The Darkling Lord: Court of the Banished book 1 (Annwyn Series 4)

by Shona Husk

  “I can do better than that.” Henry unbuttoned his shirt. There were scars on his ribs from knives, on his stomach from a bullet that came close to killing him. He even had scratches on his hand from when he’d played with a kitten.

  The King examined the scars without disgust but with careful consideration. “You are an awkward combination of fairy and human.”

  “Yeah.” That was a good way of putting it. “I haven’t always been the best I could be, but I’m trying to make amends.”

  “And yet you ordered the death of a human for political gain.” Felan’s gaze lifted from Henry’s scars to his face.

  He’d wondered when the Mayor was going to come up. “He was trying to stop my work.” Just like you.

  “And what is your work exactly? You are gathering Greys, a small army. You have set yourself up as their leader and they obey. You want the city for yourself. You understand how it looks to me, your King. King of all fairies, banished or not.” The conversation took on an edge. The almost friendly curiosity was gone. Now they were getting to the point of Henry’s visit.

  Henry felt as if he should bow again and apologize for stepping on the King’s toes. But Darah had said be strong without being a threat and show enthusiasm for what he was doing. Now didn’t seem like a good time to be ignoring her advice. So he held the King’s gaze even though he wanted to look away. He wasn’t just defending his life, but everything he’d set up and was working toward.

  “I never gathered them to me. They came and I gave them something to do as I didn’t want them making trouble. The mortals have enough troubles as they try and piece things back together after…after your war.” He might as well say it. “Yes, I went to Detroit to invest and make money, but I found things were worse than I’d expected so first I have to help the people rebuild their lives before I can have business up and running. Didn’t you send fairies across the veil to help with the rebuilding effort? That is what I am doing. What the Greys who work with me are doing. I am following your orders.” Even though he was unaware of them when he started.

  Felan gave a grunt and nodded. “You are just as good at twisting words as any fairy.”

  That was probably a compliment but it was hard to tell. “I have given the Greys something to do, a home and a place to belong. What they want is a chance for a reprieve. They want parole and a chance to go home. They want hope.”

  “They are criminals and banished with good reason.”

  “So they don’t deserve a second chance? Ever?” Henry suspected that his words were missing their mark as Felan remained silent. “You might have banished them from Annwyn, but without a goal you know the trouble they can cause. They have no reason to behave.”

  “And you give them a reason?”

  Henry saw the trap before it could snap closed and shook his head. “No, I’ve made no deals with them. I simply re-direct their efforts.”

  “To suit your purpose.”

  “It is mutually beneficial.” And didn’t break any rules. There were no actual rules about large gatherings of Greys even if Felan didn’t like it.

  Felan glanced past Henry and into the cell. “Did you enjoy our food?”

  “I had no choice.” It had been eat or starve.

  “I suppose not. You may enjoy Annwyn until I make a decision. Darah has expressed her trust in you. Don’t do anything that would make me doubt her word.”

  And there was the catch that Darah had warned him about. Relationships and words could be used against you. If he messed up, it would look bad for her, and Felan had somehow managed to work out that he liked Darah.

  Felan unlocked the cell. “People are arriving back at Court to celebrate the return of summer. I’d advise against gambling as you have a soul.”

  The silver web swung open. Henry didn’t move. He was up here alone with the King, as far as he could tell, wasn’t that a bit of a security risk? Although only the King could let him leave Annwyn. If anything happened to Felan there would be another battle for the throne and who knew when he’d get back home.

  Felan had waited until he’d eaten. Tricky bastard.

  The King smiled as if he knew exactly what Henry was thinking. “You are of course invited to the celebration of my daughters’ birth as I’d like you to see how the Court operates.”

  “Thank you.” That time he did bow as he was very aware he’d just been handed something very rare indeed.

  Darah was sure that even the Greys sensed the change in season in Annwyn. It was nothing definite, just the feeling that the wait was over and a newfound energy. Despite the progress they were making on the second community garden and with the Deputy Mayor she knew she had to get home. There would be a celebration and more importantly she had almost a week’s worth of news for Henry. Hopefully he’d had a chance to talk to Felan.

  And hopefully Felan had listened.

  When she crossed the veil, the change was obvious. This was the Annwyn she remembered. The field between the doorway and the castle was lush and green with no traces of the mud, the snow or the battle that had taken place. More importantly there were fairies everywhere. People were returning home.

  She smiled, even though she knew she should be schooling her expression. As she crossed the grass she nodded to those she knew. It felt like forever since she’d seen so many of them. Longer since they’d seen her. She’d effectively vanished from their lives when she’d become a shadow.

  Despite all the changes her gaze was drawn upwards to the highest branches where Henry was imprisoned.

  She moved through the castle knowing that her first stop should be to see Felan and congratulate him and his wife. From the talk around her she knew it was twin girls, Loryn and Elicia. In her bag she had gifts from the mortal world, something the Queen would appreciate.

  With Felan in the Hall of Judgment were several other fairies and a man who while handsome, wasn’t pretty enough to be fairy. A changeling? Here?

  She walked over, her curiosity spiked. Then she realized that there was a second changeling. That was even odder.

  “Darah merch Hathor, the newest member of my Council.” Felan smiled. “There are a few you may not have met. Isaac ap Robin Greenfellow and Bramwel ap Joria.” Both men nodded and both assessed her the way she was assessing them.

  Bramwel was fairy through and through and from the way he glanced at the Hunter there was something going on there. Isaac was a changeling, but without a soul, and who obviously had no idea who his fairy parent was as Robin Greenfellow was a false name frequently used by fairy men.

  “And this is my son Caspian, who is simply visiting and meeting his sisters.” Felan indicated a man who bore a resemblance to the King, yet looked older. They didn’t look like father and son, more like brothers.

  “I am pleased to meet you.” Darah inclined her head. This was feeling very informal. She hadn’t even realized that Felan had a changeling son—his birth on the wrong side of the veil discounted him from succession. Plus it was the birth of the heir that returned summer after winter. Or heirs in this case. “How is the Queen?”

  “Well, but resting. She will attend the celebration tonight.” Felan took her by the arm and led her away from the others. “You have news for me?”

  “Not a lot. Henry’s Greys continue to work in his name, but I fear without him things will fall apart.”

  “And that would be bad?”

  “It would mean the Greys who were under his control would be free agents.” And they would go back to doing what they pleased which generally meant making trouble.

  Felan nodded. “I like the idea of them being more strictly controlled across the veil.”

  Her heart gave an extra beat but she refused to let hope gain a toehold.

  “How do you find the mortal world?” He searched her face, wanting the whole truth. That was when she realized that the people in this chamber hadn’t been masking their expressions.

  “It is interesting enough.” But she didn’t want to spe
nd her whole life there. Annwyn was home, and yet it had been Henry she’d really wanted to see, not Felan even though that was her duty. She glanced at the King and knew immediately that wasn’t the answer he was looking for.

  “Let me rephrase. If I were to release Henry, would you be willing to serve as both parole officer and messenger between both worlds?”

  Was he taking away her place on the Council already? What kind of place would she have if she was always flitting between both worlds?

  How would Henry feel if she were to continue spying on him? She didn’t want that blade always between them. Could she put that into words?

  “I don’t know that I would be the best person for that job.” She hated saying that. She was barely on the Council and she was turning down a job. Maybe she shouldn’t be on the Council. If she wasn’t, she’d be free to do what she wanted. She could be with Henry.

  “And why is that?” Felan raised one dark eyebrow.

  “Spying on my lover feels wrong.” Was Henry even her lover anymore? She hadn’t been able to sleep with him at the end because of what she was doing. She wanted him back, or at least a chance to see what would happen without the fairy games and politics.

  Felan looked at her and for a moment and she thought she’d said the wrong thing and she should’ve just shut up and taken the job. But she didn’t want Henry to be part of a job. She didn’t want Court ruling her life anymore. The dream she’d been chasing for so many years was empty.

  She swallowed as the words formed on her tongue. Then she looked her King in the eye and gave him the truth he most certainly didn’t want to hear. “I’m not sure I should be on the Council.”

  For a moment she expected all conversation around them to stop, but life continued. She took a breath and realized that she was free. Really free as she was no longer beholden to the Court, assuming Felan let her go. Surely he wouldn’t force her sit on the Council?

  “Enjoy the party, Darah. We’ll talk later.” He smiled and walked away to talk to another group of fairies.

  That was a dismissal, not an acceptance of her resignation. She sighed. For the moment all she could do was wait. She was tired of waiting and living her life in limbo. She may not be a shadow servant anymore but in some ways not much had changed. She still had to obey and she still wasn’t free.

  She made her way through the castle. Preparations were being made in the Hall of Flowers, it was a large chamber that was always used for celebrations and could be viewed from above as a staircase spiraled up and around the outside. Many of the guest chambers upstairs would already be in use.

  Again her gaze was drawn up even though now she couldn’t see anything through the thick layer of leaves. Every so often a new flower would bloom. Summer had arrived in a burst but the after effects were still trickling through.

  As she walked past the other great chamber, the Hall of Mirrors, she paused. She didn’t want to gamble and she wasn’t really in the mood to socialize, but plenty of others were. Several tables were busy as fairies played with either dice or cards. At first glance it was almost as if winter had never happened. Looking closer she could see a few people risking a real smile. The tension that had filled the old Court was dissipating.

  She should at least walk through and greet those that she knew. However she wouldn’t stop or get drawn into any games—once that was what she’d lived for. She’d have made deals and played games to gain advantage, not for enjoyment. Now it seemed like a waste of time when all she wanted to do go up to the cells to see Henry.

  The mirrors spun and sparkled, offering a glimpse across the veil if the viewer chose to hold one and focus. But they also reflected what was going on around the room. An image in one caught her eye as the palm sized piece of mirror twisted on a breeze she didn’t feel.

  Darah turned her head. Henry stood by a gaming table.

  Her heart missed a beat as she watched him. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his shirt was untucked, but he didn’t look out of place or even too scruffy as dress standards were changing and mortal fashions and clothes were becoming more common instead of being sneered at.

  He was intent on watching the card game, his gaze never leaving the table as the other fairies dealt. She could imagine him wanting to play, but knowing he couldn’t. It was never wise to play cards or dice with a fairy if you had a soul. And while the Court might be changing some things didn’t. Fairies loved tricking mortals out of their souls.

  And Henry was a rare thing.

  He was also free. Felan hadn’t told her that, nor had he claimed to still have Henry locked up. She took a step toward him and he glanced up. His lips curved in a smile. While he might be almost as pretty as any fairy, he didn’t belong here.

  Henry left the game he’d been watching and walked toward her. She met him halfway. People noticed. A slight turn of their head even as they pretended not to watch. She didn’t care. If Felan was letting Henry walk around the castle, things weren’t as dire as they could be. If people were willing to risk a smile…

  She touched his hand, not sure how things stood between him. He’d all but admitted he was falling for her and she hadn’t been able to say the same, even if it was true.

  Henry looked at her for a moment, long enough that she began to doubt if there was anything still there. Then he took her hand. His fingers cool against her skin. She let herself be drawn into his embrace.

  His arms were strong around her. Instead of resisting she relaxed and leaned into him. As she did the tension eased from him. He’d been expecting her to pull away but had tried any way. He had no fear of losing. What had he called it, living?

  There would be talk, gossip would race around the Court as before, but she didn’t intend on living here for it to matter. The old jostling for power was over and who she loved couldn’t be used against her, because she no longer cared about rising to power.

  The feeling of liberation returned, setting her heart free.

  Darah tilted her head and kissed him. His lips brushed against hers for a moment. Then they walked out of the Hall of Flowers hand in hand.

  She was itching to know what Felan had said to Henry. There might be a clue how things would play out given his offer to her, but she waited until they were in her room away from the ever open ears and eyes of Court. She didn’t want everyone to know their business. Most wouldn’t know why Henry was here, only that there was a darkling at Court—which had no doubt raised plenty of questions and rattled a few cages.

  Right now plenty of people were probably assuming that he was here because of her, which was partially correct. “How did it go?”

  He shrugged. “I’m enjoying Annwyn.”

  “Are you?” She rummaged through her bag. Inside along with the gifts was a dress for her to wear to the celebration. She knew that none of her old clothes were suitable. Wearing the clothes of the old Court to celebrate the birth of the new wasn’t right. She’d also brought a change of clothes for Henry.

  “I wasn’t. But I was hoping you’d be back for the party.” He kissed her again with more hunger this time. “How did you live here?”

  “I didn’t know any different. The Court was different under the old King and Queen.” And not different better, but she didn’t want to go into that or her role as one of Eyra’s ladies. Looking back she hardly recognized who she was. “Would it be terrible if he made you live here?”

  The look on Henry’s face was all the answer she needed. “I don’t want to live here. My life is across the veil.” He pulled away. “I want to go home. This isn’t real.”

  “It is real.” Annwyn was no less real than the mortal world. “It’s just different.”

  He shook his head. “I can see that you belong here. You got your place on the Council and I’m happy for you. But I’m not fairy. We both knew that from the start and you knew that I was being investigated. I’m a criminal in the eyes of Annwyn.”

  She felt sick. Like she’d been hit in the stomach. She’d
risked everything thinking that she’d fallen in love with him and he her. Not that she’d ever been in love before, but being with Henry felt different. Her heart gave a patter of excitement when she saw him. She’d been worried about him. And when he touched her she craved more.

  “And your talk of gambling with your heart?” Had that all been pretty lies to get her to keep an eye on his business in Detroit?

  “I meant every word. But sometimes you have to be prepared to lose. I’m glad I played regardless of the outcome.” He reached out to touch her cheek, but she turned away. When he smiled this time he still looked sad. “Can we enjoy the party and what is left before I learn my fate and we part ways?”

  She nodded unable to speak. He didn’t really want her. Like any fairy he was just playing the hand he’d been dealt and she’d been his ace. She wished she could take back her conversation with Felan. At least being on the Council she’d have something. Now she’d have nothing.

  Chapter 20

  Fairies knew how to party. Henry drank the wine, and didn’t get the slightest bit tipsy and he ate the food. If he was stuck here, he might as well enjoy it. And while Darah had danced with him there was a distance that hadn’t been there before, or ever. Even at first she’d faked more affection than she was currently displaying.

  He knew he’d wounded her. That she’d wanted more from him, but he couldn’t give her that. Once again he found he had nothing to give anyone. He wasn’t even sure how long his life would be after this party, and if he did get to live what kind of life that would be?

  Darah’s idea of living here permanently chilled him. While it was interesting, it was also quite alien. The fairies watched him with curiosity and contempt. Something that neither changeling was afforded. They were both treated with respect—although the dark haired one was the King’s son, so people were hardly going to be rude to him.

  The other man had surrendered his soul to live here. Isaac must be all kinds of crazy to do that, and yet in conversation he seemed quite sane and quite happy.