“Definitely. I’d like to know who Kyran is—and I still don’t believe that Kevighn actually scattered the pieces in the mortal realm.” V made a face of disgust.
“Will you stop?” Noli shoved him. “He said he would and I believe him.”
V held his hands up in surrender. “Fine. I’ll believe you until proven otherwise.”
“We could go find him, if you’d like,” Noli goaded, feeling the need to make V squirm a little. “I know where to leave word for him.”
“You do?” V cocked his head. “Why?”
“Because he told me.” She met his eyes, daring him to say anything.
V sighed and pulled her closer. “I don’t want to fight. No, we don’t need to find him.”
“Kevighn told me that if anyone could return me to my old self it would be Ciarán. Do you think that’s true?” Noli writhed in her seat. Kevighn said a lot of things and sometimes it was hard to know what was truth, especially when she wanted it to be.
“Oh, I didn’t think of that,” James interjected from his chair.
“But that doesn’t mean he would, or that his price would be something we’d be willing to pay. Ciarán is as dangerous as the high queen. More.” V’s lips pressed into a hard line.
Right. There would be a price, and if he was the dark king …
“I don’t know. That could be less scary than asking the Bright Lady herself—or the magic,” James replied.
“You’re barking mad,” V retorted. He squeezed her shoulder. “We’ll fix it. I promise.”
She nodded in agreement. “Of course we will”
Somehow.
Noli lay in the bedroom she’d come to think of as hers. The butterflies and flowers James had painted for Elise long ago danced across the walls. Ruffles and bows trimmed many a surface, though it didn’t bother her. Usually she ended up sleeping in V’s arms on the rare occasion they were able to stay the night in the Otherworld. This had become a room in which she’d stored things and got ready in.
As elated as she was that V had found a way for them to be together, there was still the fact that oath or no, Queen Tiana would never permit them to marry. Neither would Mr. Darrow.
She also felt torn. Where did she belong? This realm with him, since ultimately he’d become the rightful king of the earth court? Or the mortal realm with Jeff and her mother?
Confusion swirled around her and she sobbed into her pillow. Somehow she’d thought getting V back would remedy everything. Instead, it merely exposed a new set of problems.
She hadn’t told V that she felt odd from either her illness, her experience in the tree, or both. That there was something she
had
to remember, but couldn’t.
Thankfully, the sprite had been quiet, but Noli knew she still lurked in there someplace.
“Don’t cry, darling. Please?” V whispered from the doorway.
“I’m not crying,” she choked. He had enough to worry about.
“Come sleep in my room? I missed you.” His shadowy figure entered the room.
“I missed you, as well.” She sat up and peered at him through the darkness, wiping the tears from her eyes. “The queen will be angry, won’t she, that we’re still together? Your father, too.” Her chest tightened. Mr. Darrow didn’t have any power over her. Not anymore.
The queen, however …
“I don’t care. I nearly lost you.” His voice broke as he approached the bed. “I don’t think you understand what seeing you lying so still and small in that bed in Boston did to me. Now that I have you back, I’m not letting you go unless you tell me to. I’m sick of being told what to do— and she can’t take you away without breaking her oath. If you wish to stay with me, be with me, then I won’t allow them to keep us apart.” He held out his hand to her.
She took it, his conviction giving her inner strength. “Queen Tiana scares me.”
“She scares me as well. But we can’t let fear rule our lives. Right?”
“Right.” She gazed into his green eyes. Even though he hadn’t worn his spectacles since he’d rescued her, she still expected to see them sometimes. “And your father?”
V exhaled heavily. “I don’t care. I want to be with you.”
“Good.” Using his hand, she pulled herself into a standing position.
She followed him to his room. V climbed into his bed and patted the space next to him. Noli crawled into the bed and he wrapped his arms around her.
Curling into him, her face buried in his shoulder. “Where do I belong, V?”
“Where do you want to belong?” His warm breath caressed her ear.
“I … I don’t know,” she hiccupped.
“We’ll figure it out, Noli.” V stroked her hair. “We’ll figure it out.”
They lay there in the bed, bodies entwined. It felt so nice to be in his arms, his body against hers, feeling the rise and fall of his chest, hearing his breath.
“I love you,” she whispered.
His lips brushed the top of her head. “I love you, too, darling.”
She closed her eyes. “I know, V, I know.”
Kevighn stood on the Los Angeles street, gazing at the row of large houses. He never had liked Los Angeles as much as other cities. These houses weren’t monstrous estates like some he’d seen in his wanderings, but were certainly grand and well kept.
Except for one.
Even with its new coat of paint, one looked more worn, the shutters crooked, and the whole house seeming … tired.
The Braddock Residence, for certain.
It also appeared vacant. Then again, her mother was in Boston and she was with Jeff.
A sigh reverberated though his entire being. At least she wasn’t with that whelp of a prince, who hopefully was still on his wretched quest and would die a miserable death.
Kevighn’s gaze shifted to the house next to Noli’s, the one whose address matched what Ciarán had given him. It wouldn’t be terrible if that prat happened to dwell within. It would be nice to have a reason to kill him. The corners of his lips tugged into a smile.
However, nothing would beat getting the chance to slay Quinn the Fair.
Ah, revenge would be so sweet. Granted, Quinn didn’t
actually
kill his sister. But if Creideamh had never fallen in love with him, she never would have died.
A highborn such as Quinn would never leave the court in order to be with Creideamh. No, instead he lured her out of the safe haven Kevighn had built for her in the dark court and attempted to bring her into his world.
And she’d died. Kevighn would never forgive him for that.
Today his mission wasn’t one of revenge, but to get the girl, Ailís. Unfortunately, the best way to accomplish his mission wouldn’t involve Quinn at all. It entailed convincing Ailís to come with him of her own free will—just like he’d enticed all those girls over the years to return with him to the Otherworld in order to be the sacrifice.
He may need repeated visits. Like with all those girls it might take time, finesse, and presents. His rucksack held sweets, ribbons, and a mechanical bird—three items proven to tempt girls of nearly any age.
However, given her age, no seduction would be involved. She also wouldn’t meet her death, but would instead one day be their savior of a different sort. Hopefully. Kevighn still didn’t have a firm grasp on Ciarán’s plan. But that wasn’t his problem.
Instead of going to the house, he ducked into Magnolia’s backyard. The tree house, built not of the tree itself like Creideamh’s, but of a mishmash of odds and ends, drew his attention, the tree itself shaped like a “J.” He remembered her telling him about the tree house and her tree and how much she loved them. The hideaway could prove a good perch for some covert observation. Also, if the house itself were abandoned, there was less likelihood anyone would notice him lurking about.
He climbed up the bent trunk into the tree house. The sheer Noli-ness of the place nearly knocked him over. From the hammer on the ground to the long-forgotten dried blooms, he could practically hear her voice calling to him.
Surprisingly, a clan of wood faeries hadn’t taken residence. They came into this realm, and who wouldn’t want to live in a tree cared for by Magnolia?
The window gave him an unobstructed view of the Darrow residence. As he observed the sadly empty backyard something caught his eye. The backdoor seemed ajar, and not just cracked open, but crooked. He studied the house for several moments, watching for signs of life.
The longer he eyed the eerily still house, the more he got the idea that something was amiss. It was in the curvature of the back fence boards, the too-many-boot prints in the grass.
Yes, this required further investigation.
Had someone else gotten to the girl first? Ciarán wouldn’t be the only one to remember Tiana had a daughter—or recognize that something would need to be done sooner rather than later. Yet, who would have the gall to make such a treasonous move? The dark king could get away with things no one else in the Otherworld could. Climbing down the tree, Kevighn took his dagger from his boot and hopped over the fence into the other yard. The boot prints were from several different men, but all the same type, like they were soldiers. He made his way inside, creeping quietly, using the slightest touch of magic to see if anyone lurked within.
Nothing. No one living, at least.
Blood streaked the floor of the ransacked kitchen and he followed the trail. The already decaying carcass of the former earth king lay in what looked like a study. Kevighn grimaced at the sight and stench. He held no lost love for the former king, in fact, part of him seethed at the idea of never getting to settle the score they had. Yet at the same time, here was an exile who’d died all alone. A sad death for someone who’d once been king. Had Queen Tiana killed him?
Perhaps this lonely demise was justice enough. His hand glowed as he used his magic to examine the body. The old king hadn’t died from magic, but of mundane knife wounds.
No … he’d died of both. Interesting. A ploy to foil the mortal police perhaps?
Leaving the body where he’d found it, Kevighn trekked upstairs to search for more bodies and clues. As miserable as finding the body had been, that wasn’t his task. Also, he wouldn’t be too upset if he found Stiofán’s carcass as long as he got to kill Quinn himself.
No other bodies hid in any of the rooms. When he went into a girl’s room, presumably Ailís’, he frowned. Drawers were pulled out and things strewn about. Where some of the downstairs rooms looked ransacked, none of the bedrooms had been so. Certainly, a king-killer wouldn’t be looking for something hidden in a little girl’s room.
She’d fled. Probably with her protector, Quinn the Fair.
He picked up a forgotten doll and stuffed it in his rucksack along with a photo. Hopefully he could use the toy to locate the girl. As he walked down the hall he gazed at the door of the bedroom that belonged to Stiofán. At least, he presumed it was Stiofán’s considering it was his name written in the many boring tomes lining the desk.
Did the he know about his father? Probably not, since he’d properly dispose of the body. Most likely he’d return as soon as his quest concluded.
A devilish grin spread across Kevighn’s face. He should leave the prince a little surprise.
“Ready, Noli?” Steven took Noli’s hand as they strolled down the street toward his house, James behind them. They’d sent aethergraphs to Noli’s mother and Jeff letting them know that she was still alive. Now it was time to let his father know he survived his ordeal as well.
“I could wait.” Noli gazed at his house and bit her lower lip.
Steven shook his head, squeezing her hand. “I told you, now that I have you back I’m not going to let my father keep us apart. Not anymore.”
“I’m glad.” She returned his squeeze, giving him a faint smile.
He didn’t blame her for being apprehensive—his father never liked her much and had given them nothing but trouble from the moment they’d declared themselves a couple. His belly didn’t unclench either. This act of defiance scared him. He’d always been the first to mind his father—or mother. As eldest son, that was his job. To obey. To be perfect. At least his father hadn’t been the one to order him to break Noli’s stone. Still, he wouldn’t be happy that Steven found a way to stay with her.
Queen Tiana would also be displeased. But that was another matter entirely. One that inspired terror. Still, Noli was worth it.
“You two are so mushy.” James made a face of disgust.
“I’m sorry.” Noli’s cheeks pinked and she dropped Steven’s hand as if burned.
“I … I didn’t mean it like that,” James apologized. “I … ” He looked away.
Noli put a hand on James’ shoulder. “I understand.” Lips so tight they went white, he nodded, gulping. Steven joined them. “Well, we try.”
James gave him a weak smile, running his finger over the watch chain, which he’d attached to his pocket watch. “I do appreciate it. More than you know.”
“Are you
sure
I should go with you.” Noli looked around as if any moment the propriety police would jump out of the bushes and give her a citation.
He took her hand again and kissed it. “I
want
you to come with me.”
“Well, if you insist.” She nodded, lips pressed together.
They walked down the side of the house toward the back door. It looked empty. His father was probably working and Quinn and Elise most likely elsewhere. Given the time of day, Quinn and Elise would certainly return soon.
Noli studied the back fence and frowned. “Someone’s climbed over the fence. There,” she pointed toward her yard, “and there.” She indicated the back wall.
“Look at all these footprints.” James gestured to the grass around them.
Steven went cold. “Footprints. Why would there be footprints in my backyard?”
“He said you’d pay,” Noli whispered. “He said you’d pay, this is all my fault.”
“Noli, this is not your fault.” He cupped her face with his hands, trying to reassure her while an odd feeling sat like a lump in his own belly. “We aren’t even certain that something’s amiss.” That feeling of foreboding wouldn’t leave.
“The door’s ajar.” James went pale.
The bottom fell out of Steven’s belly. “This doesn’t bode well.”
Something flapped from the bottom corner of the door. He bent down and picked off the piece of green fabric and held it up to the fading light.