“Try not to be seen,” Momma said. “If she orders you in, you’ll have to tell her we’re here.”
“She won’t need me to tell her. You can’t conceal yourself from discovery. I’m sure dozens of pixies and hobgoblins spotted you making your way here. When she finds out you’ve left the castle and makes it known she’s looking for you, you’ll be found.”
Momma grimaced and said, “I know. I just want us to have as much time as possible.”
Caedrin went out the front door and closed it behind him, but knowing the entire queendom would surround us at the queen’s orders meant I wasn’t that reassured by having the door closed.
“So, Momma, here’s the thing. You know how Aunt Edie’s got a body now?”
“Yes. Whose body?” Momma asked.
“My friend Evangeline. You don’t know her.”
“Evangeline Rhodes? The mentally ill witch from Dallas?”
“Um, yeah. So you do know her. So Aunt Edie’s stuck in the headquarters for the World Association of Magic. She’s not in a birdcage room, because as far as I know they don’t have any of those. But she’s a prisoner there, along with Bryn’s best friend.”
“You didn’t say she’d been arrested. What did she do?”
“Nothing. It’s not her fault at all!” I chewed my lip. “Though knowing her she’ll probably get in a bunch more trouble if we leave her alone there too long.” I took a big breath in and blew it out. I explained about being sent to find the amber and how we’d been told Momma or Aunt Melanie knew where it was.
Momma’s expression was blank for a moment and then her brows drew together. “I haven’t left the Never since I entered it. If I leave, Ghislaine won’t let me come back. Witches aren’t allowed to come and go. There’s concern that one might lead an army inside. It’s why the paths are hidden from humans.”
I ran a hand through my hair and then tucked some behind my ear. “Bryn and I think it was Kismet who was spotted in the woods and stole the artifact.”
Momma pursed her lips. “I believe she was sent out to retrieve an amber, but I was under the impression it belonged to the fae. The rumor was that Kismet claimed she lost it. The queen was furious and had her flogged. It was the beginning of the end.”
“Flogged? You mean whipped?” I said with a gasp.
Momma nodded with a grim expression. “Yes, and worse—the queen made Crux do it.”
“Why was that worse?”
“Because at the time, he was her boyfriend.”
My jaw dropped.
“Well, that explains the animosity,” Bryn said.
“Crux is her ex-boyfriend?” I said, still shocked.
“Yes, I am.”
All three of our heads jerked to the doorway leading to the hall. Crux leaned against the frame. How long had he been there? And how did he get to be so sneaky? He was as silent as Mercutio stalking prey.
“What do you want?” I said with narrowed eyes. His hands were behind his back. Was that to show us he wasn’t on the offensive? Or because he was? Did he have a weapon?
“It’s not what I want,” Crux said, shrugging his shoulders. “It never has been.”
“You tricked me into coming here. I’m really glad that Kismet didn’t come with me.”
“She’ll come.”
“She will not. She’s mad. I was worried, but now I’m glad I don’t know where she is. I hope she disappears and you never find her. Flogged by her own boyfriend! No wonder she wanted to get free of this place. It’s terrible. You all suck for following the queen’s nasty orders.”
“If Kismet lost the amber, she did so to spite the queen. That’s why she was punished,” Crux said. He glanced out the window into the far distance.
My gaze followed his, but all I saw were rustling leaves.
“And she will come, because the Never has the only thing in the world she won’t be able to resist.” Crux nodded and glanced over. “You.”
My insides tightened. I didn’t want to be the cause of Kismet returning. “I won’t stay here. Let’s go, Bryn. We’ll go back to the place where we started. I’m sure Zach will head there when he’s done at the castle.” I wondered again what the Sam Houston he’d gone there for in the first place. Didn’t he realize how dangerous these fae were? There didn’t seem to be any rules against the queen locking people up for no reason at all. Or trying to put a curse on them! It was a faery tale gone wrong.
I looked at Crux. “Was Zach still touring the castle when you left?”
“No.”
“Okay, so he’ll be on his way back. Let’s go now,” I said, catching Bryn’s hand in my grip.
“No,” Crux said. “He finished admiring the art, but he didn’t leave the castle.”
“Why not?” I asked, tensing. Would we have to bust him out, too? I should’ve kept that mallet.
“She wanted him to stay. He’s her type.”
“She imprisoned him? What kind of room did she have for him? A giant doghouse?” I said, thinking that was where he belonged. I pursed my lips. Zach sure had been flirting up a storm lately with dangerous blond women. Not that it was my business as his ex-wife. But it was my business as his traveling companion.
“She didn’t imprison him.”
“Well, Zach will leave there soon. If he doesn’t, someone will have to go get him. And I’m sure Merc will turn up. He likes to explore, but he usually checks in, especially when there’s trouble brewing, which there is.” I studied Crux’s face and then his shoulders and arms. He still hadn’t shown his hands. “Did you tell her that I’m not Kismet?”
“No, because she hasn’t asked. My oath is very specific,” Crux said.
“Uh-huh,” I said. I was curious about the nature of these vows that the fae knights had to make to their power-crazy queen. But I’d get information about the oaths from someone other than Crux. The longer he stayed, the sorer my muscles got from being clenched so tight.
“I obey the queen’s direct orders, and I was given one to force Kismet to return to the Never.”
“You tried and she got away. You did your best,” I said with a shrug.
He smiled. “I did. I thought it would be a bloody battle, and that if she got mad enough, she might kill me. But then I discovered the right leverage to use against her.”
I balled my fists.
“Until she returns, I have no intention of letting you leave.”
“Yeah, about that,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s like I told you before: I’m American. We don’t bow down to kings and queens, and no one’s allowed to lock us up or hold us against our will for no reason. You saw what happened when you tried before. Merc and I kicked your faery butt.”
He laughed. “Is that your impression?”
“It’s not just my impression. It’s what happened,” I said, though I knew that things were more complicated than that. “And Bryn trapped you in a circle. Because he’s more clever than you are.” Probably taunting him wasn’t the best strategy, but I was tired of talking.
“His magic doesn’t work here, and I don’t see your cat anywhere.”
I strode to the door. I couldn’t stand to be still any longer.
Crux’s hands armed with bow and arrow appeared instantly. He aimed at Bryn. No matter how fast I ran, that arrow would be faster.
I froze, my heart slamming against my ribs.
“The more people you have with you, the more trouble you’ll be capable of creating,” he said.
I realized what he planned to do. “Don’t!” I yelled, darting forward.
“Crux, wait!” Momma said.
Crux’s wrist cocked at the last second so the arrow went just wide of Bryn’s throat. Without missing a beat, Crux loaded another arrow, ready to shoot again. But by then I’d gotten into position between him and Bryn.
�
��I can wound you. It’ll make things easier if I slow you down,” Crux said.
“You could do that,” Momma said gravely. “But there would be consequences.”
Crux’s eyes, the color of smoky quartz, gazed at Momma for an instant.
“Not just from Kismet. Caedrin, too,” Momma said.
Crux studied me for a moment.
Momma continued in a calm tone. It was like she was asking if he wanted some biscuits. “Caedrin doesn’t interfere when the queen orders you to do something to Kismet because he can’t. But Tammy Jo doesn’t belong to Ghislaine. She’s mine. And his.”
Crux’s eyes narrowed.
“Think things over. Ghislaine’s barred the exits out of the Never. Tammy Jo is already trapped here. You don’t have to do anything. You’ve already done it. You’ve made her the bait. Kismet will either come home or she won’t. You don’t need to hurt Tammy or her friends to keep them here.”
“She’s resourceful. Not trained like Kis, but possessed of the same instincts. And of worse. She’s dead stubborn.”
“Tammy Jo doesn’t understand how things work, but we’ll explain it to her. Caedrin and Kismet both know you haven’t had a choice about the things you’ve done to Kismet on the queen’s orders. But you do have a choice now. Stand down.”
Crux’s gaze settled on my face. “Will you swear an oath that you won’t try to leave?”
“Nope.”
The corners of Crux’s mouth quirked up. “Do you see?” Crux said, his gaze flicking to Momma for a second.
Momma sighed. “So keep your eyes on her. You can always shoot her later if you need to.”
“Momma!”
“Later then. If I need to,” Crux said, locking eyes with me.
“Kismet must’ve been really disappointed when she found out what a jerk she was dating,” I said.
Crux lowered his bow. “When she found out? She’s always known what I’m like. She’s the same.”
“She is not.”
Crux’s smug smile made me want to punch him right in the throat. “Let’s see what you think when you get to know her better.”
“I probably won’t, since I hope she’ll be too smart to fall for your tricks.”
“She won’t fall for any tricks. She’ll know she’s walking into a trap.” He was so sure.
I scowled at him, feeling so frustrated I could scream.
Don’t come, Kismet. Stay out there! I’ll get myself out of the Never. Don’t come!
“You’re the one who fell for my tricks,” Crux said.
I shot forward and punched him in the face. He shoved me so hard I flew backward. I slammed into a body and hands caught me. I felt Bryn’s arms around me.
“Calm down,” he said.
Crux pointed at me as reddish-gold blood trickled from his nose. “Impulsive and fearless. That’s fae blood in your veins. Feel it?” he asked. “You’re one of us.”
“Let me go, Bryn. I wanted to break his nose, but it still looks straight to me. I need another try.”
Bryn’s huff of laughter ruffled my hair. “Tamara, come on. Don’t make things worse.”
“I wasn’t. How can anybody take a knight seriously when he’s such a pretty boy? He needs a crooked nose. I was helping,” I said, glaring at Crux.
“Let her go, wizard. We’ll help each other. I think she’s a future assassin. By her logic, an iron scar on her cheek would do her well.”
“Future assassin! Listen, you arrogant—”
“What are you doing here, Crux?” Caedrin said, coming in through a tall window that faced the woods behind the house.
The two handsome knights stared at each other. Crux’s eyes were darker brown and his hair had fewer streaks of wheat running through it, but they had similar lean, tall frames and long-fingered hands that moved in a flash when necessary.
Sunlight glinted off the blade of the dagger in Caedrin’s right hand. Sharp and beveled, it looked like it had been polished that morning.
Crux didn’t answer.
“Speak or leave,” Caedrin said.
“I’m on the queen’s business. Of sorts.”
“You’ve come to escort us to the castle?” Caedrin asked, his voice as hard as the stone floor of the hearth.
“No,” Crux said.
“Did she tell you to enter my house?”
Crux folded his arms across his chest.
“You cannot take my life here, but I could take yours,” Caedrin said.
Crux uncrossed his arms and held them wide. “As you will, then.”
Caedrin sheathed his dagger. “I wouldn’t wish for that. But know this: These people,” Caedrin said, swirling his finger, “I claim as mine. Any injury you do to them, you do to me. And I’ll answer.”
“You can’t make that kind of proclamation! They’re of the human world. The queen hasn’t let you take this woman as wife. And she never will. You can’t—”
“I can,” Caedrin said. “I’ve been to the oldest archives. A fae knight must offer a first child to the king or queen. But all children that follow with the same woman are his own to claim, be they part human, witch, vampire, wolf, or full fae. And if a knight is willing to forfeit his life for a woman, he can claim her as wife. None can oppose it. Not even the highest lord or lady of the land. Ghislaine may kill me in Marlee’s place, but she can’t deny me my right to stand in for her in any punishment.”
“The wizard isn’t yours to protect,” Crux said, nodding to Bryn.
“This girl is a knight’s daughter and has battled Unseelie fae and killed them. She claims him as hers to protect, and I may do the same.”
“Show me where it’s written. The queen could challenge that.”
“She could. But if you’re wise, you won’t advise it.”
Crux licked his lips. “Time is on your side where experience is concerned, but you’ve seen me fight. You can’t be sure you would win.”
“There are three in the Never who might kill me in a fight. You’re one of them,” Caedrin acknowledged with a nod. “Think that would stop me from trying? I’ve had years of swallowing my frustration at not being able to protect some whom I would have if the choice had been mine. I would’ve given my soul for the chance to fight . . . so many times. Death doesn’t scare me off. Let one arrow fly into any of them, and I’ll show you what it means to love down to blood and bone.”
Crux shrugged; then he shook his head. “If someone tasted your blood today, I’m not sure they’d find it to be full fae. How did the humanside seep into you? You never even lived there, did you?”
Something buzzed by me, and I turned, straining my eyes. The pixie moved so fast I couldn’t follow its progress.
Caedrin paused, cocking his head. I saw the air blur as tiny wings beat, holding a tiny faery aloft near Caedrin’s left ear.
“Thank you, Boislonk.” Caedrin turned to Momma, putting a hand on her face. “She’s figured out you’re gone. No one knows of a passage that can be opened to the paths that lead humanside, but sooner or later the gates will become active again. It takes too much energy to seal them tight enough to keep humans inside. When you near an exit that can be unlocked, any of you will be able to feel it.” He swallowed, glancing away and then back. “Maybe you should go,” he whispered.
“Maybe. But I’m not.”
He hugged her to him and whispered something I couldn’t hear. I chewed my lip and swallowed against a tight throat. Would I have left the Never without Bryn? No way. So could I blame Momma for standing by her man? No, but it sure made my heart ache with worry to leave her behind.
“The thing is,” I said in a low voice, “once she figures out that Momma’s not cursed, Ghislaine might start trying to curse her again. And all she has to do is ask either of you,” I said, pointing to Caedrin and Crux. “Since you’re under her thum
b by that magical curse.”
“It’s not a curse. It’s an oath. The kind made to a sovereign and homeland. Is there no loyalty and patriotism in your world?” Crux demanded.
“Yeah, we’ve got loyalty and patriotism, but not some messed-up kind, like here. It’s the good kind. The president couldn’t make me flog Zach or betray Bryn. Once we’re married, Bryn could do any crazy thing he wants to do, even commit a crime, and I wouldn’t have to testify against him if I didn’t want to. We’ve got better loyalty there and way better laws. Now, back to what I started to say. If a leader got drunk on power and wasn’t being fair to his citizens, in America we’d overthrow him. Now, if Ghislaine has gone power-crazy, you—”
Caedrin shot forward and clamped a hand over my mouth. “Shhh,” he whispered harshly in my ear. “No treasonous talk. Not ever. I’m sworn to protect the queen and Seelie court and lands. Ahead of everything else.”
My brows scrunched together in a frown, but I nodded.
“I don’t think your chosen family’s going to last long here,” Crux said. “That one’s stubborn as a bog, and just as thick.”
My middle finger popped up, but Crux didn’t seem to understand the gesture. That only made me madder.
Caedrin kissed my cheek gently, his hand still covering my mouth. “It would break Marlee’s heart and mine if I had to hurt you. Be careful.”
I blinked. He took his hand away, but stood ready to cover my mouth again instantly if I said the wrong thing.
“I’m done talking,” I said, making a gesture of locking my lips. “I’d better go,” I said, walking to Momma.
“I love you. Be safe,” she said, giving me a kiss and a tight hug. Then she shoved me away from her toward Bryn. “Prove you’re more than a prophecy.”
Bryn nodded.
I darted forward and hugged Caedrin. “It was real nice to finally meet you, Dad.” I hugged him. “If it won’t mess up your promise, it’d be great if you could keep Crux from following us.”
Caedrin smiled. “Call me that once more.”
Casually Cursed Page 23
