The Darkest Night

by Emma V. Leech

  Devil let out a breath, cursing himself for his temper. He shook his head and sighed. "Come."

  The young man smiled with relief and hurried to sit at his feet, as content as a puppy. Devil reached out and threaded a lock of golden hair around his fingers. "You play very well, Luke. "

  "You didn't like it, though?" Luke ventured, daring to look up at him.

  Devil smiled, looking into the boy’s ebony eyes inherited from his Dark Fae father, and pulled a little on the golden hair that told tales of a Light Fae mother. The young man’s head tilted back, resting on his thigh. "It wasn't the music,” he said, his voice soothing now.

  "The prince?" Luke guessed, and then quailed a little at the look in Devil’s eyes.

  "Ah, but he is no longer a prince," Devil said, feeling the shivers that ran over Luke at the tone of his voice. "Now, he is our king. The king of all three lands, and so terribly powerful."

  Luke gave him an anxious look. “He’s very beautiful,” he said, and Devil felt the young man’s eyes searching his face. Devil said nothing, keeping his features impassive. "Why do you hate him so?"

  Devil looked back at the painting of his father and brother, at a life that was so lost to him it may as well never have been at all. "Because he took everything I loved from me, and turned what little I had to ashes." The painting blurred a little and Devil turned away from it.

  "I'm so sorry he hurt you."

  Devil blinked, returning from his memories to where he really was, this little corner of relative peace in his hell on earth. Living in the past was a dangerous temptation. He was almost surprised to see Luke at his feet, holding his hand with such empathy in his eyes. Yes, Luke could understand loss and loneliness, that was for sure. Fury raged in his heart. Fury for himself, for Luke, for all of the misfits, the less than beautiful, the strange and broken who were so disdained in this perfect world. Now, that world was ruled by their golden-eyed king, the very embodiment of perfection. Longing rose up in his chest and he forced it away again. The king would pay, in full, for all of them. When he turned back to Luke, his heart was as unforgiving and cold as a northern sea, and he looked at the hand on his with disdain. "Run along, now,” he said, keeping his tone even. He was in no mood to be comforted. “There's a good boy."

  Luke stared back at him, the desire to stay where he was all too clear. "Perhaps I could cheer you up?" he offered with a cautious smile.

  Devil withdrew his hand and laid his head back against the chair, closing his eyes. "Leave now, Luke,” he said, hoping he noted the warning in his voice. “Before you annoy me."

  Luke hesitated and Devil cursed, when would the foolish boy learn to keep clear of danger? He put his hand out, gripping Luke's chin between thumb and forefinger. "You don't want to annoy me, now do you?" he asked, his tone low.

  Luke swallowed and shook his head. Devil made a dismissive gesture with his hand and Luke got to his feet, leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.

  Devil returned his gaze to the golden flames, the warmth of them touching his skin but never taking the chill from his heart. "Run away, angel," he said, his voice soft, as he remembered eyes of the same colour that had once looked upon him with affection. "Run away, before I burn us all to the ground."

  Chapter 45

  "Out of the question!"

  Corin took a breath as the idea sent fury through his veins like a rush of fire. Everyone else in the room jumped and exclaimed as Corin's magic prickled over their flesh, and Laen cast Bram a told you so expression, which only irritated Corin further. Laen had known about this and hadn’t talked the bloody fool out of it.

  "But, mon loup,” Claudette protested, looking rather irritated herself. “It's only pretend. We just need her to trust me so she tells me the truth about what happened. There will be official witnesses behind the scenes and you will be watching. You can't possibly believe that we would … well, and in front of you!" Irritation turned to impatience as she glared at him, clearly unimpressed by his reaction.

  Corin clenched his jaw and tried hard to suppress the urge to knock Bram’s teeth down his throat. Muttering curses, he took in Claudette’s increasingly annoyed expression and knew he wasn’t in a position to try her patience any further. He’d only just extricated himself from the doghouse, he had no urgent desire to return to it.

  Taking a breath he tried to think about it rationally. It was possible that the plan would work, he could see that, and he did want Bram to clear his name. Since Leola had ruined him, he had suffered a great deal over the years, and yet he had never allowed his situation to get him down. His nature was kind and generous, and he had been a good and loyal friend to Corin. It was true that he had often brought him more trouble than he had saved him from, but nevertheless, he would do anything for Corin if he could, for Laen, too, and that deserved some kind of sacrifice. The thought of him putting his hands on Claudette, however, even if it was just for show … Corin clenched his fists, ignoring the fact that everyone was rubbing their arms and muttering as his magic made their skin prickle.

  Claudette got to her feet, turquoise eyes flashing with annoyance. "Alors, are you saying you don't trust me?" she demanded, crossing her arms and glaring at him.

  "Of course not!" he said, aware that he sounded terse and angry, and quite unable to get a handle on the unreasonable surge of jealousy that must be perfectly obvious to all concerned.

  "Well, I hope my honour is not in question?" Bram said, folding his arms and looking mutinous. Corin returned an unloving look, narrowing his eyes at him.

  "I tell you what, Tully," Corin growled as Bram opened his mouth to correct him and thought better of it. "You go and fetch Ameena and let her spend the next ten minutes sitting in my lap, and then ask me how I feel about this."

  Bram frowned, apparently considering the idea as his fingers tightened on the arms of his chair, turning his knuckles white. He let out a breath and returned a rueful expression. "You're right, of course. It was a stupid idea." He got to his feet, shrugging. "Oh well, I would have been sorry to have given up the outfit anyhow," he said with a grin, gesturing to his flamboyant appearance. "I have grown quite attached to being the notorious highwayman."

  Corin tutted, glaring at the man and feeling very hard done by. "Oh, dammit, Tully, do stop being so bloody noble!" he cursed, stalking away from him and wishing he was uncouth enough to kick the antique footstool in front of him. He felt like kicking something.

  "Does that mean you agree?" Claudette asked, moving around him to look at his face. He was quite certain it looked livid.

  Corin let out a breath and turned back to the assembled company, scowling. He sat down and folded his arms. "Yes,” he growled, biting the word out. “Yes, I agree." He looked up at Bram, knowing damn well he’d always had a crush on Claudette and hoping the fool heeded his words. "I trust you, Tully,” he said, sounding like he didn’t do anything of the sort. “But mark my words … push your luck and I will make you wish for a visit to Tartarus just to escape me."

  Bram paled and cleared his throat. "Understood,” he murmured, nodding his agreement.

  “Hmph.” Corin reached out and took Claudette’s hand, pulling her into his lap. At least this ought to have gone some way to restoring her faith in him. "You had best send your invitation, ma belle, before I change my mind."

  Claudette smiled and went to kiss his cheek, but he moved his face and she found his lips instead. He kissed her, hard, and then released her, studying her flushed cheeks and darkening eyes with satisfaction. “And don't you forget it," he muttered.

  ***

  The invitation was duly sent and the scene set, and Claudette tried to reassure herself that it was still a good idea as nerves knotted in her stomach. She’d never been a good actress. They chose the yellow salon, which they had never used, as Corin thought it revolting. He said the designer should have been strung up for crimes against good taste, the yellow was too gaudy, and combined with all the gilding, it gave him a migraine. I
t did, however, have the advantage of sliding glass doors hidden behind thick curtains, which could be used to divide the room in two. This meant that Corin, Laen, and various officials who would serve as witnesses were hidden from view. Bram had banned Ameena from coming by telling her, with what Claudette felt was the utmost sincerity, that if she were there, he would be too nervous to go through with it. The fact that Corin was watching was quite bad enough for both of them.

  "Maybe this was a bad idea?" he whispered to Claudette as they waited for the signal that Leola was on her way. He was pulling at his cravat like it was strangling him and there was fine sheen of sweat on his forehead that betrayed his nerves. Funny, really, he’d always been such a rock in all of the difficult situations they’d been in. Kissing her in front of Corin, however, that was enough to have his nerves in shreds.

  "Don't be such a chicken!" she hissed back, biting her lip as he returned a wounded expression.

  "Easy for you to say,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck and grimacing. “I can feel Corin's eyes burning a hole in my head from behind the blasted doors."

  They were sitting side by side on a settee, and the scene had been made intimate with semi darkness and a little flickering candle light. A bottle of champagne with two glasses sat on the low table before them, already half empty.

  "Just do what we discussed,” Claudette said, with far more confidence than she was feeling. “Corin will understand, he agreed after all." Privately, Claudette thought there was a good chance Bram wouldn't live to enjoy his victory. Judging by Corin's grim expression as the doors had closed, he was seriously regretting having allowed it at all, but she just patted Bram’s hand and gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't fret. He trusts you."

  "I know, but ..." He hesitated, giving Claudette a nervous look that made her stomach drop. "But we've got to make it convincing. She's not a stupid girl, she knows I want to expose her. If she thinks for a moment that she's being set up ..."

  He didn't have time to finish the sentence as the signal was given that Leola had entered the apartment. Claudette turned to Bram with a gasp of alarm, suddenly feeling far less sanguine about the whole affair than she had made out, but any protest was muffled by Bram’s lips, which were pressed against hers with some force. She stifled a squeak of protest and Claudette felt a sudden flash of magic burning her skin as Bram pulled her close. There came a muffled gasp from outside the door to the room which had been left purposely a little ajar.

  Claudette pushed Bram away. "No, no, darling, we can't … we mustn't!” she protested, wondering if she was overdoing it. “It's too dangerous. If Corin were to find out ..."

  "I don't care!” Bram declared, his voice rough and desperate, and Claudette decided he was really rather good at this. “Claudette, you know how I feel about you. Say you'll come to me. Tomorrow night. Corin is going to be away, you said so yourself. We might not get another chance for weeks. Please, please, my love, I cannot stand it anymore. I’ll go mad."

  He pulled her close again and pressed a line of passionate kisses down the line of her neck. Much to her chagrin, Claudette gasped, a little shocked at his audacity. She was committed now, however, so she tangled her fingers in his long hair. "Enough!” she cried, finding it all too easy to act flustered in the circumstances. “Oh, please stop. You must go now. I have someone coming and they mustn't see you!"

  Bram cupped her face between his hands, looking at her with such intensity, she was rather taken aback. "I'll only go if you promise to come to me. Say you will!" he demanded, his voice fierce with passion.

  Claudette gasped, and took his hand, holding it to her cheek. "Yes! Yes, my love, I'll come … I will!"

  She was swept into a passionate kiss that Claudette strongly suspected would put Bram’s head on a spike, and then was released as he told her, "Until tomorrow, lover," with a voice full of longing, before leaving through a door on the opposite side of the room. Claudette hauled in a breath, suspecting she looked quite flushed and tousled enough to convince the woman who had been spying on them.

  Leola swept into the room and Claudette got her first good look at her. She gritted her teeth and prayed that this was going to work. "Oh!" Claudette gasped, one hand going to her throat. "I didn't know you were there!" she said, hoping she looked mortified.

  Leola ran to Claudette and sank to her knees in front of her. "Oh, my lady, please do not concern yourself.” she said, looking up at Claudette from under her long lashes. “Your secret is safe with me. I will never tell a soul! It will be safe with me until my dying day."

  Claudette looked into the cool, dark eyes before her and thought that her secret would be safe until the moment it became of use to this calculating creature. She kept her thoughts to herself, however, and sighed, giving Leola a guileless smile as she reached forward and took her hand. "I just knew we were going to be friends,” she said, beaming at her. She patted the seat beside her and Leola got up, settling the skirts of her beautiful dress with care. "To tell the truth," Claudette said, lowering her voice in a confiding manner. "I've been most terribly lonely. Everything is so strange here, so different from home. I … I've been desperate for a friend to talk to."

  Leola nodded, her big eyes so full of fake sympathy that Claudette wanted throw up. "I can quite understand,” she said, folding her hands in her lap, the picture of modesty and innocence. “When I married my husband, the marquis, I felt quite lost at first, and in truth ..." She blushed in a pretty manner that Claudette could only admire, as she went red as a tomato when she did it. Leola lowered her eyes and gave a sigh. "In truth, I've never felt quite accepted. I would be so grateful to find a friend, too." She glanced up at Claudette again from under her lashes.

  "Well, you have!" Claudette said, wondering if even Hallmark had ever written dialogue quite so nauseating. They passed a companionable ten minutes or so, chatting about inconsequential matters until Claudette decided it was time to get things on track and gave a wistful sigh.

  "Is there something troubling you, my lady?" Leola asked, her eyes full of concern.

  Claudette sighed again, heavily this time, while hoping she wasn't over doing it. Theatrics had really never been her strong suit. "Oh, do please call me Claudette, and … and yes,” she admitted, biting her lip. “Yes there is something. It's just that it's terribly private, and ..." She hesitated, giving Leola a doubtful look. Leola reached forward and took her hand.

  "Claudette, if we are to be friends, then you must trust me. I promise that I will do anything in my power to help you, and if it is of … well, of a delicate nature, please don't be embarrassed." She gave Claudette a dimpled grin. "I am an old married lady, after all. You couldn't possibly shock me."

  Claudette looked at her with admiration, she was good, she’d give her that. But Claudette had been in Queen Audrianne’s company, however, and taught many of her tricks. "Oh, I think I probably could,” Claudette replied, trying hard to keep the dry edge from her voice. She bit her lip, trying to look nervous whilst holding back a snigger at the absurdity of the situation.

  "Impossible!" Leola said with the utmost confidence, and wriggled a little closer to Claudette so they were sitting in a huddle. "You can whisper if you prefer," she said and giggled like a school girl.

  Claudette took a moment to really look at her and could quite see how Bram had been taken in. She was as superficially beautiful and fragile-looking as a china doll. Her skin was a soft honey gold, as with all the elves, and her eyes large and heavily lashed. Cheeks the soft pink of a dusky rose were paired with a delicate mouth that revealed pearly white teeth. The whole picture was perfectly enchanting, and Claudette could well believe it hid a heart as cold and calculating as any of the most desperate criminals languishing in the dungeons below them. Satisfied that the woman deserved everything she was going to get, Claudette took a breath, as though to give herself courage. She turned to Leola, her expression serious and confiding. "Well, you see … it's Bram."

  "Bram?" Leola fro
wned for a moment, her pretty brow furrowed. "Oh! You mean Tully."

  Claudette nodded at her and sighed. "You see, the thing is, he … he wants me to spend the night with him tomorrow and I've said I will, but ..."

  Leola squeezed her hand. "But you're nervous?" she said with a gentle smile that faltered a little as Claudette squealed with laughter.

  "Oh non! Non, pas de tout!" She shook her head. "Non, I'm not nervous, silly,” Claudette replied, enjoying the shocked expression in the woman’s eyes.

  "Oh?" Leola replied, her voice faint.

  "Non!” Claudette moved closer to her, enjoying the widening of Leola’s eyes as she continued. “The thing is that I've only ever been to bed with Corin, and, well, I'm sure you've heard all about him,” Claudette added with a laugh. Belatedly, she wondered if Leola had first-hand knowledge of Corin’s prowess and prayed not, as she’d have to kill the woman before Bram had cleared his name. Happily, Leola just nodded and said nothing. “Well, he's quite astonishing in bed, you see," Claudette carried on, swallowing down a bubble of laughter at the increasingly scandalised look on Leola's face. The woman was trying hard to hide it and was failing miserably. She lowered her voice, whispering to Leola now. "I'm taking the most awful risk in meeting him, you see, so … well, I just want to know if he’s worth it?" Leola blinked at her, apparently clueless, and Claudette sighed with impatience. "I mean, how can I be sure he's up to the job?" she demanded.

  Leola made a choking sound and took a moment to smooth the perfect folds of her dress once again. Claudette watched her, she could almost see the calculations being made behind the perfect façade. She saw the moment when Leola decided that to gain the confidence of the woman who would become the most powerful person in the three kingdoms outside of the king himself … she must give a confidence into her keeping.

  "He is," she said in a soft voice.

  "I beg your pardon?" Claudette said, her voice rather louder now. "I didn't quite catch that. What did you say?"