Ruby shook her head. “Stuff often grows when I touch it. I’ve never lost consciousness before.”
“Maybe this took more energy because the wood’s so old.”
Ruby’s eyelids drooped. The thrill of seeing Nightshade and the dogs had already exhausted her. She plumped the pillow against the massive wooden headboard and leaned back. Her gaze roamed over Nightshade’s magnificent torso, limned by the firelight. There were definite advantages to having a man shirtless all the time.
Her attention snagged on what appeared to be a fresh wound on his chest. She leaned forward, squinting, and examined him more carefully. Numerous welts marked his chest and ribs.
“My God. Did the Whips give you those?”
Averting his eyes, he touched the raw flesh on his chest. After a few moments, he gave a grunt of affirmation. “When I arrived at the Assembly Room, Twister tried to stop me from seeing you.”
“He what? That doesn’t make sense. Twister wants me to form a blood bond with you.”
He glanced at her, his silver eyes reflecting the firelight. “I don’t want to worry you with this until you feel better.”
“Oh, come on.” She slapped her thigh in frustration. “I won’t be able to rest until you explain.”
He heaved a sigh. “Okay, the latest thing is that Twister’s claiming you’re his new Unseelie queen.”
Queen? Her? If Nightshade had told her that Doctor Who and the Daleks had taken over the Bunker, she wouldn’t have been more surprised. She actually spluttered in disbelief. “You’re kidding me.” She stared at Nightshade, waiting for him to laugh. He didn’t. “Strewth, you’re not kidding.”
“No, I’m not. When you made the Blackthorn Throne flower you fulfilled an ancient prophecy that means you’re the Unseelie queen.”
Ruby flopped back against her pillow and stared wide-eyed into space. She would never agree to become Unseelie queen. How could Twister expect her to contemplate the idea of a relationship with him after the way he’d treated her?
“What are you going to do, Ruby?” Nightshade asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
“Don’t tell me you think I’d consider this for even a nanosecond.” She’d hoped he already knew her better than that. “I don’t want to be the Mistress of the Beasts. Why would I agree to become the Unseelie queen?”
The tension in Nightshade’s shoulders eased, and he ruffled his wings. “I knew you wouldn’t agree. I was worried you might get upset. Twister wants to know the moment you wake up so he can speak with you about it.”
Ruby made a dismissive sound. “Order me about, more like. Twister can damn well wait until I’m ready to see him.” She slid beneath the bedcovers, her temples throbbing. Her encounter with the throne had left her feeling bushed.
Nightshade started to rise, but she grabbed his hand in a moment of boldness. “Stay with me.”
A smile caught the corners of his mouth. He stretched out atop the covers beside her and laced his fingers through hers.
“I might be persuaded to oblige.”
* * *
When Ruby had first thrown him out of her home, Nightshade never thought he would see her again, let alone share a bed with her. Yet, now, a few days later, here he was snuggling up with her. The peculiar thing was that he no longer wanted to rip off her clothes and mate with her.
Well, he did—desperately—but he wanted to take things slowly. For her.
As he stared at her face, gentle contentment flowed through him. He’d been frantic with worry when she’d been hurt. Now he wanted to make sure she was safe and comfortable. The mating could come later when the danger was over. He just wanted her to be happy.
He drew her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to her knuckles. When she grinned and returned the gesture, he chuckled.
“Twister’s going to be so put out when you turn him down,” he said.
“I hope so.” She grinned. “He’s not my type. I like men with wings.”
“Ruby . . . .” Nightshade wanted to say more, but he couldn’t translate his unfamiliar feelings into words. Instead, he grazed a fingertip across her lips. Her grin faded, and the air prickled with tension.
He closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers. Her arm slid around his neck, her fingers spearing into his hair as they kissed. He wanted to mate with her and bite her, but he also wanted to hold her and keep her safe. Such conflict! If he protected her in the Seelie Court, perhaps she’d learn to trust him enough to form a blood bond.
When he trailed his lips along her jaw onto her neck, she tensed.
“I won’t bite you,” he whispered against her skin, and gradually she relaxed. The tip of his tongue found the rhythmic pulse of her carotid artery beneath her soft skin. He stifled a groan of longing. She would taste sweeter than anyone he’d ever bitten. Yet perhaps it was a good thing Ruby would not let him bite her for the moment. He needed to face his father Dragon and settle the matter of his brother Rhys. Would drinking from her dilute the power Troy’s blood had given him?
He eased the bedcovers down, and his lips glided over the top of Ruby’s breasts. Her heart pounded beneath his kiss. He circled his tongue over her skin, imagining the sensation of sinking his fangs into her plump flesh.
The door rattled with a knock, dragging him back from his fantasy.
Ruby groaned. “Fantastic timing.”
“Bloody Twister,” Nightshade whispered, drawing up the covers to make her decent.
“Don’t answer. Perhaps he’ll go away.”
But Twister was unlikely to be fobbed off that easily. The two of them stared at the door in miffed silence, and eventually it opened and Twister put his head through the gap.
* * *
“Get the hell out of here,” Ruby said. She was still mad about the Assembly Room incident. Now he’d interrupted her private time with Nightshade, just when things were getting interesting.
Totally ignoring Ruby’s comment, Twister stepped in. “Good, you’re awake. Lights,” he said. Small golden globes on the walls flared to life.
Nightshade sat up, while Ruby yanked the bedcovers up to her neck. “She’s only just woken up. She’s not ready to see you yet.”
Twister moved to the foot of the bed, followed by a host of brownies carrying bags and boxes. They deposited their loads on the floor, then scampered out, shutting the door behind them.
“I’ve brought you some clothes and things,” the Unseelie king said, indicating the clutter on the ground. He’d changed into a fancy leather shirt, loosely laced up the front so his chest showed. He flicked back his dreadlocks with a little rattle of skulls, then opened a bag and held up a laced-front leather dress that matched his shirt. The frock had obviously been made for a woman at least ten pounds lighter and six inches taller than she was. “This will suit you,” he said with the hopeful air of a man who hasn’t a clue about women’s clothes.
Ruby groaned inwardly. If this was Twister’s attempt to court her, it was embarrassing. She might as well put him out of his misery.
“I’m not going to become the Unseelie queen,” she announced. Her tone brooked no argument.
Twister stiffened, and his golden gaze settled on Nightshade. “You told her?”
“You outed him about the fangs,” Ruby retorted. “Don’t like it when the boot’s on the other foot, do you?”
Twister’s diffident manner disappeared and his expression hardened. “You satisfied a prophecy that’s stood for centuries. You brought forth blossoms on the Blackthorn Throne. You have a duty to fulfill.”
Ruby levered herself up on her elbow, narrowing her eyes. “If you think I’ll even have a relationship with you, let alone marry you, after the way you treated me, you’re in need of a reality check.”
Nightshade tensed. “What did he do to you?” he demanded.
She covered his hand with hers and shook her head. “Later,” she whispered.
“I ordered the Whips to protect you!” Twister snapped.
�
��You set the bloody Whips on Nightshade.” Ruby ran gentle fingers over Nightshade’s chest, indicating his injuries. “What the hell was that all about?”
“You don’t understand,” Twister growled in frustration. “I need you. You’re my queen.”
“You’re the one who doesn’t understand.” Ruby sat up and leaned forward. “I. Said. No.”
“Troy didn’t think Ruby was the Unseelie queen,” Nightshade chipped in.
Twister chucked the leather dress on the floor. “Don’t mention that man’s name to me.”
“Who’s Troy?” Ruby glanced at Nightshade. Twister was having a mini tantrum, kicking bags and boxes out of his way.
“Devin’s father. He’s ancient and knows everything. I called for his help when Twister’s guards wouldn’t let me reach you.”
“Oh.” She imagined a wise old guy in robes with a long gray beard.
“Don’t you realize that becoming Unseelie queen is a good thing?” Twister asked. “No one in the Seelie Court would dare try to claim my queen, so you’d be protected without needing the blood bond.”
A few beats of silence passed while Ruby absorbed this detail. It was a good point. Maybe she should pretend to be Twister’s queen so none of the Seelie tried to claim her.
She gripped Nightshade’s hand and glanced up at him, hoping he’d see the sense in that. “What if I pretend to be the Unseelie queen when I go to see Aila?”
Twister dropped his head and became impossibly still. For long moments he remained frozen in thought. “Very well. But you must pledge that you’ll use your power to aid anyone in the Unseelie Court I ask you to aid.”
Ruby nodded. “If I keep my power, and that’s a big if, I’ll do what I can for your people before I go home.”
Nightshade’s brows snapped down. “You don’t need to pose as his queen. I’ll fight anyone who tries to claim you.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.” She rubbed a soothing hand over his arm. “This seems easier and less risky.”
His nostrils flared and his chin hitched up. “So you’ll play at being another man’s woman?”
She should have expected his reaction, given his possessive attitude. “It’s only for the Seelie Court’s benefit. You know I’m not attracted to him.”
Twister swore. “I assure you the feeling’s mutual, you irritating woman.”
Ruby ignored him, far more concerned about Nightshade.
“Very well,” Nightshade said. “But in my experience, lies like this always return to bite you on the arse.”
* * *
As Nightshade emerged from Ruby’s room and headed off along the corridor with the two dogs trotting at his heels, Devin peered out of his bedchamber door. After Ruby woke that morning, he’d been waiting all day to catch her alone, but since the episode the previous night with the Blackthorn Throne, Nightshade had hardly let her out of his sight.
As soon as his friend disappeared, Devin slipped into the corridor and knocked on Ruby’s door. She answered and he went in, closing the door softly behind him.
“Devin?” Ruby squinted at him in the firelight. “You’ve just missed Nightshade.”
“I’ve been waiting for him to leave.”
“Oh.” Ruby was holding bedcovers to her chest. “That sounds ominous.”
“It’s nothing for you to worry about,” he reassured her. “I just need to speak with you about your visit to the Seelie Court.”
“Fine. Give me a moment to get decent.”
Devin wandered across to the fireplace on the far side of the room and stared at the dancing flames. Twister had tried to persuade him not to accompany them to the Seelie Court in case his presence provoked trouble. The last thing he wanted to do was cause Ruby problems, but he had to take this chance to catch a glimpse of Aila.
Ruby stepped up beside him, tying the cord on her dressing gown. “Okay, what did you need to tell me?”
“Twister doesn’t want me to come with you. He thinks my past disagreement with the Seelie king and queen will muddy the waters.”
“You have a thing for Aila and her parents disapprove?” Ruby asked, her eyebrows raised.
Devin winced. “Am I that obvious?”
“Every time her name’s mentioned, you zone out.”
He dropped into one of the wing chairs by the fire and dragged his hands through his hair. Gods, he was pathetic.
Ruby wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick hug. She was soft, warm, and smelled wonderful. He envied Nightshade his happiness.
“I need to ask you a favor,” he said. He wanted to give himself to Aila in every way, but at least if he entrusted her with the stones containing the essence of his mind, body, and spirit she would realize how much he loved her. He pulled a tiny leather bag containing the three linked stones of his Magic Knot out of his coat pocket. “Would you give this to her? Tell her . . . I still think about her.”
Tell her I still love her.
Ruby weighed the tiny bag in her palm. “If I’m going to be responsible for this, do you mind telling me what’s inside?”
Devin dragged in a breath. It wasn’t fair placing such a burden on Ruby’s shoulders when she had so much else to contend with. And yet . . .“My Magic Knot.”
“Blimey.” Ruby pushed it back into his hand. “I’m not bonded with you now I’ve touched that, am I?”
Despite his melancholy, Devin laughed. Ruby was so charmingly naive about the ways of his world. “You’re safe from the hideous prospect of bonding with me as long as you don’t open the bag.”
She flushed. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I’m teasing,” he said as she fidgeted.
“Okay, then.” She held out her hand for the bag.
“I really appreciate this, Ruby. I won’t cause trouble when we get to the Seelie Emerald Palace . . .” He glanced up at her understanding hazel eyes. “I just want a chance to see Aila again.”
She gave him an appraising look. “I’m not worried. You might even distract their attention from my fake marriage to Twister.” She rolled her eyes. “That man is seriously disturbed.”
Devin squeezed her hand. “Troy told me what happened in the Assembly Room. Twister isn’t normally so obnoxious. For some reason he’s desperate to control your power, Ruby.”
“Well, please thank your father for his help when you next see him.”
“Of course.”
But unease trickled through him. Troy had only helped her because Nightshade asked. His father normally only helped family. For some reason, Troy had formed an attachment to Nightshade. And if Troy grew possessive of his latest fancy, Ruby would be the loser.
* * *
Three days later, Ruby left her dogs in the care of the house brownies and met Nightshade, Devin, and Twister outside the back door of the Bunker. The Seelie king and queen had finally replied to Twister’s request for Ruby’s audience with Aila, and she wanted to visit as soon as possible so she could get rid of her power and get back home.
Before she stepped out of the Bunker’s magical protection, she paused to smooth down the skirt of a long leather dress they’d found her. “As soon as I step outside and my affliction kicks in, this dress will go crazy. It’ll probably grow ears and udders or something.”
“No problem.” Nightshade swept her into his arms.
“I should carry her, as she’s meant to be my queen,” Twister grumbled. “There might be Seelie specters watching.”
“No,” Ruby and Nightshade chorused. The last time he picked her up, he’d thrown her over his shoulder. No doubt Twister had conveniently forgotten that.
“Are you sure about coming with us?” Twister asked Devin, as if continuing a conversation they’d started before Ruby arrived.
“Will you stop going on about this?” Devin sucked in an angry breath. “I’m Master of the Darkling Road. Eavan and Nairne cannot deny me entry to the Seelie Court, much though they might wish it.”
He sounded determined,
but he also flapped his long purple coat around his legs and nervously fiddled with the thong holding back his hair. When he glanced at Ruby, she pointed to the tiny leather bag attached to her belt to show she had remembered his gift for Aila.
“I want the djinn with us in case we have to fight,” Nightshade said.
“Anyway,” Devin added, as they started along a mossy path between stunted trees, “taking my route will save you hours of travel.”
When they’d gone about fifty feet, he glanced behind them and halted. “This is far enough from the Bunker not to mess with its magic.” He raised a hand and sketched an intricate symbol in the air, smoke trailing behind his fingers. Devin slapped his thigh while they all stared expectantly.
“What’re we waiting for?” Ruby asked.
“Devin’s opening the Darkling Road that leads directly to the Seelie’s Emerald Palace,” Twister explained.
A shimmering staircase unfolded out of the sky, the bottom step coming to rest at Devin’s feet. He released a satisfied breath. “Every time I want to use this route, I wonder if it will open. Eavan has his mystics working to deny me entry. It sticks in his craw that I hold dominion over the Darkling Road through his realm.”
Ruby urged Nightshade forward a step before peering down from where she rested in his arms. The glistening crystal lattice of the steps didn’t appear strong enough to take their weight.
“I vote for the long way round,” she said.
Twister’s breath hissed out. “Don’t be ridiculous. It would take us hours to reach the proper entrance to the Crystal City. Then we’d have to gain access. This way we walk right into the Emerald Palace itself.”
“I’ll carry you up,” Nightshade said.
Ruby gave him an incredulous look. “You’re missing the point. This staircase is a glorified spider’s web.”
“The crystal’s sturdier than it looks,” Devin promised. “Try it.”
He ran up the first few steps and extended his hand. Ruby hesitated. What was her fear? Was she just putting off the awkward confrontation that was sure to ensue when they reached the Seelie Court?
She grabbed a breath, steeling herself. “Okay, Nightshade. Put me down. My affliction isn’t affecting my dress.”
The Ruby Kiss Page 8
