by Tasha Black
Tabitha looked around Helen Thayer’s opulent ballroom on the night of the party.
The sparkling chandeliers cast a warm glow on the freshly waxed parquet floor. All around her, the storied elite of Tarker’s Hollow and Rosethorn Valley danced and chatted, while a tasteful string quartet filled the house with cheerful music.
“I can’t believe how quickly she pulled this off,” Sara murmured to Tabitha as she swirled past in Dorian’s arms.
Sara’s dark king held her as if she were a fragile flower, and she smiled up at him, so happy.
Tabitha smiled, too.
If everything went according to plan, they were about to secure the support they needed to keep the mansion on the hillside out of harm’s way.
As soon as that was done, and the building potential of the land was devalued, the developer would surely break his contract.
And then Tabitha could quietly buy the mansion.
Once she owned it, they could collect and replace the mirror shards without having to sneak around. It would make it much easier to save all the lovely people who were here tonight and their families from the monsters that wandered among them.
After that, it would make an excellent asset for the Historical Society.
She only wished she’d done it sooner.
She suspected Sara would have suggested it, but the two never really discussed Tabitha’s wealth.
Maybe that should change.
Tabitha always assumed that any talk of her money would ruin her friendships. Her parents had taught her to be guarded about their fortune.
But her relationship with Sara was stronger than that, especially after all they’d been through over the last few days. Nothing should be off the table between the two of them.
As her best friend danced by again, Tabitha resolved that they would talk tomorrow.
What was the point in having money if the people you loved didn’t know you would gladly use it to protect them?
Giving hardworking, golden-hearted Sara Mason a little peace of mind was about the best use Tabitha could imagine for a bunch of money she had not earned.
“What are you smiling about?” Tristan’s voice was dark but teasing.
“I was just smiling at Sara and Dorian,” she replied, turning to accept the glass of water he offered. “They’re a beautiful couple.”
“But not the most beautiful couple,” Tristan confided.
“Oh yeah,” Tabitha said, scanning the crowd for Helen Thayer.
Helen was dancing at the center of the ballroom with her new boyfriend Bill Guernsey, a handsome police officer from the Springton force. In her teal gown and diamond bracelet Helen cut a very elegant figure, and Bill was obviously enthralled.
“No, not Helen and Bill,” Tristan smiled. “Although she does look enchanting this evening. I meant us.”
“Oh,” Tabitha grinned. “I see.”
“You know, my queen, it was great trouble to find a glass of water in a room full of champagne,” Tristan said.
“I hate to burden you with my thanks,” she teased. “But I did enjoy it. A girl can only drink so much champagne.”
“I was thinking you might repay me with a dance?”
Tabitha laughed and put her glass down on the nearest tray.
As he swept her onto the floor to join their friends, Tabitha was grateful to see the obvious happiness in his eyes.
One day she would ask him why his parents had named him Tristan, a name of sadness, when he had so much joy at his command. She suspected his talk of being a “vessel” for happiness had come from them.
They had probably hoped to protect him with those words, just as her parents had hoped to protect her with theirs.
But it was time for both of them to spread their wings now.
And it was thrilling to see Tristan allowing himself to feel the light he shared so freely with everyone else.
Tabitha tried her best to put her worries aside and just enjoy the party with her handsome king at her side. Between the music and the friendly atmosphere, it wasn’t as hard as she thought.
An hour later, the music stopped, and the couples gathered breathlessly along the sides of the ballroom as Helen’s nephew, Hector, and his wife, Mei, set up the projection screen at the head of the big space.
“I’m so grateful you all could be here tonight,” Helen said in her deep, clear voice. “We are celebrating the history of our two communities, which is just as it should be.”
There was a small cheer, that grew louder, until the attendees were stamping their feet.
Helen took a bow.
“But,” she continued. “We also must speak about how we can work together to preserve the future. In that vein, I’m going to ask Sara Mason and Tabitha Barnes to come forward and talk with us about the mansion on the cliffside - a property we all know, but maybe not well enough.”
The presentation couldn’t have gone better. Sara was in her element. She was accustomed to talking with crowds at open houses, so it wasn’t much of a stretch for her. Tabitha ran the slideshow as she dazzled them.
There were many exclamations of appreciation as they showed photos and video of the interior and grounds of the incredible mansion.
“So if you would like to help, please chat with me, Tabitha or Helen before you leave,” Sara concluded. “And there’s a sign-in sheet for volunteers and potential donors by the door as well.”
The crowd applauded and Sara and Tabitha gave each other a quick smile.
It wasn’t hard to do a good job when the project really was special, and the audience had been warmed up with champagne and dancing.
They each gave a wave to the crowd and headed back to the dance floor together.
“Lovely,” Helen said, clapping.
“And we have one additional short presentation for you before the night is through,” came a clear, confident voice from the back of the room.
Tabitha turned and saw the tall, redheaded woman from the café striding toward the front, heels clacking in perfect rhythm as she took the stage.
“What the hell?” Sara whispered to Tabitha.
Tabitha shook her head. She’d had no idea.
The titian woman took the remote and popped a thumb drive into the laptop that was still hooked up to the projection screen.
“Hello everyone,” Miranda said in a lush, compelling voice. “It’s so good to see so many familiar faces here tonight. Some of you might remember me. I grew up right here in Tarker’s Hollow. For those who don’t, I’m Miranda Cannon, and I’m here to show you another option for the cliffside site.”
There was a great murmur in the ballroom as everyone tried to figure out exactly what was going on.
“I’m afraid there’s been some misunderstanding,” Helen said to her loudly.
“I assure you, there hasn’t,” Miranda countered without missing a beat. “As far as I can tell, this event seems to be an unpublicized meeting of the Rosethorn Valley zoning board. Of course, holding such a meeting out of the public view would be illegal. But I’m prepared to let that go, so long as you comply with the bylaws and allow an opposing viewpoint to be heard.”
Shit.
Miranda Cannon was correct. Though this was a private party with two communities worth of VIPs, all members of the Rosethorn Valley zoning board were here. And they had been talking about zoning. It probably wasn’t actually illegal, but it sure didn’t look good for the board members to be seen as open to lobbying.
Helen glanced over at Tabitha and Sara.
Tabitha nodded. Making a scandal for the board members wasn’t going to help their cause.
Besides, she couldn’t imagine a compelling argument for tearing down a beautiful, historically important landmark.
“Thank you, that’s very kind,” Miranda said softly, managing to make it sound like it wasn’t kind at all. “My employer generally keeps his plans to himself. But when he heard about this zoning board meeting, he decided to make an exception.”
Wow. Now she was just calling it a zoning board meeting - very slick.
Miranda clicked to activate her first slide.
A red and white logo appeared on the screen.
“Dolor Enterprises is a high-tech pharmaceutical company at the forefront of pain management,” she said. “My employer is searching for a site to house a state-of-the-art laboratory, as well as company housing.”
She clicked again and an aerial photo of the mansion appeared on the screen.
“This is the property at the heart of the discussion here tonight,” Miranda said. “The earlier presenters told you about its alleged historical significance, but they failed to mention its functional obsolescence. This building is quite literally falling apart. It’s an eyesore and a liability. My employer has it on good authority that there may even be below ground oil tanks scattered around the property. That’s an environmental disaster waiting to happen. And while it’s a lovely idea to restore the old mansion, the cost would be staggering - far more than a small community like yours can manage. And of course after that initial cost, the property and buildings would have to be maintained indefinitely.”
She was clicking through slides rapid fire now, showing the wet basement, the missing mortar on the chimneys, the roof slates that had fallen to the ground in recent storms.
“Rosethorn Valley already has ample historic landmarks to maintain and enjoy,” Miranda went on, showing a picture of the Morningstar Lodge.
Tabitha felt steam threaten to come out of her ears. The Morningstar Lodge was a great example of what could be done when someone cared enough to put their money where their mouth was. It should be an argument in favor of restoration, not a means to oppose it.
“In the current fiscal climate, the last thing this town needs is to undertake one more financial obligation with no hope of a return.” Miranda flashed a practiced smile that said she had them right where she wanted them. “What this area really needs is an entity that will shoulder its fair share of the tax burden, and create an influx of new jobs for local citizens.”
The screen was now showing a laboratory photoshopped onto the cliffside in place of the mansion. Miranda clicked through interior shots of the lab.
“Dolor Enterprises will need employees - everything from scientists to janitorial staff,” she said. “We offer fantastic salary and stock options, as well as the best benefits package in the business.”
She clicked through pictures of ostensibly happy employees at other sites.
“And of course, a group of core employees coming in from Dolor’s other sites will need housing,” she went on. “That will be a coup for the local real estate market.”
She actually had the audacity to wink at Sara.
Sara scowled back at her.
“And this may necessitate the purchase of additional parcels to build company housing,” Miranda went on. “Which of course means even more local jobs.”
People were buzzing now.
If there was one thing Tabitha knew about both Tarker’s Hollow and Rosethorn Valley it was that they didn’t like big business where they lived. Traditionally, franchises were boycotted until they shut down.
And their population didn’t have an employment problem. Most residents were skilled, and had more than enough work between nearby Philadelphia and Wilmington.
But there was something about what Miranda was saying that seemed to make so much sense.
No.
No, it wasn’t what she was saying.
It was how she was saying it.
Tabitha herself could scarcely take her eyes off the woman. She found herself nodding in agreement, even though she knew she should be furious.
The more she thought about it, the better the idea seemed.
She gazed off in the distance and tried to remember exactly why she had ever wanted to save some old, rundown shack to begin with.
A warm hand on her shoulder brought her back to her senses with a jolt.
“It’s magic,” Tristan whispered in her ear. “Try not to look or listen. You have more resistance than most, but she’s still dangerous.”
It all made perfect sense. Miranda wasn’t just putting on a good show, she literally had the crowd under her spell.
The light king’s touch had broken the magic’s hold on Tabitha, but he couldn’t touch everyone, and she doubted they would snap out of it, even if he did. Tristan was right - her own magic probably gave her a bit of an edge the others wouldn’t have.
She looked around in terror and saw the whole party gazing up adoringly at Miranda Cannon.
“Thank you so much for your time, ladies and gentlemen,” Miranda said with a shimmering smile. “And remember to show your support for this exciting new venture.”
The crowd erupted in thunderous applause.
Tabitha watched in horror as the woman left the stage and walked through the crowd.
“I’m so sorry,” Miranda whispered to Tabitha as she walked past on her way to the door.
Tabitha was too shocked by the haunted look in Miranda’s eyes to come up with a response.
26
Tristan
Tristan sat in the café with his queen, her friend, and his brother.
In spite of the unexpected turn of events last night, everyone seemed to be feeling fairly positive this morning.
Was it because he was letting his Light flow out of him like honey seeping from the comb?
Maybe.
But it was also because they were together. And he had an inherent sense that between them there was nothing they couldn’t do.
“It could have been much, much worse,” Sara was saying. “I didn’t want to say anything, but I kept expecting one of the monsters to appear during the party.”
“Me too,” Tabitha said, wide-eyed. “I guess we got lucky there.”
Carl came over to their table with plates of eggs, pancakes and fruit.
For a long time they all ate in silence. It had been a long night. Their hunger was great, and the food was good.
“What are we going to do about the mansion?” Dorian asked at last, wiping his mouth with a paper napkin.
“I’m not sure,” Sara said. “But we might have even bigger things to worry about.”
“What do you mean,” asked Tabitha.
“Miranda showed the plans for the whole development last night,” Sara said quietly. “They included some sort of tram line running where the old trolley used to go, all the way along the creek in Rosethorn Valley. That will be the end of all that wooded area.”
“There are lots of people in town who care about the environment,” Tabitha suggested. “Maybe we try to win them over?”
But she didn’t sound convinced.
“The wildlife in this realm is suffering,” Dorian said. “Why do so few of your people care about their stewardship of the natural world?”
“I’m not really sure,” Sara admitted. “We should all care, and to a certain extent, most of us do. But there are not enough people willing to do what it takes to make a meaningful difference. I think most people are just too busy trying to get by.”
Dorian met Tristan’s eye, and something passed between them.
It was the knowledge that they had to do something.
Something terrible, but necessary.
“Are you going to tell them, or should I?” Dorian asked.
“Tell us what?” Tabitha asked, looking back and forth between them.
“Tabitha,” Tristan said, taking her hand in his. Despite everything else that happened, he was filled with joy at the sight of the inky vines wrapping their way from her finger to her wrist. “You are my queen, and together, we have the power to face any challenge. With you at my side, there is nothing we cannot endure.”
Tabitha blushed, and he continued.
“But if we want to do more than endure,” he explained. “If we want to have a chance at actually winning, there is something we have to do.”
“What is it
?” Tabitha asked.
“We have to wake our brother,” Tristan said. “We have to wake the King of the Wilds.”
***
Thanks for reading King of Light!
Are you ready for more steamy fae king action? Do you want to find out what happens when Tristan and Dorian’s brother arrives on the scene? Need to know if there is a mortal queen strong enough to tame this wild king?
Then keep reading for a sample of King of the Wilds, or grab your copy now:
https://www.tashablack.com/kingofthewilds.html
King of the Wilds (Sample)
1
Miranda
Miranda Cannon stepped gingerly between the trees, trying her best not to snag her clothes or lose a shoe. Her boss demanded that she look “office ready” at all times, which in his mind meant two inch heels and a tailored suit.
But today, Miranda’s office was a mosquito-ridden cove in the woods on the border between Rosethorn Valley and Tarker’s Hollow. And she was pretty sure the mud from the recent storms was trying to eat her Jimmy Choos right off her feet.
And it was all just because some worker bee stopped paying attention and took a nasty tumble.
“It was right here,” Larry, the foreman of the current job, turned to tell her, eyes round as saucers. “This is where Joey saw the lights.”
Miranda looked around.
She wasn’t exactly the outdoorsy type, but she couldn’t detect anything unusual about this part of the forest. It was the same goopy, muddy path that they had used to get here - between thickets of bushes and stands of giant trees.
All around them, birds and other noisy creatures were yelling at each other and the air was humid enough to make her hair try to escape its bun and hightail it back to the city.
“So one of your men allegedly saw some lights here,” she confirmed. “What kind of lights, exactly?”
She’d investigated workplace injury claims before, and knew better than to come right out and admit anything had happened the way it was reported - at lest not until she had all the facts.
