by E. Menozzi
He pulled the duvet up over my shoulders and curled alongside me. My mind kept going over Fiona’s offer and everything Liam had told me about Godda and the Oath. But Liam began tracing patterns on my arm with his fingers, and soon I relaxed enough to drift off to sleep.
While I waited for Evelyn to heal enough for us to travel to the cottage, I avoided contact with my family, especially Arabella. Oscar had been keeping me busy, and I’d nearly cataloged the entire cellar room before Fiona cleared Evelyn for travel.
“She’s ready.” Fiona said, appearing in the doorway to the cellar room.
I looked up from the crate I’d been repacking and labeling. “Should we leave now?”
Fiona nodded. Her face was grim.
“What’s going to happen to her, Fi?”
“That’s her decision.”
“But you’ll let her live?”
“She’s earned that much.” Fiona glanced around the room. “Oscar says you’ve done good work here. He’d like to see you stay on.”
“Even though he knows?”
She nodded. “We had a long talk. I think he might have always suspected you weren’t as wholesome as you appeared.”
I laughed. “He doesn’t mind that we meddled with the artifacts?”
“We agreed that the enchantments were too dangerous to leave. Now that Edric’s gone, Sorcha was able to remove all trace of magic from the dagger and the shield. To a human, there’s no difference.”
“So there’s no reason for me to continue here?”
“He understands you won’t be returning,” she said. “What you do next is up to you.” She crossed her arms and studied me silently. “I should go and prepare Flida for your arrival,” she said.
I bowed my head to her. When I raised it, she was gone. I finished taping down the lid of the crate. Then I took the stairs two at a time in my hurry to get up to Evelyn’s room. I found her standing in front of her mirror fussing with her hair.
“Leave it,” I said. “You look great.”
She frowned. “What do you even wear to meet the Queen of the Fae?”
I slid up behind her and wrapped my hands around her waist. “Are you worried because she’s queen or because she’s my mum?” I asked, watching her face in the mirror for a reaction.
She glared at my reflection. “You should be the one worried. Are you really wearing that?”
I hadn’t even noticed my clothes. I stepped away from her to examine my ensemble. She had a point. I snapped my fingers and dropped my glamour, exchanging the dusty, moth-eaten sweater and jeans for a dark-green belted tunic and formfitting tan pants.
Evelyn spun to face me, her lips curled in consideration. “If this is what passes for Fae casual, no wonder you were so human-fashion challenged.”
I brushed my hands down the front of my tunic. “What’s wrong with this?”
She sighed against me and wrapped her arms around me. “Nothing.”
I kissed the top of her head, inhaling the tropical scent of her shampoo. “All right. Take a deep breath,” I said. “And don’t freak out.”
I waited for her to inhale, then I conjured us to the lawn outside the cottage.
“Okay?” I asked, leaning back and looking down at her.
She nodded. “That wasn’t as bad.”
“I had a chance to warn you this time.”
She laughed and pulled away from me, turning to take in the lush grass and drooping green trees that surrounded Mother’s cottage.
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “You grew up here?”
“Hard to believe?” I asked.
She looked at me. “No,” she said. “Actually, you look very much at home here.” She gestured to my clothes and grinned.
I laughed and reached for her hand. “Come on,” I said. “Let’s go inside.”
I led her through the entry and caught a glimpse of Arabella before turning toward my mother’s room. If she knew what was good for her, she’d stay as far away from me as possible. We hadn’t spoken since she’d helped me carry Evelyn to her room, and I was in no mood for a fight. I let Evelyn walk ahead of me down the hall and glanced back over my shoulder to make sure Arabella wasn’t following.
Fiona greeted us when we stepped into the candlelit room. Sorcha sat at my mother’s bedside, holding her hand and talking with her in soft tones. Mother’s pale skin appeared nearly translucent and blended with the white bedding, making her dark-brown hair stand out in contrast. I wound my arm around Evelyn’s waist and led her to the bedside opposite Sorcha.
“Mother,” I said.
“Liam!” She turned to me, slipped her hand from Sorcha’s grasp, and reached for mine. I clutched her outstretched hands and bent to place a kiss on her soft, dry cheek.
“I’ve brought Eve,” I said.
Evelyn stepped forward and dropped into a curtsy. I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
“Hello,” she said.
“Come closer, child,” my mother said, letting her hands slip from mine so she could beckon to Evelyn. I traded places with Evelyn, and she let my mother grip her hands. “I hear you saved my son from that awful barbarian that I had the misfortune to call brother-in-law.” Her voice was barely more than a whisper, but it still conveyed all the strength and humor of her youth.
“No, I just—” Evelyn started to respond, but Mother cut her off.
“Don’t be modest, child,” she said. “I’m glad you were there with Liam. It sounds like you make a good pair.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Evelyn said, ducking her head at the compliment.
“It appears you not only helped get rid of our enemy and return a sister to me, but you also brought us quite a treasure.” Mother turned to Sorcha and held out her hand.
Sorcha slipped Godda’s bracelet off her wrist and placed it in Mother’s open palm.
“We’ve been holding on to this for you,” she said, offering the bracelet to Evelyn.
“Thank you,” Evelyn said. “But I think you should have it.”
“Nonsense, child,” Mother said. She placed the bracelet in Evelyn’s palm. “I will be gone soon and have no need for such things.” She wrapped Evelyn’s fingers over the gold band and rested her long, thin hand on top. “But there is something I would like to take with me.”
Sorcha reached for Mother’s arm, but Mother didn’t let go of Evelyn’s hand.
“Flee,” Sorcha said, using my mother’s childhood nickname. “Let me do it. Save your strength.”
Mother didn’t move, except to glance at Sorcha out of the corner of her eye. “And what should I save it for?” she asked. “Edric is gone. You’ve been returned to us. There is nothing left for me to do but free our sister from her prison and join her.”
Sorcha stood and leaned over my mother, wrapping her arms around Mother’s frail frame. Still, Mother didn’t let go of Evelyn’s hands. But she glanced up, past Evelyn, to meet my eyes. I swallowed my tears and nodded at her. Then I stepped forward and slipped my hand around Evelyn’s waist.
Mother cupped her hands under Evelyn’s and began to speak in the ancient tongue. Sorcha sobbed silently but held my mother as she recited the words that would free Godda’s life force. The bracelet began to glow, and Evelyn’s fingers arched away from the metal. But Mother didn’t release her grasp. She just continued her chant.
Light shined out through the markings on the band, and the bracelet began to spin in Evelyn’s open palm. Mother continued her soft and steady chanting, and Sorcha held her and gave her strength. Evelyn leaned into me, her arm rigid and straining. She tried to pull her hand away, but Mother wouldn’t release her grasp.
The band was a blur of shining gold. The light pulsed in time with Mother’s chanting. Then, my eyes blinked shut against a flash of bright white light. When I opened them, Mother lay limp in Sorcha’s arms, and the bracelet sat still and plain in Evelyn’s out
stretched palm. Sorcha sobbed, and Fiona stepped forward, Arabella at her side. Evelyn cradled her hand, still holding the bracelet, and buried her face against my chest.
I watched as Sorcha and Fiona laid Mother’s body flat on the bed. They crossed her hands over her chest and brushed her hair from her face. Arabella disappeared and returned with a crown of flowers and a wooden staff. She handed me the staff before placing the crown on Mother’s head. Fiona coaxed Evelyn from my arms so I could tuck the staff beneath Mother’s hands.
Tears dripped from my eyes as I placed a kiss on each of her cheeks and said goodbye. Then I wrapped my arm around Evelyn and led her out onto the lawn. I wanted to get her home before our kin gathered for the wake. I would need to be here to greet the mourners, and I decided that Evelyn would be more comfortable with her aunt and uncle.
Evelyn still clutched the bracelet to her chest. Her face had gone extremely pale and she trembled.
“She’s gone,” she whispered.
I tucked her into my arms and held her close. She leaned against me for a moment, then she pulled back and looked up at me with wide eyes.
“I should give this to Fiona,” she said, holding out the bracelet in her open palm.
I shook my head. “Not now,” I said. “Maybe later. Right now, I should get you back to Lydbury. I have things I’ll need to do here.”
“Oh,” she said. “If that’s what you want.” She looked down at her hand and ran her thumb over the smooth metal.
“You really want to stay?” I asked Evelyn. A hand touched my arm, and I turned my head to find Arabella standing next to me.
“Not now,” I growled at her.
“Please,” she said. Tears glistened in her eyes. “Talk to me.” Her fingers dug into my arm.
I released Evelyn and spun to face Arabella, shaking her fingers from my arm in the process. “Now is really not a good time.”
“You think I don’t know that? Flida was like a mother to me. Don’t shut me out. You’re all I have left. You’re all we have left. We need you.” She stared me down with her hands on her hips.
“Edric’s gone. Mother’s gone. I owe you nothing.” I started to turn away, but she grabbed me again. I growled low in my throat, but she didn’t release me.
“We’re family. And we need you,” she said.
I grabbed her hand and pried it off me. “Maybe you should have thought of that before you nearly killed her,” I said, taking a step closer and stabbing my finger into her breastbone. “You had no right.”
She winced and backed up. “Be reasonable. How was I supposed to know?”
“It wasn’t your call to make.”
“Fine. I’m sorry I nearly killed your human. Are you happy now?” She threw her hands up.
I shook my head. “You’re not sorry. You’re just like my sire. You hate them. Do you really expect me to believe you care?”
“Don’t be a fool.” She glared at me.
I laughed. “I knew it. You’d do it again if you had half a reason.” My fists clenched, and I burned to transform and resume the fight we’d had on the lawn just a few days ago.
“Stop it,” Fiona’s voice cut across the lawn. Arabella and I froze. “Stop it before either of you say something you’ll regret.”
Arabella took a step backward, toward the cottage.
“Go,” I said.
She opened her mouth to respond, but Fiona cut her off.
“Arabella, inside, now.”
Arabella snapped her jaw shut, and I could hear her grinding her teeth. But she obeyed, turning her back on me and pushing past Fiona and into the darkness of the cottage. Fiona held my gaze for a long moment, then disappeared inside.
I turned toward Evelyn and found her staring at me, eyes wide. “Explain,” she said, biting off the word.
“It was a mistake,” I said, trying to shake off the adrenaline rushing through my body.
“That’s not what you just said. You said she tried to kill me.” She pointed toward the cottage.
“But she didn’t.” I reached for her.
She twisted away from my hand and took a step back. “Tell me what happened.”
I jammed my fingers into my hair and dug the tips into my scalp. This was not going well. “Ari was there when we returned through the tunnel after escaping from the dungeons. She attacked you.”
“When were you going to tell me this?”
“You didn’t remember.” I shrugged. “It didn’t seem important.”
“Liam, your cousin hates me.” She folded her arms across her chest.
“She doesn’t hate you. She was just doing what she thought needed to be done. It’s her job to protect Fiona.”
Evelyn frowned. “You just said it yourself, though. You said she hates humans. You said your father hates humans.”
“That doesn’t mean they hate you.” I stepped in front of her and placed my hands lightly on her shoulders.
She shook her head. “I’ve caused enough trouble for you and your family. Maybe you should just take me back to Lydbury.”
“I want to be with you.” I cupped her cheek with my palm and tipped her head up until her eyes met mine.
“You need to be with your family.” Tears welled in her eyes.
“Don’t you see, I’ve put them first my whole life. I’ve done everything they’ve asked of me, and more. But I can’t fight this war anymore.”
“What are you saying?” She placed her palms against my chest.
“I won’t swear the Oath.”
She groaned. “Don’t you see? Everything you did, you did because you love them. You can’t walk away now.” She paused and frowned. Then she added, in a low voice, “I won’t let you give up your family for me.”
“Then I won’t give them up, but I’m not giving up on you, either.” I skimmed my hands over her shoulders and down her sides until they reached her waist.
“Your cousin hates me.” She slid her hands up my chest until they rested on my collarbones.
I smiled. “You already said that.”
“It’s still true.” She raised her eyebrows, daring me to contradict her.
I kissed her forehead and her muscles relaxed. “Give her time,” I whispered.
“Liam—”
I caught her lips with mine and cut off the rest of her sentence. Enough talking. We’d been through so much. I’d nearly lost her. I wouldn’t lose her again. I kissed her until she relaxed in my arms and leaned into me.
“Let me get you back to Lydbury,” I whispered, leaning my forehead against hers so the tips of our noses touched. “We can deal with Ari tomorrow.”
Evelyn sighed. “Okay,” she said.
“You ready?” I asked.
I waited for her to inhale, then, focusing on the carriage house, I conjured us back.
18
I sucked air into my lungs and leaned against Liam. When I opened my eyes, we were standing outside the carriage house. The Christmas lights Aunt Vivian had strung up in the bushes twinkled in the darkness.
“Will you be back tonight?” I asked.
Liam shook his head. “The wake will last until dawn, and the coronation will begin at sunrise.”
“Oh,” I said, remembering my agreement with Fiona. “That soon?”
“It’s our way,” he said. “But I’ll return as soon as I can.”
“Actually,” I said. I bit my lip. “I think Fiona wanted me to attend the coronation.”
“See,” he said. “Fiona likes you.”
I rolled my eyes. “We’ll see.” I had no idea how I would get to the coronation. Maybe I would have to decide first, before they let me attend. “Will you come back to get me?”
“I’m not sure what Fiona has planned. She may send me. If not, someone will come to get you.” Liam leaned down to kiss me, then he disappeared.
“So,” a voice sai
d from the shadows, “the queen is dead. Long live the queen.”
A shiver ran down my spine. I turned, slowly, to face the figure whose voice I’d already recognized.
“They’re all looking for you,” I said. I tried to keep from trembling.
“Oh, it sounds like they have better things to do this evening.” Nigel stepped out from his hiding place and into the moonlight. His features appeared angled and hawkish in the harsh lighting.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
“I wanted to say goodbye.” He cocked his head and smiled at me.
“Goodbye.” I folded my arms across my chest and waited for him to leave.
“I also wanted to give you a warning.” His smile faded.
“So give it.”
“I won’t come after you.” He slipped his hands into the pockets of his black wool jacket. “But, you should know, my mother might.”
“What happened back there? Did you have a falling out?”
“She certainly wasn’t pleased that I let you two get away,” he said. “But I tried to explain that I was saving her skin.” He shrugged, hands still buried deep in his pockets. “She may not have entirely believed me.”
“So you’re running away?” I asked.
“Care to join me?” He arched one perfect eyebrow at me.
“You’ve lost your mind.” I shivered.
“Quite possibly.” He took a step toward me, and I resisted the urge to back away. “I didn’t want to hurt you,” he said.
I tensed. “Are you done?”
He watched me closely. “I’m not the enemy, Evelyn.”
“You could have fooled me.”
He shook his head. “You’ll see,” he said. “The enemy is coming. Protect yourself.” He snapped his fingers and disappeared.
I exhaled and let my head fall back. Stars glimmered in the night sky above. Only a handful of hours remained for me to make a decision about my future, and now I had confirmation that a demon woman would be hunting me down. If Fiona erased my memories, I wouldn’t know what danger I was in when Lilium came for me.
I shivered in the cold, crisp night air and wrapped my arms around myself to keep warm. I walked along the path to the mudroom entrance and crept through the kitchen and up the stairs. As much as I wanted my aunt’s advice, I knew I couldn’t consult her on my decision. So I decided I’d use the large house to my advantage and avoid them.
