“Nope, it’s for you, kiddo. Now stay still and let me bandage you up so you can get out of here and get some rest for a few days.”
Kap grips his side as he doubles over in laughter when the Doc tells me the shot has to go in my ass, and I vow to get him back for it. I get out of there with a sprained wrist, stitches in my lip, eyebrow, and my arm, as well as a concussion, and oh yeah, the biggest shot known to Fae or man, in my ass.
“You staying here to do paperwork all night, Jinx, or is Kapriel staying with you tonight?” Granger asks as we emerge covered in bandages from the back.
“Ew, paperwork.”
“I second that statement, Jin. I’ll stay with her, and we’ll do paperwork when we both don’t have concussions.”
“Sounds good. Oh, and Jinx, I’ll get someone to work tomorrow at Karmakazis for you. You look like hell. Can’t have you scaring the customers away. See you both in a few days.” Granger waves us off without looking up from his desk full of files and paperwork, and we head out.
“Your house or mine?” Kapriel asks as we pull out of the parking lot.
“Mine. I’ve got tea, and I don’t want to listen to you playing your stupid video games all night.”
“Fine, I’ll just play a game on my laptop then, you judgy cow,” he huffs in affront, but I know he’s not really offended.
“Yeah, yeah, just keep your headphones on. We get enough of fighting Ogres and Elves in our day job. I don’t know why you’d want to keep doing it in a video game as well.”
“It relaxes me.” He smirks at me, and I drum my fingers on the arm rest.
“Mmm-hmm, sure it does.”
Within a few minutes, we’re back at Karmakazis, pulling our gear out of the trunk and heading toward the back door. The air is tense with a coming storm or power, I’m not sure which, but it’s not normal, and both Kapriel and I notice.
We drop our bags and use hand signals to communicate. I take the front, he takes the back. We both move forward with caution, guns in hand, fingers poised to pull that trigger should we need to.
It’s not like our job makes us a lot of friends, and we wouldn’t be the first warrant enforcers to have past skips show up at our front doors, wanting revenge for sending them to prison. Or back to Faerie to get their punishment.
Gravel crunches behind me in the empty parking lot, and I spin around, finger ready to apply that pressure. I scan the shadows formed by beams of moonlight dancing between branches of the trees lining the lot. If it were Kap, he’d have made sure I knew it was him.
“Show yourself, or I’ll make you regret it,” I growl, the wild inside of me snarling at the thought of someone or something sneaking up on us. I could have cloaked myself and blended in with the shadows in the parking lot, but honestly, I was too tired to use any of my Faerie mojo. If someone just started shooting blindly when I suddenly disappeared from sight, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to float myself high enough, or quick enough, to avoid the bullets.
Another shuffle behind me, and I whip around, gun raised, ready to attack, but stop short at the grinning face of my little sister.
My shoulders hunch as every ounce of tension leaves my body, and I stride forward, pulling her slight form into a hug. She’s still as thin as a reed, but there’s a tone to her arms and a confidence in her stance that I’ve never seen before.
“Wren, what are you doing here? Kap! False alarm, man.” I pull back, holding her shoulders in my hands and looking her over.
She looks the same as when I left home, but there’s a knowledge of the world glimmering in her emerald eyes. Part of me mourns the innocent, sheltered girl she once was. But the other part of me knows that I had to leave, and she had to grow up.
She pushes a stray lock of chestnut hair behind her pointed ear, the spotlight over the door of the bar reflecting off the copper flecks. The one thing our father gave each of us. A dash of what he calls stardust, in our hair.
Where Wren’s could be passed off as highlights, the blue speckles in my pitch black hair couldn’t. There’s no hair professional in the world that could lay claim to being able to pull that shit off. It’s a bitch to keep glamoured around the clock to keep anyone from figuring out who I really am, but it’s a small price to pay for freedom and the safety of everyone I love.
I’m brought back to the here and now as Wren’s fingers squeeze mine, and Kapriel rounds the corner. “What, I can’t visit my older sister just because?”
“Older sister? Whoa, I didn’t know you had siblings, Jin.” Kapriel rocks back on his heels as he appraises Wren before extending his hand for a shake.
Wren gives him the once over before looking at me, and I nod. “Kapriel is good people. He’s my partner. And of course you can visit me. I just wasn’t expecting you.”
“Your partner?” Wren asks, her lips twisting into a thin line.
“Not my sexual one. We track people who have skipped their bail or have warrants on them for either the human or Fae courts and bring them in.”
“Is he who you left home for?” Wren asks, hands on her hips.
“No, he’s not. He’s the one who helped me survive out here though. But we can talk more about that inside.” I pull her forward and unlock the door leading up to my apartment.
“You want me to take off?” Kap asks, and I shake my head.
“No, I think you’ll want to be here for this.”
“This have to do with your past and why you’re so shady about it?” Kap crosses his broad arms over his chest, and I pause, trying to assess his mood.
“I’m not shady about it. I’m private. And I have my reasons.”
“I’ve got some suspicions about who you are, but I’ve never pushed you, Jin. So if you’re not cool with me knowing, I can leave.”
I sigh and unlock my front door, ushering both Kap and Wren into the spacious living room before I lock up behind us.
“Kap, you don’t need to leave. It was going to happen sooner or later; it just looks like it’s sooner. Wren, I’m assuming you’re not just on vacation?”
“What gave it away?” she asks with a bit of an edge in her tone. “You said I can visit any time I want. Well, here I am.” She waves her arms in a dramatic flourish.
“I’m just surprised to see you this close to Samhain. Or at all.”
Kap raises his hand like a little kid in grade school. “For those of us new here, can someone bring me up to speed as to why you’re so surprised to see your baby sister?”
Wren arches an eyebrow. “He really doesn’t know?”
“Nope.”
“Well, are you going to tell him or should I?” Wren asks.
I shuffle my feet, trying to decide on the easiest way to put it so it’s not as much of a shock for Kapriel. After all, we’ve been working together for the past five years, I haven’t told him much about my past or my family, and I’ve done it on purpose to keep him out of any political bullshit.
Wren huffs, and before I can stop her, she blurts it all out.
“Congratulations, Kapriel Whoever-You-Are! Your partner here is Jinx Ap Nudd, daughter of Gwyn Ap Nudd, King of the Wild Hunt, and current heir to the throne.”
3
“I knew it! I fucking knew it!” Kapriel spins around, his pointer finger in the air like he’s just figured out the magic trick, and grins wide. “Or well, I was close. I thought you were Sluagh.”
“How could you possibly know, Kap? I’ve been very cautious the past few years.”
Wren’s face pinches at the mention of the Unseelie Queen’s army of beasts, and our natural enemies, the Sluagh. “Ew. Not even close. What the hell made you think that?”
“Little things here and there.” He shrugs. “She talks to dead people no one else can see for Christ’s sake. And she goes all camouflage when she wants to. It all adds up when we spend as much time together as we do in sticky situations, Jinx.” He runs his hand over his beard. “Should I call you Ap Nudd now? Princess? Your highness?”
&
nbsp; “No. You should not call me any of those things. And they’re wraiths, not dead people. Those would be zombies. And nothing has changed. I left. I don’t want the throne. So you can call me Jin, Jinx, or Dubh, but I want this kept quiet, Kap, understand?”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ll try not to take it personally that you didn’t trust me enough to tell me, Jin. It is pretty cool though that some lowly half Redcap like me has been working with the heir to the Wild Hunt throne though.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head, Kap. Or I’ll beat you. And I meant no offense. I just didn’t want any of my baggage hitting you in the face if I had to bug out without warning.”
“You didn’t think I could handle it?” Kapriel gasps like he’s just heard the latest church gossip, and I shake my head at his dramatics.
“Are you two just about done? If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear you were siblings.” Wren looks between the two of us, her eyes narrowed.
“Yeah, we’re good. Sorry, Wren.”
Kap heads to the fridge and pulls out a beer, offering one to both of us.
“Nah, but put the kettle on for me. I’m going to need some tea for this, I think.” I rub at my temple in little circles.
“I’ll have a cup too, please,” Wren adds before plopping down on one of the arm chairs in my living room and pinching the bridge of her nose with her eyes closed.
I eye her, unsure of her mood. Will she murder me if I ask her again why she’s here? Or is she calm enough now that the Jin and Kap show made an appearance?
“I can feel you thinking at me, Jinx,” Wren mumbles, and I smile. Same old Wren, always attuned to everyone’s vibrations around her.
“Yeah, well, I’m wondering why after five years of silence, my little sister is sitting in my living room, blowing my life in the human world all to hell. Although I am glad to see you, Wren. You’re all grown up.” I grip her hand in mine, taking the seat next to her, and I don’t let go. It was one of the hardest decisions in my life to leave my home and my family behind. But I’d done it to keep them safe. And I’d do it all over again if asked to. No regrets.
I’d missed this little brat trailing after me and asking me a million questions, day in and day out, between hunting down oath breakers.
“Our brothers haven’t exactly let go of the fact that I left the kingdom, and they have refused to talk to me for the past five years. So I’m curious as to what’s changed your mind?” I ask her.
Wren grunts and gives me a sardonic smile. “Yeah, well, I’ve got a brain in my head, and honestly, Jinx, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t dire.” She crosses her arms over her chest, breaking our contact, and I inhale a breath, readying myself for a fight about coming home.
She holds up a hand before I can go on the defensive, and I close my mouth with an audible click of my teeth.
“When you first left home, I hated you. I hated that you didn’t bring me with you. Over the years, I slowly understood why you split.” She rubs a hand over her forehead before continuing, and I control my expression. She has no idea why I really left. They’d all thought I couldn’t handle the pressure of ruling the kingdom. They had no idea. “And I know Mom has tried to get you to come back, and so have Gerant and Edern.”
“This makes so much sense. Your brother married Isa!” Kapriel rubs his hands together in excitement. “I should have put that together two years ago when you let his name slip, but I dropped it.”
Wren looks at Kapriel and then back to me. “Is he politically connected?”
“No, I’m not, Wren. I’m half Redcap,” Kapriel answers her, a slight edge to his tone. “And feel free to ask me questions; I am in the room after all.”
I rub at my mouth, trying to hide the smile from Wren at Kapriel’s words. I can’t blame him though. It was one of my pet peeves as well. Being talked over, or someone talking, asking about my well-being while I’m in the room like I can’t take care of myself, is downright maddening.
“Can we focus back on why you never listened to Mom and our brothers?” Wren asks after dipping her head in acknowledgement to Kap.
“Mm-hmm, we can. They weren’t successful because there’s no way in hell I could ever replace our father. And it’s not like everyone in court was thrilled with the announcement of me being the heir, rather than Edern, after Gerant left. It should have gone to him, Wren, but father insisted it was me. So to avoid a civil war that would have the same consequences as the big bang, I packed my shit and struck out in the human realm. It’s as simple as that, Wren.” It’s not as simple as that, but I wouldn’t let her know that it had been her life I’d been protecting.
“I think there’s more you’re not telling me, but we don’t have time.”
“What’s happened that is so urgent? Did something happen to Gerant or Edern? Mother?”
“Nothing has happened to them. But I’m telling you, you’re out of time. You have to come home, or all will be lost.”
I rock back on my heels at her words. “I have to come home? Says who? Did Edern put you up to this?” I don’t say it to undermine her, but honestly, I’d left for a fucking reason. I’d rather not head back to a place where I had to check what I ate and drank because people were trying to assassinate the heir to the throne. Just weeks after the news, I’d almost been run through with an arrow, someone had tried and failed to poison me, and then laid a trap outside my door. Whoever it was wanted me out of their way so they could claim the throne to the Wild Hunt themselves or put whoever they wanted there.
“Says me, Jinx.” She plants her hands on her narrow hips, and I raise an eyebrow.
“Are you going to try and force me to leave with you, Wren?” I drag a finger over the hilt of the blade still strapped to my thigh and meet her gaze head on. I might be a little worse for wear after our Ogre tracking tonight, but I could still go a few rounds.
Kapriel steps out from behind the counter in my kitchen, his shoulders tense as he looks between me and my sister, but I hold out a hand next to my left thigh, telling him to stand down.
She waves me off. “I’m not that stupid. But Dad’s gone missing, and you’re the best tracker we’ve ever had.”
“What do you mean he’s missing?” I shout the words, unable to stop my shocked reaction.
“How in the underworld does the King of the Wild Hunt go missing?” Kapriel asks at the same time I ask, “Are you sure he’s not just out on a long track?”
Wren shakes her head. “There appears to have been a struggle, and there are drag marks outside of the gates.”
I walk to my closet, grab a bag, and start shoving a few changes of clothes and plenty of weapons into the interior. “When did this happen?” I ask, looking at her over my shoulder, clocking the lines of worry bracketing her eyes. It’s a quarter to five in the morning at this point, so I’m assuming it hasn’t been long.
“Last night. Mom insisted we leave you be and respect your decision, but Edern is talking like the throne is in danger if someone doesn’t step up. Gerant is coming home as soon as he can settle a few things with her family…” Wren spits the word her, and I know she’s referring to our oldest brother’s wife, Isa. He’d abdicated his place as heir to the Wild Hunt when he’d fallen in love with the princess of the Redcaps. Needless to say, it was not my family’s first choice for their shining heir, nor their second. “No offense, Kapriel,” Wren adds as an afterthought, shrugging.
“None taken.” He places his untouched beer on the counter and leans next to it. “Anything else that pointed to someone forcing him out of the kingdom?”
“What about his personal guard? Where the fuck were they?” I ask, zipping up the bag and tossing it toward the door as I strip out of the clothes I’d been in all night. They smell like blood, sweat, and bad decisions.
“Draven was off duty, and Bartol claims that Dad sent him away.”
My upper lip pulls into a snarl at the sound of Draven’s name. “Does anyone know you’re here? Or that
I’m coming? And bringing a friend, if you’re willing, Kap?” I ask as I pull a black t-shirt, black leather pants, and my combat boots back on.
“I’m with you if you need me on this, Jin.” Kap nods, grabbing his go bag from where he’d dropped it just inside the front door. I tip my head in thanks, meeting his steady gaze, and then turn to look at my sister when she doesn’t respond to my previous question.
I tie the laces on the knee-high boots and stare at her as she shuffles, wringing her hands in front of her.
“Wren, are you telling me you didn’t tell anyone what you were doing?”
She throws up her hands and scowls at me. “Well, I didn’t know if I could convince you to come home, so I figured I’d just wait until I had an answer.”
“An answer like, ‘Oh, surprise, look who’s home!’ as I walk through the front gates?” I rub at my temples, the tension headache I know is sure to come slowly pulsing behind my ears. I shake my head and push her out the door, grabbing my duffel and tossing it at Kap, who catches the heavy projectile I call a go bag.
Wren smiles, looking pleased with herself when I face her after locking my door. “Yeah, exactly like that.”
“Fucking hell.”
4
I’d considered jumping out of Kapriel’s SUV at least seven times as we drove closer and closer to the gate that would take us to my father’s kingdom. Each time, I’d white knuckled through the urge, distracting myself with shit I’ve got to wrap up before I disappear into Faerie for gods only know how long.
I’d called Granger and let him know Kapriel and I would be out of town for a little while. He hadn’t questioned why or for how long, only told us to be safe and to let him know if he could do anything to help. He’d promised to check in my one plant in my apartment and assured me that he’d find coverage for any shifts I’d had at Karmakazis as well.
The darkness of night has started to fade and give way to the early morning hours, and all I can think is that I’m probably going to lose my shit at least four times within the first day of being home. I exhale another heavy breath, drumming my fingers on the hard plastic of the door handle, my knee bouncing up and down.
A Reluctant Huntress: Tales of the Wild Hunt | Book One Page 2
