Lord of the Hunt

by Shona Husk

  Chapter 18

  Taryn tried to get free of Felan’s grasp. Dark blood was trickling from a wound on Verden’s cheek. She knew the King and Verden were arguing about her, but she couldn’t hear the words. They were keeping the dispute private even though most had now stopped to watch.

  “Keep still if you know what is good for you,” Felan muttered near her ear.

  In truth, she didn’t know what she was going to do if she did get free. Run to Verden? No, that would look bad. Go to the King’s side? That is what she should do. But she knew her feet wouldn’t be able to move.

  She should never have danced with Verden. Even now her heart was beating too fast and her skin was hot from his touch. She needed him. She loved him.

  “What is going on?”

  “He saw you dancing with Verden and worked out what is going on.”

  “We broke up.”

  “You didn’t look very broken up while dancing. It doesn’t pay to be careless at Court.”

  She turned to face the Prince. “It was one dance.”

  “It was more than a dance. When you were with him…” Felan shook his head. “I’m not blind and neither is my father.”

  The King lifted his head to face the crowd. “There will be a hunt tomorrow in the mortal world to settle the dispute. I will not let it spoil the festivities of midsummer.” He flicked his hand and everyone turned away, not wanting to be caught looking after being dismissed.

  But she could hear the whisperings.

  People glanced her way. Did they know what the argument was about?

  The King took his seat and then beckoned her forward. She shook herself free of Felan.

  Felan grabbed her hand. “I can only help you so much now. Be careful. His temper is frayed.” Then he released her arm and followed at a distance.

  Was he her ally or protecting his own interests in her father? She had to look after herself.

  Taryn sat down next to the King as if nothing had happened, but the tension coiled around her and all of the humor in his eyes was gone. He looked cold and calculating and alien.

  “You made me a deal with me. Did you intend to honor it?”

  “Yes, sire.” She bowed her head. She would have kept her word even if it killed her. A fairy’s word was good—if it wasn’t, they quickly found themselves out of favor and out of Annwyn.

  “Would you have been faithful to me?” He asked, his hand slapping on the table.

  “Of course, sire.” But in her heart, she hoped it wouldn’t come to that. “I made the deal in good faith.”

  “We shall see what color your faith is tomorrow.” He nodded to Felan to approach. “Taryn will be the doe in tomorrow’s hunt.”

  “What?” She must have misheard. They weren’t actually going to turn her into an animal. Were they?

  “You are the prize to settle the dispute. A deer is the traditional animal.” The King smiled and it was all winter and knives.

  “That’s barbaric. You can’t turn me into an animal and hunt me.” Could he? Did he have that much power that he could turn her into an animal?

  “I can and I will. The decision is made.”

  “But I’ll get hurt.” How could he think this was in anyway a good idea to settle this?

  The King shrugged. “Such is the price to be paid.”

  That was her part of the punishment. Her stomach twisted and turned to water. “What about our deal?” She’d been so close to having everything she wanted. Her father’s pardon, freedom from the King’s interest, and she’d fucked it all with one stupid dance. A dance she wanted to relive again and again.

  He glared at her. “It can wait until after. I will not have the Hunter preying on what is mine.”

  She bristled. She was no man’s property to be claimed and protected. “I’m not yours. I’m not anyone’s.”

  “You accepted a seat at my side, my hand for the dance. When the King of Annwyn extends you that honor, you do not bite that hand by then accepting the favor of the Hunter.” He leaned closer, the antlers dangerously close to her face, and lowered his voice. “Just because you weren’t in my bed doesn’t mean you weren’t fulfilling the role of mistress.” He leaned back in his seat. “And even if you win our little wager, that doesn’t mean you won’t continue fulfilling those duties until I am relieved of my crown.”

  She’d expected there to be an edge of bitterness, but there was none. It sounded almost like relief. Was he just waiting for all this to be over? Then why continue the charade and put her through hell? She glanced at Felan. Because he wasn’t ready. He had no human wife and no heir. Damn them all. But if Annwyn fell, there would be no mortal world—at least not as she knew it.

  Felan bowed. “Would you like me to help in any way?”

  The King glanced at her. “Escort Lady Taryn to her chambers and confine her there until the hunt. I wouldn’t want the quarry slipping out of Annwyn.”

  She opened her mouth to argue, then thought better of it. At least if she were in her room, she couldn’t get herself into any more trouble. As she left the hall on Felan’s arm, she gave it one final glance. A beautiful, alien party. No matter how hard she tried, she’d never fit in; she was a human in fairy skin.

  “I’m going to die tomorrow.”

  “No you won’t. One arrow wound won’t kill you.”

  “You know this from experience?”

  “I’ve witnessed a similar hunt before.”

  Taryn raised her eyebrow. “Swear to me that you will make sure I live.”

  “You will not die. If my father wanted you dead, he’d throw you in the river or simply exile you to await death with your parents.”

  Her heart clenched. She had failed her parents; her father wouldn’t get his pardon and everything had been for nothing. She’d fallen for the one man who could destroy her and he had—not with hate, but love, and that hurt worst of all. “I was so close.”

  “I know.” He voice was strained. “You still are. This is a small delay.”

  It didn’t feel very small, and neither of them could afford the delay. “I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t apologize when you don’t mean it.”

  They walked up the stairs, the festival still going. People danced and the King sat alone at the table. The most powerful man alive in any world and he was also the loneliest. She glanced at Felan. Human women would fall over themselves to be with him, but would they want him if they knew what they were coming to and what was expected of them? When they realized Sulia wanted to get her claws into the Prince?

  “How will a human woman ever get used to this? I’m fairy and I hate it.” And yet on the surface it was so pretty; unfortunately, she didn’t have to scratch too deep to see the ugly reality.

  Felan didn’t answer straight away. He was staring down at the party. “There will be changes. Somehow we have lost our way and the Court has become corrupt. In part I blame my mother. She thrived on the hostilities and the plotting scheming. Kill or be killed.”

  For a moment Taryn said nothing, but if Sulia had her way, everything would continue as it was. “Change would be good, but there are some who seek to keep things the same.”

  He glanced at her. “You have news for me?”

  Taryn looked at the party but couldn’t see Verden. Did he blame her? He was as much at fault. She needed to speak with him but knew that was impossible.

  “Sulia longs to be your mistress.”

  Felan nodded. “I know. I let her think I am partial toward her without ever committing. I would have to count my fingers after leaving her chamber.”

  She was sure that was supposed to be a joke, but Taryn couldn’t laugh. She pitied the woman who had to sacrifice her soul to keep the magic of Annwyn alive. “You will break your wife’s heart.”

  “No I won’t. Not again.”

  Taryn was tempted to ask more, but from the set of his face, it wasn’t something he wanted to discuss. “Sulia also wanted to know who you are seeing
and when you plan to wed.”

  Felan cursed in a language she’d never heard. “You side with her?”

  “No, which is why I’m also telling you this. She is crossing the veil…I think to get pregnant.”

  She’d never seen the Prince anything but in control. But beneath his luminescent paint, he blanched. “She told you this?”

  “Hinted.”

  “It could be a trick to see if you would tell. If you did, she will be expecting me to react.” As he spoke, she could see a thousand thoughts flickering past his eyes, as if he was trying to work out every possible play and outcome. “Curse her to the river.”

  If he was worried, should she be terrified? What was Sulia planning? “What’s wrong?”

  He shook his head. “Retire to your chambers and prepare for tomorrow. I will get you at dawn.” He called over a couple of shadow servants. “Don’t try to leave. Please, try not to piss my father off again.”

  She smiled at his choice of words. “It wasn’t deliberate.”

  “I know, but every upset steals time I don’t have to spare.” He held aside her curtain so she could step inside. “Rest. It will be a long day.”

  Then she was alone. For a moment she couldn’t move. She didn’t know what to do. Tears formed and she pressed her palms over her eyes. She wasn’t going to cry. Not yet. Then when? How bad did things have to get? The paint on her face smudged onto her wet hands. She needed to clean up, to remove all signs of the dance even though she wanted to hold on to it.

  Verden with his horns, his body hard against hers and the whisper in her ear. She bit her lip. Had he known that they were being watched? No. She’d seen the shock on his face before it was masked. The Queen had set them up.

  At least she wasn’t being turned into a shadow servant.

  Because being turned into a doe and being hunted was so much better.

  She shook her head. Felan wouldn’t let her die. But the King had made promises too. If Verden won her, would he keep them? She didn’t know what she wanted. She just wanted it over. She drew in a shaky breath. Felan had a Queen in mind. There wasn’t long to go.

  She cleaned off the paint and took the leaves out of her hair and changed into pajamas, a reminder of her life in the mortal world. She sniffed the fabric and tried to remember what it was like to make herself tiny and be a Brownie in the changeling’s house, sleeping on the sofa or watching TV until late. Her life had been so simple.

  She lay on the bed and listened to the music and noise of the party, voices and the stamping of feet. She didn’t want to be there if Verden wasn’t there. Was he also under house arrest? She curled into a ball and tried not to imagine dying with an arrow through her heart.

  Chapter 19

  “I’ve never actually done this before.” Felan held a knife in one hand and a small carved deer in the other.

  Taryn shivered even though it wasn’t that cold. She’d been to Ireland twice now. The first time had definitely been better. “Then don’t do it.”

  He looked at her. “What would you have me do, lie? How do you think that would play out? You hide in the forest and then, when no deer is caught, the King will order the hounds and they will find you and then he will realize you are still fairy. I’d say any chance of getting your father’s pardon will be gone then. Any chance you and Verden had of getting out of this would be gone.”

  She swallowed. “This isn’t right. It’s not how grievances are settled.”

  “It is in Annwyn. You are playing by Annwyn’s laws, not mortal ones. My father needs to save face, and my mother is trying to dismantle his rule.” He shook his head. “And I don’t have time for either of their games.” He closed his eyes for a couple heartbeats.

  She thought about running. How far could she get? But he was right. She could run, but she would be found. Or she’d be left to die on this side of the veil. “Why do fairies die if they are caught in the mortal world during the power shift?”

  The Prince opened his eyes; he looked tired. Had he even slept last night? “Because for a moment Annwyn dies.”

  “Greys survive without the magic of Annwyn.” She was using the word survive loosely because a being banished from Annwyn was really just a slow death. It was the most severe punishment a fairy could get. Most would rather a quick death in the river.

  “I’ve heard it’s like having your heart ripped out the moment Annwyn dies. For those in Annwyn, they recover as the magic is restored, but the restoration comes too late for those in the mortal world. Greys, on the other hand, suffer a slow bleeding out of the magic they once had. The death of Annwyn doesn’t change that.”

  “So a Grey could live for a very long time.”

  “If they didn’t use magic, but most can’t help themselves. I will not make you a Grey. That will help no one.”

  “It won’t help you.”

  He shrugged. “I want your father back; you want your family safe. We aren’t at cross-purposes. We never have been.”

  “You used me.”

  “I have Annwyn to protect from the likes of Sulia. I will do whatever it takes.” There was steel in his voice. “You play your part and we might still be able to steal the win from my mother.” He held out the deer. It looked like it was carved from bone.

  She hesitated. If she took it would she change? “Will it hurt?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What happened to the last person?”

  “His fur was black. Both refused to hunt him. He died a deer.”

  Her stomach turned. “Don’t let me die a deer.”

  “Then pray your fur is white. Which means your word was true.”

  “My word was true, but I can’t help what my heart wants.”

  “None of us can.” He placed the deer in her hand. It was warm, from being held. Patches of the bone were stained dark. “Good luck.”

  She lifted her gaze from the bone deer to Felan. “Who do you want to win me?”

  “I don’t know. I’m not sure it matters when the result will be the same.” He lifted her other hand and pressed the tip of the knife to her finger.

  “What do you mean?” she said as a single drop of blue blood formed, then fell onto the bone deer.

  The world shimmered and vanished. When she blinked, everything smelled funny. She skittered away from the man, watched him for a moment as he bent down and picked things up, then instinct told her he was dangerous and to run. So she ran.

  ***

  Verden was sure that the chill in the air of Annwyn was more than his imagination. Had the King and Queen had words after the party? He touched his cheek, aware the flesh was still tender and the wound still raw. Along with his pride.

  He’d screwed up as Taryn would say and let the midsummer festival get the better of him. Whatever had happened after the party, summer was gone and Annwyn was well into autumn. Gold and orange leaves fell as he walked toward the tree that held the weapons.

  The Queen was already there, alone for a change. The bitch who’d plotted to bring him down. He didn’t bother faking a smile. There was no point any longer.

  “What do you want?” He looked her in the eye. He would not bow and offer fake courtesy.

  “I’m here to wish my husband well.”

  Verden snorted. “Really? I thought you’d want him to lose so Lady Taryn is out of the way.”

  The Queen walked around him, her hand on his sleeve. Verden turned to keep his gaze on her.

  “I want him to win and her to be in his arms. I want you to fail and sleep each night knowing that she is lost to you the way my lover is now lost to me.”

  “I had nothing to do with the death of Shea.”

  “You are the Hunter. You are my husband’s eyes and ears and hands. You do what he can’t.” She released him. “No longer. You have kept your title for too long. A farmer’s son, a nobody. Now you will learn your place.”

  “Annwyn needs a Hunter. Even if I fall, Gwyn will choose another.”

  “And who
would be Hunter for what’s left? I know his time is drawing to an end. I smell the frost. No. There will be no new Hunter and Gwyn will be off the throne.”

  Verden narrowed his eyes. She hadn’t said until Felan is King. “I’m sure Felan has picked his Hunter and Council already.”

  The Queen laughed. “Fool. I don’t know why Gwyn has favored you for so long.”

  “Because my loyalty has been unwavering. Unlike yours.”

  “Enjoy your final hunt, Verden.” The Queen deliberately dropped his title and didn’t use his full name. She turned away and faced the two men approaching. Gwyn and Felan.

  Verden pulled open the weapons store’s door and started gathering the bows and arrows needed for today’s hunt. His hand shook as he reached for the weapons. How was he going to do this?

  While he hadn’t restocked the store after the last hunt, he was sure that there had been more arrows. Still there was more than enough for today. All it would take was one. A dog whined at his feet. Eager to hunt or aware they were about to lose their master? He gave it a scratch between the ears. The animals he was going to miss the most. They’d never lied or tried to cheat him, and their hearts were always open instead of being rigidly guarded.

  The royal family was talking, their words soft and muffled. For a moment Verden considered closing the store and remaining in the tree. But he’d never been one to hide. He’d always taken the gamble and played the game. Today he didn’t know how to win. There was too much at stake. The Queen had found his weakness and pushed the blade deep.

  He clenched and unclenched his hands, then picked up two bows and two quivers of arrows. The dog followed him out of the tree. Conversation stopped as he shut the door and locked it.

  Felan gave him a nod, but he was only here as a witness to the hunt. Nothing more. He wouldn’t help or hinder. That was the role that Verden had previously taken when grudges needed to be settled by hunting—but none had ever involved hunting human or fairy quarry. And he’d never expected to find himself on the other end of the King’s judgment.

  He offered the weapons to Felan, who checked that both bows were in working order and then let his father choose first before handing the other one back to Verden. Felan then repeated the action with the quiver of arrows.