by Shona Husk
“Will you give me a chance to regain my honor in front of the Lady?” Verden smiled, but it wasn’t the one she’d seen in the garden. This one was purely for show. How much of how he behaved was for the benefit of others? Had his conversation with her been an act to lure her in? Or had that been the truth, and this was the lie? She glanced across the floor to where people were either dancing or dining in organized chaos. Who would she be able to trust if everyone was playing along and seeking only to increase their standing?
“Best of three.”
Again the King dealt, and he and Verden played the hand. This time she watched more closely, trying to work out how they were playing and what the animal and season cards meant. It wasn’t just new games, it was a different set of cards. Yet she’d have to learn some of the games just to get by and look the part. She glanced at the King. She needed to learn to be able to play with him.
Laughter from the dance floor distracted her. The Queen was the center of attention, Ladies and Lords spinning around her in a dance that seemed to trap her every time she pretended to get free.
“She’s beautiful isn’t she?” The King’s breath brushed her ear and the hair on her arms prickled to attention.
“She is.” She looked like Snow White with her dark hair and dark eyes; it was no wonder Gwyn had married her.
“Don’t let her looks deceive you. She is cruel and bitter and you would do well to avoid the web she weaves.” He slapped the table, returning attention to the game.
Right, less Snow White more evil Queen. Taryn considered that would be her one and only warning. If she fell into the Queen’s circle, that would be the end of her privilege.
The dance ended and the Queen glided over, her cheeks pink from dancing, her eyes bright, and yet there was no joy in her features. “Come, husband, dance with me.” The Queen held out her hand.
The King paused a moment before getting up. There was still another hand of the card game to go. Would he ignore his wife when so many watched? Everyone seemed to pause to see what would happen. Then he took his wife’s hand, leaving Taryn and Verden at the table alone. They glanced at each other, and Taryn was aware of how many people surrounded them, pretending not to look to see what would happen next. She wasn’t used to living so publicly. Reality TV had nothing on this.
She needed to say something to him. She wanted him to speak to her. “So…is it like this every evening?”
Verden took a sip of his drink and gathered up the deck of cards. “This is the first time in about ten days that both the King and Queen have attended dinner.” He handed her the cards. “There are five suits. Four seasons plus animals. Then there are the majors, which include the eight festivals, like midsummer.”
She fanned the cards over the table and looked at them; each one was a beautiful picture more like tarot than playing cards, but she wasn’t interested in the cards right now. She glanced up at him, but he was looking at the cards.
“Why are you talking to me now when you ignored me before?” She kept her voice soft, not sure if she really wanted to know the answer but figuring it was safer to know.
“Dinner is not the time or place for private discussions. It’s for watching and building alliances. You needed to build one with the King. If you had been speaking with me, what do you think would have happened?” The whole time he spoke, he was pointing to different cards. To anyone watching, it was as if he were explaining the important aspects of each suit.
She nodded. “Okay. I thought it was because…” Because you weren’t interested is what she wanted to say, but she went with a safer option. “I have no status.”
“I have enough of my own not to worry about that.” He looked across the floor. “We have sat for long enough. Let me have the first dance, as I’m sure it will be the only one I get with you tonight.” He picked up the cards and placed them in his waistcoat; then he stood and offered her his hand.
“You don’t leave me any choice.” Yet dancing with Verden would be no hardship, except they would be watched. Were they watching her or him? She was sure he was only doing what was expected. Was she a chore or a pleasure? It was hard to tell when his expression rarely slipped.
She took his hand and let herself be led to the area used for dancing. Fortunately he didn’t drag her into the middle where the King and Queen were doing something that was stiffly formal, and even though they were both smiling, neither seemed to be enjoying it. Even from here, she could feel the tension between them. They hated each other and any goodwill was for show. How had everything gone so wrong?
“Just follow. The steps aren’t that hard,” Verden said as he lifted her hand and placed his other one behind his back. He waited for her to copy.
She looked at the other dancers and realized they were doing the same steps as the King and Queen, but not at the same time. People were at different stages of the same sequence, making it appear like madness at first, but it was really just a repeating pattern. She began to see and feel it in her body. Her palm heated in Verden’s hand.
“You feel it?” He stepped closer.
“Yes.” She did; the magic of the music was in her blood. When she looked at him, he was gazing down at her, heat flickering in his eyes. Right now she didn’t care if she got singed.
As he’d said, the steps weren’t hard. She copied his movements and followed, letting the music flow through her. Different to the mortal music she was used to, this was ancient and powerful. It wasn’t just her pulse she felt increasing; it was Verden’s, as if for the duration of the dance the magic was bringing them closer. They stopped with the music, toe to toe, her body only millimeters from his. One deep breath and her breasts would brush his chest. Her skin tingled. For a moment neither of them moved. He was looking at her with a look in his eyes that could only be called wild and untamed.
She risked that breath; their bodies touched for a moment, long enough to send desire spiraling through her blood. It was closely followed by the hard edge of reason and the sharper blade of danger. She knew why Verden kept his distance when people were watching. It was information that could be used against her…and him.
Verden closed his eyes for a second and stepped back. When he opened his eyes, the cool indifference was back. She knew she couldn’t raise a mask that quickly and wasn’t sure that was a skill she wanted, even though it was one she’d need.
“It’s been a pleasure.” He gave a slight bow. “Should you wish to…escape…for a little while tonight, my offer still stands.” He added in a much lower voice. “I can help you if you trust me.”
Then he released her hand and walked away. She wasn’t naïve enough to think that if they left together it wouldn’t be noticed or spoken about. She glanced at the King and Queen, now dancing with other people. But the music no longer seemed so potent. It didn’t make her want to dance the way it had when Verden had held her hand. She glanced around to try and catch sight of Verden, but he’d vanished.
Others offered their hand and tried to get her to dance, but she shook her head and moved away from the dance floor. There was no way she was going to get dragged into that pit of trouble without a guide; there would be etiquette and unspoken rules that she could only guess at. That and it wasn’t really her kind of music. She much preferred human rock music. Concerts were the best, standing right at the front with everyone, stamping and singing. She missed her life, even though she’d only been pretending to be human. Here, she was pretending to be fairy, and they were all waiting for her to fall over so they could laugh.
“Taryn.” A hand landed on her arm.
Taryn glanced up from the long nails delicately tipped with blue gems and into eyes that were almost white except for the palest tint of pink. The woman had white-blond hair elaborately pinned and braided. Here she was probably considered beautiful—to Taryn she looked freaky, like Halloween meets prom night.
“Can I help you?”
“I knew your mother when she sat at the table.” The woman smile
d but didn’t ease her grip.
So did half the Court probably.
“Let us walk and talk,” said the ice blond.
Well, that would be lovely except this woman could be anyone and just being seen with her could ruin the small chance Taryn had of getting her parents home. “I’m sorry, I’m not sure we’ve met. You are?”
The woman laughed. “Did you not see me with the Queen? I am one of her Ladies.”
There were a lot of Ladies around the Queen, and a lot of men—but just because they fawned for attention didn’t mean they liked her or supported her. It could just mean that the Queen had something on them or they wanted a favor only she could grant. Where did the freaky blond fit?
“You need to be seen with me by the Queen or she might think you are interested in her husband and that will not go well for you. At least appear to be aligning yourself with anyone with power. If the King chooses to shower you with attention, then it will at least look like you weren’t seeking it.” The woman began walking, her arm looped through Taryn’s so Taryn had no choice but to follow unless she wanted to make scene. She should have left the Hall of Flowers with Verden. That gossip she could live with.
However, the woman might have a point. She couldn’t afford to piss off the Queen.
“How is your mother?”
“She is well.” As she can be given the situation.
“And your father?” The woman nodded and smiled at a few people as she walked past.
Taryn bit her lip. Her father wanted her mother to return and not risk being caught on the wrong side of the veil, but she wasn’t going to reveal anything of importance to this woman. “My father wishes the best for my mother.”
“She was always stubborn. How stubborn are you, Taryn? I know why you are here, and I know who invited you. What I don’t know is what you are going to do or how far you are willing to go to see your parents reinstated—or at least returned.” The woman stopped and faced her. “Do you have even half your mother’s courage and brains?”
Taryn met the woman’s pale stare even though it chilled her to the core. Fairies could be creepy without even trying hard. “Will half be enough?”
The woman laughed as if Taryn had shared the funniest joke. Others looked over and noticed the exchange. Was that a good thing or a bad thing?
“Come find me tomorrow, and I shall help you with your wardrobe. I owe your mother a favor, and I shall consider it paid if I make you more presentable.”
“And who shall I ask for?”
“Sulia. I hope your mother mentioned me.”
Was that an invitation to pry? What choice did she have? She needed to know whose side Sulia was on and if she could trust her. So she lied. “She did. Have things changed since you last saw her?”
Sulia shook her head. “Too bold, child. It is enough to know I don’t wish you or your family ill. Others do. Be warned.” Then Sulia was moving on, leaving Taryn standing there.
That went okay—maybe.
It could have been a whole lot worse.
Sulia was going to help with dresses and such, and she owed her mother. Or Sulia was lying and just taking the opportunity to meddle. Yeah, that was far more likely. Fairies didn’t have friends. They had a web of promises, lies, and lovers. Where did Verden fit?
One of his white dogs sat in an archway, waiting for her to follow. Or at least she hoped that’s what it was doing.
She glanced at the hall filled with beautiful fairies, a rainbow of colors dancing and drinking even as flower petals drifted to the floor. Soon there would be no flowers decorating Annwyn. Her parents didn’t have forever to waste like these fairies had. She had to act, and at the moment, that meant seeing Verden, accepting his offer of help, and crossing the veil.
Chapter 5
Verden leaned against the tree, waiting for Taryn to appear. Would she see his hound and let it guide her? Only if she really trusted him. If she didn’t, he still needed to make sure that she got what she was here for.
Just beyond the rustling of the leaves he heard the lapping of waves that shouldn’t exist. He felt it in his blood that something was wrong with Annwyn. Part of him wished Felan would get his act together. The other part wished the King would find a way to reconcile with the Queen, but maybe that moment had passed. If it had, his role as Hunter had also passed. Once Felan was King, everyone with ties to Gwyn would find themselves demoted at best. Banished more likely. The idea of being cut off from the magic of Annwyn was akin to imagining life without an arm or leg. It was why he was doing his best to be friendly with Felan without betraying the King, but every day that knife-edge became sharper and finer.
What was taking Taryn so long?
Had the King coaxed her into a dance? Was she now gladly in his arms thinking of ways to get her father’s pardon while the Queen watched?
He curled his fingers, remembering the warmth of her hand against his, and the light in her eyes as she’d danced with him—she needed to learn how to hide what she was feeling. Too many people would see too much.
The white dog came strolling across the grass a moment before Verden saw Taryn emerging out of the gloom. He straightened as she approached, his heart beating faster, as if it were him being hunted.
The dog dropped at his feet, tongue lolling. Verden bent down to scratch its ears, then dismissed the animal. He wouldn’t need it in the mortal world. Where he was going, there would be no other fairies.
He gave her a half bow. “I’m so glad you were able to join me.” There was only the lightest touch of sarcasm. He wasn’t used to being kept waiting.
“It took me a while to work my way out.” She paused and he knew she was deciding what to tell him. She was learning, but in that heartbeat, he didn’t want her to learn; he wanted her to remain uncorrupted by the Court. “I had people to speak to.”
“Lots of people will want to talk to you. You are new.” And he wasn’t the only man watching her with interest. However, unlike a fairy, she wasn’t throwing herself at the King—not that many had done that in recent years. The Queen had a habit of making would-be mistresses vanish. “In the coming days, you will need to work out your alliances. You need people who will help you.”
“Like you,” she said with one eyebrow raised, as if she didn’t entirely trust him yet.
He smiled, but he knew it held no warmth. Did she have any idea how quickly he could destroy any hope she had of getting that pardon? One word from him to the King and that would be it. He doubted even Felan could fix that damage, but that would help no one.
While he could pretend he was doing this just to help her, that wouldn’t be true. He wanted to be alone with her and it had nothing to do with Court.
“You shouldn’t be seen with me too often.” She needed to hold the King’s interest and she couldn’t do that if she were on Verden’s arm all the time at Court.
She nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
But she was here in the garden with him, ready to cross the veil. A few moments of being caught in their dance had him wanting to steal more time with Taryn—away from the prying eyes and greedy gossip of Court. He wanted her to himself.
“Shall we go?” If he lingered any longer he might change his mind and decide the risk of this game wasn’t worth the reward.
She hesitated. “Are you sure I won’t get found out?”
“I will do nothing to jeopardize your chances.” That was almost a lie. They were outside the castle in the dark about to sneak away; getting caught would be disastrous. “I cross the veil all the time. No one will suspect we are together.”
Taryn let out a breath, the tension in her shoulders easing. “I really need to speak with my mother.”
Verden looked at her. He knew the old doorways across the veil, but they didn’t act like the main doorway. “That could be a problem.”
“You said you could take me across, that there were hidden doorways.”
“Yes. But they are the old routes, the ones forgot
ten at the edges of Annwyn. The ones not destroyed by humans.”
“You can’t take me to Charleston?”
“No. But I can take you to the forgotten wilds of the mortal world.” The places he sometimes visited when he wanted to get away from the politics and enjoy the untouched beauty of the mortal world where there were no fairies to police and no rules to enforce.
“Damn it.” She crossed her arms and looked back at the castle. Was she regretting stepping outside to meet him? She spun back to face him, her features half masked by shadows. “Then what is the point?”
Ah, she wasn’t here to be with him. He wasn’t used to rejection; he was the one usually turning down advances, but it didn’t put him off. He liked to hunt, and Taryn was something unique. “We get time alone without being watched. Plus…” He reached into his pocket and produced the cards. “I can teach you to play.”
Her lips parted, and her gaze darted between the cards and his face as if torn. “And what do you expect in return? Nothing is free here.”
“The pleasure of your company.” That was the truth, and tonight he could determine just how far he was willing to play or if this was a distraction from the current chaos and nothing more.
She laughed. “I am not that naïve. You could have any woman here. One with standing and power.”
“I could.” However, they were boring and they sought only to elevate themselves. Taryn was different, and not just because she was a new face at Court. She was here to save her parents and he admired that. He touched her cheek and a shiver ran through his blood. “But then I wouldn’t be standing here with you.”
“What do you want, Verden?”
She used his name, not his title. It had been a long time since anyone had done that and not meant it as an insult.
You, even though it goes against my better judgment. Was he helping her or indulging himself? Maybe both. But he still had to think of Annwyn. “I don’t know.”