The Queen's Choice

by Cayla Kluver

“Anyway, the deal is this,” Zabriel said, regaining our attention. “I won’t return to Chrior—”

  “But your mother is—” I stuttered.

  “Until I’ve taken care of my business here. I’ve thought about what you said, Anya, and it’s possible that I was hasty in drawing my conclusions. You’re right. I owe my mother an explanation. At least, I owe her a visit.”

  A thoughtful pause ensued, and Zabriel’s dark eyes flickered to Fane, searching, I realized, for approval. Whatever their relationship, the captain was part of the reason my cousin had reconsidered his decision. I wondered how they’d met and what bond they now shared that prompted my independent-minded cousin to turn to Fane for approval.

  “You’ll come home then?” Illumina echoed, eyes round with a mix of emotions far exceeding surprise. But it was beyond my ken to identify what the news meant to her. None of us had really expected this outcome.

  Zabriel put an elbow on the desk and ran a hand along his jaw, nodding despite his obvious reservations.

  “And will you stay?” Illumina pursued.

  “My reasons for leaving haven’t changed, so no, I don’t expect I will.”

  Zabriel once more rose to his feet, almost knocking over his chair in the process. He couldn’t stand the silence that invited him to consider the implications of his choice, and so he compensated, erasing that silence with his vitality.

  Though I was disappointed by the second answer he had given, I was heartened that he was at least going to reenter Chrior, for it meant I had won half the battle. And once he saw the Faerie Realm again, remembered its beauty and its promise, he might well stay. I glanced at Illumina, who was studying our cousin carefully, and I thought a little tension left her posture. Perhaps she, too, believed she had won half the battle. What worried me was she believed it to be the ultimately decisive half. What would happen if my vision of the future materialized and Zabriel thwarted her ambition?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  GRAINS OF TRUTH

  “So, Anya,” Zabriel exclaimed, obviously relieved to have the discussion about his obligations to his mother out of the way. “That business I mentioned in the note I left for you. What did Leo Dementya tell you and Smiley when you asked about Evernook Island?”

  “Nothing,” Shea grumped, speaking on my behalf, perhaps a little annoyed that the question hadn’t also been directed to her. “He said people don’t go to it and its only use is for military warehousing.”

  Zabriel pointed at her and grinned like he was a teacher and she his sharpest pupil. “That was true six months ago. But there’s been a marked increase in traffic around the island since then. There’s more than warehousing going on there—or, at the very least, whatever is being warehoused has grown in importance. Evernook is owned by the government, but there’s been no announcement of an official initiative that would explain the activity we’re seeing. In conjunction with how out-of-the-way and inaccessible the island is, that tells me whoever’s authorized its use is trying to keep things out of the public eye. The captain and I have been looking into the matter, and, well...we don’t like what we’ve uncovered.”

  “Does this have anything to do with the Fae abductions?” I asked, biting my lip.

  Zabriel’s expression darkened, and though he didn’t move, his energy homed in on me with the concentrated presence of someone’s breath on my face.

  “What do you know about that?”

  I’d almost forgotten the locket Fi had given me, but now I pulled it out from under my shirt and unclasped the chain that held it around my neck. I extended it to Zabriel, feeling as though Evangeline had slipped from my protection a second time when I laid it in his palm. He fingered the heart-shaped pendant, perhaps finding it familiar, perhaps sensing there was a sad story attached to it.

  “It was Evangeline’s,” I explained. “She wore it on her Crossing.”

  “It was hers?”

  He slowly let out his breath, having guessed her fate. He met my eyes, and some wall inside him shattered. For the first time since our reunion, I felt connected to him the way I had when we were children, a closeness I’d never had with Illumina. In moments like these, we not only understood each other; we felt each other’s pain.

  “Evangeline was abducted in Oaray and taken to a place where they cut off her wings. She was drugged and could only remember bits and pieces—being transported, the sound of water, the smell of salt in the air. When they were through with her, she was dumped in Tairmor, where I ran into her. We talked, and I thought she was going to be all right, that she was going to fight....”

  I swallowed hard, trying to erase the image of my friend’s corpse crumpled on the floor, barren of clothes and the dignity she should have been afforded.

  “By the next morning, she’d overdosed on a substance people in the capital called ‘the Green.’ The Faerie who runs the shelter where we stayed wanted me to give you that locket. She was aware I was looking for you, and she hoped the necklace, and Evangeline’s story, would help you see how much you’re needed.”

  Behind me, Illumina struggled for air—this was the first she’d heard of Evangeline’s fate, and considering her contemptuous opinion of humankind, she had to be reeling—but I didn’t try to comfort her. Instead, I fixated on Zabriel, since his reaction might give me a sense of the duty, if any, he still felt toward the Faerie Realm. He closed his eyes, his breath, though steady, quick and shallow. He wasn’t as removed from our people as I feared.

  “Evangeline,” he murmured, pinching the bridge of his nose. His muscles were tensing little by little, evidencing the untamed spirit which his mother continually credited to his father. “For the love of Nature, why her?” he asked at last.

  “She must have had the right element.”

  Spex’s voice, though soft, cut through the sorrow that filled the room. All eyes went to him, and I could tell from his unfocused stare and his defeated slouch that his good sense was screaming in his head for him to shut up. Yet he persisted in telling us what he knew, endangering himself and his family with every word, a strong indication of the level of regret in his heart.

  “At least, I think that’s what it was about. Sometimes they were after one element, sometimes a different one. It was luck of the draw for Fae traveling through Oaray, or wherever else spotter checkpoints had been set up. You can be sure there are a number of them since Hastings was willing to loan me out. When I was working Oaray, a Fire Fae might come through on a day when we were after Earth Fae instead, and we’d let them pass.”

  Becoming agitated, Spex twisted the shackle encircling his wrist with the opposite hand, and a pleading note entered his voice.

  “You just... You have to believe me that I didn’t know what would happen to your friend. I didn’t know what would happen to any of them. I’ve just been trying to keep my family alive.”

  “Your family who made their living by preying on Fae,” Shea sneered. “They’re in prison where they belong. They’re not victims—they did that to themselves.”

  “If you’re about to tell me you wouldn’t forgive the people you love for just about anything, don’t bother. You’d forgive them genocide, and you know it, so take yourself off that pedestal, seonnha. Or at least get rid of that pendant hanging around your neck.”

  “What are you talking about?” Shea demanded, her fist closing around the looking-glass pendant that had become a point of curiosity during our journey.

  “Hastings and everyone I ever saw who’s involved in this thing wore a necklace just like it. So don’t be so quick to assume the people you love are innocent.”

  Shea got to her feet, looking as though she might hurl Spex out the balcony door. Ironically, her attitude affirmed his assertion that she might support her family no matter the cost.

  “My father isn’t part of this,” she snarled.r />
  Spex was not willing to surrender and seemed pleased to have exposed a nerve. “Maybe he isn’t right now, but I reckon he was at one time.”

  Before Shea could escalate their argument, footsteps creaked in the stairwell, and we all turned to see who was about to join us. I tensed, my eyes landing on Zabriel, whose regal wings vanished beneath his shroud. Apparently not everyone here was privy to the fact he was Fae.

  Her jowls jiggling, Aunt Roxy puffed straight into our room to deposit a large tray of deliciously unhealthy-looking snacks on the writing desk near Zabriel. She also slapped down a jug, flapping one hand at the mugs she’d included on the tray.

  “Don’t you ever make sure this boy eats, Captain?” our hostess groused, referring to my grinning cousin, her tartness insufficient to conceal her well-meaning heart. “You’re thin,” she went on, a finger dangerously close to Zabriel’s face. “And there’s no excuse for that when you’re at port. Now quit your gawking at me, all of you, or get the hell out of my house.”

  “Thanks, Rox,” Fane said with a chuckle, moving toward the desk. “You know I love you.”

  “I know you owe me,” she grunted, heading out the door.

  By this time, Shea had retaken her seat, careful not to face Spex, her countenance glum. I left her alone since I couldn’t comfort her with promises of Thatcher’s innocence. What did I really know about the man? If asked, all I could say was I thought he’d recognized my royal ring, and was aware of the damaging effects of sky iron on Fae magic. That was too much to dismiss Spex’s assertions, yet not enough to prove them. Besides, I doubted Thatcher’s past had any bearing on our present circumstances. It was best to let Shea grapple with the flood of questions that were no doubt running through her mind, for she was the best-qualified person to answer them.

  I crossed to the desk and picked through Roxy’s food offerings, taking bread and meat and a few olives. Fane, on the other hand, seemed more interested in the drink.

  “Hey, Fane, toss one,” Zabriel called.

  I turned to see what was going on, and an olive zipped by my head, aimed at my cousin. He caught it in his mouth, pounding the air with one fist in celebration, and I laughed. Despite the heavy issues we were confronting, it felt good to be around him after such a long period of time.

  “Now I understand why you’re the terror of the seas,” Shea snidely remarked, gulping down her second mugful. “I knew it had to be something to do with your mouth.”

  Fane whooped, enjoying Shea’s feistiness. Rising to the challenge, Zabriel grabbed an olive and threw it into the air, then drew a pistol and shot it to bits, causing the rest of us to press our hands over our ears.

  “Thought you could use more than one reason. I’m a damn good shot.”

  “Don’t be blasting holes in my ceiling!” Aunt Roxy yelled from below as my cousin the pirate holstered his weapon. “Or you’ll be fixing the roof rather than sailing the sea.”

  Everyone except Illumina laughed, even Spex. I couldn’t decide if my younger cousin had lost her sense of humor, or if she just didn’t want to partake in anything enjoyable having to do with humans. The latter was more in keeping with her rhetoric.

  “What are you planning, Zabriel?” I asked, bringing the conversation back to the important issues. “What exactly is this business you have to finish before you come home?”

  “As you’re smart enough to deduce, I think whoever is behind the Faerie abductions and mutilations is working out of Evernook Island. Given the number of children who have gone missing from the port over the last few months, Sepulchres are involved—there’s really no other workable explanation. And law enforcement hasn’t made any progress with their investigation. Humans and Fae alike are in danger as long as that island’s secrets stay hidden.

  “But thanks to the reconnaissance done by the captain and his men, we know Evernook is expecting an important shipment within the next few days. Fane’s going to intercept that shipment, which might shed some light on things. Meanwhile, I’ll infiltrate the island and find out what’s going on there, hopefully put a wrench in whatever plans are in place, and then reevaluate. If the timing makes sense, that’s when I’ll go back to Chrior.”

  “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you charge into the center of enemy operations and get yourself killed. I just found you!”

  Zabriel and I shared a long look while everyone else stilled, then he picked at a tooth with his thumbnail.

  “No problem. Come with me.”

  His words weren’t defiant or meant as a challenge. It was the obvious solution. And so I nodded.

  Shea sprang to her feet, and what was left of her food tumbled to the floor, her mug along with it.

  “What? Anya, don’t be stupid! Zabriel’s a pirate, but you’re not. You wouldn’t be of any use on Evernook. You can’t fly, or move silently, or scale mountains. You’re basically human, only you don’t even carry a gun. I wouldn’t stand a chance against a bunch of military men, and you wouldn’t, either.”

  I stared at her, feeling my confidence tearing apart. While I normally would have been insulted by her assertions, she didn’t settle on any one point long enough for me to digest it, much less react to it. I’d never seen her like this—she could be a bit tactless, but she tended to keep a cool head. A quick glance around the room told me Shea’s outburst had taken everyone by surprise. They were all staring at her in silence, except for Spex. His shoulders were shaking in controlled laugher. Judging from his expression, this was the best party he’d been to in a long time.

  Through scolding me, my best friend next turned her fury on Zabriel, moving to stand toe-to-toe with him, despite the crook this put in her neck.

  “And you!” Shea jabbed at his chest with her forefinger. “You’re not talking about taking her for a stroll or out to dinner. Are you a pirate or an idiot? If you’re any good at what you do, Mr. William Wolfram Pyrite, you don’t need her. And you damn sure shouldn’t put her in danger for no good reason.”

  She stopped to inhale, and I laid my hand on her arm, turning her toward me. Zabriel took the opportunity to step away, eyebrows and hands high, expression a mixture of amusement and trepidation. He didn’t know whether to laugh or run.

  “I’m sorry, Shea. Calm down,” I said, trying to defuse her anger. “You’re right. We need to think things through very carefully. But try to understand. I’ve struggled long and hard to end up here with Zabriel. And the people who are being hurt by the Fae hunters are my people. It’s also my responsibility to help them.”

  “There’s more than one way to help,” she sullenly answered.

  “True, but you and I have proven more than capable of taking care of ourselves. Remember the Sepulchres we fought off in the Fere? And the guard at the jailhouse we knocked out to escape from Luka? And our trip through the river caverns under Tairmor?”

  “Hold on a minute,” Fane interjected, scratching his head. “You two were in Luka’s custody and took out a prison guard to escape? I’d like to hear about that!”

  “So would I,” Zabriel concurred. “I never thought to ask you about your trip across the Territory. Sounds like I should have.”

  “Damn right you should have,” Shea retorted, eyes only slightly less wild, then she drew her gun. “Still want to shoot olives?”

  “Maybe another time.” Despite how dangerous this situation had become, his voice was calm, his manner relaxed. He was trying his best to mollify her. “But I have a better idea. Since you clearly can protect yourself, why don’t you come with Anya to Evernook? I think that would solve the little problem we’re having here.”

  He looked to me for confirmation, which I was only too happy to supply.

  “Sure, Shea, come with us.”

  She smiled and handed her gun to Zabriel. Then she fell down, spread-eagled on one of the beds.


  “She’s been drinking, you know,” Spex volunteered. “Seems partial to whatever’s in that jug.”

  I approached my friend and caught a strong whiff of alcohol. “I think she’s drunk.”

  Zabriel laughed. “That explains a lot.”

  “Yes, it does.” Fane joined in. “I wondered what had become of the rum!”

  The men chuckled, which I found a bit irritating, while Illumina looked disgusted. But then, she generally found human behavior objectionable. I ignored their reactions, however, not about to start another fight. I doubted Shea knew the effect the drink would have. I rolled her onto her side lest she vomit and choke, then threw a blanket over her. There wasn’t anything to be done but let her sleep it off.

  When everyone was talked out for the night, I discovered that Captain Fane had sent someone to fetch our belongings from the lodging house. Apparently we would be staying at Aunt Roxy’s from now on. Illumina was staying, too, since she’d been carrying her pack at the time Fane had swept us away, and she fell asleep with a sketchbook in her hands, charcoal smeared on her fingers and face. There were plenty of beds to be had without the need to disturb Shea. I chose one near her in case she needed help in the night, then attempted to get some rest, dozing intermittently at best.

  At some point, I noticed a cool breeze and sat up to find the balcony door ajar and faint light slinking in from outside. Fane was snoring, sprawled across his bed; Illumina was curled into a tiny ball near her headboard like a cocooned creature. Even Spex was lost to the world, curled up on the floor with a measly blanket, still shackled to the bedpost. He must have been accustomed to making do in stark environments because he didn’t stir as I tiptoed past.

  Zabriel was outside, seated with his legs through the bars of the balcony railing and surveying the street below. It was surprisingly quiet except for the occasional animal’s yelp or beggar’s scuffle. I went to join him, moving aside the gas lamp he had brought so that I could scoot close and dangle my feet over the edge, too. I leaned my head against his shoulder, not caring what differences and hurts hung between us. I’d spent a lot of time missing him these past two years.