“Was, or are? Why did you stop?”
Why did I stop? I search my memories and come up blank.
“I need you to bring them back, Karis. Only you can bring them back.”
“I’m trying!” I whine.
“Stop trying. Start doing.” She turns back to the mirror and picks up her hairbrush, methodically pulling the bristles through her hair until it shines, forgetting me altogether.
My knees are shredded when I land in front of the mirror, pounding on the glass hard enough to get his attention, but not break it. Where is he?
“Karis?” his voice comes from far away, but I still only see my reflection. He might not get to me in time.
Then suddenly he is there. His clothes aren’t dirty or torn like mine. He’s clean, from head to toe, and has grown both broader and taller. He isn’t as small as he was last week.
I wish I could grow stronger. My skin is shrinking against my bones more each day.
“Where have you been?” he asks hurriedly.
“She locked me away! There are no mirrors in my room. She wouldn’t even give me water,” I cry. His palm reaches up for mine and I match his print. “She must know about you.” I am scared for him.
“You have to come with me.”
I shake my head, sniffling. “She’ll know. She’ll hurt you.”
“She won’t. I promise, Karis. Your father will protect us. We can try to reach him. Let me take you some place safe.”
Footsteps come from behind me. My lips tremble as I whisper, “There is no such place.”
He pounds on the mirror, but I wave a hand, erasing him from the reflection. In case she doesn’t know. In case I’m wrong. I pray I’m wrong.
Bryony entered the room, announcing that we were having an early dinner, and that she had to hurry and get me ready. She combed my stringy hair until it shone and braided pieces from the sides, pinning them to the back of my head. I could feel the irritation rolling off her.
“Are you okay?”
She startled. “I’m fine.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Things in the lair are a little tense right now. Nothing’s right, even when it is.”
“Can’t imagine that has anything to do with me,” I teased. “Sorry if I’ve caused trouble for you.”
“It’s not you. It’s… I forget myself. I need to mind my tongue. Pardon me, Lady Karis.”
“Does Loftin have his own room?”
Her red eyes met mine in the mirror and my skin began to crawl. I hadn’t thought about it before, but wondered if Finean could be watching us right now?
“He’s right next door dressing as well.”
“Good.”
She bit her bottom lip, her long fang poking into the plumped flesh.
“I know you don’t like him, but how can everyone hold him responsible for the actions of his father?”
“Because he stood beside him, Lady.”
“Bryony, if Alistair gave you an order, would you follow it?” I asked quietly, watching her reaction.
She blinked rapidly and then whispered back, “I would.”
“What if you knew he was doing the wrong thing? Would you still obey him?”
She swallowed and inclined her head. “I would have to.”
Point made.
“Do you feel the same way about me? If you blame him for his father’s actions, then you must hate me for what my mother has done.”
Her mouth gaped open. “No, my Lady. I don’t think it’s the same situation at all.”
I tried to smile. “It’s exactly the same. Look, it’s natural to want to blame someone, but infinitely harder to put the blame where it belongs.”
She stared at me through the looking glass, like she was trying to see if I was real and whether I had a weakness. Bryony may be loyal, but she wasn’t stupid. She could feel the power thrumming beneath my skin, roiling like the smoke that was my breath.
Dropping the conversation, Bryony offered, “Finean has provided a gown.”
Why did we have to dress up to eat? It was ridiculous, not to mention wasteful and frivolous. “Where are the clothes I took off earlier?” I swept my eyes toward the fireplace, finding it cold and empty. Nothing lay in front of it. “And where are my boots?”
The torch on the wall flared in relation to my rising irritation. Bryony backed away from me. “They were soaked and dirty,” she stammered. “I took them to be cleaned. I’ll bring them back as soon as they’re ready.”
“I’d like them now, please.” I sure as hell wasn’t wearing his gown, but the perfectly fitted tunic, pants, and boots were nice. I’d keep those.
She swallowed and nodded. “Of course.”
Bryony was scared. She took another step back as I stood. “Why are you afraid of me?” I asked.
She shook her head quickly.
“They told you, didn’t they? About the ash.”
“They told us not to anger you, just in case…”
“In case I lose control,” I finished for her.
Part of me felt like pouncing on her and dragging claws across her face. Another part wanted to cry. I was a mess. Bryony scurried away to retrieve my clothes.
A few moments later, two soft knocks came at the door. I wrenched it open to see Loftin standing in the doorway, his eyes raking quickly over me and the soft dressing robe I still wore. He tugged at his collar, looking away.
I pulled him into the room. “Bryony’s getting my clothes,” I said in a rush. “I want to leave as soon as possible. Did Finean tell you what new power we uncovered?”
“No, what’s that?” he asked.
Loftin didn’t know I could bring things back. Things, being the operative word; not necessarily fae or humans, but the possibility was there.
“What happened?” Loftin straightened, his orange eyes seeming to glow in the torchlight.
Of course Finean wouldn’t tell him. He wouldn’t want him to know sooner than necessary that there was a possibility of bringing back his father. Cold, cruel bastard.
“Where does Finean’s court fit in with the Seasonal Courts?” I asked.
“Finean didn’t establish his court until after Nemain’s wrath fell upon all four Seasonal Courts. It literally rose from the ashes,” he added with a grin.
I hit his shoulder. “That’s the worst joke ever.”
His grin faded away. “I can’t imagine the Queen and Kings would be happy about sharing the power of the Seasonal Courts, or the fae who have been under their control, with him. However, if you succeed in defeating Nemain and he stands by your side after your victory, he could claim the full power of another court for himself. Force their hands.” And use me to do it, was his unspoken warning.
Bryony entered the room with the folded clothes; still filthy, but I needed something I could move in. Not ball gowns. They reminded me of her. Loftin grabbed my arm. With a look, I promised to tell him everything soon.
She stared between us, mouth agape as if she wasn’t sure if she should speak or what to say. “Thank you, Bryony.”
“They’re waiting for you,” she informed me.
“I just need a sec to change.”
NEMAIN
The boy scuttled away from me, backing further into his cage.
“What is your name?” I demanded.
He pinched his lips together defiantly.
“I would hate to start our friendship off on the wrong foot. So in the spirit of being completely open and honest with you, I will warn you that I’ll break every bone in your left leg if you do not answer my questions.”
“Iric,” he begrudgingly barked.
I smiled. “How do you know Karis?”
“How do you know Karis?” he countered.
I fought the urge to follow through on my promise to him. “I am her mother.”
His mouth gaped open. “You’re her mother? You’re the one who abandoned her?”
“Not at all,” I argued. “She was taken away. I’ve been searching for h
er for ten long years. So, I’ll ask you again…how do you know Karis?”
“She’s like a sister to me,” he conceded, his eyes fastening on the pointed tips of my ears. By the bewilderment in his expression, whomever hid her away must have glamoured her appearance.
“Did you think she was human?”
“Yes,” he said, swallowing.
“You thought wrong, but thank you for keeping her safe for me all this time. She’ll come for you soon.”
“She won’t leave Ironton,” he cautioned sternly.
I smiled. “She already has.”
He was filthy and covered in his own blood where the Wirry had made tiny cuts all over his skin to bleed him and tenderize his meat. “What are you going to do to me?” he asked.
“I’m going to use you as bait,” I answered simply. “I’ll let Karis know where you are, and when she comes for you, I’m going to tear out her heart and eat it.”
Calling for a Banshee, I nodded at the boy. “Send a piece of him to Karis.”
I walked away as he fought against the ghoul in vain, his screams filling the castle and echoing over the arched ceilings. I wondered what piece she chose…
KARIS
Dinner was strange. This time, our meal didn’t include a room full of Leancan. There was only Alistair, Finean, Loftin, and me. Alistair drank his dinner, Leancan servants making sure his cup never emptied. Finean, Loftin, and I were served breasts of perfectly cooked pheasant and several root vegetables, and sipped from goblets of wine and water. For the better part of the meal, no one uttered a single word. The only sounds were sips, chewing, utensils on ceramic plates, and the bottoms of the glasses occasionally hitting the mahogany table. We would already be gone if it wasn’t for the fact we were both starving. Loftin and I needed to fuel up if we planned to run north.
“Can I restore the fae that Nemain ruined?” I finally blurted.
Loftin’s chewing slowed as he glared from me to Finean, as if asking what the hell I was talking about.
“I believe so. That’s actually what I wanted to speak with you about over dinner,” Finean replied. He didn’t even bother to glance in Loftin’s direction, but kept his chin tipped up haughtily.
“Well, we’ve been having such an intense conversation, I can see how you haven’t had time to bring it up,” I said hotly. “Just like you haven’t brought up the fact that Iric has likely been captured by Nemain, and you’ve given up on searching for him.”
Loftin sat up straight and wiped his mouth on a napkin. He brushed his dark hair behind his ear.
Shifting to him, I tried to explain. “I brought a leaf back to life. At first I didn’t know what it meant, but then I wondered if I could heal other things. Like people who are in stasis, or like the Banshee… Oh, and they found Iric’s shredded shirt in a Wirry camp. All the Wirry had been killed by the Banshees, but Iric’s body wasn’t found. My mother seems to have found my weakness and plans to exploit it. It’s just been an all-around terrible few days,” I reported conversationally.
Loftin gaped at the news, turning furious eyes to Finean.
“Banshee?” Alistair asked curiously. “How can one heal a Banshee? She just is.”
I glanced at Finean. “One attacked us earlier. I used the Asper against her, but before she died, I touched her. When I did, she transformed into her original body.”
Loftin explained, “We think Nemain transformed the Seelie fae caught during her attack of the Autumn Court into Banshees, who are bound to do her bidding.”
Alistair was shocked, his lips parting in surprise, but Finean didn’t even blink. “You knew?” I asked him pointedly.
“I suspected it. I knew she’d done something with the captives she took, but had no proof until now.”
“What about everything else?” Loftin asked. “Are all the beasts we think are Unseelie, actually former members of my court?”
Finean shrugged, lifting his chin. “That remains to be seen. Karis would have to touch them.”
“The Puca are real,” Loftin muttered.
I shook my head. “It didn’t touch me. It grabbed me by my boot and clothing, but not by my skin. But the Brownies are real. They ate some of me and didn’t change.” Alistair’s eyes flicked to my throat. Damn vampire. He wanted a bite, too.
Finean’s eyes shifted between me and Loftin. “I have a proposal,” he finally declared, interrupting our staring contest. Loftin was reeling, thinking of the possibilities and whether I could actually do what my mother had promised to if he gave her to me.
“What’s that?” Loftin asked Finean, a sharp edge to his voice.
Finean raised one brow and tilted his head at the Prince of Autumn, his words full of scorn and dismissal. “My proposal is for Karis.”
Under the table, I squeezed Loftin’s thigh. He gritted his teeth, but kept them together as I looked at Finean. “What’s your proposal?”
“Try to revive the Queen of Spring. If that works, we will quickly bring back the other Kings and anyone else you fear might truly be Seelie. We’ll need their power to fight Nemain, and an army to battle the beasts she will unleash when she finds out what you’ve done.”
“And if she fails? If she can heal a leaf but not restore their life forces, what then?” Loftin growled.
“If she fails, nothing is lost. It can’t hurt to try. And if you succeed,” he murmured to me, “we have everything to gain. The three of us can train you as we cross Faery and raise your army. If we move fast and spirit away the fae Kings and Queen you restore into the Court of Reflections, Nemain won’t be the wiser. She’ll never see you, or your army, coming. It’s the only advantage you might have over her. We don’t know what she controls, what beasts are actually our brothers and sisters. And we won’t have another chance at the element of surprise.”
He had a point, but was he pushing me toward his own ambitions? I needed the council of someone who knew this world better than I did. Not only the terrain, but the politics of the old court system.
“I need a moment, please,” I pleaded, wiping my mouth. I stood, scooting my chair back. “Loftin, could I talk with you in private?”
Surprise flickered over his face, but he quickly schooled his features. “Of course.”
He followed me out of the dining room and we retraced our steps through the bones to the lower levels of hewn rock, where our chambers were located; past the flickering torches and the Leancans who weren’t invited to dine with us, whose red eyes glowed menacingly. Male and female. It didn’t matter, they were all hungry and we had something they wanted.
I’d never been happier to lock my door in my life. Taking a blanket from the bed, I covered the mirror on the small vanity. Just in case.
“I know you want me to bring your father’s life force back, and I promise I will if I can, but that aside, Loftin… is Finean right? Do I need them to fight her? Do I need an army?”
“No, you don’t. She could easily wipe them out like she did before. She could turn an entire army to ash. Nothing can stand against her but you. He’s stalling.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure,” he replied, rubbing his hand over the scruff on his jaw.
“When you found me, you were scared of me, weren’t you?”
I understood why he would be afraid. I was the daughter of the woman who did horrible things to his kind, to his family and his court. My mother ruined everything he’d ever loved. Why would he assume I would be different?
“I was, but I was also grateful. I had no idea how I’d get into the human city or get you out of it, and then there you were. Although, I’ll admit I had some help. I met a girl named Trava.”
“Did you hurt her?” I asked, eyes wide, remembering the Sloper.
He looked hurt. “Of course not, but she’d already been attacked when I saw her.”
“You didn’t save her,” I stated.
“She didn’t want to be saved. She told me she couldn’t go back without the smoke, because that
would disgrace her family.”
“You should have glamoured her or something. Made her return.”
“Would her family have accepted her, or would they have shunned her? Sometimes there are worse things than death.”
“Is she dead?”
“Most likely. She was wounded and bleeding.”
I bit my lip until I tasted copper.
He raked his hands through his hair. “Scorch me,” he cursed. “I’m a real bastard. I know that, and I’m sorry. Humans have always hated the fae, yet they sent their own into our world, knowing they would probably be slaughtered. Until I met you and got to know you, I didn’t know they could be good. Just hearing you talk about Iric, I can understand why you’d risk your life to save him. He was good to you.”
“He loves me, Loftin.” I watched him swallow. “And it’s not about being good or bad; it’s about loving someone and being willing to do anything to keep them safe. When you love someone, even if it’s not the romantic kind of love, you protect the person you love no matter what it costs you. Iric did that for me for ten long years, and I’m going to make sure he gets out of this mess unscathed if it’s the last thing I do, because I love him. He’s family.”
“If you’ll allow it,” he rasped, stopping to clear his throat, “I’d be honored to go with you on this journey. If Nemain has him, his time is limited, but I’ll fight with you to the death, Karis. I owe you that and much more.”
His face was solemn and strong, like he’d already mentally begun to prepare for the battle against my mother. He meant every word of the vow. “I appreciate that more than you know, but you better be careful. Standing next to your father got you in trouble once. I can’t imagine standing next to me will be any better. It might even be worse.”
“I don’t care,” he breathed. He reached out and then let his hand drop back to his side.
“Watch out, Loftin. If you’re not careful, people might start to think you care for me,” I joked, grabbing his hand and holding it in mine.
“What?” his eyes widened.
“I mean, if you plan to protect me to the death, it sounds just like what Iric’s doing, and what I’m trying to do for him and all the humans. It’s bigger than just the two of us now. This fight is for everyone.”
Glamour of Midnight Page 20
