seat beside Ivy, but he held Sparkle’s gaze. He hoped she understood that he knew exactly why she thought Ivy needed him, and it had nothing to do with her brother. Sparkle’s lips lifted in a sly smile. Ivy didn’t seem to notice.
Sparkle reached out to slide her fingers over Ganymede’s back but didn’t interfere as he continued to try to pry open the drawer.
“I need help here. No opposable thumbs.”
“I ate the Snickers bar.” She didn’t look at him.
“That’s just mean.” Ganymede flopped onto the desk, somehow twisting his cat face into a sulky pout.
“I suppose you’ve wondered why I chose you, Ivy.” Sparkle didn’t wait for Ivy to answer. “I like to surround myself with unique people.”
Ganymede snorted. “Surround yourself with unique people? That’s one way of putting it.” He looked at Ivy. “What my fluffy bunny means is that she wants to be around sexy people.”
Murmur laughed. Ganymede was the cosmic chaos bringer, and he called Sparkle a fluffy bunny? He hoped someone would kill him before he ever called any woman something like that. Love made fools of even the most powerful males.
Ivy huffed her impatience. “What does that have to do with Kellen?” She started to get up.
“Stay there.” Sparkle didn’t sound like the queen of sex and sin right now. Power infused her voice. “I have a point to make.”
“Well, make it fast.”
Ivy was saying the tough words, but Murmur could feel her unease with all of them.
Ganymede rolled over. “Rub my tummy to make up for eating my candy.”
Sparkle scratched his stomach as she met Ivy’s gaze. “I chose you before I even saw you because Holgarth said you had faery blood.”
“How did he know?” Ivy sank back in her seat, her body language saying loud and clear that she wished she were somewhere else right now, wished she knew what the hell was going on.
Sparkle waved her question away. “Holgarth has his own methods for background searches. What’s important is that I love to help ordinary people maximize their sexual potential. Of course, you weren’t exactly ordinary, but I decided you were close enough. In fact, your Sidhe blood made you a sensual powder keg.” She looked as though she were contemplating the joy of holding a match to that keg.
Ivy seemed to sink deeper into her seat with every one of Sparkle’s words. “I still don’t see what that has to do with Kellen.”
Sparkle looked at Murmur. “I know you saw the same thing we did. Why don’t you explain everything to Ivy while I get Mede some candy? I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
At the word “candy,” Ganymede leaped from the desk, padded to the door, and stared at it until it swung open. He stepped into the lobby and waited for Sparkle. Then he shut the door.
“How does he do that?”
Ivy sounded as though she didn’t really care how he did it, so Murmur ignored the question. Sparkle always played angles. She must think they’d bond if he was the one to lay the cold hard facts on Ivy. Way to miscalculate, Sparkle. In the unlikely event they actually did bond, Murmur felt pretty sure it wouldn’t be a good thing. His coldly analytical mind demanded that he back off. His body had a whole set of other demands. He turned his mental music up another decibel.
“You already knew about your Sidhe blood, but did you ever think beyond yourself?” Murmur moved his chair a little closer to her.
He didn’t try to touch her, though, and he kept his music to himself. It wouldn’t take much to send her running from the room. She’d collect her brother, and he’d never see her again. That wasn’t an acceptable conclusion for him anymore.
She frowned.
He didn’t wait for her to comment. “Kellen has a true Sidhe face. You look human, but any nonhuman who saw your brother would know what he was.”
“But he is human. I’ve lived with him my whole life. Don’t you think I’d know if he wasn’t?” Her voice rose and she clutched the arms of her chair in a white-knuckled grip.
“He has the blood of both races, but from his looks I’d say his faery blood is predominant.” He held up his hand to keep her from interrupting. “Think about it. He’s lived in a house where his mother and sister held his father in contempt because of the voices he heard.”
“I didn’t hold Dad in contempt.” She glanced away, then sighed. “Yes, I’ll admit that the respect wasn’t always there, but I never stopped loving him.”
Murmur nodded. “So why would Kellen allow either of you to suspect that he was like his dad in any way?” He thought for a moment. “He could be like you were—unawakened—but I doubt it. From appearances, I’d say his fae blood flows strongly. And right now he’s at the prime age for a power surge. I bet he’s one confused kid.”
“Ohmigod.” She dropped her head into her hands. “Poor Kellen.”
Now came the toughest part. “Ganymede had a reason for suggesting that Kellen stay here. Your brother could be in danger.”
“Why?” She straightened, her expression distressed, protective.
“Kellen doesn’t just have the face of any ordinary Sidhe. Looking at him is like looking at the male version of Mab, queen of the Unseelie Court.”
“What does that even mean?”
He hated the way every word he said was overwhelming her, turning her safe world into a savage jungle. But she needed to understand.
“Mab’s blood runs in your brother’s veins, in yours as well. But you’ve inherited the face of your human relations. I assume your father did too, or else he wouldn’t have escaped the Sidhe’s notice for so long.
“Mab has no living sons, and if she finds out about Kellen, she’ll try to take him.” She would take him. Not much could stop the Winter Queen. But no need to tell Ivy that right now.
He could almost see her gathering her strength. She would try to keep her brother out of Mab’s hands if it came to that. Murmur refused to look beyond that statement, to what he’d do if that happened. He didn’t know, and it wouldn’t do any good to speculate.
“Shouldn’t I take Kellen somewhere away from this place? There are too many nonhumans here who might recognize his face the same way you guys did.”
“The fae are everywhere, Ivy. Humans just can’t see them the way you can now. Your brother has flown under Mab’s radar so far, but his luck won’t last forever. One of them might recognize Kellen even on that desert island you’re probably thinking about.”
“So what should I do?” She dropped her hands to her lap, clenching and unclenching them.
“Stay here with Kellen while Ganymede and Sparkle think of some way to protect your brother for the long haul, so that, some night years from now, the queen’s forces don’t come for him.”
“Just Ganymede and Sparkle?”
“We’ll all work on it.” He’d been a demon too long to feel comfortable offering aid to anyone, but if he was part of a mob helping Ivy then it wasn’t really personal. He almost laughed. Was he trying to lose himself in the crowd? Who was he kidding? Certainly not his master. Murmur was planning to do a freaking good deed. He could expect another visit from Klepoth soon.
Klepoth dealt in illusions, though, not reality. Could he make them bad enough to drive Murmur back to the Underworld? There was a time when that
would have been a definite yes. But Murmur had grown more powerful through the centuries. Powerful enough to defy the Master? Something to think about.
Ivy nodded, shell-shocked. “I need to talk to Kellen.” Without looking at Murmur again, she stood and left the room. She didn’t bother shutting the door behind her.
And as much as he wanted to go after her, he realized she probably needed time alone with her brother. Besides, if someone wasn’t here when Sparkle came back, she would just come looking for them. At least he could occupy the queen of sex and sin long enough to give Ivy the time she needed.
While he waited for Sparkle to return, he tried to untangle all the plot threads in his life. He had to sell Bain on the idea of giving Asima to the Sluagh Sidhe. He had to keep his master off his back. He had to get rid of Klepoth. He had to help deal with Mab along with the faery host.
Asima’s musical request pinged in his mind. He winced as she chose some opera featuring a man and woman with really big voices. Damn, he wouldn’t last through six months of this crap. Relax, all you have to do is last two weeks until the Sluagh Sidhe claims her.
Sparkle entered her office with a much happier Ganymede in tow. She looked around. “Just you?”
“Ivy needs time to talk to her brother.”
Sparkle nodded as she once again took a seat behind her desk.
Ganymede leaped onto the chair beside Murmur. “I’ve had my sugar fix. I’m good for another half hour.”
Sparkle steepled her hands beneath her chin and studied Murmur. “Maybe it’s better to have you alone right now. Ivy wouldn’t be in any mood to listen to me anyway.”
Murmur thought about excusing himself before Sparkle had time to roll out her sexual agenda. He didn’t. He hated to admit it, but he was curious. “So talk.”
“I want you and Ivy to hook up.”
Sparkle was nothing if not direct.
“Got it. And I should do this why?” Murmur knew a hypocrite when he heard one. And this one was speaking with his voice. He didn’t need a reason to want to spend a night or two or three with Ivy.
“Because it’s what you want.” She didn’t make it a question.
“Maybe. But I have a well-developed survival instinct. Things are about to get ugly with Mab, and Ivy will be right in the middle of it. Maybe I should just pack up and leave.” He knew that wasn’t going to happen. “Besides, I have a few issues of my own that I need to take care of before I worry about anyone else.”
“Murmur, my beautiful demon, I don’t give a damn about your personal problems. You should know by now that it’s always about me.” She smiled at him. The smile promised good things if he pleased her and an eternally limp dick if he ticked her off. “Besides, I’m not asking you to stand by Ivy’s side forever. I just think you’d both enjoy some touching time. You’re a sensual creature, Murmur. Use it for a good cause. If you need any pointers I—”
“I don’t need any damn pointers.” It was puzzling how angry he was with Sparkle for suggesting he do exactly what he really wanted to do. He amazed even himself sometimes. “I know you’re the cosmic troublemaker in charge of sex, but this direct approach doesn’t seem your style. You’re usually sneaky and manipulative. What’s up?”
Sparkle sighed and leaned back in her chair. “The Big Boss chose me as his successor in case he ever bit the big one. He’s been training me. But I still have to keep up standards with my regular work. The problem is my numbers are down. I need a shining success so that the Big Boss continues to believe he chose the right person for his job. A powerful demon and a human with faery blood would definitely impress.”
She made a sweeping gesture. “You’re wrong for each other on so many levels, and yet, the sexual chemistry practically bleeds from you.” She narrowed her eyes to slits, obviously contemplating experimenting with all that sexual chemistry in her personal lab.
“And if I decide I don’t want any part of your plan?”
She stared at him.
“I know, I know. A limp dick forever. But what else?”
“Ever thought about being free of your master, demon?”
Ganymede had evidently gotten over his sugar-induced coma and was ready to participate.
“Before you say no and tell me a bunch of crap about how much job satisfaction you get from doing the dirty work for the jerk down under, know that I’ve seen Klepoth here. I had a talk with him over a few drinks.” He thought about that. “Okay, over a lot of drinks. Demons can’t hold their liquor. Anyway, I know why he’s here.”
Murmur figured this was where the coercion would come in. Sparkle and Ganymede would help Klepoth unless Murmur helped them. That was fair. Coercion was an accepted business practice in demon circles. “And?”
Ganymede licked one paw. “I’m happy when my cupcake is happy. She wants you and Ivy to hook up. Make it happen, and we’ll talk to the Big Boss, see what we can work out.”
“Nice try, Ganymede, but my master isn’t going to give a rat’s ass about your Big Boss.”
Ganymede fixed him with one of those unblinking cat stares. “I assume your master is an arch demon. I don’t need a name because they all think the same. Besides, saying a demon’s true name gets his attention. No one wants that.”
Murmur nodded. He hadn’t said his master’s true name in centuries. That would be like waving a red flag and shouting into a megaphone, “Here I am, your disobedient subject, waiting to be punished.”
Ganymede continued, “You give an arch demon a hard time, and he doesn’t pass your name on to his boss, because the Big Bad doesn’t want to be bothered punishing demon insubordination. He has other fun stuff going on down under. So your arch demon gets to punish you.”
“Right.” What did the cat have in mind?
“Now, he’d like to destroy you outright, but my guess is you’re too powerful for that. So he’ll do the next best thing and try to strip you of all your power.”
Murmur didn’t answer. He’d never stopped to think things through, but Ganymede was right. “Go on.” He’d hate to lose his power, but he was more afraid that his master would take his music from him. Murmur didn’t think he could exist without his music. It had always defined him; it was him.
“The Big Boss has enough power to talk mano a mano to your master. He can work a deal, favors and items of interest will change hands, and you will then be working for the Big Boss.” Ganymede began to purr.
“So it’s like going to work for a new crime boss instead of sleeping with the fishes.”
“You got it. But the Big Boss is more of a freethinker; there’s a little give in him.”
Mumur didn’t believe a word the cat said. Ganymede was running a con, and Murmur wasn’t about to be his clueless mark. The Big Boss had no incentive to make an enemy of an arch demon. Why would he bother? But since Murmur really wanted to spend quality time with Ivy, he’d agree. Allow Ganymede his small triumph. “You have a deal.”
Sparkle clapped her hands. “Oh, good. I can’t wait to begin.”
Murmur allowed himself to relax for a few moments. “Hey, where’s Zane? I thought he’d still be hanging around bugging you about castle security.” He didn’t give a damn what the sorcerer was doing, but he wanted to keep track of the competition. Not that Zane was competition. Oh, what the hell, who was he trying to kid? He hated every time the sorcerer even glanced at Ivy.
Sparkle frowned. “I banned him from my office. He answered all two thousand of my e-mails.”
Uh-oh. Ivy would be ticked at Zane. Murmur lowered his head so Sparkle wouldn’t see his smile.
“He told all two thousand women to stay pure and virginal, not to wear revealing clothing, and never to think sensual thoughts.” Sparkle actually growled. “If he weren’t Holgarth’s son, I’d toss him out on his virginal ass.”
“My honeybun has no sense of humor when it comes to sex.” Ganymede allowed himself a cat chuckle. Sparkle glared at him, and he stopped.
Sparkle threw her arms wide
. “Now go forth, Murmur, and seduce the hell out of Ivy.” She smiled benevolently at him.
“Sure. Getting right on that.” He stood and headed for the door. He’d had about as much of the two troublemakers as he could take.
Deep in thought, he stepped into the lobby and slammed into someone. He looked up.
Tirron smiled coldly at him. “Hi, partner.”
Hell. He’d forgotten about the faery.
8
Kellen slouched in the chair with one leg flung over the arm. He wouldn’t meet her gaze. “If you send me back, I’ll just leave again.”
Ivy sat on the end of his bed. She loved Kellen, but now she wondered if she’d ever really known him. Thinking back, she remembered the years spent listening to Mom complain about Dad and his voices. When had Kellen started disappearing whenever the conversation turned to Dad?
“Kellen, do you hear voices like Dad does? Do you see things others can’t see?” She had to ask. There was no way to avoid it.
He looked up. His eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
She took a deep breath. He was going to make her spell it out. For a moment, she wished Murmur were here. He’d be able to speak to her brother without emotion getting in the way. No, this wasn’t Murmur’s job. Her brother, her responsibility.
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve suddenly started seeing…” Say it. Just say it. “Monsters. Or maybe not monsters, but beings who aren’t human. Ordinary people don’t see them as they really are. But they’re real. They’re all real.”
She watched her brother’s face crumple. He blinked, trying to hold back tears that would embarrass him.
“There are people here who can explain what’s happening to you.” Ivy didn’t care if she mortified the hell out of his teenage psyche; she crossed the space between them and hugged him tightly. He leaned into her.
Finally releasing him, Ivy sat cross-legged on the floor in front of his chair.
He scrubbed at his eyes and turned his head away. “I thought I was crazy. I started seeing them when I was twelve. I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Because of Dad?”