by K. N. Banet
“Kill them?” he said, frowning as he looked from his lady to our group. “They’re intruders. We have a procedure to kill intruders before they have a chance to hurt anyone on the estate or spy on us.”
“That’s for fae intruders,” she said, patting his shoulder. “Three of these people aren’t fae. I would know. Two of them seem of moonlight, fur, and claw. They’re moon cursed, though I can’t tell what kind. One of them, the elderly woman, is human. The last one is fae, but he won’t even drop his glamour, and I mean, really.” For a moment, she appeared to be a woman in her mid-twenties, rolling her eyes as she jabbed Rian. The amount of pure casual disrespect was enough to make me feel bad for the young man. It also made me think this woman was a bit of fun. “Look at him. Does he look like a threat to the lord or me?” She eyed us for a moment. “I think I’m more intrigued than concerned. This group certainly isn’t here because they’re loyal to any of my enemies or the lord’s, I think. None of our enemies would employ the moon cursed or a human. They’re better than that.”
I probably shouldn’t be thinking of her as fun when she has us trapped. There’s a high chance she’ll throw us in a dungeon until she decides to execute us.
With a wave of her hand, we were all in handcuffs. I hissed as the silver burned while Rian screamed in pain for a second, then the scent of burning flesh hit my nose. I could smell the silver on Heath as well, and his pain was apparent, but he was the only one of us supernaturals who didn’t make a sound. I looked over the cuffs, but there was no keyhole, no lock to pick to escape. She released our legs from the vines and walked back to her horse.
“I know they’re painful, but I can’t take any chances right now,” she said as she got back on her beautiful dappled grey mare. “Tie them, and we’ll walk them behind the horses.”
It happened quickly, then I was being pulled along. A thick black rope was tied from her saddle to my handcuffs, then to Heath’s, and so on. Rian was forced to the back. On either side of us, one of the riders waited, and the guards in the forest were behind us, making sure none of us figured out a way to cut and run.
We went into the woods we had avoided and found a path. Down the path, I saw a hedge wall that rose taller than even the fae on their horses. It seemed as though there was forest on both sides, making it an odd addition to the thick, somewhat creepy forest. She led us through a gate, then what I assumed was her home came into view. She walked us to the front door and got off her horse, then took her end of the rope off the saddle and led us inside as if we were horses she needed to lead to the stables…or the dungeon.
My first impression of the house was a strange mix of medieval castle and a modern architectural marvel. The walls were stone, rough and block-shaped, stacked high, and the only thing breaking them up was a painting here and there or a lantern coming off the side. The furniture, the flooring, and many other things told me I was in a home like my own—clean lines, sharp contrast, modern, sensible. The juxtaposition was as beautiful as it was foreign. I could see Niko or Davor enjoying the home, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to live in it.
“Love! I have company!” she called out, ignoring us as we huddled together. I was careful not to show Fiona preferential treatment as the person I was sworn to protect. If they knew she was the weakness of the group, we were in for trouble. After a moment in silence, the woman turned to us and smiled. “The lord should be here any moment.”
A few minutes later, a man came into view from the right hallway at the top of the double staircase. He came down the stairs in a rush, his eyes flicking from the lady to us. His red hair was vibrant as though he had dyed it with red ink, and it was glowing, and his long ears matched hers. Were the longer ears a sign of power?
“Sorcha, what is going on?” he asked, going to her first.
Sorcha. I wish I recognized the name, damn it. At least I know it now.
“I found them while I was out hunting. Or, rather, the hounds found them.”
“And you brought them here?” he asked, sighing heavily as he gave her an exasperated look. “Love…”
“Two moon cursed, a human, and a young fae boy? Yes. I didn’t get the impression they were here to kill either of us, so I brought them here.” She seemed indulgent of his mood, accepting, and even used to it, but her words were what mattered. The lord’s eyes narrowed as he turned on us. He drifted over Rian, Fiona, and Heath, then landed on me and studied me for too long.
“Two moon cursed,” he agreed, nodding, but he walked closer to me. He sounded so thoughtful, as if he was studying me. His gaze certainly gave that impression. “But this one is a werecat. What’s your name?”
“We don’t want any trouble. We’re—”
“Your name,” he said, his words harder and more demanding. Before I could answer, he reached out and grabbed the handcuffs by the chain connecting them and yanked my hands into his view. “I’ll do this the easy way,” he muttered. He reached out and ran a finger over the blood on my wrist from the constant silver exposure and stepped away from me.
“Darling…” Sorcha seemed uncomfortable all of a sudden, reaching out to him, but she didn’t grab him in time. He licked the blood on his finger, much to mine and everyone’s revulsion.
His light blue eyes began to glow, and I felt his magic reach into me and scoop out everything I was and everything I would be. My past was his to sort through, and my future was his to control.
“Jacky Leon. Jacqueline, daughter of Hasan—”
Sorcha reached out and clamped a hand over his mouth, but I could see it still moving.
“You know better than to do that,” she snapped, the scent of her frustration overpowering as the magic wrapped around me. “You know how dangerous it is for you to truly name someone. You can make a claim on them. Your magic with it is too volatile. Can’t believe I married you sometimes.”
She held him, but none of us heard anything else. Eventually, the magic faded, but I could still feel a small piece of it, a tiny thing, leftover.
She slowly released him when his jaw stopped moving.
“Forgive me,” he said roughly. “I didn’t want to take any chances. I won’t do it to the others,” he said, mostly to his wife. There was no regret in his scent for what he had done, only that he had upset her.
He turned back to me. While he hadn’t finished saying whatever he had wanted to say, I saw the knowledge in his eyes. He saw me, and that scared me more than the fae hounds had, scared me more than Brion could. I wasn’t used to people seeing through everything and being able to disassemble every part, but he did it with a look.
“Jacqueline, daughter of Hasan,” he whispered. “I’m going to assume you were called to Duty to protect the human woman with you and that you have some friends helping you.”
“Yes,” I said, nodding. “But you have my name. I would like yours.”
“My name is Cassius, and I am the lord of this land and several others.”
I blinked several times as I put together the two pieces of this particular puzzle. Rian had made a portal hoping to get us to his father or his brothers.
Well…he succeeded.
“We need to talk,” I said.
“Do we? I thought I would take you to a doorway back to the realm where you belong. You will certainly not bring your problems to my doorstep. I have enough of my own.” His smile told me he was willing to throw me out on my ass if he had to. That he already wanted to.
“You don’t understand—”
“I’m not getting involved. Not with this, not with anything. I made that decision a long time ago.”
“Please! I didn’t think the portal would land us here, but—”
“Silence,” he ordered, and it ripped through the room and echoed off the walls. There was no magic in it, but there was power. This was a noble, a ruler, someone who was used to getting his way, and I was stepping on his toes in his domain. I needed to remind him he wasn’t the only political powerhouse. He was holding a political hosta
ge now. “Don’t think—”
“I am Jacqueline, daughter of Hasan, a member of the Tribunal. You are Cassius, son of the fae king Brion. We need to talk.” My words made Fiona gasp and lean into her son. Rian just looked between Cassius and me as if I had lost my mind. I had been hoping to speak to him privately and let him decide he wanted to reveal who he was to Fiona and Rian. “As equals because that is what we are.”
He blinked, then got a lazy expression, but it didn’t tell me to relax. In fact, it made me think he was about to kill me where I stood.
“Don’t ever mention my father’s name,” he warned softly. “Ever. He’s dead to me. He’s been dead to me since he walked out and left me to pick up the pieces. He’s even more dead to me now that he has suddenly returned. Whatever fight he is in, it is not my concern.”
“Cassius,” Sorcha whispered. “You can’t hurt Jacqueline for that. She’s right. You are the son of a powerful ruler, but so is she. If you do anything that could hurt her, you will answer to her father. You are a Tribunal Investigator. You can’t risk upsetting him without making everyone upset, including…” She looked at the handcuffs and seemed to have a flash of regret. “Though I didn’t know her identity when I put those on her and her little…group. I was waiting for you to look at them before I started asking questions. We should get those removed now that we know, so we don’t cause offense to her and her…family.”
Cassius glared at me, but he nodded at his wife, who raised her hand. The handcuffs disappeared.
“You have one full day to tell me what you think you need to tell me,” he said softly. “It is midday. You have until this time tomorrow. After that, my wife will take you to the nearest doorway and send you back to where you belong, daughter of Hasan.” He turned away and stormed up the stairs. “Someone, set them up with rooms and get them out of my sight. Sorcha, you are free to speak to them as much as you please. Hear them out before I have to if you can.”
Then he was gone, leaving only a trail of silence and the scent of anger behind him.
Sorcha sighed and turned to us once he was gone for longer than a minute.
“Well…Jacqueline, next time someone tries to take you prisoner, please let them know who you are ahead of time.” She eyed me, then shook her head. “Now I’m going to have to make apologies for what I’ve done to you and your friends.”
“No apologies needed,” I said quickly, not wanting any more meddling of fae magic. “Though…”
“What do you want?” she asked, eyeing me.
“Information,” I answered. “Before you send us back. A little could go a long way.”
“Is he really Brion’s son?” Fiona asked, leaning forward, her eyes locked on Sorcha, who frowned.
“Yes, he is. The youngest and the last, the one who walked away from the throne and royalty. The princeling without a crown. The ten-minute king. Why?” Sorcha rambled it off as if she was used to saying it or had heard it one too many times.
Fiona reached to grab her son and pull him forward. “Rian and I—”
“Mother, no,” Rian snapped, staring her down and refusing to budge. “Not right now. Not ever, if I have anything to say about it. Let Jacky deal with this.”
Fiona looked as if she had been struck but deflated and went quiet. Sorcha, Lady of the land and Cassius’ wife, looked at me, raising one impressive eyebrow.
“There’s much I need to discuss with Lord Cassius,” I said softly. “He’ll want to hear it more than he thinks.”
“Don’t count on it. You obviously don’t know my husband if you thought using your title against his was a good idea, especially in the current political climate. Come, I’ll take you to the visitor’s wing, and we’ll get you rooms for the evening.”
“Twenty-four hours, huh?” Heath looked between Sorcha and me. “Following the rules of hospitality?”
“Some variety,” Sorcha agreed, nodding to him. “Though Cassius and I will regretfully not be able to uphold all of them at this time. I could escort you out now if that will cause offense. If you follow me and take a room, you will need to understand we can and will offend you while you’re here if your sensibilities are so delicate. There’s too much going on for us to care about you as thoroughly as we should.”
An agreement before any offense could take place. It was the most fae thing I think I had ever run into, except for Brion’s entire existence and his impact on my life. It was smart, though. As a werecat, the rules of hospitality could go straight to hell, but I knew the rough basics. Heath obviously knew more.
“If we can have a safe place for twenty-four hours, we’ll take it,” I said, glancing at Heath, hoping he agreed. He nodded. We didn’t have much of an option. “Safety and food would be nice.”
“Safety…” She eyed me once again. “From what, I wonder. We won’t hurt you further if that’s what you mean. If someone comes here looking for you…well, it would really depend on the situation, but I’ll make an attempt to help you if it’s something I can do without risking myself or Cassius. Follow me.”
18
Chapter Eighteen
We were led up the double staircase and down the opposite hallway than Cassius had disappeared down. I could still smell his anger in the air, and I wondered if it was just the draft of the building or the magic of the world. He hadn’t been angry when he realized my name or even knew we were intruding on his lands. He became angry when I mentioned his father, then tried to politic him. That had pissed him off incredibly well.
“You, human.” Sorcha snapped her fingers to make Fiona look at her. “You will stay here.” She opened a door in the hall and revealed a beautiful suite.
“My name is Fiona.”
“Beautiful name,” Sorcha replied, smiling charmingly as if she turned on her charisma again. “You have an adjoining room. Do you want someone in it? For your safety? It’s dangerous for humans to be in this realm. You might attract all sorts of unwanted attention…or some old predators we’ve kept locked away for a very long time.”
“I’ll take it,” Rian said, stepping up beside his mother and wrapping a protective arm around her shoulder.
Sorcha tilted her head to the side, studying Rian and Fiona.
“Definitely not lovers…” she whispered, voicing a thought. She wasn’t talking to us. “But close…”
“He’s my son. His name is Rian,” Fiona said quickly.
“Ah, good,” Sorcha said, nodding quickly. “If he was a boyfriend or lover, I would have hung him by his heels for being so stupid to bring a human here, but I feel the wild magic around him. Not the best control over it, right, Rian?” Sorcha’s smile was still beautiful and charming, but her jab was clear. “Take better care of your mother. Her safety is your responsibility now.”
“Actually, it’s mine,” I said, stepping up.
“No,” Sorcha said, shaking her head. “You are about to enter a battle with my husband you shouldn’t have asked for. You should focus on what you plan to say to the Lord. Rian will keep his mother safe until the moment you leave these halls. And you, werewolf? What’s your part in this?”
“Heath Everson, rogue werewolf. I’m a friend of Jacky’s.”
Sorcha’s smile was delighted now. “Liar,” she purred. “Not a friend,” she murmured. “You two are the ones who are the lovers. Don’t fret. I have an eye for these things. My friends say I meddle too much in their love lives.” She looked between us with a curious light in her eye. I was stuck on the fact this strange woman had friends. “Don’t werecats and werewolves hate each other?”
“If you want to sit in on my meeting with Cassius, you’re more than welcome to hear an explanation,” I said stiffly, uncomfortable with her intense scrutiny.
“Oh, this just keeps getting more and more interesting. I’m so glad we didn’t let the hounds eat you.” She turned back to Rian and Fiona. “Go into your rooms. The midday meal is about to be served. I’ll have someone bring you a bite to eat here. I’m not up for showin
g you around the estate, so you’ll be confined to your rooms unless we send for you.”
Rian took his chance and dragged Fiona into the bedroom, closing himself and his mother inside.
“Paranoid boy. It’s as though he’s never been in a fae home before and thinks the walls are going to eat him,” Sorcha said, looking back at me. “Your rooms will be here, right across the hall. You can stay together in one of the rooms if it suits you. No one will bother either of you unless there’s an emergency.” She opened one door then the other. “These two. We’ll be summoning you, Jacqueline, soon. Or do you prefer Jacky? Normally, when Cassius is about to truly name someone, he doesn’t use variations on a name.”
“Jacqueline is better,” I said softly.
“So, Jacky is for friends and family,” Sorcha said, nodding quickly. “And we’re not friends or family. Jacqueline, it is.” She ushered us through one of the doors and blocked our way out with her body, leaning on the door frame. “Collect your thoughts, Jacqueline. He’ll be calling to speak with you soon. You will not be taking the midday meal here in your rooms with your lover werewolf. You will be taking it with Cassius and me.”
“That fast?” My palms went sweaty.
“The sooner you tell us what’s going on, the longer my husband has to think about the situation you have brought to our doorstep.” She never lost that smile, but her eyes softened. “Beyond you, there’s too much happening among the fae for us to pretend you don’t have vital information. Now, if that’s all—”
“Wait,” Heath spoke up, holding out a hand to stop Sorcha as she began to close the door. She gave him a questioning look but said nothing. “Time…I have a human daughter. Will I lose time with her the longer we stay here?”
“Oh…” Sorcha sighed, looking relieved and sympathetic. “No. This is a stable realm, and its timing is equal to the modern mortal realm. Don’t worry about that. We’re going to get you back to the human realm and to your daughter, and you’ll find that the day you spent here is the only day you have lost.”
