Queen of Fire

by K. V. Adair

  He barked out a humorless, harsh laugh. “You amuse yourself, my queen, but don’t ever forget who you are and who I am.”

  I took a step back, his chilly words so different from what I was used to. At least from him.

  There were a dozen guards and four ben síde around us. Feoras was the only noble. I took a deep sigh, preventing myself from saying what was really on my mind.

  Making Eoin an open enemy was foolish, but his earlier words echoed in my head.

  The only way not to be used is to be the user.

  I smiled sweetly, genuinely. “I apologize, Eoin. My nerves are frayed from the attack, but that’s no reason to take it out on you.”

  Eoin tilted his head to the side and then nodded. He understood I wasn’t just talking about myself. The nod was his apology back.

  Both of us saving face in front of the guards. Last thing either of us needed was gossip.

  I gestured to one half of the body. Eoin had said he was Unseelie.

  Not long after the attack, Eoin and some guards had rushed into the hall and broke the illusion. I had still been pressed against Feoras looking like a child needing protection and very much not like a person in power.

  Eoin had ignored me, going straight for the upper half of the body. He demanded to know what happened as he examined it.

  There was a tattoo of a raven on the attacker’s shoulder. According to Eoin, it was the sign of the Unseelie.

  The attacker didn’t look any different from Eoin or Feoras or even me. He could have easily blended in.

  Marking himself as Unseelie seemed like a really dumb thing to do.

  Feoras scratched the back of his neck. He hadn’t moved very far from me. I was still within arms reach. He looked poised to move fast if there was another threat.

  Eoin’s aggressive snap must not have fit the bill because Feoras hadn’t moved an inch.

  I didn’t know if that made me feel better or worse.

  “I guess that solves that mystery,” Feoras said.

  “What mystery?” I asked.

  “Who killed our king,” Eoin answered for him.

  “You think it was this guy?” I had my doubts.

  “Or someone working with him. It makes sense. Kill the king, destabilize the kingdom, and weaken the barrier.”

  I crinkled my nose. “I don’t think so.”

  Eoin raised an eyebrow at me. “Oh? How do you explain him, then?”

  “If he had wanted to kill me, I’d be dead. I would have been done a dozen times over. No, that wasn’t his intention.”

  “She’s right,” Feoras said. “He had the opportunity, even drew his blade across her throat. A little deeper, and she’d have bled out.”

  Eoin frowned and walked over to me for the first time since entering the hall. He lifted my chin, exposing my neck. I could feel his warm breath on my nose.

  It smelled like spearmint. Brushing his teeth before bed? The sun had barely set when we’d finished our Harry Potter lessons. Either I’d been stuck in this hall with the Unseelie douche or he went to bed early.

  His clothes were no different than what he had worn while we had trained, just disheveled. My face heated up. Like they’d been thrown on the floor and then put on again fast. I tried to get that picture out of my head but failed.

  He ran his finger across my throat a couple of times.

  “There’s not even a scar,” he said, wonder in his voice. “How?”

  I shrugged. “Dunno. I also lit up like a firefly.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “When you were attacked?”

  “No, before. When I gave it too much attitude.”

  “It?”

  “Never mind. So, about the Unseelie…”

  He shook his head. “Maybe he—they—had other plans for you, but the most logical conclusion is they were responsible for Liam’s death, too.”

  “Logical conclusion? Because no one else in this godforsaken castle has a motive?”

  “You’re very suspicious, you know that?”

  I lowered my voice so no one but Feoras could hear us. “And I know you’re not as stupid as you’re pretending. Even if the Unseelie was the one holding the blade, someone helped them. Someone who could get them through the security.”

  He pursed his lips but otherwise didn’t show his emotions. “Perhaps.”

  “Unless you’ve been slacking when it comes to protecting the king.”

  He glared. “I’d say it isn’t my job, but you should know I’d never slack in that area.”

  “Then someone is a traitor. Who would be able to break through the wards and illusions to my brother’s room? Figure that out, and our suspect list shrinks.”

  “Our?” Eoin smirked. “I don’t know about our. You have other things to worry about, my queen. Like choosing a mate.”

  “Mate?” I visibly shuddered just for the effect. “Could you maybe use a word a little less…”

  “A little less what? Would you prefer lover or sweetheart?’ His smirk deepened. “Considering the circumstances, mate fits.”

  “Lovely,” I replied. “Moving on, we should compile a list of everyone with access and ability to disrupt the protection protocols around my brother.”

  Eoin sighed. “It would be faster to make a list of those who do not have the ability or access.”

  I stared at him, dumbfounded. “Isn’t the point of security to prevent shit like this? If everyone can get past it, what’s the freaking point?”

  “I didn’t say everyone could, but it would be next to impossible to know who could obtain the information. Whether that’s by buying or trading or something else, everyone is a suspect.”

  I sighed. He was treating me like a stupid child, hoping I wouldn’t realize the obvious. “I didn’t ask for everyone who could have found a way around. I asked for everyone with access. The information had to come from somewhere. We find out who leaked—”

  “There is no we, Morgan,” Eoin said, firmly.

  Some of the guards shuffled, looking everywhere but at me. Awkward tension filled the air. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind who wore the pants in this relationship.

  Eoin lowered his voice so he wouldn’t be heard. A little late in my opinion.

  “It’s hard enough to keep you safe as it is. Having you wandering around, asking questions people don’t want to answer is plainly idiotic. I’m not an idiot, Morgan. Are you?”

  I glowered, displeased.

  He smiled softly. “I’m glad we are in agreement. Deidre?”

  Deidre approached cautiously. Her hand was resting on the pommel of her short sword. Her shoulders were tense, and she looked ready to murder someone.

  “Yes?” she asked, her words directed at me and not Eoin.

  Eoin looked annoyed at the slight. It seemed there was history there, ugly, bodies on the floor, history.

  “Escort our queen to her room, please.”

  Deidre didn’t move. I wasn’t about to ask to be escorted, so I guessed we were at a standstill.

  “Are you and your ben síde not sworn to protect our queen above even your own lives? Is she not your primary concern.”

  Deidre swallowed, her shame spread across her checks. “Yes,” she mumbled, barely audible.

  “Then where the fuck were you?”

  She flinched. “I failed.”

  “No shit.”

  “You don’t have to be a dick,” I whispered harshly. I’d learned my lesson about reprimanding him loudly.

  “He is right, Highness. I should have been by your side.” She looked directly at Eoin. “It will not happen again. I promise.”

  “You’re right. It won’t. Escort the queen to her room and keep two of yours outside at all times.”

  “It’ll be three, my lord.”

  Eoin made a face. It seemed he didn’t like being called a lord. I tucked that information in the back of my brain.

  “Good,” Eoin responded.

  “She will never be alone again, either. W
here she goes, we follow.”

  I didn’t like the sound of having a permanent tail and zero privacy, but it was a problem for another day.

  “No need, Deidre. She is not to leave her room for any reason without my expressed permission.”

  I couldn’t—wouldn’t—keep quiet on that one.

  “I don’t think so. I won’t be a prisoner. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  He closed his eyes for a moment. “I’m not so sure about that.”

  Feoras, who had remained silent the entire time, took a step toward me and placed his hand on the small of my back. “I’ll bring her to her room.”

  Eoin’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not a good idea.”

  “Good thing I wasn’t asking, then. Ready to go, my queen?”

  He led me gently toward the far door, his hand still on my back. No one stopped him. Not Deidre. Not Eoin.

  When the door was shut behind us, and we were alone, I stopped and turned to look at him. His eyes were dark and there was a tightness in his mouth. He wouldn’t look down at me.

  “Feoras?”

  He closed his eyes, looking like he was trying his damnedest not to lose control. My hands tightened into fists, and I wasn’t so sure being alone with him was a good idea.

  When he opened his eyes again, they were so dark they looked black.

  “Feoras?” I asked again, softly.

  He let out a long sigh. “You’re very bad at keeping your mouth shut, aren’t you?”

  “That’s a bit rude.”

  “Bite me, asshole,” he said, badly mimicking me.

  “Oh and what clever retort would you have said?”

  “Please don’t kill me. I’ll be a good girl?” He smiled, his lips turning in a very distracting fashion.

  I snorted. “I don’t think I’ve ever promised to be a good girl. Nor have I pleaded for my life.”

  “And how often are you put in those situations?” He teased.

  My heart grew heavy, the joke hitting a little too close to home.

  “More often than you know,” I whispered, not intending for him to even hear.

  A shadow crossed his face. “Tell me.”

  “Yeah, no. You have to work a little harder to dig out all my secrets.”

  “Then give me the opportunity to. I want to know you better, Morgan.”

  “You won’t be able to seduce the crown from me, so don’t bother. Men far more charming than you have tried and failed.”

  His smile returned. “I doubt that. But you misunderstand my intentions. I wish to understand you because you fascinate me. You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”

  “Don’t get out much?”

  He chuckled. “Not really, no.”

  “Tell you what, help me escape my room and I’ll be an open book.”

  His eyes twinkled mischievously. “I like books, but, for the first time ever, I actually agree with Eoin. You are safest in your room.”

  “Am I? Liam was in his room when he was killed.”

  Feoras nodded. “True.”

  “Nowhere is safe for me until my brother’s killer is found. Help me find out who that is.”

  “There are others, more experienced than you, looking into it.”

  “But they don’t care, not like I do. I have nothing left, Feoras. Locking me away and throwing out the key is go to kill me anyway.”

  “What exactly are you asking me to do?”

  “Is there another way out of here other than the hall?”

  “Not exactly…”

  “That’s not a no.”

  He sighed, pulling his hand through his thick brown hair. “There’s an emergency exit.”

  My ears perked up. “Go on.”

  “Emergency, Morgan. This isn’t an emergency.”

  I took a step forward and pressed my hand against his chest. He sucked in a breath and held it.

  I leaned forward, my body brushing his. “What will it take to make this an emergency?”

  “You’re playing with fire,” he said, not sounding very sure of himself.

  “It seems you like playing with fire.”

  “Correction. I’m adept at playing with fire. My desires for it are still undecided.”

  I wasn’t sure what he actually meant. He was either a master of word games or really, really bad at flirting.

  “And what do you desire at the moment?”

  He leaned forward, his nose inches from mine. “You really want to know?”

  I nodded, my breath catching in my throat. I really was playing with fire and unlike him, I wasn’t so adept at it.

  He reached down and cupped my face in his hands. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. And for a moment, I wanted him to.

  “Access to the royal library.”

  “Uh, what now?”

  He straightened, completely composed. Clearly he wasn’t bad at flirting.

  “The royal library is forbidden without special authorization. Eoin denied my requests four times. Bastard. You want my help? Give me access.”

  “You are bartering your services for a library card?”

  “I’d give a lot more than just my services for a chance to peruse the knowledge of the ancients. Every text ever written by our people, and many not, are there. Just waiting to be delved into.”

  “Are you still talking about books or is this an innuendo for sex?”

  He laughed. “I don’t bother with innuendo for sex. I don’t waste the time.”

  “All right, then. Let’s talk about this emergency exit.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Feoras didn’t say anything. He just looked at me expectantly. The silence between us was becoming awkward.

  “So, where is this emergency exit you were talking about?” I asked. “I’m guessing we don’t have much time before someone comes to check on me.”

  He nodded. “Right. Sorry. I was just imagining what Eoin will do to me when he finds out.”

  “We’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t.”

  He snorted. “Yeah, he’s not that dumb. It’s okay. I have you to protect me.”

  “I’m sorry in advance. Let’s go.”

  He turned, and I followed for a few steps before he abruptly stopped.

  “Do you feel anything?” he asked.

  “No, why?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing. There is no portal connection here, for good reason. What would be the point of all the security, then? But if something does get through, the last thing you want is your back to the wall with no escape.”

  “And so an emergency exit. Wait. How do you know about it?”

  “I make it my business to know everything.”

  “Well, that’s not suspicious.”

  He grinned. “We have the same protocol at home. It’s standard.”

  “So you know where it is?”

  He scratched his head. “At home? Yes. Here? Only a guess. Where would they logically put another way out?”

  “King’s chambers,” I said softly.

  I hadn’t been in my brother’s room since…

  “Are you going to be okay, Morgan? There’s nothing wrong with returning to your room.”

  “I’m not waiting out the rest of my days under Eoin’s thumb. Let’s go.”

  I marched past him in the direction of the high king’s chambers. Easier to think of them like that than the other way.

  The door was closed. There was no caution tape around it like on Earth. Just a plain, ordinary door.

  Another security measure.

  I reached out, expecting the door to be locked and was pleasantly surprised when it opened. I pushed it forward, held my chin high, and entered.

  It was like walking into a museum. Nothing was out of place. There was no blood on the carpet. No indication that anything violent had happened here.

  It even smelled clean. Not the chemical odor you’d expect from scouring evidence from the floor, but rather a pleasant, earthy scent that reminded me of
the forest I explored as a child.

  “Magic sure is useful,” I muttered. “So, where is it?”

  Feoras shrugged. “I was hoping you would know.”

  “How would I know? He didn’t get the chance to tell me anything.”

  It hit me that I’d only seen my brother less than an hour that night. Eoin had called him away after the announcement. I still didn’t know why.

  “Your magic should lead you to it.”

  I groaned. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”

  He looked confused. “You used your magic to light up like a star and to heal yourself. I think feeling for the way out would be easy.”

  “I didn’t actually do those things. It did. On its own.”

  “Hm. Interesting.” He sighed. “Try at least.”

  I closed my eyes and focused on the foreign part of me. It remained dormant. “Not working.”

  “You have to try harder. You did it before.”

  I opened my eyes and glared at him. “I told you; I didn’t do anything.”

  He took a step toward me, a mix of annoyance and pity on his face.

  “Magic isn’t some living, sentient thing. It’s power. Power we are born with. Some of it needs to be learned in order to wield and control it. But some is just innate, instinct. Either way, it all comes from you.”

  “I don’t know about that. Mine seems to have an attitude problem.”

  Feoras barked out a laugh. “Of course it does. It’s you.”

  I closed my eyes again, focusing. The problem was I had no idea what to focus on. I didn’t know how to direct it.

  I reached my hands out, willing something, anything, to flow out my fingers and point in the right direction.

  The pads of my fingers tingled, and I had to suppress a yelp of joy. There was nothing ahead of me, so I slowly turned keeping my arms outstretched.

  The magic died, snuffed out like a flame. My eyes flew open, and I swore.

  My finger was pointed at the door between Eoin’s room and this one.

  “It’s in Eoin’s?” Feoras asked.

  I shook my head. “I think it’s the door.”

  “That makes sense. A little on the nose, maybe.”

  I walked to it and opened the door. It was also unlocked. The only thing on the other side was Eoin’s room. The sheets on the bed were disheveled, there were piles of clothes laying around, and more than one glass with remnants of various colored liquids on the bottom.