by K. N. Banet
Then he slowly pushed the shot of whiskey away.
“I’m going to tell Landon,” he said, turning to me again, his voice rough and his eyes back to the blue-grey I loved. “You should tell Dirk and Oliver to go to my house and stay there until further notice.”
“We’ll get through this.” I hoped we would, but I could smell the truth between us. If there was something that could break us, this might be it.
I didn’t want this to be broken.
“We will,” he agreed, nodding slowly. “I figured a lot of people could use our relationship against us at one point or another. I never thought it would be a fae king.”
“I’ll…I’ll leave you to that,” I said softly, stepping back. “I’ll head to the bar. They’re all probably still there. When you get the chance, you should talk to them. Getting to know them is important.”
“Jacky…he never called you to Duty,” Heath whispered as I turned away from him.
“It doesn’t matter if he does,” I replied. I looked back into the living room to see Fiona staring at me. “Fiona, let’s make this official.”
She nodded, knowing what I was talking about.
“My name is Fiona Kelly. I am a ninety-two-year-old human—”
I coughed. She looked older, but she was certainly not ninety-two.
“Father’s magic has extended her life but done nothing else,” Rian said softly. “She’s still human.”
“I am the wife of King Brion of the fae. I need protection from the supernatural community. I am at risk of losing my life through no fault of my own. I am requesting the werecats uphold their duties to the supernatural community and protect me from all threats inhuman.”
I took a deep breath. The words were already written. They changed a little depending on the situation, but I had heard and given them once before. They were different, however, between an adult and a child. Carey became mine that day, needing all my love, protection, and guidance because she had been a child. Fiona Kelly was a woman who didn’t need as much care, which meant I didn’t need to promise as much.
“I, Jacqueline, daughter of Hasan, hereby do swear to protect you from all threats supernatural until which time I deem you are no longer at risk of the current threats against your life. I hereby do swear your life is now in my hands and can be trusted there. Fiona Kelly, you are hereby under the protection of this werecat and no other.”
“That’s not how that goes,” Heath said softly. Fiona said nothing, only lowering her head in acceptance of my oath.
“It’s all I give, considering the circumstances, and it upholds the Law,” I said softly. “We’re dealing with fae. I can’t promise that she’s under the protection of the werecats when I am the only one who can help her.” I pursed my lips. “King Brion might have made me his pawn, but he won’t make my people or my family his playthings.”
I walked out of the room, left my house, and headed straight for my bar. I had no intention of forcing Oliver and Dirk to stay with Landon and Carey, which would let my family know what was going on.
Dirk wasn’t around. Late Saturday evening, he was off because Heath and I were in residence and didn’t normally need security. We had things well in hand on our own. Oliver was looking a bit frantic when I found him, pointing around for a server to do something or another. Kick Shot was packed, as it liked to be on Saturday evenings.
“Oliver, with me,” I ordered, my voice cutting over the noise like a whip crack, unintended on my part. Oliver looked up and met my gaze before I started up the stairs. My tone left no room for argument from anyone around us. Servers looked at me cautiously, but Oliver walked to me with his head high. In any other bar, people would start whispering and wondering if Oliver was about to be fired. Oliver and I knew better. He’d grown up a lot since he came to me and knew my tone had nothing to do with him. Something was happening.
“What’s going on?” he asked the moment he closed my office door, hiding us from the outside world.
“I’ve been called to Duty. I’ll be unavailable for an unknown period,” I said softly as I looked around my office. I had no idea the next time I would get to see it again. I wasn’t going to take my charge outside of my territory, which would be stupid and dangerous, but I wouldn’t be bringing her to Kick Shot, either. I didn’t want people seeing her.
“Should I send word to the family?” He looked at the screen mounted on my wall.
“No,” I answered, sharper and faster than I should have. It was a reflex, the desperate need to keep them out of this and away from the situation. While this happened badly and I was now stuck in a fae bargain, it was better than the alternative. Telling Hasan and my siblings would only drag them into the fight, and I couldn’t be certain we’d be on the same side.
It hit me as I stared at the same screen.
Brion’s blackmail was effective. At the moment, I had thought about the larger repercussions. There were people who would see Heath and me as traitors to our respective species, but it was also blackmail to keep from talking to my own family, who had fought in the war leading to the creation of the Tribunal. Who had fought in the mysterious wars I heard them talk about long before. I couldn’t run to my family and get their advice or their help.
That’s fine. I can manage. I’ve survived everything so far.
Over the summer, they had told me I was too wild, too willing to throw my own life away, something I had heard from them before. Mischa had made it clear when I had gone to Russia, and I remembered the anger in which she had delivered those words. They made me promise if I found myself in a position I couldn’t manage, I would call them.
Now, I couldn’t.
“I’m being blackmailed,” I whispered to Oliver. “The family can’t know anything.”
“Oh. Who…” He didn’t finish that thought and went with another. “What is the blackmail?”
I turned to him, my heart sore. I didn’t reply, but I watched his eyes grow wide.
“I see,” he said, finding a seat. “So, it’s getting out.”
Nodding, I sat across from him. “Slowly but surely. Do you know where Dirk is this evening?”
As if fate was on my side for just a moment, my phone started to vibrate. I picked up quickly and put him on speakerphone.
“Boss,” Dirk greeted me. “I was with Landon while he was on Carey-watch. She’s already in bed. He put Heath on speaker, so I could hear. What do you need me to do? Do you want us to pack up and go to the Everson house?”
I would have been happy to hear that on any other Saturday, especially after the week everyone had had. If those two were still willing to hang out on a Saturday, that meant they had a chance, and I wanted them to be happy. I needed them to be happy.
Tonight, I couldn’t muster the feeling.
“Since I have both of you, here’s what we’re going to do. You’re both going to live in your own home. I’m not sending you to the werewolves for protection. It’s a sign to my family something is wrong, and they cannot, under any circumstances, know what is going on. Kick Shot will continue operations as planned, but be prepared to close at any moment if I make the call. You’ll both be expected to work, then go home. No diversions, no hanging out with friends. Nothing.”
While the warning was mostly for Dirk, I knew Oliver was finally making a few friends as well. He was beginning to break from fraternization rules and hang out with some of the employees. I didn’t stop him because I knew he would never let it get in the way of his job. Oliver nodded ‘message received.’
“Can do, Jacky. Are you going anywhere?” Dirk asked.
“Not if I have anything to say about it. I’m going to try to keep my charge in my house, out of the way and protected. I probably won’t be making any trips. Dirk, as head of security, and since you have a bit more movement than Oliver, I’ll have you run store trips. You’ll make them quick supply restocks, then come here and help at Kick Shot. I don’t need you on the cameras.”
“Boss—”<
br />
“I don’t need you on the cameras,” I repeated.
“What are we dealing with?”
“Fae,” I answered. Oliver paled. Dirk’s string of expletives was not in English. He didn’t normally slip out of English. “Listen to me, both of you. There’s a chance this will blow back on you. Dirk, did Heath tell you what’s at stake?”
“He said there was blackmail involved, but he was pretty sparse with details.”
“You can’t tell Niko or anyone else in the family about this. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Arm yourselves. Oliver, have you been going to the gun range with Dirk as I asked?”
“I have,” he said, nodding quickly. “Silver or…”
Oliver is asking me about ammunition. Good gods, what is my life?
“Regular bullets will be more effective than silver. Fae like silver,” I said softly, not able to look at him anymore. Once a happy yet anxious young man, he was growing into himself, but I wondered for a moment if it was the man he was supposed to be or if he was forced to adapt, thanks to my life.
Maybe it’s time to send Oliver somewhere safer. Maybe when this is over, I can send him somewhere he can have a more normal life.
“I’ll crack open my gun safe and give Oliver everything he needs,” Dirk promised. “And we got a gift from Niko and Jabari over the summer…swords, daggers, and stuff.”
“Yeah, I heard about that. You can’t carry the swords around, but they’re good to have. An iron sword or dagger will fuck up a fae. I would feel comfortable carrying daggers. Don’t expect me to tell you how to use them. Jabari made it very clear I was the worst trained person in the family, and I have zero skill with those types of weapons. Dirk, you have some training. Give Oliver a crash course.”
“He already has,” Oliver said with a small smile, but I didn’t like how pale he was.
“Good. I need to get back to my house. I left Heath with them, so I could talk to you both…I needed the fresh air and the walk.”
“Jacky, good luck,” Oliver said, standing. “We’ll do everything we can to manage without you. I’ll reschedule your meetings with Agent Kirk and postpone any family calls. I’ll make sure everything else you have scheduled is managed as well. You can trust us.”
“Yeah, boss, we’ll get through this,” Dirk promised.
“You’re wonderful, Oliver. You too, Dirk. Thank you both. I’ll keep you as updated as I can. There’s a lot, and I don’t know if most of it is safe to say.” I hung up the call with Dirk, then hugged Oliver before leaving my office. Oliver didn’t follow, and I knew it was because he needed a moment to collect himself.
If I had my way, I wouldn’t come out of that office for a decade.
10
Chapter Ten
Before I entered my house, I heard the soft talking. My porch didn’t squeak, so the only person I knew would realize I was there would be Heath. He’d been able to listen to my conversation with the fae without joining in, so I knew he would let me hang out on the porch for a moment to listen.
“At least one of his brothers will be working against him. Brion always knew when I passed away he would have to return to his duties. While that family has a strict protocol they follow, there are no laws against them killing each other.”
“Sounds like a fucked-up wolf pack,” Heath said, groaning. “So, we’ve got the oldest of the sidhe going to war with each other over a throne and position on the Tribunal.”
“It’s more than just prestige. The wealth of a fae is based on the holdings of the fae. How many castles they keep, which parts of the fae land, who answers to them. Brion once told me his son, before ours were born, would hold everything, but…there’s a reason to think that didn’t happen. His brothers weren’t supposed to take the throne. One of them did, the next oldest.”
“His son was supposed to,” Heath said softly. “But didn’t…or couldn’t?”
“We don’t know. Brion knows he’s alive, but he hasn’t connected with that son in over fifty years.”
I walked in and let the eyes fly to me—except Heath’s, who wasn’t surprised by my appearance.
“They’re immortal,” I said patiently. “Fifty years means nothing to them. In a few hundred years, it’ll mean nothing to your sons if they’re also immortal.”
Rian narrowed his eyes on me. “Does it mean anything to you?”
“I’m only thirty-nine. I haven’t lived that long, so yeah, it means something to me, but I have siblings who have lived thousands of years. When I ignored them for over five years, they didn’t think it was pressing to deal with and would have gotten around to talking to me when I was ready. They probably would have been fine waiting another couple of decades before they tried to force it.”
There were only a couple of pairs in the family who would quickly press an issue with another. Zuri and Jabari never went more than a year without speaking with each other, except from one story I heard when they disagreed about how to rule an entire continent and had ignored each other for thirty years. It was the only time I ever heard of them outright ignoring each other for longer than a year. They were too closely bonded to each other.
Heath looked uncomfortable, but he didn’t offer any information to the contrary.
“What’s his name?” I asked Fiona. “This son of Brion’s who was supposed to take the throne for his father.”
“I…I don’t know,” she admitted, her shame overfilling the room with its bitter scent.
I couldn’t stop the next words that came out of my mouth—cruel, petty, and mean—but my temper snapped.
“You’ve been married to a man for what sounds like five decades, and you don’t know the name of his children?” I snarled. Rian jumped up and put himself between us, but not in time for me to miss the flinch I had caused.
“He never told us,” Rian bit back, defending his mother from me. “He said he was protecting us from his other family by keeping us a secret, which meant we couldn’t know too much.”
“Jacky, can we step out for a minute?” Heath asked, standing suddenly. “Now. You two, just sit down. Find something to eat if you want. Don’t leave this house. We’ll just be out in the yard.” He walked to me, grabbed my elbow, and pulled. I could have resisted, but I followed him out.
“I know who it is, and I’m not really sure what we should do about it,” he said softly. “How does…how does this work from your angle?”
“It’s not my problem, but I would love to know what you know,” I said softly. “I don’t have to tell them. I’m not required to. Again, not my problem what her own husband decided to tell her or not tell her.”
“Brion’s son is a Tribunal Investigator. I only know of him by name.”
“Why isn’t he the king?” I asked.
“He abdicated immediately. The general consensus is his father dumped power on his head and abandoned him. Classic family drama. Father walked out on him, the last remaining member of their family. Brion had lost his wife and older sons already, so it was just him and his son left.”
“What’s his son’s name?” I crossed my arms, looking back at the house. I knew they wouldn’t be able to hear me. There was no magic in the air to tell me Rian was trying to listen in, and we were too far away. Most fae had the same hearing as a human.
“Cassius,” Heath said softly. “You don’t know the name. Good. That will make this easier. I wish I knew what he looked like, but…maybe we—”
“I’m not looking for a fae princeling,” I said stiffly. “No, Heath.”
“You came to Dallas—”
“Carey had been taken from me. I had to do something. My charge is in there, sitting on my couch, and from the sound of it, Cassius doesn’t even know she exists, or that he’s an older brother to three half-fae.”
“They’re not half-fae.” Heath shook his head, turning to look at the woods. “It’s a smart lie, one that you can’t scent because their mother is h
uman, but they’re not half-fae.”
“Then what are they?”
“They’re just fae,” Heath answered, shrugging. “I think it’s because of who their father is, but I would need more information. Get a good reading of Rian’s scent. There’s not a drop of human in it.”
“This Cassius…is he like them or like Brion?”
Heath frowned. “He would be more like his father. Brion’s first wife was the queen of the fae before Alvina.”
That was surprisingly uncomfortable information. Fae royalty had been so vague to me. Now, it was all too real.
“They…but they’re all siblings, right?”
“In the same way gods are siblings. I think. That’s the feeling I’ve always gotten about it,” Heath remarked. “Odd for us mortals to consider, but they’re not…us.”
“Sometimes, I’m really glad you’re two hundred and fifty years old,” I said, huffing. “At least you know some things.”
“I’m amazed you didn’t know who Cassius is. Brion was right. He and Hasan used to be friends. We used to look at Brion as a potentially hostile force if we started another war. He was always on the drawing board as one of your father’s allies. Then Hasan walked away after Liza’s death, and Brion disappeared. For once, werewolves really didn’t have anyone challenging them. That’s how we’ve prospered in the last century and were able to go public when the other supernatural species didn’t want to. Mind you, we had a bunch of good arguments for our reasoning, but we would have never tried if Hasan had still been around.”
“Or someone looking out for his interests, like an old friend who helped him find peace with his oldest enemies. A peace that would save Hasan’s species,” I said, nodding. “Brion would have put his foot down.”
“We always assumed so,” Heath agreed.
“Are there any more fascinating tidbits you would like to share?” I asked, leaning toward him, letting my hand touch his chest before I ran it over his collar bones, then over his broad shoulder.
