by Amy Sumida
“How did she explain her hair getting to Torr-Chathair?” I asked.
“She couldn't,” he admitted. “But she is not the only woman in the whole of the realms with orange hair.”
“She is the only one with hair like that who hates me, and the griffins have determined the hair to be from a shining one.”
“That is damning.” Declan sighed. “I will take you to her, and you can judge for yourself.”
“All right.”
We went back into the hallway and through several corridors before our path started angling downward, into the foundation of the castle. After several flights of stairs, and past two more subterranean levels, we finally came to the Alexandrite Castle's dungeons. They were clean, both in appearance and odor, and not a single iron bar was in sight. I was utterly disappointed.
The cells were made of stone—jewel-free stone—and the doors were secured with onyx medallions. I knew from personal experience that onyx could ground magic. Hell, Ava knew it too; Torin's onyx magic was integral to the process of draining most of hers.
Declan nodded to a guard who was seated at a simple wooden table with a book in his hands. The guard stood up, bowed to his king, handed Declan a key ring, and then went back to reading. Okay then; I guess there wasn't a lot of concern over the prisoner escaping. Declan took us to the first door and unlocked it before ushering us inside.
Ava was seated on a slim bed, her hands demurely folded in her lap. Her hair looked as if it had been in an elaborate configuration at one point, but it had fallen loose and gotten a bit tangled. Her caramel complexion was much paler than usual and her chartreuse eyes were dulled to foggy jade. She lifted that misty stare to me, and it widened in terror.
“Hello, Ava,” I said calmly.
“Elaria,” she nervously said back.
“It's Queen Elaria,” Declan said casually. “Remember when I told you that she claimed Kyanite?”
“Yes, of course,” Ava muttered and looked away.
I gave Declan an I-told-you-so grimace.
“She's here to determine your innocence or guilt,” Declan said to Ava. “You might fare better with a little more respect.”
“And then she would think that it was a ploy,” Ava pointed out.
“Fair enough.” I agreed. Then I went to stand before her. “Did you orchestrate these monster abductions? Or did you plot with someone to do so?”
“I had no knowledge of any monsters escaping Torr-Chathair until King Declan told me of them,” Ava said. She met my stare unflinchingly. “Frankly, I don't care enough about you to go through such trouble to torment you, even if I had the magic to do so.”
I kept staring at her, but before I could say anything more, I was interrupted.
“The hair was definitely hers,” Gage announced.
We all turned to him in surprise, even Ava.
“How do you know?” Declan asked.
“Her scent,” I answered for Gage.
“The scent is unmistakable,” Gage confirmed. “She was on Torr-Chathair.”
“You have some of my hair,” Ava huffed. “How does that make me guilty? I've never been to Torr-Chathair—never. I wasn't a part of its discovery or the transporting of the monsters, and I have never felt the urge to visit the place. It sounds horrendous.”
“Then explain how your hair was found there,” Gage demanded.
“And Torr-Chathair is a fucking paradise,” I snapped. “Far more beautiful than Sapphire ever was; even before the war.”
Gage sent me a sideways smile.
“Obviously, someone put it there, but it wasn't me.” Ava rolled her eyes, but I caught a glimmer of fear in them.
“Someone is framing you?” I asked her. “That's your defense?”
“I don't know what that means precisely, but yes, I think it's what I'm saying.” Ava scowled. “Someone is trying to draw attention away from themselves and lay blame on me.”
“Who?” I asked her. “Who would have access to your hair?”
“Anyone.” She shrugged. “I don't... know...” Her eyes widened, and her stare wandered.
“Who?” I snarled. “You just thought of someone; who was it?”
“I went to see Galen last month,” she whispered. “He kept calling my charm, and I did miss him. So, I visited him in the Human Realm.”
“Galen,” I growled.
“Someone would have to be helping him,” Declan mused. “We're right back to another suspect without the means to pull this off.”
“No.” Ava shook her head. “Galen would never do that to me. He loves me.”
“Even after you refused to go with him into the Human Realm?” I asked her.
She started to look unsure.
“You can prove your innocence and get revenge on Galen.” Declan narrowed his eyes at Ava.
“I won't betray him,” she vowed.
“It sounds as if he's already betrayed you,” I pointed out viciously.
“Possibly.” She squished up her lips as if she refused to say anymore.
“You can stay here, in this cell, until your innocence is proven,” Declan noted. “Or you can take control of your future and help us discover who Galen is working with.”
Ava remained silent.
“Admirable.” Declan nodded. “But I'm warning you; I may forget that you're even down here, depending on how long it takes to prove that you're being framed.”
“This person will undoubtedly strike again,” Ava finally spoke. “When they do, I will be here, and that will prove my innocence.”
“Hardly,” I scoffed. “We already assumed that you had an accomplice who was stronger than you. They could keep this going without your help.”
Ava swallowed visibly, and then sighed. “What do you want me to do?”
“Nothing too nefarious,” Declan promised gleefully. “In fact, if Galen is innocent, you'll do nothing at all; just spend a few days with him.”
“And if he isn't?” She asked.
“While you're there, you will search his environment,” Declan ordered. “We will be conducting our own investigation and surveillance. If any of us uncover proof of Galen's involvement, or if his cohorts show up, we will apprehend him and anyone involved.”
“Apprehend?” She asked hopefully.
“And imprison them until we're sure they are guilty,” Declan left the fatal implication hanging unsaid.
“Okay,” Ava whispered. “I'll do it.”
“I'll make the preparations.” Declan ushered Gage and me out the door, not giving Ava the chance to change her mind.
Declan locked the cell with an ominous click, passed the key ring back to the guard, and then herded us upstairs. Once Declan has a direction plotted, he likes to get moving right away.
“We're going to kill them, right?” Gage asked Declan. “We're not just going to lock them in one of your pretty prisons?”
“If Galen and his possible ally are guilty, then yes”—Declan shot Gage a ferocious look—“we're going to kill them.”
“That's all I needed to hear,” Gage declared with just as much ferocity.
Chapter Forty-One
As smarmy as he was, Duke Kieran was also competent, so I had left him in charge of Kyanite in my absence. He'd been handling things before I took control, so I figured he was the best choice for the job. I couldn't fault the guy for hitting on me in the hopes of keeping his position. He was a fairy, after all; he probably thought the sex would be a bonus. I'd let Kieran continue as he was for now, but if he messed with me, things would go badly for him.
I should have gone to check on Kieran in person, but I ended up being strapped for time. So, I contacted him via charm and got a report on how things were going. He sounded pleased as punch and sweetly informed me that Kyanite was running smoothly and he intended to keep it that way. I knew he was trying to become my right-hand man since he'd struck out at becoming my third lover, but again, I couldn't fault him for it. No one wanted to give up a high positio
n. So, I praised Kieran for a job well done and asked him to keep up the good work. He verbally preened.
I sighed as I let the contact charm slip back down on its chain.
“You sounded like a general manager in a department store,” Banning observed.
We were in Lawrence again. When Cerberus had first sent me to Kansas, I'd been reluctant to go. Now, I looked forward to it. Oh, the irony. The purpose of this trip was for me to check in with Banning and spend some time with Gage and him together. Banning and Declan thought it might help Gage if he got to know them individually with me as a buffer. So, Declan had stayed in Alexandrite to monitor Ava's mission while I headed over to the Crouching Lion with Gage.
“That was Kieran, the guy I left in charge of Kyanite,” I explained.
“That pretty boy who wants to get into your panties?” Banning teased as he handed Gage a beer.
“There's a pretty boy who wants to have sex with you?” Gage growled with narrowed eyes.
We were sitting on Banning's private balcony, on the third floor of the country club; the third floor above ground, that is. Not only did Banning have a suite to himself below ground, but he also had the top floor of the building for his personal use. He had a great view of the golf course, the surrounding woods, and the city in the distance.
“I think he's more concerned with getting on my throne than in my underwear,” I corrected Banning as I waved down Gage. “Or the king's throne, at least.”
“Politics,” Gage muttered, then took a sip of his beer. “This is good,” he said in surprise and then read the bottle's label. “Ale?”
“That's right.” Banning chuckled and took the seat beside Gage instead of the one next to me.
I lifted a brow at Banning.
“I already know you, Ellie,” Banning said. “You're both here so I can get to know Gage better. Besides, your throat is looking too tempting at the moment.”
“Should I not have let you drink from me?” I asked with concern.
“I can control myself,” Banning said gently. “I'm not newly blooded.”
“You drank from her?” Gage asked casually.
“Once,” Banning said, “and it was the most decadent blood I've ever tasted.”
“Aw, thanks, sweetie.” I smiled.
“But now you crave it?” Gage lifted a thick brow at Banning.
“I crave blood anyway.” Banning shrugged. “I'm a blooder; that's our thing. But yes; Elaria's blood was... intoxicating. I think it may have made me stronger.”
“Well, she is a powerful beneather,” Gage offered. “Have you drunk from a supernatural before?”
“Just my blood-sire,” Banning said thoughtfully.
“Will my blood change you?” I asked in shock. “We never considered that possibility.”
“Of course it will change him,” Gage huffed. “Blood is life and magic. You essentially gave Banning an injection of immortality and power.”
“A magical transfusion,” I murmured as I stared at Banning pensively.
“Whatever will be, will be,” Banning said suddenly, with more gaiety than was warranted.
Banning was shaken, but he didn't want to show it in front of Gage, so I let it go.
“We're here for me to get to know you, not discuss a possible change in my life,” Banning said to Gage.
Gage's eyes widened as he warily asked, “You really want to get to know me?”
“This relationship we have with Elaria is unusual,” Banning said. “But as soon as Declan and I decided that Elaria was more important to us than our pride, then the spell united us. Declan and I are good now; we have a bond through Elaria. He's become a brother to me, perhaps more than that even; we are kindred spirits with the same purpose driving us. But you are different, Gage; you don't love Elaria yet, so your acceptance of this didn't bring you into the fold, as it were.”
“Her and I need to love each other to save her.” Gage nodded. “I know this already.”
“That's not my point,” Banning protested. “What I'm trying to say is that Declan and I were at odds with each other before the spell, but we both loved Elaria. The spell is what got us over our differences. You, on the other hand, are in the middle of your romance, and so we have an opportunity to become closer than even Declan and I. We can become friends before the spell bonds us.”
Gage started to smile and then lifted his bottle to Banning. “Here's to new friendships.”
“New friendships.” Banning clicked Gage's bottle and then winked at me. “You and Kyanite aren't going to be the only legendary team.”
“Legendary,” Gage whispered and then angled a look my way. “The more time I spend with you, Ela, the more I like how our future looks.”
“Ela?” I asked.
“I'm just trying out a nickname,” he teased me with my own words. “I'll let you know when I decide on one.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Ava spent five days with Galen in San Jose, California. We had a team of shining ones watching Galen and the area, but the Coven sent in witches to assist us after I informed them of our plan. There was no way anyone could have slipped past all of those magical watchers. And no one did; no one interrupted Ava and Galen's long visit. I was told that most of it was spent in the bedroom.
So, it was especially shocking when I received a call on my contact charm, early in the morning, to inform me that monsters were invading Earth yet again.
I was in Kyanite with my men. Yes; I'd finally made time to return to my kingdom. Gage was in bed with me while Banning and Declan were in their own tower rooms. We had spent the last two days in Kyanite, and it had gone well. The men had hung out together, doing whatever it is males do to bond in Tír na nÓg, while I handled kingdom business. I no longer wondered what kept Torin and Declan occupied all day; I experienced the intricacies of running a shining one court firsthand. There were endless decisions to be made, support sent and received from our villages, and payments made to our troops and castle staff. On and on it went, filling my days until I wanted to cry “Uncle” and run for the shelter of my lovers.
The men weren't always off without me; they helped when they could. Declan was the biggest help, of course. He was able to guide me through the worst of court politics and recommend changes that might make Kyanite run even smoother than Kieran thought it did. The changes were small at first; guard schedules, storage implementation, and household expenditures—things like that. But they were stepping blocks to get me accustomed to the process of running the kingdom on my own. Declan was an excellent teacher, and I was dearly grateful for his guidance. But despite his assistance, I was still exhausted at the end of every day—mainly mentally—and by the time I had a little bedtime relaxation with my chosen companion for the evening, I was ready to fall into deep, dreamless slumber.
The chime woke me out of such a state, and I fumbled wildly on the bedside table for it. Gage came awake more quickly and reached across me to grab the charm. He pulled me into the curve of his body and then slid the charm in my ear. I sighed into the sexy feel of his manhood coming awake as well, rolling my ass against him. Gage growled as I answered the call.
“What the hell was that?” Vivian asked.
“Huh? Oh, nothing.” I held a finger to my lips to quiet Gage.
He smiled wickedly and rolled me onto my back, then started sucking ardently on my breast. I wrapped my legs around him and sighed.
“Uh-huh,” Vivian huffed. “Well, maybe you could stop doing Mr. Nothing and hop over to Coven Cay to help us deal with a basilisk.”
“A basilisk!” I shouted as I sat up straight, dislodging Gage.
“Yes; it's rather tenacious.” Vivian shouted something to someone else, and a roar of sound erupted. “If you could help us deal with the creature, we would appreciate it.”
“I'm on my way.”
I jumped out of bed and started yanking on some clothes; underwear, jeans, and a T-shirt. This wasn't the time to make pretty. Gage ran across the
bridges to tell the others what was up, and they were back within minutes. As soon as everyone was ready to go, I grabbed Banning to take him with me while the other men used their own devices to travel to Coven Cay.
It looked a lot like the Sapphire War; fire and magic flared across the early morning sky as mini tornadoes swirled, and the earth shook. Witch magic may be slightly different than that of the Shining Ones, but the effects were similar, and they were equally lethal. The men and I went racing across the trembling terrain toward the center of the storm. All the witches of Coven Cay were in the main courtyard, making a concerted effort to drive back a beast that was nearly invincible.
A basilisk.
How anyone had managed to move this monster from Torr-Chathair to Coven Cay was beyond me. Getting him home again would be equally daunting. This wasn't a creature to sympathize with. This was a monster in every sense of the word; a beast born purely evil—even more evil than demons. The witches had tried long ago to wipe out the basilisks, but it proved to be an impossible task. The best you could hope for with basilisks was that they left you alone. Getting them to Torr-Chathair in the first place had been a nightmare. It had required the help of all the races of the Beneath; including the gods and the Shining Ones. Even with only one basilisk to deal with, I had my doubts that we'd be able to manage such a move today. It would be far easier to kill the beast. But how do you kill something covered in armor-like scales, with a gaze that can paralyze an immortal and kill a human?
I spotted Vivian and ran over to her. The basilisk's long, snake tail lashed out, obliterating stone walls as a horrible screech erupted from its beak. The spell inside me perked up in recognition; one rooster acknowledging another. Indeed, the basilisk had a rooster's head, but it was the most massive bird that had ever been birthed. Crimson eyes glowed with deadly power amid the thick, oily flesh of their lids. The basilisk's feathers were razor-sharp, fanning down its back around a blood-red crown of leathery flesh. Feathers met scale at the base of its neck, and the reptilian body flowed down to several pairs of short legs which moved the beast as fast as a centipede. A single glance was enough to chill your bones, and if you dared to stare longer, you ran the risk of those eyes focusing on you and literally scaring you stiff.
