Betrayals

by Kelley Armstrong

  "Will you keep me from doing anything stupid?" I asked finally.

  "Unwise. Not stupid."

  I smiled for him. "Okay, will you keep me from doing anything unwise?"

  "I will."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  "They're going to give you the house," Gabriel said.

  Gabriel and I were sitting in the garden behind the Carew place. That's where the elders wanted to hold our meeting. They'd be here shortly. Until then, I was poking around the garden, tugging vines from statuary, saying, "Oooh, a dryad. And a baby griffin." Gabriel sat on the bench, watching me, saying nothing until...

  "They're going to give you the house."

  I glanced over. "Hmm?"

  "Why do you think they asked you to meet them here?"

  I straightened. "It's a reminder of my roots. Yet another way for them to tell me I belong in Cainsville." I sat beside him on the bench. "Should I fight that?"

  "Not if you agree."

  "I could argue, just to be contrary, but they know it's bullshit. I moved back to Cainsville because this is where I want to be. For now it's home. If I don't do what they want and they kick me out..." I shrugged. "It'll hurt, but I'm not going to choose their side just to stay."

  "They won't force you out. No matter what you decide. They'll want to retain some influence over you, and in return, if you choose to make Cainsville your permanent home, it will be. Which is why they're going to give you this house."

  "That would be quite the bribe."

  "Perhaps 'give' is the wrong word. They would do so, if necessary, but you have your trust fund coming due shortly and accepting the house as a gift puts you too far in their debt. So they will make you a very reasonable offer."

  When I didn't reply, he said, "It's what you want, isn't it? This?"

  I looked around, imagining what I'd do with the gardens, with the house, how I'd make it mine, this magical perfect place.

  Six months ago, I'd been living in my family home. Now I was on my own, having started a career I'd never imagined, living a life I'd never imagined, and considering buying a house, putting down roots in a town where I already had deep ones. Embracing this new life. Making it mine. Was I ready for that?

  After a minute of silence, he said, "What's that one?"

  I followed his finger and could see the barest sliver of gray through a thick tangle of undergrowth. I hunkered down and began pulling back a branch, but he said, "Careful," just as a thorn pricked my finger.

  "Wild roses," he said as he came up beside me.

  "Not cranky gargoyle babies?"

  I got a quarter smile for that. "No, not this time." He crouched beside me and reached to untangle the rosebush from whatever statuary it hid, working carefully so as not to break the branch, saying, "Now the trick is to pull it like..." As I watched him, the scene hitched, and I was crouching in a meadow, beside a rabbit hole, Gwynn beside me, no more than ten or eleven, whispering, "Now the trick is to wait very quietly, until they think the coast is clear and..." A baby rabbit popped its head out and Gwynn scooped it up as Matilda laughed, and he held it out for her.

  The scene faded, and Gabriel was tugging back the last of the branches. "There. Now let's see what..." He glanced over at me and frowned. "Olivia?"

  I could feel the trickle of a tear on my cheek. I wiped it away and smiled. "Just the thorn. It startled me." I inched up beside him, being careful not to get too close and make him jump away. "Oh, it's..." I stopped. "I have no idea what it is."

  "It's certainly odd. Let me clear away the rest of this."

  The statue looked like a tiny man, somewhere between a dwarf and a gnome, exceedingly ugly, wearing a helmet and carrying a lantern.

  "Is it...a tommy knocker?" I said.

  "Close," said a voice behind us. "It's a coblynau."

  I turned so abruptly I tottered. Gabriel put his hand to my back to steady me. Ida walked into the garden, followed by Walter and Veronica, and Gabriel's lips tightened, as if he was annoyed at the interruption.

  "We'll wait inside," Veronica said. "You can finish exploring the garden."

  "No, it's fine," Gabriel said curtly as we rose. He led me toward the house, his hand still against my back. Then he glanced back at the garden, and his voice softened a little as he said to Veronica, "You said a coblynau?"

  "Yes. A Welsh version of the tommy knocker. In folklore, if miners are kind and feed them, they'll help by tapping at particularly rich areas. In truth, they were originally mountain-dwelling fae. Now they live urban lives, like most. They are hardworking, generally kind-hearted. If you are good to them, they will be good to you in return. That's true of most fae, but coblynau are more inclined to see goodness and return it. They are not particularly given to tricks."

  "Are there any in Cainsville?" I asked.

  She smiled. "Perhaps," she said, and her eyes glinted in a way that made me say, "Wait, are you--?" but she was already through the back door.

  We followed her. The house was quiet and still, as it was whenever I visited. It had been empty for years and even thinking of that made me ache, just a little. I could feel the history here. My history. For such a beautiful old house to sit empty...

  I could feel Ida's keen gaze on me. When we walked into the front parlor, I tried not to gape at the frieze of magpies. My great-great-grandmother had put them there. Like me, she'd been able to read omens.

  I remembered what the little girl from my visions said about the house: It was built for you, long before you were born.

  "We'd like to offer you the house, Olivia," Ida said.

  Gabriel snorted, and she looked over, then said, "I'm sure that comes as no surprise."

  "Not at all," he said. "I'm simply impressed by the speed with which you got to it."

  "I believe in being forthright," she said.

  "Ah, trying a new tack."

  "Sarcasm does not become you, Gabriel."

  Veronica cleared her throat. "We've earned his sarcasm, Ida." She turned to me. "We believe living here would both strengthen your powers and ease their negative effects."

  Gabriel cleared his throat. "You say that, knowing--"

  "Knowing you're concerned about those negative effects. Yes. That may seem like an obvious ploy, but I strongly believe Liv would do better in this house. To test that, I suggest she live here for a while and see if it helps."

  "That was not what we discussed," Ida said.

  Veronica smiled sweetly at her. "I'm improvising. As is my right."

  Ida glanced at Walter, who pretended not to notice.

  "I'm not really looking to buy a house," I said. "I'm only in my apartment about half the time anyway. What would I do with a place this size?"

  Even as I thought it, my mind threw up answers. I'd turn one of the bedrooms into an office and leave another as a guest room, for when Gabriel needed a place to crash. I'd put exercise equipment in the basement--I didn't get to the gym nearly often enough lately. I'd redo the kitchen and maybe ask Rose to teach me to bake. I'd add a solarium, where I could curl up with a book and a mocha and--

  Stop. Just stop.

  "Think of it as an investment," Walter said. "You could flip it. That's the term, isn't it? Fix it up and then, if you no longer wish to stay, sell it for a profit."

  "Sell it to whom?" I laughed. "I know how real estate works in this town. Newcomers have to pass a screening committee. I'm guessing that's because the preference is for those with fae blood, presumably Tylwyth Teg. You need to let in some outsiders, but to keep the town under control, you tightly regulate admission. That's why this house has stood empty for so long."

  "No, it's stood empty because we were saving it for you."

  "You'd sell it to us," Ida cut in. "That's how it works. We buy it, as recompense for the inconvenience of our town policies. We purchased this one for three hundred thousand, which was the fair market value. Given that it has stood empty for years, repairs will be necessary, and so we're taking that into consideration and
offering it for two-fifty."

  I could hear my dad whispering that it was a steal but of course I should try to bargain down to two-twenty-five. I had to smile at that. It was good to hear his voice. I worried sometimes that with Todd in my life, my dad would fade away to silence.

  "That's very fair," I said. "But right now, I have about two grand in the bank."

  "We're well aware that your trust comes due in a month," Ida said.

  Veronica nodded. "If you chose to live here as a test, you wouldn't even need to decide until you have the money in the bank."

  Ida's look warned Veronica to stop this nonsense about a trial run.

  "I'll think about it," I said.

  "Why don't you do as Veronica suggests," Walter said. "Move in for a while. I can have some of the young men fetch your furniture from Grace's, and you could be in by nightfall."

  "Considering that Grace owns all the furniture in my apartment, I don't think she'd appreciate that."

  "Then we'll find you some."

  "I think I'll take it a little slower. But thanks. Now, the reason I asked to speak to you..."

  I told them about the lamiae. When I finished, I braced for a crafty look from Ida, as she tried to figure out how best to use this "request" to their advantage. Instead, she simply said, "No."

  "What?"

  "No, they may not stay here. Cainsville isn't their home."

  "They're being hunted--"

  "Fae have always been hunted. Those of us with foresight built towns like this, to protect ourselves and our descendants. Others cannot merely dance about, enjoying their freedom, until they need sanctuary, and then take advantage of our hard work."

  "They aren't asking to move in permanently."

  "But they'd hope to. That's where this is leading."

  "Then set limits."

  "Allowing them inside Cainsville cracks open a door that must remain shut. This town is for us, Olivia. For us, for you, for Gabriel. I realize that sounds cruel, but we built our fortress. They built nothing. They must live with the consequences."

  "Or die with the consequences."

  "Yes." She met my gaze. "If you can stop their killer, then they will stop dying and they will owe you. That is the proper way to handle this. It reflects well on you to help them. It does not reflect well on you to become indebted to us doing so."

  "I had no intention of incurring any debt to bring them here. I was simply asking you to hear their request."

  "The answer is no. I hate to refuse you, Olivia, but here I must. The lamiae may not come to Cainsville."

  "Under no conditions?" Gabriel said. When she looked at him, he said, "I'm not offering to incur any debt myself. I am attempting to negotiate a settlement because this situation impedes our ability to pursue this case. I want these fae in a safe situation so they will not seek protection from us."

  Ida's eyes narrowed. "It isn't enough that Olivia is helping find their killer? They now expect her to protect them?"

  "They expect no such thing. Yet they obviously hope for it...and not from Olivia."

  Walter looked at Gabriel and said, "Oh."

  "Yes, oh. While this Matilda situation most obviously affects Olivia, fae have discovered that I am..."

  "King of the Faeries?" I offered helpfully.

  I got a sidelong glower for that.

  "Sorry," I said. "But as much as you might hate that particular title, the point is valid. Fae like the lamiae have no idea exactly what it means to be Gwynn ap Nudd. They only know that he's the legendary king of the Tylwyth Teg."

  "And therefore, they have certain expectations," Gabriel said. "I would like to disillusion them. However, at this moment, I'm rather busy solving these murders. While I do not want the lamiae to think they can call on my favor, it seems in the best interests of all to shunt them off to temporary safety. I propose that those affected be allowed to come to Cainsville for a maximum of one week. In return, they will be placed under any restrictions the elders impose. They will also, naturally, owe the Cainsville Tylwyth Teg."

  "What could we possibly want from lamiae?" Ida said.

  "Anything. They will also owe me, for negotiating this arrangement. That is me, not Olivia. It is less likely local fae will mistake me for a soft touch, and in future I will make it clear I am no benevolent..." He struggled for a word. "Figurehead."

  "That seems reasonable," Walter said. When Ida turned on him, he said, "Gabriel has a valid point. He and Olivia should be free to investigate, in case these murders are a sign of anything greater."

  Ida sniffed. "They aren't."

  "But your consort also has a point," Veronica said. "Let Liv and Gabriel sort this mess while we give the lamiae a place to stay, under very strict conditions and as an exception rather than a precedent."

  Ida turned to us. "I disagree. But as this is a democratically run town"--her tone implied deep regret at that--"and two of the elders support your suggestion, we must take it before the others. You will have your answer before nightfall."

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  I got my checkup at the doctor's, and then we swung by the diner to pick up a late lunch and a scone for Grace. When I got to my apartment building, though, there was no sign of her. I went inside and looked around.

  "I'm sure she hasn't gone far," Gabriel said.

  "Oh, I'm not trying to find her. I'm just making sure she isn't around to catch me checking in here..." I walked to apartment 1B. I'd mentioned to Gabriel what Ricky had glimpsed when he opened the door. Now I glanced over my shoulder, to be sure he wasn't going to stop me. Silly question. He was right behind me.

  I took one last look around. Then I reached for the knob, turned it, and--

  "Locked," I said.

  He took out his picks and two seconds later I heard the click. I sighed. "I need so much more practice at that."

  A faint smile. "I also have a natural talent, don't forget." He turned the knob. The door cracked open and--

  "May I help you?" Grace said from behind us.

  Gabriel had the door shut and the pick hidden before we turned.

  "I, uh, thought I heard something in there," I said. "We were knocking to be sure everything was all right."

  Grace peered up at me. "You're fae, child. Surely you can lie better than that."

  "Ricky had an odd experience opening this door while searching for TC," Gabriel said. "In light of everything Olivia has gone through, that concerned me. I was breaking in to investigate."

  "Much better. The best lies contain a generous dose of truth." She turned back to Gabriel. "The answer is no, and if I ever catch you picking the lock on one of my apartments, I will curse you with boils, Gabriel Walsh."

  "Bogarts have no ability to invoke curses."

  "Fine, if I catch you doing it again, I'll be very unhappy. And you don't want to make me unhappy." She shook her head. "You're no better than children, either of you. Sneaking about, playing detective, solving murders, jumping off bridges. You do realize it's entirely the wrong time of year for swimming, I hope."

  "Our mistake," I said.

  "Go on and open the door, then," she said. "Just this once."

  I looked to be sure she was serious. Then I reached out and turned the handle. It opened. I pushed and--

  The door opened into an apartment filled with dust motes.

  "Oh, I'm sorry," she said as I stepped inside and looked around. "Were you expecting something else?"

  I glowered at her. She only said, "When you agree to hear the elders out, all the doors of Cainsville will be open to you, Miss Olivia. Including the ones you'd rather stayed shut." She snatched the scone bag from my hand and thumped toward the front door. "Close that when you're done. You wouldn't want to catch a chill."

  --

  The elders agreed to the terms Gabriel had suggested. One week maximum, during which the lamiae would stay with Veronica and a few others. They would be introduced in town as exchange students from Greece.

  We were driving back to Chic
ago to get the girls when Ricky texted.

  Still on for a hunt tonight?

  "Shit," I whispered.

  "Ricky?"

  "Mmm, yeah. We--"

  "You're supposed to go looking for that hound again to see if it can lead you to our rogue Huntsman."

  "Which we'll have to postpone."

  "Absolutely not. It is connected to the case, and the case is our priority. You will meet with Ricky and find the hound. I will escort the lamiae to Cainsville. Melanie said only four of them are ready to go tonight."

  I shook my head. "You go with Ricky. Avoid the king-adoration."

  "That is primarily Pepper, and given her condition, I can hardly fault her for that. As for the others, I would appreciate it if you might take them aside and advise them that we have names and any other designation is...not complimentary."

  I looked over at him and thought of Gwynn. Of the boy with the rabbit, and the boy in the swimming hole, and the young man in the cave. A good boy. A good man. One who'd made a critical mistake.

  I remembered the little girl telling me I judged them too harshly, that they--all three of them--were young and made youthful mistakes. There was more to them than those terrible mistakes. A lifetime more.

  We did judge too harshly. I had to figure out how to tell Gabriel that, if he would listen. To tell him that my memories of Gwynn--like Gwynn himself--were golden and bright, all up until the end, and even then, in his grief, he redeemed himself.

  "I'll speak to the lamiae," I said.

  --

  Tonight we hunted a hound. Yes, the fact it had been at the drop-in center when Erin was murdered suggested a link between its "owner" and the lamiae killings. Yet a stronger reason drove Ricky onto the streets that night.

  Someone had broken his hound. Someone would pay for that.

  As for how Ricky would find a semi-spectral hound in a city of three million people...Well, that might take a bit of magic. Our hope was that the hound retained enough of its severed psychic bond that Ricky could find it again. Not so much magic, then, as faith.

  As we rode, Ricky left his helmet off, which is perfectly legal in Illinois--he just wears one because he's more interested in protecting that brain of his than in looking the part of the badass biker. He did, however, ask me to leave mine on.

  Ricky rolled up and down the streets of the neighborhoods where the lamiae lived and hunted. He wore his Saints jacket, which meant we got our share of shouts and taunts from the local wildlife. Ricky ignored them until we'd been out for two hours without a trace of the hound, and a car veered into our path and forced us to stop.