“Is Jeff or Vix here? Please, we’ve come a long way.” And still had far to go.
His wrinkled face scrunched in thought. “I do think Mr. Jeffrey and Miss Victoria are in residence. However, given Miss Noli’s health, I’m not sure if they’re accepting callers. Do you wish for me to check?”
“Victoria?” James snorted.
Steven shot his brother a look. Victoria was a fine name. “Please. I’m Steven Darrow and this is my brother James.”
The old butler shuffled off, leaving the door half open and them standing on the porch, breaths making frozen clouds in the late afternoon chill.
“That is one old butler,” Jeff laughed as the two of them shivered in the cold.
“Oh, I think Jameson left the door open again,” a female voice called. A brunette, older than Noli but younger than Mrs. Braddock, came to close the door. Her brown eyes widened and her mouth formed an “o” of surprise when she saw them. “Oh, there are callers on the porch. May I help you?”
“We’re friends of Noli and Jeff’s, Jameson is checking to see if Jeff’s accepting visitors.” Steven hoped she let them in. At least it wasn’t snowing.
The uniformed maid gave them a warm smile. “You’ll have to forgive Jameson, he’s a little … elderly. Why don’t you wait in the parlor where it’s warm?” She ushered them into a sumptuous parlor that looked as if it were used far more for feminine meetings than male ones. “Would you like some tea?”
Steven nodded, the heat curling around them like welcoming arms. “That would be splendid.”
She bustled off.
Jeff hustled over to the fire to warm his hands. “This is nice.”
“Noli’s mother’s from a very good old family.” Steven took a seat on the floral armchair closest to the fire. A large piano stood in the corner. On the wall hung several framed portraits, including one of Noli as a little girl, a large bow in her hair.
“Steven, what in tarnation are you doing here?” Jeff strode into the parlor, a puzzled look on his face. “I asked him.” Vix joined Jeff and took his arm. The fierce airship captain looked elegant in a long, flowing dress, much simpler than anything Noli wore, but better suited to her.
Jeff stared at her in disbelief, eyes bulging. “You did? Why?”
Vix frowned at James. “What exactly are you looking at?”
“You’re wearing a dress.” James continued to stare unabashedly.
“Well, don’t you go a-telling now.” Vix sighed, shoulders slumping a little. “I’m trying to be a good daughterin-law-to-be. Today, I allowed Mrs. Braddock to dress me.” She smoothed the skirt in a self-conscious gesture.
Steven took off this hat. “I think you look lovely, Captain Vix. Wait. Daughter-in-law-to-be? Jeff, are congratulations in order?”
Jeff gave them a wide smile then gazed fondly at Vix. “Yes, yes they are.”
“Congratulations,” he replied. Jeff, married? Even an air pirate deserved some happiness.
James grinned cheekily. “That’s great news.
Thank you.” Jeff gaze returned to Vix. “Now why did you ask them to come here? And when did you do it?” His gaze shifted to Steven and it made his skin crawl. “I’m not very happy with you right now.”
“I’m sorry,” Steven murmured, looking at his feet. “I really, truly am.”
Vix looked around, then shut the door. “I sent word when we stopped to refuel in Chicago. Hattie told me where to find them.” She gave Jeff a hard look. “And you know very well why.”
“You’re still thinking that?” Jeff ran his fingers through his hair, corners of his lips turning down.
“It’s been days and she’s still not better, the doctor has no idea why, and she’s killing plants.” Vix crossed her arms. “We have to do something.”
“She’s what?” James left his spot by the fire and joined them.
Steven’s mind reeled. “Wait, what’s going on?”
There was a knock on the door. The maid called, “I have your tea.”
“Please, come in, Ellen,” Jeff replied.
They sat and Ellen served the tea and left, closing the door behind them.
“This is awkward, so I’m just going to say it,” Vix said from her perch on the settee next to Jeff. “We know what you are. We’ve been doing business with your kind, and well, something went wrong and now Noli’s ill—and I don’t think it’s influenza.”
Steven sucked in a sharp breath as the news punched him in the stomach. They knew? How did they know? There would be time for questions later.
“Please, pardon Vix’s conspiracy theories. I don’t think Noli’s sick with the faery pox, or something.” Jeff huffed with annoyance.
“Faery pox?” Steven tried not to laugh given the severity of the situation.
Vix’s jaw jut out. “Your uncle did something to her. I know what I saw—his hands glowed when he choked her, and he threatened her, and kept saying something about her being out of her element.”
James snapped his fingers. “Out of her element? Wait. Did you say she was killing plants?”
“What do you mean my uncle?” Tea sloshed into Steven’s saucer at the thought of Uncle Brogan threatening Noli.
Vix nodded, brows knitting. “King Brogan is your uncle, right? He stormed onto my ship, got into a magic shoving match with Noli, and threatened her. He threatened you as well. Nevertheless, Noli is unwell and we don’t know what’s wrong. She still loves you and insists you love her … so I sent for you hoping you’d know what was wrong.” Vix turned her still full teacup around in her hands. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Why are you doing business with the Fae?” James made a face. “That’s not very smart.”
“James,” Steven hissed, then turned back to Vix and Jeff. “Could you please start from the beginning so I can understand what is happening and assist Noli?”
“Of course.” Vix and Jeff told them about their business dealings with the Fae. “I’m still not exactly sure what this artifact is that Brogan wanted the pieces for, but both Noli and Kevighn Silver insisted allowing him to have it could be disastrous … ”
“Kevighn’s involved in this, too?” Steven’s hand went to his forehead. The whole idea of the Fae hiring mortals to steal things made him uneasy, especially when it involved his uncle. And Kevighn … anything involving him was bound to be disingenuous.
Vix helped herself to one of the tiny cookies Ellen had brought with the tea. “He took a position on the ship. I don’t trust him. Noli does. However, he did bring us the money.”
Jeff and Vix explained the business transaction. “Brogan was very angry we didn’t sell the pieces to him,” Jeff told them. “He stormed onto the ship and that’s when he and Noli had their … encounter. She’s been ill ever since.”
“Who’d you sell the pieces to?” James asked. “Kevighn?”
“Kevighn was supposed to re-scatter the pieces. They’re apparently in the mortal realm for a reason,” Jeff replied. “I believe the money came from someone named Kyran.”
“Kyran?” Steven looked to James, not ever having heard the name.
James shrugged. “I have no idea who that is. I’m not sure I believe Kevighn, though.”
“Me neither.” Vix took another cookie. “But it’s not our problem.”
That brusque attitude rankled. They shouldn’t be stealing for the Fae to begin with—and some article banished from the Otherworld? His uncle wanting something like that didn’t bode well. But the business dealings of air pirates weren’t the reason for his presence.
“Could we see Noli? Please?” The idea of anything happening to her made his stomach churn. Their kind didn’t usually fall ill.
“She thinks you broke up with her because your mother, the queen, made you. Noli’s very trusting—too trusting.” Vix gave him a menacing stare, as if Noli’s innocent nature was somehow his fault.
The idea of Noli’s family knowing about his kind was just … surreal.
&nbs
p; “Yes, yes, her assumption is correct.” He focused on his cup, not them, part of him glad she’d held on to that belief and not abandoned him—especially with Kevighn lurking around. “I can’t disobey an order from the high queen. I wasn’t allowed to tell her. I can’t tell you how much it hurt to do that.” Steven continued to stare into the depths of the amber liquid. “I will find some way for us to be together, I promise you that.”
“Why?” Jeff asked.
That simple word caused Steven to look up and meet his eyes. “Because I have loved your sister for a very long time. There’s no one else in any realm like her.”
Vix took a sip of tea, giving him a nod of approval.
“She loves you, too,” Jeff replied. “I still don’t understand everything. Noli told us what happened to her between the school and going home. I don’t actually comprehend the part about her not being mortal and a sprite living in her head.” He made a face of confused disbelief. “But I do know that something’s not right about her.”
“It’s odd,” James agreed, shoving a cookie in his mouth.
“I take full responsibility and I’ll find a way to remedy that as well.” Steven bowed his head, he’d made so many mistakes—ones Noli had paid for. He looked at Vix, still not truly understanding what was happening here. “I appreciate you sending for me. There’s a good possibility one of your doctors won’t be able to help her, all things considered.”
Not that he was an expert on Otherworldly illnesses.
“Well, if she’s out of her element, they won’t.” James leaned back in his chair as casual as could be.
“What?” they all said at once.
“You said Uncle Brogan kept telling her she was out of her element, right?” James asked. “You’re air pirates. Noli’s an earth sprite. It’s obvious.”
They all stared at James.
James made an exasperated noise. “We need to spend time in our elements, especially the lower court folk. Too much time away can make you sick.”
That sounded vaguely familiar. “But we’re earth court, and we’re fine,” Steven tried to work all this out in his head.
“But we’re not sprites. They’re tied closer to their elements than us—and I think she’s been spending more time in the air than we have.”
Jeff’s eyes went alight with recognition. “Noli kept telling me how she wanted to be among trees and dirt— and she loved her little potted plants. She keeps asking for plants to hold when she sleeps, the way a little girl does a doll—and they keep dying.”
“Because she’s absorbing their life force.” Steven began to make sense of what was happening to Noli. “But it shouldn’t happen so fast.”
“Your uncle did something to her, I know he did,” Vix returned, eyes flashing in annoyance. “Why aren’t you listening to me?”
“I’m listening. He’s king of the earth court, he could have done something.” James drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair.
“He could. The idea that he would is appalling.” Steven made a noise of distain. “Will you allow us to see her?”
Hope danced in Jeff’s eyes, eyes so much like Noli’s. “Can you help her?”
Steven stood. “I’m no healer, but certainly, I’ll try.”
Anything for Noli.
Jeff and Vix led them up a sweeping staircase and down several hallways. Finally, he pushed open a door.
Steven brushed past them and rushed to her side. “Noli.”
Darling Noli lay in bed in a ruffled nightdress, quilt up to her chin, looking so small and pale, and a withered plant in her arms. It was as if all the life, everything that made her his Noli, had been drained right out of her, leaving her as lifeless as the poor bedraggled plant.
She didn’t stir when he took her hand. Her breath rasped and her face looked drawn, cheekbones protruding.
“I’m not even sure how she’s lasted this long,” Vix whispered from the background as she leaned into Jeff. “We can barely get her to eat or drink anything.”
Steven brushed her cool forehead with his fingertips. “Noli, it’s me, will you open your eyes for me, please?”
What he wanted to do was climb into the bed with her, hold her in his arms, and kiss her—but he wasn’t about to do that with Jeff watching.
All Noli did was sigh. Hope flicked within him. Perhaps it was a happy sigh because she knew he’d arrived.
James joined him at her bedside and looked at the plant, brow furrowing. He put his hand on her cheek and it shimmered slightly.
“James,” he hissed at his brother’s blatant use of magic in public.
James sniffed, his hand continuing to glow green. “Do you want to help her or not?”
“You have magic as well?” Jeff whispered, coming up behind them.
“Yes, but ours is different from Noli’s,” Steven replied. The room looked like a child’s room, with books on a shelf and a box of toys. A few jolly pictures hung on the wall.
Biting his lower lip, James turned to Steven. “She’s very sick, V.”
“Really, James?” Steven didn’t hide his sarcasm as he continued to hold her lifeless hand.
Jeff joined them at Noli’s increasingly crowded bedside, brow creased with worry. “Can you do something about it?”
“I … I don’t know.” James bowed his head. “I’m not good at this sort of magic.”
The best healers came from the water court.
Steven tried to remember everything he knew about someone becoming ill from being out of their element. “If she’s out of her element, we need to get her back into it … in the Otherworld.”
“We can’t bring her on the quest.” James’ shoulders rounded. “If we go back, give Tiana the automaton, then return … what if it’s too late? I already lost Lottie, I don’t want to lose Noli.”
“We’re not losing Noli. I won’t allow it.” Steven wished there was some way to give her some of himself. “We can’t bring her on the quest, but that doesn’t mean we can’t bring her back into the Otherworld. We’ll take her to the big house and then finish the quest.” Hopefully, he and James could do something. He wasn’t sure that they could summon a healer to aid her, since it would mean asking his uncle or Tiana for help.
Jeff sighed. “Must you take her? I suppose I’ll have to concoct a story to tell Mother as to why we permitted Noli to leave with you. After all, we can hardly tell her the truth.”
That was for certain. “It’s the only way I know of,” Steven replied. Even then …
“Noli said there are spies at your house. She recognized one of your uncle’s men.” Vix plopped down in the rocking chair in the corner, the only chair in the room. A sewing basket sat next to it.
A sinking feeling surrounded Steven at Vix’s mention of spies. He’d known Tiana had spies at the big house, but he hadn’t realized Uncle Brogan had. He should have. No, he couldn’t go to either for assistance.
“If I do allow you to take her, who will take care of her while you’re finishing your quest? You can’t simply leave her alone,” Jeff prodded.
Noli was an earth sprite and still had a special connection to trees like when she’d been mortal. He could communicate with trees. An idea formed in his mind, one that would eliminate the need for a healer.
“She won’t be alone. I think I know someone who can heal her.” This could work and hope bubbled inside him. “What if it doesn’t?” Jeff’s eyes narrowed as if he blamed Steven for all this.
In a way it was all his fault. Noli being one of them. His uncle targeting her.
Steven stroked Noli’s hand, gazing at her too-still form. “It’ll work.”
It had to. Or he’d never forgive himself.
Twenty-One
Deliverance
Worry increasing with every footfall, Steven approached the large faery tree that hid in the center of the hedge maze at his family’s estate. Once, the giant, gnarled oak filled with wood faeries had been under his father’s care. Now, like the big house i
tself, it belonged to him. The little wood faeries crept out of knotholes in the tree, watching him curiously. A pink one flew over and gestured to Noli, a worried look on her tiny face.
“She’s very ill,” Steven told them as they gathered, the pink one sitting on Noli. A few others perched on him. “I’ve come to ask the tree to heal her. James and I must finish our quest. Will you please watch over her while we’re away? We shouldn’t be gone for long.” He hoped.
Heads bobbed as the wood faeries chattered all at once, offering to watch over and protect her. A few even retrieved tiny wooden swords. A yellow one saluted him and took up a guard stance, sword ready.
“I’d appreciate that.” Steven crouched at the base of the gnarled oak, Noli still in his arms, unmoving, the pink faery perched on her shoulder. Colorful night-blooming flowers covered the tree’s base. Setting her in his lap, he put his hand on the trunk and reached out to the tree’s spirit. Will you take care of her for me? She’s been out of her element and near death.
He chose this tree specifically for several reasons, the oak liked Noli. This tree had been on these lands as long as his family had possessed them. Hopefully, he would feel compelled to help. The old tree also possessed a great deal of magic. Healing Noli could kill a lesser tree.
I will try, young prince, the tree whispered back. I have served the House of Oak for a very long time and will do my best. The bark of the tree separated, making a Noli-sized knothole.
Steven kissed Noli, heart torn at leaving her alone. “I love you so much, darling. I’ll return soon.”
He placed her inside the knothole, hoping she’d be comfortable, and watched as the bark closed around her, sealing her inside the tree. You’d never know she lay inside, which meant she was safe both from his uncle and his mother. Hopefully, the tree would be able to heal her. He put his hand on the bark. Thank you, he told the tree. Noli means everything to me.
We’ll try our best to aid you, young prince, the tree replied.
The wood faeries all replied that they’d protect her. A few more had joined the miniature guard at the tree’s base, marching around, or sitting on the star blooms.
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