“Well…” The King drew out the word.
Ren’s eyes narrowed, and considering that neither Ren nor Ivy had really gotten over the whole being kidnapped by him when he’d been possessed thing, I really couldn’t blame the King for not wanting to be around a pissed-off, constant reminder.
“You know all of you are always welcome here,” Tanner cut in smoothly, although I doubted he was talking about me. “No matter what is going on.”
“Anyway,” Kalen said. “Back to why we’re all here. It has to do with Elliot.”
Oh, no.
I looked over at the King, who had been the one to stab the young fae. I knew that he’d shared the news with Tanner and crew at some point. He was still looking at me, and I had to wonder if he was aware of how noticeable—and creepy—that was.
Faye shifted across from me, tensing. Her cousin Benji was also missing, and considering what had happened to Elliot, I knew she feared the worst. “What about him? Something happened to him that made him evil, but he’s gone. Right?”
The King nodded. “He’s been sent back to our world, but when I spoke to his family, his older brother didn’t want to believe what’d happened.”
“Which is understandable,” Tanner said. “Everyone responds to grief differently, and denial is so much easier than anger.”
“I’ve kept an eye on Avel, but apparently, not a close enough eye.” Kalen folded his arms over his chest. “His parents just told us last night that he left here on Friday and has not returned since.”
“We’re concerned that whatever happened to Elliot has befallen his older brother,” Tanner explained.
I pressed my lips together as the worst-case scenario formed. Damn it. Those poor parents.
“That’s only a couple of days,” Ivy pointed out. “Are we sure that’s the logical conclusion? Is it possible that he just needed to get away?”
“It is totally possible, but the entire Court is aware that something happened to change Elliot,” Faye said. “Of course, those of us who have missing family members are…assuming the worst. Even if Avel didn’t want to believe what the King shared with him, he would’ve come to understand it. He is a reasonable man.”
“If he understood it, then why would he have left?” I asked. “I’m guessing if you all told the Court, it was probably advised that they not leave the hotel.”
“We haven’t advised that. Not yet,” the King answered.
Surprised, my brows lifted as my stare met Ivy’s. She wore the same WTF expression as I did. “Something out there is capable of turning happy-go-lucky fae into murderers, and we’re just going to let the younglings go out there?”
Tanner stiffened.
The King, however, smiled at me. It wasn’t exactly a warm expression, and nothing about him was like the man who sat in my bedroom a little over twenty-four hours ago, telling me about Aric and coming…so close to kissing me. “Taking away the freedom of others because one has been changed does not seem like an appropriate measure to take at this time.”
“Except we now have parents who lost one child and are now missing the other,” I challenged.
“And we have hundreds of fae that come and go here every day without incident,” the King continued. “We advise them to use caution. All of them are aware of the concern, and therefore, would not disappear without telling their family.” That was said to Ivy. “Avel would know that his parents would assume the worst.”
Their assumptions were probably true.
I got why the King didn’t want to force all the fae to stay within Hotel Good Fae, but it seemed like a pretty successful preventative measure to me.
“I know that you two are patrolling, so we wanted to let you know to keep an eye out for Avel,” Kalen said. “I’ll text you guys the most recent photo that his parents provided to us.”
Ren nodded. “We’ll keep an eye out for him. But, man, the other two haven’t surfaced. Sorry,” he said to Faye. She nodded, her shoulders tensing. “There’ve been Winter fae out there, and none of them are talking about the missing younglings. I fear we’ll hit the same roadblock with Avel.”
“It doesn’t hurt to be aware, though.” Ivy tipped forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “I’ll talk to Miles, too. Let him know.”
I snorted, earning strange looks from everyone but the King. “I’m sorry, but good luck with that. I already tried, and the Order are… Well, you can guess.”
“That’s bullshit,” Faye snapped, rising to her feet. “Sorry for cursing,” she added when Tanner frowned at her. “Bullshit was the least offensive word I could think of. We helped them defeat the Queen. We saved Order members’ lives.”
But the Order didn’t see it that way.
I didn’t say that, because I doubted anyone in the room needed to hear it.
“I will try to talk some sense into Miles. It’s just that right now, we have a lot of new recruits still learning the ropes,” Ivy advised. “Things are a bit chaotic on that front.”
“But he could learn to multi-task,” the King countered. “If not, I believe the Order needs a new leader.”
Ivy looked at him dead-on. “I’ll let Miles know you said that.”
“Please do.” His tight smile returned. “Perhaps it will motivate him.”
Ren coughed out a laugh. “Hopefully, it motivates him to do what you intend.”
The King lifted a shoulder that said he wasn’t worried. Not even remotely.
Kalen turned to me. “The King told us you found something in your mother’s research about Devil’s Breath. Some kind of substance mixed with nightshade that changes those who drank it, correct?”
I nodded. “Actually, I found it in Harris’s old journals. He said my mother had discovered it, but it sounded an awful lot like what happened with Elliot. I didn’t see any rapid degeneration with his body that was mentioned in the text, but Harris wrote that it caused violent aggression.”
“Degeneration? Like falling apart?” Ren asked.
“Yes.”
“Like a zombie degenerates?” he added.
“Well,” I said, my brow pinching. “I don’t know if there’s that much degeneration.”
“I hope not.” Ivy shuddered. “I really do not want to face down zombie fae.”
Those were two words I’d never thought to hear combined.
“I was hoping that you could check to see if there was anything else written about it,” Kalen asked. “How it’s made or being used. Anything.”
“I’ve looked through all of Harris’s journals. There were a few pages torn out, which yes, is suspicious, but there’s a lot of my mom’s stuff. I haven’t gone through all of it yet, and it’s possible there could be something there. I will check.” With all eyes on me, I felt a little nervous flutter in the pit of my stomach. “But I’m glad you brought that up because I’ve been thinking about it. The best thing I think we can do is somehow get a sample of Devil’s Breath so we can test it. Even if my mother or Harris wrote more about it and I can find those notes, we still need it to see what it truly is.”
“And how do you suggest doing that?” the King asked.
I remained focused on Kalen. “We know that what is being done to the younglings is related to Neal, who owns Thieves. And Aric. Now, we know that bars like Thieves cater to the fae. They have a ton of nightshade on hand. It’s possible that this Devil’s Breath could be there, too. We just need to get inside.”
“We have thought of that,” the King replied. “And we’ve been inside.”
Surprise whirled through me as I twisted toward him. “You have?”
He nodded. “Over a week ago. We raided the place and took possession of the nightshade. The drinks were tested, and they came back clean. As did the entire bar.”
“Well, first off, knowing that would’ve been helpful,” I said, piqued. “And that’s why Neal has disappeared. People tend to do that after they get raided.”
“It was necessary.”
�
�Was it? Really?” I shook my head. “For a several-hundred-year-old King, I’m surprised by your lack of stealth.”
“Brighton,” Tanner said under his breath.
“What would you have done?” the King asked.
“Glad you asked now,” I said. “I would’ve snuck in and obtained samples of the nightshade while searching for what probably resembles bags of coke.”
“Sounds like that would’ve been a good plan,” Ren commented.
“And how would you have snuck in?” The King hadn’t taken his eyes off me for one second. “I’m curious.”
I doubted he was all that curious, but I’d tell him just to prove how dumb raiding the place was. “I would’ve—”
“Wait. Let me guess. Dressed up in a costume? Slipped past them and gotten behind the bar?”
Stiffening, my gaze met his. No one in this room other than he knew that I did that.
“Do you think that no one would notice that?” he continued.
“Not if I hid really well. I know how to blend in and not draw attention until I need a distraction.” My fingers curled in my lap. “But that isn’t a job I would do alone. I’d go with someone that could make enough of a scene so I could get behind the bar undetected.”
“I doubt one could make that large of a scene.”
“Okay, then the place could’ve been searched when it was closed.”
The King smirked. “You think they don’t have security?”
“Actually, we do need to search the place when it’s closed,” Kalen said.
“Security shouldn’t be an issue.” I smiled tightly at the King, aware that everyone was watching our exchange like a tennis match. “And it sounds like it wasn’t to you.”
“No, it wasn’t, because we’re trained fighters.” The King’s gaze flickered over me, and I sucked in a sharp breath. “By the way, you look much better than the last time I saw you out.”
I looked better than the last time he saw me? The last time he saw me, I was in my pajamas in bed. The time before that, I’d looked like a vampy hooker. He’d said “out.” My lips thinned. He wouldn’t. Oh my God, he wouldn’t.
“What?” Ren glanced between us. “How so? She looks the same to—” His words ended in a cough, and I suspected that Ivy’s elbow had something to do with it. “I don’t know what I’m saying. Ignore me while I get another doughnut.” He rose.
“I saw Brighton at Flux,” the King announced, and my mouth dropped open. “This past Saturday night.”
“What?” Ivy exclaimed.
Ren stopped halfway to the doughnuts and faced us.
“That isn’t the first time I’ve found her there,” the King continued. “She’s been hunting.”
I couldn’t believe it.
The asshole had just outed me.
Chapter 4
I shot out of the chair like a rocket had been attached to my ass. Suddenly, his words from Sunday morning came back to me. He’d said that he’d do anything to stop me. He hadn’t been lying. “You son of a—”
“Ms. Jussier,” warned Tanner. “He may not be your King, but you will respect him while you’re here.”
Respect him? I’d respect him when I had a reason to, which was not right now. “And when I’m not here? Can I disrespect him then?”
Kalen covered his mouth with his hand as he looked at the floor, seeming to find the hardwood fascinating as Tanner sputtered.
“Hunting what?” Ivy demanded, coming to her feet.
My head whipped to her in stunned disbelief. Did she really have to ask that? “Hunting rabbits?”
Apparently, Ren didn’t even find that funny. His bright green eyes narrowed. “That’s what you’d better be doing. Or hunting crocodiles or whatever you locals do in your spare time.”
“That would be alligators,” I corrected him with a frown.
“Please tell me you’re not hunting fae,” Ivy said.
“And why would it be a big deal if I am?”
“Why? You’re not trained, Bri. You’re not—”
“I am trained.” Irritation flushed my system. “I received the same training both of you did.”
“But you’re not in the field,” Ren reasoned, shaking his head. “You have never been in the field, so all that training means shit.”
“Listen to Ivy,” the King urged. “You cannot interact with Aric or Neal. The fact that they already know you’re involved is bad enough.”
“I can handle myself,” I said. “Pretty sure I’ve proven that.”
“All you’ve proven is that you’re incredibly lucky,” he fired back. “You’re not like them.” He gestured to the others. “You’re not a warrior with years of experience under your belt.”
“I’m a member of the Order. I’m trained and—”
“You are a member, but this is not your job,” Ivy stated.
“If hunting and killing evil fae isn’t my job, then what is?”
Silence greeted me, and damn if that wasn’t telling. I focused on Ivy. “I have been in the field. I have been for the last year and a half, and, hello, not once have I gotten myself killed.”
“A year and a half?” Ivy screeched. “How? Wait. Was that what he was talking about with the costumes and shit?”
“Yes. I disguise myself. Sometimes it’s…elaborate. Other times, not.” I folded my arms so I didn’t pick up something and throw it. “I make sure no one recognizes me, not even other Order members.”
Ivy stared at me.
“He recognized you.” Ren gestured at the door.
I turned, realizing the jerk King had bailed, along with Tanner and Kalen. How like him. “Yeah, well, he’s special,” I muttered.
“You’re out there, by yourself, without anyone knowing what you’re doing?” Ivy asked.
“Obviously, the King of all douchebags knows.” Thank God the sleeves of my blouse hid the cuffs because I figured if they saw them on me, they’d both stop breathing.
“He doesn’t count,” Ivy shot back. And, wow, that would’ve been funny if I weren’t so angry. “Wait. Does Tink know?” Her eyes widened. “He has to know, and he’s said nothing to me.” She went for her phone.
“Don’t drag him into this!”
“Oh, he’s been dragged—”
“He didn’t tell you because it’s not your business!” I threw up my arms. “And I didn’t say anything to you because I knew you’d react this way. All of you forget that I’m an Order member. I’ve had the same training you have, and the only reason I’m not in the field is because I had to be home to take care of my mother.” Dragging in a deep breath, there was no stopping me now. I was on a roll. “I know you all think I’m not strong or skilled enough, but guess what, I’ve fought fae. I didn’t need backup or anyone to help me. I didn’t need the Order or any of you to tell me that I’m good enough to be out there. I did it all on my own.”
Ivy drew back. “It’s not that we think you’re not good enough.”
“It’s not?”
“Wait a second,” Ren cut in. “You’ve been hunting for the last year and a half?” He came forward, stopping by the arm of the couch. “Basically, after you had enough time to get back on your feet following the attack.”
Pressing my lips together, I said nothing.
“You’re hunting the fae who attacked you,” he said. “Aren’t you?”
“Oh, Bri,” whispered Ivy, looking away.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I demanded. When Ivy just shook her head, I was a second away from picking up a chair and throwing it. “You know what? Yes, I have been hunting them. I know who they are, and I’ve killed four of them.”
Ivy’s gaze shot to mine.
“Yeah, I did, and I will keep doing it until I kill the fifth,” I told them. “And then, after that, I may keep hunting. The Order needs the additional bodies, and I’m good.” Swallowing hard, I lifted my chin. “Despite the fact that I wasn’t out in the field.”
Ivy opened her mouth, then cl
osed it. “I think…it’s incredible that you are such a good fighter, and I don’t mean that in a patronizing way.”
It sounded awfully patronizing to me.
“But I remember what it was like to see you in a hospital bed, hooked up to tubes and fighting for your life. I remember what it was like to go to your mom’s funeral—to all of those funerals,” she said, and I flinched. “We almost lost you.”
I softened. A little. “And you almost died too, Ivy. I didn’t think you were incapable of fighting afterward. I didn’t expect you to quit.”
Her chin dipped, and I waited for her to say it was different. But common sense seemed to prevail, and if she thought it, she at least didn’t say it.
Ivy’s shoulders rose and fell, and then she quieted. “You’re my friend, Bri. You’re my only friend, actually. I’m just… I’m worried about you.”
“Wow,” Faye murmured, alerting us to the fact that she was, very much, still in the room. “I thought I was your friend.”
“You are.” Ivy turned to her. Faye lounged on the couch, looking as if she were missing a bowl of popcorn. “I meant that Bri is my only human friend.”
“Do you normally separate your friendships by species?” Faye asked.
“I didn’t mean—”
“I’m kidding.” Faye laughed. “You’re my only human friend, too.”
I frowned. Did she not consider me a friend? Damn.
“What about me?” Ren demanded. “I don’t count?”
“You always count, Ren. Always.” Faye’s gaze shifted to me, her stare assessing. “They are just worried about you. You did almost die, but so has Ivy. So has Ren. And you want revenge for what was done to you and yours. That’s understandable.”
“You’re not helping,” Ivy snapped.
“And neither are you,” Faye replied calmly. “She knows how to fight, obviously. She’s killed.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling some of the tension ease out of my shoulders. Someone finally recognized that I wasn’t book-nerd Willow anymore, friend to Buffy. I was kickass Willow—though not evil, dark Willow.
“But you being out there is a risk.” Faye’s cool eyes flicked to me. “It’s personal to you. Not in the same way it is to other Order members. That makes it dangerous.”
The Summer King Bundle: 3 Stories by Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 22
