I nodded. “Who did this to you?”
“It’s a long story, Danielle, and one you are not going to be prepared for.”
Chapter 20
MARICK
* * *
The celebration carried on. I retired at one after spending the evening lying to my parents and everyone on the council.
Someone at that celebration wanted to poison the love of my life. They might not have succeeded in killing her ten years ago, but they wanted to finish the job tonight.
I went to Luke’s room which was right across from Francine and Eric’s room.
Francine was lying on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. Sebastian and Luke were pacing. They knew that Eric finally got through to Danielle tonight and that they were busy talking. He was telling her everything he knew. We were going to find out who was behind all of this, once and for all.
I had my suspicions, but I didn’t know anymore. Flavion was one of them—he had to be. He always wanted Luke’s job and loved that they found the evidence in the Coopers’ house.
Minaut was sprawled out in front of Francine’s door. She was invisible, but I knew she was there. I could still feel her presence. Top it off, the cat refused to leave Danny’s side, especially now.
Philip was in this room, close to Liz.
He struggled to vanish, and Minaut probably told him to stay put, that he would give her away if he was going to be close to her.
She was working a lot with him lately too, helping him relearn how to be a wisp again.
“They still busy?”
“Still busy. I don’t know what he is telling her,” Sebastian said.
“I would love to know too. Well, at least we’ll find out if it’s linked together.” Luke paused for a moment before he resumed pacing.
“She said it is.” Francine got up from the chair and rubbed the side of her face. Darius was sitting in front of her on the floor. He looked over his shoulder. “Eric told her that much while I was still in the room.”
“It’s linked?” Sebastian asked. “Whoever is behind this has been getting away with it for thirty years?”
“Sebastian,” I placed my hands on his shoulders, held him out at arm’s length, and looked him square in the eyes.
“Marick.” He sounded disappointed.
“I wasn’t the man I used to be after Danny’s death. I threw myself into work, I never took a break, and when the anniversary of the fire and the trial came near, I would sedate myself to get over it.”
“It’s why you recovered so easily from the stupor.”
I nodded. “The Sentinels didn’t have that knowledge. I know if I just investigated, all of this would’ve been over a long time ago, but I was broken, Sebastian, and so was Minaut. They knew Danielle was the key to keep us down, to keep us from paying attention.”
“She must have been on to them then.”
“Maybe Eric knows that too. We just have to wait.” I looked around to see if Katia was here. “Where is our sister?”
“She’s busy. She will figure out what was used to poison Danielle.”
I took a seat next to Francine.
“We can’t tell anyone about this.” I made sure to look each person in the eye.
“Danielle and Minaut think that whoever is doing this has access to everything, meaning that they are closer than we know.”
“That close?” Sebastian looked at me.
I nodded. “It could be anyone, Sebastian. We can’t tell my dad, my mother, any of my sisters—not even the kids. Nobody. We can’t slip up this time.”
“I really thought your mother had caught the culprit that time. She’s the queen. If she could know—”
“Sebastian, not even my mother.”
“You seriously don’t think—”
“No, but you know my mom. This will drive her insane, and I don’t want her in that position again. You can’t tell anyone. You want to talk to someone, talk to me, or anyone else in this room. Understand?”
He nodded. “It goes for all of you. Until these criminals are dealt with, not a word.”
Everyone became silent again, lost in their own thoughts. After a moment, Sebastian and I spoke quietly about the excuse I used to retire. I made it believable. That was the end of any conversation for a while.
The hours ticked by. I fell asleep using my hand as a pillow on the arm of the couch.
The creak of the door woke me as Danielle pushed Eric in his chair into the room.
She looked tired.
“Who cursed my son?” Luke asked first, breaking the silence.
Danielle shook her head.
“Tell me please,” he begged.
“We. Can’t,” she said.
Eric was restless again, and Danielle placed a hand on his shoulder. “We need to show you all.”
“What?” I spoke.
“Marick, please, don’t make me say it. Minaut is already upset because I refused to tell her. You need to see it for yourself as you will never believe me. I struggle to believe it, but I trust Eric, and when he explained it to me, I understood.”
“How close were they, Danielle?”
She closed her eyes and shook her head.
“How are we going to see it for ourselves?” I couldn’t keep the frustration out of my voice.
She opened her eyes. “I know you are upset. I get that, but if Eric is willing to wait…”
“Wait for what?”
“He’s patient, Marick. You need to be too,” she said sternly.
I caught Eric’s eye. Why does he want to wait? Was the culprit not here? Was it Morganna? “How long do we have to wait?” I asked. If she said two years, I would know that it was my sister.
“Not long,” she said simply.
“What’s the plan then?” Francine asked.
Danielle looked at Eric and then looked at Francine who was kneeling next to him, hugging him.
“Eric is really clever. This was his idea, to be honest,” Danny said. “The reason why Eric is so restless in this castle is because whoever cursed him, whoever gave me that potion, is here, Marick, always around.”
Minaut growled deeply.
Danielle took a deep breath and continued. “Minaut, you wouldn’t have been able to pick up on it. I can’t tell you why yet. Be patient, and don’t go doing something stupid.”
“Is it a warlock or a witch?” Luke asked.
Danny shook her head. “A shifter.”
“Danielle? Minaut?”
“She couldn’t detect the shifter, Marick. Eric thinks that they used a necrocretor, a strong one, to make their potions. That would dampen the smell from Minaut. She must be really a gifted alchemist.”
“You know how many alchemists are in and out of the castle each fucking day?”
“I know. We don’t know the how yet. We’re just speculating, Marick.”
“Who is it?”
“Be patient.”
“Danielle if anything happens to you…” I could feel my chest tighten at the thought.
“Nothing will.” She clasped my hand in both of hers. “I’m smarter than you think, Marick. And if I suspect my life is in jeopardy, I will tell someone—I promise. It will be over soon.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. Not knowing who or how close they were was driving me insane.
“So, the plan—what’s the plan please?” Francine asked again.
“Where is Katia?” Danielle asked. “We’re going to need her for this.”
“She’s still busy analyzing the wine.”
“Danny, why do we need Katia?”
“Eric said that there used to be a potion that could reveal a shifter. It’s one of the lost ones—it should be in one of the books from my mom’s place.”
“Danny, we need to ask permission first to brew—”
“We have someone already there, Marick. Louise is living in the temple, learning everything she can and getting up to date. We just need that potion. It’s a matter of life and d
eath, and Katia can brew it in secret.”
I stroke my chin. “It’s against the law, Danny.”
“Haven’t you learned? According to your law, me, my mother, and our kids shouldn’t be alive, but here we are. The circumstance demands that we look past the law. Eric’s life, my life, every single witch life. We’re talking about shifters, Marick. You’re the king.”
“Okay, fine,” I said, pushing my worries aside. “So we brew this potion—then what?”
“Let’s get to that step first. Eric and I are working on the how.” She smiled apologetically to Eric. “This has been an exhausting but helpful conversation.” She placed her hand on his arm. “I’ll speak to you soon, okay?” she whispered in Eric’s ear. A tear rolled down his cheek.
“Thank you, Danny,” Luke said, touching her arm softly.
She patted his hand that was on her arm. “You’re so welcome.”
I walked with her and Minaut to their room.
She opened the door, and I followed her into the room and closed the door behind me.
“Who is it, Danny?”
“You have to be patient, Marick.”
“I won’t jeopardize anything.”
She laughed. “I almost did tonight when he told me. And then he told me how all of you missed the clues and made it worse. It’s bigger than you, Marick, please. You will jeopardize everything, and nobody will believe you. Let’s do this like how Eric would if he could.”
I sighed. We failed him once, and it led to failing Danielle too.
I nodded. “Okay, I’ll wait. I don’t like it, but I’ll wait, but only if you promise that if you feel your life is in danger, even just a tinge, you tell me.”
“You can’t tell anyone, Marick.”
“I know. What was said in that room is for those people’s ears only.”
“They are shifters. They could become anyone in that room. We can’t talk about it, period. Minaut will always be with me. She might detect them when they become the others. I want my mom and Philip to go stay with Luke. Eric needs to be protected.”
I froze. Shit, I didn’t even think about that.
“Okay, I will have to talk to them. You really thought about all of this?”
She shook her head. “No, Eric did. It’s all he could think about—about how he would do it if he could. It’s a solid plan, Marick. He’s really smart.”
I smiled. “I told you he was.”
“You didn’t tell me how smart.”
“It’s Vindi that was in her cup.”
I froze. Vindi? She would’ve died a slow death.
“Thank you, Katia.”
“I’ve spoken to Danielle. She told me about the potion. Francine got word to Louise.” She huffed and the worry appeared on her face again. “She even has Francine who can’t even harm a fucking fly involved in this.”
I smiled. “You really think she is doing this for Danielle?”
Guilt washed over her face.
“You might have been too young to remember your brother and Francine. Danielle has nothing to do with this. Francine is doing this for Eric.”
“He’s going to be so pissed with Darius.”
“Probably pissed for the past thirty years, Katia.”
She looked at me and sighed again. “You’re right. I keep thinking that his mind was just as messed up as his body.” Her lower lip trembled.
“I’m sorry. We all wanted to lessen the pain.” I pulled her in for a hug. “We will get whoever is behind this, Katia. Just don’t mention anything to anyone, please?”
She nodded.
“Especially if they ask stupid questions, things they should know.”
She squinted. “What are you saying?”
“They are shifters. They can change into anyone of your family members.”
She gulped.
“Be careful. Liz and Philip will be at your place until this is over.”
She nodded.
“It’s an old potion, Katia. You think you’ll be able to make it?”
“You doubt my mad alchemist skills?”
I smiled. “No, you were the best in class, always.”
“I’ll pull it off. I promise. My brother’s life is on the line.”
Just as she was about to leave, I asked, “She didn’t tell you who it is, did she?”
She laughed. “Danielle and I were never that close, Marick. But I trust her. She hears my brother’s voice, and I trust him.”
Fair enough, I thought.
The Coopers left with Liz and Philip a few days later, and the worry became more and more heavy in my chest. I couldn’t even look at my family the same or look at any of the council members anymore. I can’t trust anyone. Sebastian became my advisor in this time of need. I trusted him. We came up with a stupid codeword so that I would know it was him.
Danielle kept her word. She didn’t tell anyone. I worried about her every day—that she was getting herself in more danger—but she was great at pretending.
I didn’t think the shifter was anyone from the court. Danielle felt the same with my dad, my mom (who she sees daily to teach her how to be the queen and what her duties consists off). She and Shania also seem to come to a mutual understanding. She knew that she would need all of them when the truth came out.
Danny was close with Mila too.
The council was another story, and I placed my suspicion on one of them. Flavion was still high on my list.
I couldn’t wait for this to be over. The potion was almost ready. Sebastian just told me one afternoon that Louise was brilliant, and he was worried too as she was so good at lying.
It made me laugh, but he had a point. Katia made the potion—it was still brewing. What the ingredients were or how long it will take to brew, I had no idea.
Danielle left with Sebastian one afternoon. She told me that she had work on the how, but she didn’t mention Eric’s name.
My insecurities came back. I didn’t like how close she and Sebastian got. He was my best friend and would die to protect her for me—but they were just so fucking close.
I kissed her goodbye and watched them leave.
“Where is she going?” my mother asked.
“Visiting. She misses them, Mom. With the kids not here, she feels lonely at times.”
“I’m trying to keep her busy, Marick.”
“Then she probably needs a break.”
She laughed. My mom would have probably lost it if I told her everything, but I had to protect her. We shared everything though, and this was the hardest thing for me to keep to myself. She was so trustworthy. She always kept my secrets. I hated not being able to share this with her.
“It’s still not the same between you, is it?” she asked.
I shook my head.
“How is the cure coming along?”
I scoffed and wondered if the sudden missing ingredient wasn’t a part of the plan of whoever wanted Danny dead. “They had to start over—said they missed an ingredient that they thought they had but didn’t. They are waiting for it as we speak.”
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” She patted me on my arm.
“It’s okay, Mom.” I gave her a hug.
“What is bothering you, Marick? I can see something is weighing on you.”
I almost told her, but I couldn’t betray Danny or Eric. “This entire world is weighing on me. I’m the king, Mom—I worry a lot.”
She laughed again. “You need a break too, Marick. You should’ve gone with your wife. I don’t trust Sebastian. He’s way too good looking.”
I laughed. “Gee, thanks for that, Mother.”
“I’m joking. He would die for you, Marick.” Her expression turned melancholy. “We should’ve tried harder, even with the evidence, we should’ve believed them.”
“I know. But he said it’s over and everything is where it needs to be—or will be.” I examine her, struck by how tired she looked. “Why don’t you and Dad go for a break? I remember a certain Cabo trip get
ting cut short.”
She huffed. “You think I didn’t try that. He doesn’t want to. He feels paranoid lately, saying that the minute he left, something would happen.”
“Dad?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Yes! He drives me insane. But I’ll try again.”
I grinned at her.
After she left, I went to my office. My father, could he be a shifter? What happened to my real dad then?
The night of the phone call jumped into mind. What if it was him? What if he was the one that wanted Danielle to stay away? I know I spoke to him that night. What if he lied to me and said he didn’t speak to me at all?
No, he did give it his all in that hearing, but it was me that got them free, not him. They would’ve died if I didn’t step forward.
Danny said that she didn’t believe Eric at first.
Holy crap! My dad! Where was he?
Tears welled up in my eyes. All the signs were there but I struggle to believe it.
I made my way to Danny’s room where I waited for her to come back.
“Marick?” she asked as she and Minaut entered.
“Who is it, Danielle?”
She closed her eyes. “What happened?”
I shook my head as tears to spill from my eyes.
She crouched in front of me.
“Is it my dad?”
“Don’t. I can’t tell you.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
“Just wait for the potion. You sound like Minaut now.”
“She thinks so too?”
“No, she has a new suspect every day.” She stroked my cheek softly with the back of her fingers. “Please wait, and don’t go do something stupid that you might regret later. Trust our plan. The potion is almost ready.”
I nodded.
“You want to sleep here tonight? I don’t mind.”
I gestured over to the other side of the room. “I’ll take the couch.”
She tutted. “A king on a couch? Your mother would kill me.”
I laughed.
“I’ll be there with you when we reveal the culprit. Stop speculating.”
I nodded.
She made the couch up—fit for a king—before she crawled into her own bed with Minaut sleeping close to her.
Playing With Fire Page 43
