“Great, so we’ve got a wild card on our hands.” I look to Dare. “What do you think? You and I, Dagan, and Axel? Should we bring Amren as well? Or Eryn?”
Gods, I want to bring everyone so we’re ready for any eventuality. She’s always been friendly, but her unwillingness to tell Dax the third person she’s bringing is off-putting.
“You and I, and let’s include Dax as he set up the meeting, and perhaps Eryn as she can get a read on their feelings and alert us to any sudden changes. Sound good?”
I look over to where my crew sits. Doyle nods. Eryn smiles. Axel frowns, and Kirin peeks under Axels cards, completely oblivious. “You guys good with that plan?”
“Sounds good to me.” Doyle smiles.
“I’ve got your back, Ev.” Eryn winks before going back to reading her book.
“I’d rather be there to have your back, but we’ll cover things here.” Axel looks over just in time to catch Kirin and whacks him on the back of the head.
“Yeah, I’m good here. I’m waiting on a few responses. Best that I’m here when they come in.” Kirin rubs the back of his head.
“Great, so we’re good.” I look to Dare, the panic in my chest that my whole team won’t be with me so I can keep an eye on them threatening to bubble up and spill from my lips.
“Let’s arm up, shall we, mo grá?”
I nod, not trusting myself to say anything, and take his outstretched hand.
As soon as the door to our room closes behind us, I throw myself at Dare, gripping fistfuls of his shirt. His strength and his protection are the only place I feel safe enough to let go and show any vulnerability. With Dare, I know that he’ll catch me. He’ll keep my secrets and he’ll ensure that they can’t be used against me.
“Shh, little tine. I’ve got you.” He rocks me in his arms and I bite my lip to keep any tears of frustration and hopelessness from falling.
“I just want to make sure they’re all safe. Separating from them makes me nervous. I’ve got this feeling in my gut that something bad is coming, but I don’t know what.”
“No matter what, something bad is going to happen eventually, Ever. As much as you want to stop it and protect everyone, you’ll drive yourself mad trying to do so. You’ve got to trust that your team can protect themselves. Plus, they’re here in Goblin, surrounded by guards, and have plenty of backup.”
I suck in a deep breath. “You’re right. I know you’re right. I just can’t shake that feeling of dread that’s threatening to choke me.”
“What if I distract you?” Dare smiles devilishly, his hands moving from my waist down to cup my ass.
“Hmm, I’d be okay with some distraction.”
Dare bites at my lip. “I thought you might.” His voice rumbles against my mouth and shivers trail down my spine.
He covers my mouth with his and slowly his tongue licks at mine. A quick flick in, teasing me before he withdraws. I follow his tongue with mine, my hands tangling in his hair. We kiss and his scent fills my lungs. Rain-soaked earth. I inhale again and the tightness in my chest eases. I relax in his arms as he ravishes my mouth with little nips and swirls of his tongue.
After a few minutes, Dare pulls back, a soft smile on his face and a fire in his autumn-colored eyes. “We’ve got to get ready to meet Nicnivin.”
“Mmm, I know. One more kiss first.” He indulges me for a few extra stolen seconds before pulling back and letting me slide down his thick body.
“Go strap on every knife you own, little tine.” He swats at my ass before adjusting the bulge in his pants.
I lick my lips in response and he growls at me. “I’m going. I’m going. I want a raincheck though.”
“Always, Ever. Always.”
*
An hour later we’re back to the spot where we’d first met the Unseelie Queen. Barren trees, dried grass, and rock-covered hills surround us. I bite at my nails as we wait, telling myself to stop it but, at the same time, unable to stop the compulsive action.
“She’ll be here, Ever.” Dax smiles broadly at me, his moss-green and hazel-colored eyes holding my gaze for a moment.
“I know.” I exhale a breath and drop my fingers from my mouth. “Still not going to tell us who your contact is, Dax?”
Dax waves a finger at me like I’m an errant child. “Now, now, Ever. I don’t ally and tell.”
“Mmhmm.” I purse my lips.
“You’ll know soon enough,” Dax adds before staring off.
Despite my best efforts, Dax had stayed silent about his contacts. It’s infuriating. I understand it, I’m the same way usually, but not knowing who it is makes me twitch. I’m sure that Dax wouldn’t turn against us or lead us into a trap though, so I hold on to that knowledge with a death grip.
The sky above us darkens and I rub my hands together. Show time. Fog creeps out from behind the hill directly in front of us and I squint my eyes for Nicnivin’s form. She’s the first to appear. She’s as stunning as ever, her petite form encased in a midnight-black dress, feathers covering the backs of her hands, and her crown sitting atop her head. The inky feathers don’t move in the breeze; instead they stay pointed straight up to the sky like they wouldn’t dare defy her wishes.
Behind her, two females and a male emerge. The male is dressed in black armor as is one of the other females. The second female is dressed in a steel-grey dress, and instead of feathers gracing her crown, shards of what look like glass rise high above her head. She’s voluptuous where Nicnivin is rail thin. Her silver hair is braided in a complicated weave, and her light grey and dark blue eyes are piercing.
One by one they come to a stop a few feet from us. I tilt my head in greeting to Nicnivin. Eryn, Dax, and Doyle follow suit.
“Hello, Ever. It’s been a long time since we last spoke.” Nicnivin’s voice is smooth like the finest of silk. Her words caress every piece of flesh left uncovered by weapons.
“Yes, it has, Nicnivin.” I wave to Dax. “Dax tells me he was able to get a message to you. I apologize that I didn’t deliver the request for a meeting myself; however, I was unable to get into the Unseelie Kingdom without setting off alarms.”
At my informal use of her name, her female guard’s hand goes to the pommel of her sword and I raise a brow.
“Calm. She is not an enemy. She may use my name as I may use hers.” Her guard’s hand falls to her side, but she’s watching each and every one of us closely. “So tell me, Ever, what exactly would you like to speak about that requires a secret meeting?”
I brace myself for any reaction and clench my hands at my sides. “We’ve received news about the Order. It’s worse than we feared.”
“And this concerns me how?” Nicnivin clasps her hands in front of her calmly.
“It would appear that they’ve got members in every kingdom and court throughout Faerie and even within MECA. I’m here to ask you if you’re willing to ally with us to get rid of the Order once and for all.”
She opens her mouth to respond and I raise a hand.
“If I may…” She nods, and I continue speaking, thankful she didn’t get angry that I cut her off. “It’s not just leath cine that they’re after. They’re after anyone who isn’t pure. Half-troll, half-unseelie, you’re not safe. Half-seelie, half-unseelie, you’re not safe. Half of one thing and another, you’re not safe. This isn’t just about leath cine anymore. It’s about a war that’s coming that will threaten every one of us. More than half of your court is half one thing and another. This is why we contacted you first. You’re at the greatest risk after MECA and those being hidden within the Goblin Kingdom.”
“I see.” She purses her lips. “And what exactly would it cost me to have you as my allies? What is it you want?”
I look to Dare and Dax, afraid that I’ll say something wrong. They both shrug. “We don’t want anything other than your oath that you’ll fight with us to disband the Order and keep everyone safe.”
“That’s all you’d like?” She laughs harshly. “Eve
r, my dear, you must learn to negotiate better.”
“You’re either with us against them, or you’re with them. It’s as simple as that, Queen Nicnivin.”
“And if I want something in return for my alliance?” She narrows her eyes.
I didn’t expect her to want anything in return. I assumed she’d be more worried about the safety of those in her kingdom than gaining anything else from me or the Goblin Kingdom. “I can’t speak for the Goblin Kingdom. I can only speak for myself and my crew.” I pause. “What is it that you’d like?”
Nicnivin looks to the girl in the silver dress and then back toward us. I rack my brain trying to figure out if this is her rumored heir who has been hidden for years or if this is someone else. “I want to ensure my daughter’s protection.”
I look between the two of them, noticing the subtle similarities. The cut of their cheekbones, the shape of their eyes, and finally, the way they hold themselves. I should have seen it sooner. I nod toward the girl in grey. “This is your daughter?”
“Yes, this is Kiara.”
“I mean no offense when I ask this question, Queen Nicnivin, but how could we protect her where you cannot?” Dare steps beside me and presses a hand to my back. It’s his sign for being careful of what I say. He’s better at politics than I am so I meet his gaze for a moment in understanding.
“It is not that I can’t protect her. It is that in my kingdom they will try to use her against me. If I’m to go to war and search within my own kingdom and others for traitors and members of the Order, she will not be safe within my walls. Too many know who she is. What she is.”
I bite my tongue to keep from asking what exactly she is and think about my word choice for a moment. I decide to ignore it for now. She looks normal enough. No extra limbs or anything. “And how exactly would you like for us to keep her safe? Within the Goblin Kingdom?”
“That would be one part of it, yes. But to ensure that she is not used against me there as well, I’d like her betrothed to one of the Goblin King’s sons.”
Dax chokes and Dare stiffens against me. “Anyone specifically? There are quite a few of us,” Dare asks cautiously.
“Yes, I’d prefer Dagan or Dax as they are one of the three closest to Teag.” Nicnivin smiles, seemingly pleased with herself.
I did not see this coming. Work with us and we’ll protect each other. That’s what I thought would happen today. Not some sort of backward arranged marriage between Fae Kingdoms. I look between Dax and Dare, both of whom seem to be fighting each other with just looks. I glance back at Eryn. She’s tense and glaring at Nicnivin. Oh, shit. Eryn and Dagan. Through all the shit going on, I forgot that she has a thing for him.
I look back to Nicnivin, who’s waiting patiently, as if she just asked us what the weather will be like tomorrow. “Give us just a moment, please?”
“Take your time.” She nods before turning back to speak with her daughter.
I grab both Dare and Dax and shuffle us a few feet away from where we were just standing. “Okay, so was anyone expecting this?”
“Obviously not,” Dax whisper shouts.
“No need to shout, Dax.” I wave my hands, trying to tell him to settle down.
“Eryn, what do you think about this? What’s the feeling you’re getting off of Nicnivin and her daughter?”
“Her daughter is pissed and shocked. I don’t think she knew that Nicnivin would ask for this. Protection maybe, but the marriage seemed to surprise her. Now she’s pulsing red, so I’d assume she’s angry.”
“And Nicnivin?”
“She seems calm. She was surprised we asked her to ally with us, but she obviously quickly found a way to get a good deal out of it. She’s a bit hopeful too, and a tad desperate. I think that she’s genuinely worried about Kiara’s safety. I don’t know why she would be that worried, but she is.” Eryn shrugs, biting her lip.
“What do you two think?” I look to Dare and Dax.
“We’d have to speak with Teag about this before we can say yes, of course,” Dax says.
“Dagan isn’t going to agree,” Dare adds.
“How do you know?” I ask, eyeing Eryn as Dare speaks.
“He’s set on someone else. He won’t change his mind. That much I can tell you.” Dare’s jaw is clenched.
“So that leaves Dax or someone else.” I look to Dax, who looks like I’ve struck him with a brick.
“Me? Get married? To her? I don’t even know her!” Dax cries out the last sentence dramatically.
“I think I’ve got an idea. Do you guys trust me?”
All three of them nod, and I turn back to Queen Nicnivin’s waiting party.
“I’ve got a counter offer for you, Queen Nicnivin. Are you open to hearing it?”
She narrows her eyes before waving a hand for me to proceed.
“Arranged marriages are a thing of the past nowadays, and we wouldn’t want to stick Kiara with someone she hates for life, or someone one of the sons will hate for life either. I propose she spends a year, fully protected, within the Goblin Kingdom, where she can choose anyone who isn’t already taken or mated, and who is agreeable to be her mate.”
“And if, after that year is up, danger is still present and she hasn’t found someone?” Nicnivin questions.
“At that point, we can revisit the arrangement for a mate, but I will personally offer my crew’s protection of her at that time, and until such a time that she is protected by her mate and their kingdom. I can’t make any promises from the Goblin Kingdom past what I just offered without going back to Teag and his advisors.”
Nicnivin taps a black-polished fingernail to her lips. “And you’re willing to give your blood oath to this?”
“Yes. I will give my blood oath that I and my crew will protect Kiara for as long as it takes if after a year within the Goblin Kingdom she has not found her mate.”
“And the protection of the Goblin Kingdom for the year before that?” Nicnivin asks.
Dare steps forward. “I will give my blood oath to that, Queen Nicnivin. Kiara will be protected while within the walls of Goblin. If she leaves the kingdom, however, I cannot guarantee her protection unless she is with one of us. Fair?”
“Agreed.” Queen Nicnivin looks to Kiara, whose expression is changing from shocked and angry to calm.
I reach for a blade and slice my palm, stepping forward and holding it out hilt first to Nicnivin. She reaches for it and slices her own palm. “A deal is struck.” We place our bleeding palms together and black strands of smoke circle our hands. Dare repeats the process with her and we all take a step back from each other.
“When can we expect her arrival?” I ask.
“Within a day. We must gather her things. A maid will be coming with her. One of my most trusted guards.”
I look to the woman standing next to her, who’s scowling. Something tells me it will be her. And she’s unhappy about it. I smile inwardly.
“Will you be coming with her?” Dare asks.
“No. I believe I will draw up some plans to start weeding out traitors within my midst. You might get a visit from one of my captains of the Sluagh though.”
I refrain from jumping up and down and clapping like a little girl. When I was a little girl, they told us horror stories about the Sluagh. The hellhounds of the Fae. Any bond that is broken, they chase down the one who broke it and make them pay. They’re badass. And I can’t wait to meet one.
“Excellent. We’ll expect one then. We’ll speak soon.” I nod, the adrenaline of striking a treaty of sorts with the Queen of the Unseelie Kingdom thrumming through my veins as if I’d touched a lightning strike.
All four of them slowly melt back into the fog and I let go of the breath I’ve been holding since they arrived. “Holy balls. On a scale of one to awesome, that was epic.” My smile fades as I look between Dare, Dax, and Eryn. “What?”
“I will be curious to see how this goes when we tell Teag.” Dare sighs.
“I’m jus
t thankful I wasn’t just married off.” Dax wipes at his forehead.
“Eryn?” I smile at her.
“I’m fine. Let’s get back. I want to do some research on Kiara so we’re prepared.”
We file one by one to the mound that leads back to the Goblin Kingdom and I marvel inwardly at what we’ve just accomplished. One ally down, only about thirty left. Hopefully the rest of them are as easy if not easier than the Unseelie Queen.
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
Twenty-four hours later, after an argument with Teag and Tore about the deal that was struck, and reading through piles of books with any mention of Kiara, we’re waiting in the hall for her to arrive.
Arela is excited to have someone from another kingdom here. She’s hoping that she’ll make a friend. We spoke with her about trusting her and being cautious, but she said she has a feeling about her, so we spoke with Brodie and Amren to be on the lookout for Arela, as she spends the most time with them.
The guards are tense, as most of them are sons of Teag and could possibly end up with a mate before the year’s out. The other half of them are just curious about what’s going to happen now that the daughter of another ruler will be living within Goblin for a year. I’ve prayed to every god and goddess out there that I made the right decisions and haven’t brought an enemy into our home but I haven’t received an answer.
Fog enters the hall under the front doors and I step forward. As I do, a hush falls over the room as they all train their eyes on the doors.
She must have a flare for the dramatic like her mother. The heavy wood opens and Kiara and her guard walk through. Kiara’s light grey and cobalt-blue eyes take in everything in front of her. Her guard stands ready with her hand on the pommel of her sword. Instant friends we will not be then.
I step forward to welcome them before stopping and looking to Teag. Oops. Not my kingdom. He smiles and I thank the gods that Teag understands that I meant no offense.
“Welcome to the Goblin Kingdom. I’m King Teag. Beside me is Tore MacDouglas, my closest advisor. Around us you’ll find a mixture of my sons and guards. To my left, you’ve got Ever’s crew, who will be helping you acclimate. If you need anything, please do not be shy in letting me know. You are a most honored guest here.” Teag nods once to Kiara before turning and walking out of the hall with Tore on his heels.
Throne of Secrets (Wicked Kingdoms Book 3) Page 14
