Arela giggles and the sound makes me smile despite my frazzled state. “Whatcha laughing at, squirt?” I step around the island and poke at her side, tickling her.
She gasps and battles with my hands. “Nothing!” She keeps giggling and struggling to get away from me.
I let her go and ruffle her hair. “Go finish getting ready, then wake up Dax and Dagan and tell them to get you to Goblin. We need to go in early today.” I place my hands on her shoulders and lean down so I’m face to face with her. “You know everything? You know what to do? How to get away and where to meet us?” I whisper the words so only she can hear them.
She doesn’t speak, she only places a hand over mine and gives it a squeeze. I smile and let her go.
I look around the room and circle a finger in the air. My crew starts clearing their plates and putting boots on while I put a few muffins into a bag for Arela to bring with her into Goblin. I take a deep breath as anxiety pounds through me like crashing waves during a storm.
Together we had gone over our stories and our strategy. In order for this to work we had to be precise in our timing. Our conversation from that tricky bastard, Puck, had given us ideas. We had a way around the truth spell, but it wasn’t a bullet proof plan, which made each of us twitchy.
“Ready?” I ask. I stand at the end of the kitchen island and address my crew as a whole.
They each nod one by one. Kirin gives me the two-fingered salute of the original few guards. I smile at him and salute back.
Like a well-oiled machine, we gather our gear and load up into our SUV. I let Doyle drive so I can run through the details of our plan in my head once more. The last thing we need is for me to wreck the car while on our way to this thing because I’m distracted.
“Eryn, you have the leaves?” I look over my shoulder at her. Her shoulders are tense, but a smile graces her lips.
“Right here, Ever.” She holds up a small purple velvet bag and shakes it a little.
“Axel, time check?”
“Twenty minutes out to the compound. Eighteen minutes until we eat the leaves.” He scrunches up his face at the mention of the leaves but his voice is steady.
I rub the back of my neck. “Good. We’re good.” I look to Doyle. “We’re good.”
“We’re good, Ev. We got this.” He reaches a hand over and clasps my hand in his. He gives it a squeeze before he releases it. “Don’t worry. We’ve been through worse.” He chuckles, but it falls flat in the heavy silence of the SUV.
He’s wrong. We haven’t been through worse. MECA has never called us in like this and questioned our word. They may not always like the way we handle things or deliver the results they demand of us, but they have always looked the other way or pretended that we’d done things the way they wanted us to in the first place. A trial like this hasn’t happened since the original few had disbanded and separated. Only one remained as an elder, the rest having scattered to the wind. Will he be there? One of the original few rarely made an appearance. But if he’s there, it’s a FUBAR situation and we’ll probably hang no matter what we say.
Sixteen minutes later, Eryn distributes the leaves amongst us and we all wait for the go ahead from Axel to chew and swallow them. No one talks. No one even moves as we wait the minute and a half to eat what could make or break our future.
“Now.”
At Axel’s command, I toss the leaves into my mouth and chew. Each of my crew does the same. Once I’ve swallowed them, I grimace. “Bleh. Those are fucking disgusting.”
Kirin laughs. “They taste like mint to me.”
I turn in my seat and look at him, my lips twitching. “You have weird taste buds.” I look behind him where Axel is looking at Kirin. Axel’s mouth is hanging open and his eyes are bugged out. I laugh outright. “Your face, Axel. Priceless.”
Kirin and Eryn look back at him and both of them start laughing as well. It breaks the tension and we all breathe a little easier and the pressure in my chest loosens. Thirty seconds later we turn down the back road into the MECA compound.
“We’re here.” Doyle’s hands hold the steering wheel in a white knuckled grip.
I face forward and stare straight ahead. We all do. None of us stare back at the faces of other guards as we pull into our designated spot closest to the gates. I blow out a heavy breath and grip the handle of the car door.
“Let’s show ’em how it’s done.”
As one, we exit the SUV, grab our gear and drop into formation. Heads held high, our faces are masks of deadly concentration. We walk the cobblestoned courtyard past the mutters and the glances, ascend the steps, and disappear through the doors of MECA.
CHAPTER
NINE
No one wastes time better than the Fae, because most of them have nothing but time to waste. Living for not just centuries, but millennia, creates the habit of never rushing anything. For hours, each of us sit and answer question upon question. While everyone was asked mostly the same questions, each of us received a question that was unique to us, individually.
Did you plot to infiltrate MECA on behalf of the Goblin Kingdom? No.
While in the Goblin Kingdom did you reveal any of MECA’s training methods? Did you divulge any secrets that could harm MECA? No and no.
Did you have relations with any full-blooded Fae while in the Faerie realms? No.
The last question is a no for everyone but me. I had practiced not turning red or letting my heartbeat speed up at the question, because I knew it was coming. As far as I can tell, I was successful in fooling them with my answers.
For hours, we’ve sat here while they quibbled amongst themselves. A spell around them keeps us from hearing their words, but we can all read lips. We’re up to four long hours of sitting here after three hours of invasive and offensive questions. Amongst the elders is Head Guard Frederick, who every so often glances our way and frowns. He’s the only one of the bunch that has paid us any attention, and it has us on edge.
Ol’ Freddie hasn’t liked us much since we defied his first orders as Head Guard and brought in a goblin that he considered “not our problem”. Considering the goblin had been smashing humans near our favorite lake, we had taken offense and taken action. After that, his fight for respect amongst the other guards has been an ongoing battle. I’m sure he blames us for every snafu in history.
After another half hour of sitting in my chair with my leg bouncing up and down, I can’t take it and I stand. At my movement, most of the Elders’ attention turns my way. I bare my teeth in a less than patient smile and begin to pace.
“Ever, sit. They’re still staring at you.” Doyle hisses the request out of the side of his mouth.
I stop my pacing and whirl to face him. “Listen, I know we’re all tense, but I cannot sit for another minute. If I do I’m going to start playing target practice with my knives and that painting over there.” I point across the room to the ugliest painting I’ve ever seen in my life.
Doyle’s face twists into a look of horror and Kirin chuckles under his breath.
“Thought so.”
I continue to pace and count my steps just to waste the time. Every so often, I check on my crew and take stock of how they’re doing. Eryn is reading a book, Kirin is messing around on his phone, Axel is sharpening one of his blades, and Doyle is twiddling his thumbs while he stares off into space.
A pop sounds through the room and we all tense. I reach for my gun, ready for action, and search the room for the cause of the sound. Axel’s hand on my own over the butt of my gun pulls me back from the edge.
“Time for the decision.” He tilts his chin up at the council of Elders.
I bob my head a few times, delirious with anxiety. I rub my hands together and turn back to my crew. “Well, here goes. Let’s do it.”
We walk across the massive hall and approach the line of wooden chairs waiting for us in front of their raised platform of desks.
The Elder in the middle of their line of desks holds out his arm
once we are standing in front of the chairs. “Please sit.”
I look at each of the Elders and shake my head. “No offense intended, but I’ll remain standing.”
My sentiment is echoed amongst my crew and warmth spreads through my chest. We stand as a united front. No matter what. I square my shoulders and stand straighter. No matter the decision it’s been an honor to know and work with each of them. I’m not sure what the heck I’ll do if I lose them, but it’s been one hell of a ride.
I take stock of the Elders, my gaze ending with Head Guard Frederick. Instead of a blank face like the rest of them, a smug smile stretches across his face. My heart starts to beat faster in my chest, but I return my attention to the Elder directly in front of me when he clears his throat.
“In regards to the missions in which you preformed in the past, no further actions will be needed. Each of those are closed and sealed.”
I take a deep breath and wait for more.
“In regards to your time inside of the Goblin Kingdom, Guards, Doyle Rowhan, Eryn Elder, Kirin Taft, and Axel Cedon have been cleared of all suspicion and their suspension is lifted.”
My chest tightens and I struggle to draw in air while I wait for their decision on me. I clench my hands into fists at my sides. Anxiety flutters through me making me light headed.
“In regards to Guard, Ever McElva,” the Elder winces as he looks down at his paper. He looks left and then right before giving a faint shake of his head. “We find your actions dissatisfactory and here by formally suspend you indefinitely as a MECA Guard pending further evidence to the contrary. Until such evidence is brought forth, you are no longer allowed on the grounds of MECA and are forbidden from contact with any active MECA Guard units or other members of MECA.”
The Elder has to shout the last few words over the outraged bellows of Doyle, Kirin, and Axel. White noise rushes through my ears and their shouted words and the Elders’ responses go unheard as I stand in shock. My entire body is numb. Black spots dance in my vision and I rock back on my heels like I’ve been struck. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. I’m just numb.
Eryn, who has been beside me the entire time, reaches for one of my hands. She grips it in one of her own and I watch her through a haze while she wipes away drops of blood. I bring my other hand in front of my face and stare at it. There’s blood under my nails and I stare as the smears of red spread across my palm.
Eryn’s calm tone breaks through my haze and I turn my head slowly to look at her.
“Ever, you must respond. You have to acknowledge you understand what the Elder said.” She looks from me to the waiting faces of the Elders. Her face is pinched and her hand trembles in mine.
At her words, rage explodes through me. My blood boils and my heart beat slows to a deadly rhythm. I turn my head toward the council and wait for silence.
“This is bullshit. You can’t do this. She’s our leader. She’s done nothing wrong.” Kirin is roaring at them, his arms waving around while he talks.
Doyle is yelling at the same time, and I stop to listen to what they are saying. “This is nothing but a political ploy. You’re all puppets on strings. How is this fair? How is this just?”
None of the Elders respond to their heated accusations. I step forward to where they have both moved closer to the Elders. I lay a hand on each of their shoulders. They start and turn toward me.
“Ever, this is–” Kirin starts, but stops when I shake my head once. His face is red and his jaw is twitching.
They both fall back and stand behind me. I hear Axel and Eryn step up closer to flank me as well and I address the Elders as one.
“I’m one hundred percent positive about why I am being suspended. And I know who’s behind it. Rest assured that I will find out who else is involved. And when I bring forth the evidence to you, you will reinstate me as a full Guard of the Magical Enforcement and Containment Agency. And on that day, you’ll have lost one of the best Guards you have seen since the original few. My crew should not be punished for my supposed actions, all of which were proved wrong during your hours of questions.”
The Elder who delivered my sentence sputters and I hold up a hand.
“I am not done.” I stare him down and his face drains of all color. “MECA was built on the principle that those who were different could be accepted. On the principle that sometimes you have to break the rules for the betterment of a few. For the safety of the many. Today, you tell me that you find my actions dissatisfactory. Yesterday you shook my hand and congratulated me on my success. Maybe not tomorrow, and maybe not next week, but one day you’ll thank me for my continued belief in this Agency. The next time I walk through those doors, you’ll regret your decision, because if you took part in any of this, I’ll dispose of you without a second thought. Without regret. And I’ll be justified in doing so.”
I don’t wait for a response. Instead I turn on my heel and stride toward the door. I approach the doors and shouts float past me, ricocheting off the cavernous walls. I look back to see Kirin pointing a finger at the Elders. I turn back around and keep walking.
“Fuck this. And fuck you. If she’s suspended, consider us all suspended as well. Enjoy rampant rogues running roughshod over the city, assholes.” Kirin’s words make me smile but I don’t turn around and tell him he shouldn’t have said that. I reach my hand out for the door handle and pull it open.
“And we’re keeping the SUV too.” I hear that last remark from Kirin before the doors slam shut behind me and I’m blessed with momentary silence.
I grab my bag sitting in the small waiting room into the giant hall. I sling it across my back and I keep walking. I walk down the halls I used to run through as a child while our laughter echoed off the walls. Walking toward the exit, memories flood me and I take the time to look around. Some bad memories, but most of them good, tighten my throat while I choke back the tears threatening to spill. I blink fast so they won’t fall. I keep my head held high as I draw closer to the exit. The doors open before I can reach them and I look to my left. A guard has opened them with his abilities. Jacol, I think is his name. I nod to him, and he salutes me.
Behind me I hear the shuffles of fast approaching feet and I tense for impact. Now that I’m no longer under the protection of MECA I’m fair game.
“Ev, wait up!” Doyle shouts.
I look over my shoulder to see each of my crew standing behind me. Their bags slung over their shoulders like mine, huge grins splitting across their faces.
“You’re all idiots.” I smile back at them.
“No, they are all idiots.” Kirin hikes a thumb over his shoulder and laughs.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” I place my hands on my hips as I address them. I ignore the stares of the other units around us and keep my focus on them. “You just pissed your careers away. For nothing.”
Axel steps forward and smirks at me. “No, not nothing. That was political bullshit, nothing more. Taking this stand with you is more important than some metal in my ear.” He doesn’t shout the words, but they crackle across the courtyard like a lightning strike.
I roll my eyes at them. “Well let’s get the fuck gone then.”
Kirin rushes me and slings an arm around my shoulder while we walk down the drive. “I told them we’re keeping the SUV.” He holds out a hand and the keys jingle as they dangle from his finger.
“I heard you.” I laugh and squeeze my arm around his solid mass.
“I’ll rip out the tracking device when we get back to the house.” He gives me a squeeze before he walks a few steps ahead of us and unlocks the trunk of the rig.
We throw our bags in the back and they all pile into the SUV. I turn around one last time and look up toward the imposing structure that is MECA’s compound.
I allow myself one final glance before I climb into the SUV and don’t look back.
CHAPTER
TEN
–Queen Odaine–
I hate children. I look around the gr
oup of small mixed breed little mongrels mixed in with the pure blood goblins and I cringe. These girls should be kissing my silk covered feet for even allowing them to be in my presence let alone to help with preparations for the festival. Laughter and chaos abound and it makes me sick.
One of my maids gathers up the girls and directs traffic now that I’ve greeted them and given a little speech. My speech full of lies. I’m not happy to be spending any time with these sniveling brats. No, I have better things to do. Like ensure my sister’s place on the throne after my own rule one day. And to ensure that Teag’s children continue to stay oblivious to my plans.
I walk ahead of all of them, their chattering making my ears itch with the need to scratch them until they bleed and I can no longer hear their high pitched tones. My upper lip twitches into a sneer and I force it back into a semblance of a smile before someone notices.
“Tore, what is being done about this?”
The question isn’t shouted, in fact it’s quiet. Only something that I would pick up on with my hearing. My lineage of hobgoblins ensures that my hearing is among the best. I stop walking in the middle of the hall abruptly. One of the little maggots puts her grubby hands on the skirts of my dress and I almost screech in outrage. The child shrinks back when I turn my angry gaze upon her.
Looking over their heads, I motion a maid forward with a quick jerk of my head.
“Bring them to the solar. Do whatever needs to be done. I’ll be along shortly.”
The maid curtsies and shuffles to the front of the group of wiggling children and brings their attention to her. Once the last straggling child, the one called Arela, turns the corner after a curious glance at me, I focus back on the wall in front of me and the small crack that allows noise through.
Crown of Betrayal (Wicked Kingdoms Book 2) Page 7
