by K. M. Shea
A flash of light caught my attention, and I realized a group of teenagers were trying to take Rigel’s and my picture, but they’d forgotten to turn the flash off.
I slapped on a smile and waved.
The teenagers took another picture, then ran off, laughing.
“Did you see she had her pets with her?”
“They’re cute!”
“Don’t worry, Whiskers and Kevin. Humans think you’re cute, even if the fussy fae don’t,” I cooed to my animals.
“It’s because fae know better,” Rigel said.
I almost stuck my tongue out at him, but realized a guy in his thirties had stopped a few feet away and was very obviously trying to get a picture of us.
Wow. I never thought I’d be picture-worthy famous.
To my amusement, a fae noble saw the guy taking a picture of us; naturally she stopped to take a picture with her cellphone.
That got the attention of a couple that were walking behind her, who then stopped to take a picture…basically, a crowd was starting to cluster around us.
“Should we maybe go to a less popular area while we wait for Chase to finish?” I asked. “I think we’re clogging up the traffic right here.”
Rigel leaned back, and when Chase happened to glance over at us, Rigel slightly tipped his head back, then stalked off, getting out of the street and sauntering onto the less populated sidewalk.
I followed him, and Chase—still on his cellphone—followed after me.
We walked a little farther, stopping when we reached a tiny city parking lot shoved between the police department and the city post office.
It was a little cooler in the shade the buildings cast on the lot, and with the strong breezes rolling off the lakes, I was thankful for my flannel shirt.
“Once Chase has everyone in place, I want to go buy the dog biscuits, and maybe another pumpkin donut,” I said. “Is there anything you wanted—a dagger, perhaps?”
Whiskers got intrigued with something on the opposite side of the parking lot and meandered past me, twining his leash around my legs. I spun in a circle to free myself, then glanced at Rigel when he didn’t respond. “Rigel?”
Rigel wordlessly slid his hidden daggers out of his bracers. He whispered a word under his breath, and both of the daggers pulsed with magic.
Oh boy.
I swung around, and got to see the terrifying sight of ten creatures detaching from the shadows of the building and stalking toward us.
Chapter Eight
Leila
Like the one I’d fought during the race, they were vaguely humanoid in shape, except their shoulders were broader and their hands were clawed. Their feet ended in dragon-like paws, and their heads were about half the size they should have been. Shadows writhed where their faces should have been. The only visible features were three pairs of narrowed red eyes, and a wide mouth of gleaming white teeth that split their heads.
I dug my prism out of my pocket with one hand and got it activated as I unbuckled Kevin’s collar, and then Whiskers’. “Chase!”
The werewolf was all over it. “We need back up—in the parking lot between the police station and post office. Ten shadow monsters!” Chase barked into his earpiece as he ran down one of the monsters. He unsheathed a saber and stabbed it into the creature’s gut, then ripped it upwards, eviscerating the monster.
Black spilled from the wound. The creature howled as it folded in on itself and dissolved. I could feel the magic that made up the creature—it was slick and oily, and while it held the feel of fae magic—whisper soft and a little sticky like a spider web—it had something else to it. Something fully encased by the fae magic, hiding it so I didn’t get more than a faint impression or two that there was something different to it.
Kevin jumped the nearest one, grabbing it by the throat and ripping. The monster fell as if it no longer had bones to support it, then it disappeared like shadows blasted by light.
Whiskers pounced, clearing the long distance and jumping so high he attacked from above, digging his claws into a monster’s face.
Rigel moved like a shadow himself, appearing everywhere seemingly at once.
He stabbed one creature in the back, instantly killing it. It dissolved like the others as he stepped back into the shadows. He reappeared in front of one that was making a beeline for Chase’s unprotected back.
My stomach shivered in my gut as I created a barrier around myself. A monster jumped me, but the barrier held, and it bounced off, hitting the ground with a splat.
Thinking back on the monster I’d defeated in the middle of the Magiford Midsummer Derby, I spun magic into a ward—which glowed purple around the fallen monster’s feet. When I finished the spell and tied it off, the ward bloomed into a barrier that vertically cut through the monster.
It gurgled, then dissolved.
I made myself turn in a tight circle, confirming that the monsters were sticking to the parking lot. “They’re after us—it doesn’t look like they’re going to go after the public.”
“Of course they’re after us,” Chase growled, his voice rough as his gold eyes gleamed in the dim light. “They waited until you were around fewer people to attack you!” He stabbed a shadow monster, and behind him Kevin bit into the leg of another—holding it even as it dug its claws into his back.
“Kevin!” I shouted.
Whiskers launched himself at the monster’s back and bit its neck.
The creature collapsed and folded over.
That should have been the eighth out of ten monsters. But why are there still ten of them?
My stomach still rattled around in my guts as I narrowed my eyes and forced myself to stop moving and watch.
Rigel stabbed two creatures at once, digging his twin daggers into their guts.
The monsters fell, dissolved, and then two more detached from the shadows of the building.
“They’re multiplying!” I yelled. “They keep coming out of the shadows.”
“Should we move to a sunny area?” Chase asked.
I shook my head as I tried thinking of all the magic I knew. “We can’t risk hurting everyone at the market.”
My prism hummed in my clammy palms as I held it out in front of me, channeling magic through it into something useable. “I’ll try to blast the place with light, but it’s going to take me a little while.”
Soft, gleaming light that was cool but clear like stars drifted out of the ground beneath my feet, spiraling out around me in a beautiful, intricate design.
I steeled myself, so I didn’t flinch when another creature flung itself at my barrier before Chase killed it.
I’d learned the basics of magic as a kid, and while I was strongest in my natural magic—like my ability to befriend animals—I’d improved a lot since I’d become Queen of the Night Court. I mostly practiced with barriers—which was why mine was holding even though a couple of the creatures tried to dig their claws into it. But since my run in with a monster during a race a few weeks ago, I’d become much more interested in offensive magic so I could protect myself.
But I’ve only practiced a few times since then, and I still don’t know much. But I’ve got to try!
I frowned as one of the monsters flung himself at my barrier, then skidded down the side, making a squeaking noise and leaving a trail of drool behind.
“Are we taking any bets who sent these guys?” I eyed the fallen monster as Whiskers pounced on it. “I don’t think it’s anyone from my Court—probably.”
“They’re the biggest suspects given the way they swarmed the market once they found you were here.” Chase camped out in a shadow of the building, continuously swinging his sword in a complex movement pattern and slicing through the two shadow monsters that kept trying to sprout where he stood.
My light spell had almost reached the sides of the post office and police station—it was nearly ready! “You could be right. But I bet it’s one of the other crappy monarchs,” I grumbled.
; “Are the two of you seriously discussing suspects as if this is a casual afternoon stroll?” Rigel asked. He killed two shadow monsters, then cast a black, net-like magic spell that tore through two more.
Oohhh, I should learn that spell! I wonder if he would teach me if I asked nicely?
“Because it practically is an afternoon stroll given how often I’m attacked,” I said. “You’re just not used to it because you’re terrifying, and no one would dare try to kill you. Just give it some time and you’ll develop an inappropriate sense of humor, too.” I flexed my fingers, trying to hurry my magic as it crawled across the last few inches.
Irritatingly, it moved more slowly the farther it got away from me.
But why? When I used my old charm bracelet to cast spells, I don’t remember having any problems like this.
A whimper, then a scream ripped through the air.
I spun around, my stomach dropping to my feet.
Three of the monsters had Kevin cornered—one had its claws stabbed deep into his side. Whiskers launched himself at one of the creatures, but he hadn’t been able to rip out its throat, so he still hung from its back as a fourth monster ambled up and slammed its meaty fists into his head.
“Kevin!” I screamed. “Whiskers!”
“Don’t drop your barrier!” Chase barked.
I took a few steps, but I had focused on learning how to pour power into barriers—not how to make them portable, so the magic didn’t move with me.
“Queen Leila,” Chase warned.
I dropped my barrier and sprinted to Kevin and Whiskers.
I wish I brought the pistol the Drake vampires gave me—it was supposed to be for times like this!
Angry tears stung my eyes, and I yanked magic from my excruciatingly slow spell and threw it at the monsters.
Light flashed like fireworks, and the ground shook.
Two of the monsters staggered backwards and disappeared—weak to light.
But the one stabbing Kevin and the other that was harassing Whiskers had their backs to my spell, and it didn’t seem to bother them.
Blood trickled from Kevin’s side, and Whiskers screamed weakly before he toppled to the ground.
No!
I reached out again with my magic, but before I could even think of a spell to throw, pink magic zipped in front of me, slicing through the two monsters terrorizing my pets.
I spun around, shocked to see Lady Chrysanthe standing just inside the parking lot.
She held three jeweled hair pins, and all of them glowed with magic, giving her power as she directed a flurry of spells to the shadowy monsters.
She’s…helping?
It was such a foreign idea it made me freeze.
Lady Chrysanthe hated me—I’d unwillingly taken the crown she thought would be hers. She hadn’t even tried to disguise how much she hated me. And now she was helping?
I protectively stood in front of Kevin and Whiskers, grimacing at their wounds.
They’ll be fine—Chase’s men carry healing potions for situations like this.
The point of my prism dug into my palm, and finally I felt my magic reach the farthest edges of the parking lot.
“I’m lighting ’em up!” I announced.
Rigel frowned in my direction. “You’re what?”
I mentally tapped the extensive, glowing network of criss-crossing lines, and they flared to life, glowing brighter and brighter.
Pure, white light that made my eyeballs ache invaded every corner of the parking lot.
The monsters growled and dissolved as the light ruthlessly tore through them. I had to shut my eyes against my own spell as the light grew brighter and brighter.
Please work.
When I tried to peel an eye open everything was white. I couldn’t make out anyone, or even the shapes of the buildings perched on either side.
Everything was just light.
There were hisses and these awful guttural growls, and then I felt the fae magic of the spell crack and disappear.
For a second I felt a very old, very foreign magic, that was somehow sharp like a sword and wild like a forest. And then it was gone.
I cautiously opened my eyes, my shoulders settling in relief to find it was just us in the parking lot.
The monsters were gone.
I whirled around, my heart in my throat as I dropped to my knees next to Kevin.
The shade had collapsed on the ground, blood oozing from his side wound, though when he saw I was looking at him he tried to wag his tail.
Tears stung my eyes. “Oh, Kevin!”
Chase’s men careened down the sidewalk, nearly running Lady Chrysanthe down in their hurry.
“The threat’s been taken care of,” Chase said. “But the cat and the dog need medical attention. I want the rest of you to start an investigation.”
A sharp faced dryad zipped across the parking lot, unbuckling the satchel that smacked her side as she ran.
She had two crystal bottles of blue healing potions out by the time she crouched next to me. She whistled when she saw the nasty gash in Kevin’s side, and plucked a third potion from her pack—this one bright purple. “Does he need to be restrained?” she asked.
I petted Kevin’s head, sniffing a little when he licked my hand and whined. “No—he’ll stay still for you.”
The dryad nodded, then glanced at Kevin’s crimson eyes and gulped before she poured the purple potion on his wound.
Kevin flattened his ears, but he rested his chin on his paws as Whiskers meandered up to us and started licking the top of Kevin’s head.
When Kevin sighed, I knew he was going to be fine. I stood up, thoughtfully rolling my prism between my fingers as my forehead puckered with worry.
Why was my magic slow? It was kind of a strain to pull more of it through the prism, too.
I frowned at my prism, then glanced across the parking lot. Lady Chrysanthe still stood at the entrance, awkwardly fidgeting as she watched Chase’s men swarm the area.
“I’ll be right back. Both of you, be good.” I dropped a kiss on Whiskers’ head and gently stroked Kevin’s neck, then moseyed on over to Lady Chrysanthe.
“Lady Chrysanthe,” I called out to her as I got closer.
She curtsied. “Queen Leila.”
“I appreciated your help in the fight.” I was careful to phrase my thanks so she couldn’t construe it as a debt—just some more fun that came with living among fae!
Lady Chrysanthe lost her awkward stance and straightened, growing as stiff as a plank of wood. “It is the duty of a noble fae to protect their ruler.” She sniffed, looking dignified and beautiful in her floral print dress and her white hat that tilted fetchingly over the side of her head.
I cleared my throat to keep from laughing—not at her beauty, but her words. Before today I would have said Lady Chrysanthe was about as interested in saving me as she was in becoming a worm farmer. Duty was not an especially strong call to her.
But I managed to keep a straight face. “All the same, I still appreciated it. Kevin was in trouble, and I’m grateful you helped him.”
Lady Chrysanthe gave me a tiny nod.
I smiled at her and nodded a few times, expecting she’d leave.
She didn’t.
She kept standing there, her posture straight as she watched me.
Is she waiting for a reward or something? Except she said it was her duty, and I was pretty careful in my wording.
I inspected her clothes more carefully—I’d come to learn that fae clothes were all about choosing the narrative or act they wanted to impress upon the day.
Lady Chrysanthe’s floral dress was a lot simpler than anything I’d seen her in before, same to her sun hat.
And what is that supposed to say?
Deciding it was a lost cause, I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “I better go talk with Chase about…this.”
“Naturally,” Lady Chrysanthe said. Her voice was a scoff—but not the disgusted one she usually us
ed around me. It sounded hollow—or like a motion with no thoughts behind it.
I shook my head slightly as I left her and headed for Chase.
Something weird is going on with her.
I strolled up to where Chase was speaking with a few of his men. “Any clues?”
Chase’s golden eyes glittered in the shadows—a striking comparison to his warm, sepia-brown skintone. “Not this soon into the investigation. The perpetrator did not conveniently leave bits of evidence out in obvious spots that are easy to collect.”
“Sorry, I know I’m impatient.” I glanced over at Kevin—who was now standing with his nose raised in the air.
Whiskers had rolled on to his back, baring his belly for the very hesitant dryad that was dribbling the blue healing potions into the gloom’s cuts.
“I’ve made arrangements for you to get home,” Chase said.
I frowned a little. “Isn’t Azure still here? She can drive me—unless you meant you were calling for back up security.”
“No,” Chase said. “I sent for transportation of a different kind.”
There was a metallic clang, and when I swung around again, a metal archway with a fancy iron gate stood in the middle of the parking lot. The gate swung open, and the archway was filled with misty black magic.
Six night mares, one sun stallion, and a donkey hee-hawing loudly enough to alert the entire market of his presence drifted through the door.
I ran to the night mares and flung myself at the closest one, hugging its thin, bony neck as a couple of muzzles nudged me.
The night mares—due to years of neglect under the rule of the previous queen—were all emaciated with scraggly manes and tails and coarse hair. They all looked sickly and rather…well…nightmarish since they had glowing yellow eyes, nostrils that always flared red, and mouths filled with serrated teeth that weren’t natural on any sort of equine.
Their presence made the fae leery, though I’d noticed that since I’d won the race with the six of them—five of them going riderless—my peoples’ fear seemed tinged with respect. Now they nodded to the horses as if they were fellow fae.
I made my way around the circle of night mares, cooing to every mount—including Fax, my placid but adorably giant sun stallion I’d inherited as queen; and Bagel, the long-eared donkey I’d brought from my parents’ place.
