Charming Marjani

by Rebecca Rivard

  Fane’s eyes drifted half shut.

  The king gave the cat a small, satisfied smile. He might not have ordered the cat’s imprisonment, but he was happy to have it in his power.

  The cat whipped its tail back and forth. Come closer if you dare.

  But the iron sapped its strength. It rested its head on its paws and stared at the king, unblinking, knowing that made the fae nervous.

  “She’s got pride,” Roald murmured to the king.

  “Yes.”

  They examined the cat. It curled its lip, letting them see a sharp white fang. Roald just shook his head, and the blond king’s mouth curved in amusement.

  Fane murmured a thank you to the healer. The bruises on his face had faded and the egg-sized lump on his temple had gone down. The blonde must be a powerful healer.

  Fane crossed the room to the cat. “Shift,” he murmured. “Don’t give them an excuse to treat you as an animal.”

  The cat shook its head. The animal was strong. A fighter.

  “Jani,” he said. “Shift. Now.”

  The cat resisted.

  Not Jani—cat.

  The fae king and his warrior moved closer.

  “Please, love.” Reaching through the iron bars, the blond man smoothed a hand down its head.

  The cat nuzzled his palm and without meaning to, let down its guard. Instantly, Marjani elbowed her way into its consciousness, saying, Shift. I need to talk to Sindre. Bargain with him.

  Too much talking, the cat shot back.

  Now, Marjani insisted. Unless you want to be stuck in this cage until we die.

  The cat grumbled but conceded the point.

  The shift this time was long and hard. It was too soon after the last one, and the cat was still recovering from its injuries, its quartz almost depleted of energy. Its head started to pound again.

  Marjani surfaced in time to understand. Her entire body iced.

  She wasn’t going to make it. She was going to die, stuck halfway between forms.

  29

  No. Terror seared Marjani’s spine.

  She sucked the quartz dry, but there still wasn’t enough energy. Black edged her vision.

  The cat panicked and tried to stop the shift, but that only made things worse. She fought with the frightened cougar for control. They’d gone too far to stop now.

  Fane crouched beside the cage. “Shift, my beautiful cat,” he crooned. “You can do it.”

  Love poured from him. She felt it, like something she could touch, grab hold of. The cougar calmed, and Marjani saw her chance.

  She lunged at that love like a lifeline to yank herself through the shift—and then she was crouched on the sheepskin as a woman. Her breath shuddered in.

  Goddess, that had been close, and not just the shift, either. She scraped her hands down her face. For a while there, she thought she’d finally gone feral.

  She stood up, Fane rising with her. Her knees wobbled. She locked them, hoping Sindre wouldn’t notice.

  On the plus side, shifting twice had gone a long way toward healing her. Only the knot on her skull and the slash on her thigh still hurt.

  The king’s gaze traveled down to her bare toes and back up, taking in every detail. If she’d had any doubts about what he wanted, that look erased them.

  She lifted her chin and stared back. The fingers of her free hand twitched, yearning for the security of one of her blades. It was her worst nightmare: to be trapped in her human form with no weapons.

  Like the night she was kidnapped.

  She swallowed over the crater in her throat.

  “Get dressed.” Fane gestured at her clothes.

  Clothes. Right. She glanced down at the tangled pile. The sweater was a lost cause, but the T-shirt was only ripped in a few places. She picked it up and stood, unmoving. Sipping breaths.

  The bars of the cage pressed in on her. Her skin prickled.

  Lord Roald muttered something impatient, but Fane gave her an encouraging smile. “Go ahead.”

  Yes. You’re alive and healing. You still have a chance if you keep your head.

  She didn’t bother with her bra, just put on the black briefs. The T-shirt was next. She palmed the quartz as she pulled the shirt on, and as she stepped into the cargo pants, slipped the precious chunk of rock into her front pocket. But without her blades, she might as well be naked.

  Naked and defenseless.

  A cold drop of sweat slid down her spine. Her heart slammed against her ribs so hard she was sure everyone in the room could hear it.

  The blond healer crossed the room to Marjani, her gray eyes compassionate. “She could use healing, too,” she told the king.

  Fane faced Sindre. “Let her out, and allow Ilka to heal her. You promised her no cages.”

  “So I did. But she didn’t agree to the bargain, did she?”

  “Fane,” said his grandfather. “Stay out of this. It’s between the king and the fada.”

  Fane ignored him to glare at the king. “Let her out,” he insisted. “Or I swear I’ll make sure her brother hears about this.”

  The two men locked gazes.

  Marjani caught her breath. Was Fane batshit crazy? If he wasn’t careful, Sindre was going to do that fucking frozen thing on him again.

  Lord Roald cleared his throat. “The boy has a point. The fada before her were outcasts from their clans, or else had willingly entered into a bargain with Blaer. This woman is the Baltimore second. If she dies, her brother will stop at nothing to avenge her. You’ll be fighting off assassination attempts for years.”

  The king considered that. “Very well. Blaer took her without my permission anyway.” He snapped his fingers again, and the door swung open.

  Marjani leapt out, and then wavered woozily on her feet. Immediately, Fane was there, wrapping an arm around her, lending her his strength.

  He was warm and solid, and even covered in blood, had that faint scent of the outdoors she liked so much. She wanted so badly to lean on him.

  But she saw a muscle in Sindre’s jaw flex. Better not give him an excuse to hurt Fane again. She slipped out of his grip and put some space between them.

  Ilka made a small, concerned sound. “You’ve used a lot of energy, between healing and shifting. If you’ll allow, I can give you a boost.”

  Marjani hesitated, but the healer’s scent held nothing but compassion. “Thanks,” she replied. “I’d appreciate that.”

  Ilka ran a hand down Marjani’s back, and her skin warmed as life-giving energy spread throughout her. Her pounding heart calmed, and her breath sighed out.

  “That’s better.” The healer rubbed her back. “I wish I could do more,” she said in an undertone, “but…”

  Their eyes met. “Thank you,” Marjani whispered back.

  Ilka gave her a last squeeze before moving away.

  Meanwhile, Fane had turned back to Sindre. “We were on our way back,” he said in a hard voice. “You didn’t have to set the goblins on us.”

  “That was Lady Blaer,” the king returned.

  “So she did it without your permission?” Lord Roald’s lip curled. “God’s balls, the night-fae woman grows bolder every day.”

  “Yes.” Sindre’s face seemed carved from ice. “She does.”

  Ilka stepped forward. “If I may speak, your highness?” When the king nodded, she said, “The fada is better, but she needs rest.” She looked at Fane. “Both of them.”

  Sindre cut her off with a curt thanks. “That will be all, Ilka.”

  She inclined her head and glided out of the room.

  “My tower.” The king’s gaze swept over Marjani, Fane and Roald. “Seven o’clock. All three of you. Consider this your invitation to dinner.”

  “We’ll be there,” Roald said.

  “And Fane?” Sindre added. “Bring Marjani to the north tower first, and then return at seven for dinner. That’s an order.”

  Fane nodded tightly, but Sindre had already ’ported out.

  Dinner
? Marjani thought. But then, the fae liked to think they were so civilized—as they forced you into unwilling bondage.

  “You fool.” Fane’s grandfather scowled at him. “What were you thinking, to get involved with a fada?”

  “Her name is Marjani.”

  The fae warrior raked his fierce hawk’s eyes over her. “She’s an animal, boy. And worse, the king wants her.”

  “Damn it, she’s not an animal. She’s a person—just like you or me. And the king can bloody well keep his hands off her.”

  Roald’s heavy cinnamon brows lowered. “By the gods, you don’t deserve my help.”

  Fane glowered back. “When have you ever helped me?”

  “Who do you think vouched for you with the king?”

  “That wasn’t you, it was my dad.”

  “Aye, Arne brought you to the king’s attention, but it was I who asked him to give you a chance. And this couldn’t come at a worse time.” Roald shook his head. “I’ve requested that the king declare you a full member of the court.”

  “A full member?” Fane got a funny look on his face. “You’d do that for me?”

  Marjani looked from him to his grandfather. A full member of the court? She wasn’t sure exactly what it meant, but it was obviously a big deal.

  “You’re my grandson, after all. And I have some small influence with the king.”

  “But you never said anything…”

  “Well, what did you expect? You’re a mixed-blood, and on top of that, you’re too much like your father. Wayfarers, not warriors.” Roald’s mouth turned down as if that said it all. “But as I said the other day, I’ve been keeping an eye on you. You’ve made me proud. In your own way, you have courage. And you’ve proven your loyalty to the king.”

  Fane gave a short nod. “Thank you.”

  The big redhead raised a hand. “Let me finish. But this, this is an embarrassment. The whole court knows you snatched this fada from under the king’s protection and ran away with her. You want to have a woman like her, fine. But not a woman that Sindre wants. Where’s your common sense, boy?”

  “The king’s protection?” Fane’s voice was coldly furious. “He wants Marjani as his plaything. He offered her anything she wanted—wealth, power. And when she turned him down, he tried to use her love for her friend to force her into accepting his geas. I saved her from him, damn it.”

  The two men glared at each other. It was Roald who looked away first. “The king awaits,” he ground out, and stalked from the room.

  Fane watched him go, his body rigid, before turning to her. “I’m sorry you had to hear that. He’s old and set in his ways.”

  “I know.” She twined her arms around his neck and gave him a crooked smile. “Thanks for sticking up for me. Here I thought you were just another fae asshole.”

  He smoothed the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “Do me a favor.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t lump me with those arses.”

  “You got it.”

  They grinned at each other, but it was the kind of smile you give when everything is about to go to shit.

  “I have something for you.” He pulled her switchblade out of his pocket.

  Her jaw dropped. “How in Hades did you get that?”

  “Wayfarer, you know. Quick hands.”

  “But you were unconscious. I saw you myself.”

  “I came to while we were still on the ground. It was just a few feet away. I managed to grab it before the goblins saw it.” His throat worked. “I have to take you to the king’s tower, Jani. The geas—it’s pulling on me.”

  “I know. But this. I—” She slid the blade in and out a few times. Despite a few dents, it worked as good as ever. She clenched her fingers on the handle. “Thank you. It’s the best gift you could have given me.”

  “Better than diamonds or pretty clothes?” He set his hands on her hips.

  She lifted her eyes to his. His eyes were so clear, like falling up into the sky.

  “Way better,” she husked. “Light-years better.”

  His grip tightened on her. “I won’t let him have you. I swear on my mother’s grave.”

  “Oh, Fane.” She came up on her toes to kiss his scruffy jaw. “I love that you said that. But—” She halted, but they both knew what she was thinking.

  What could Fane do against one of the most powerful fae in the world? And there was the geas, too.

  “I’ll think of something. Promise me you won’t agree to his bloody bargain.”

  “You know I can’t promise that.”

  “Damn it, Jani.” He pulled her hard against him, her face pressed to the crook of his neck. She heard his heartbeat beneath her cheek and it came to her. Like lightning on a dark night or a crack of thunder that rocked her to her soul.

  Her breath snagged. This was why the cat had called him Mine. Why she’d felt his love and had been able to draw on it to finish the shift.

  Because the mate bond had budded, fragile as a just-born rose. Her mom had told Marjani she’d know it when she felt it, and oh, she did. It made her hot and yearning and needful—and sad to the depths of her soul.

  Because she couldn’t let that beautiful, delicate bud grow into anything. For so many reasons, they weren’t right for each other. She was a fada soldier. He was the stupid-rich, classy-as-fuck envoy of the ice fae king. She could never fit into his world.

  And as for Fane fitting into hers? Yeah, right. She could just picture him living in a den in Baltimore. And what would Adric say? He might be more tolerant than Leron, but if his sister—and second—came back mated with a part-fae, it would cause trouble.

  “Jani?” He set a finger under her chin and tipped up her face. What he saw there made him furrow his brow.

  Then his face changed. His eyes crinkled and his lips curved. For once, she didn’t see a trace of wryness or irony in his expression.

  Just wonder and heat.

  He said her name again, low and rough. “Jani.”

  Mate. That was the cougar.

  Her heart lurched. “No,” she rasped and turned away.

  Fane grabbed her upper arm. She stilled, and he wrapped his arms around her from behind. “When this is over, we're going to talk.”

  “No.”

  “Yes,” he returned, soft but firm. Warm lips traced the side of her neck. “Do you think I’ll let you go just like that? No fucking way.”

  And here she’d thought he was laid-back. But it made her smile, deep inside, to know he wanted her so much. Even if it would never work.

  She pushed at his arms and got her nape nipped in retaliation.

  “I want your promise.” A growled demand.

  She blew out a breath and gave in. Because really, what was she afraid of? Give the man a few days, and he’d see for himself how impossible this thing between them was.

  “Fine.” She let her head rest against his shoulder. “I promise.”

  “Good.” He kissed the spot he’d nipped. “And now, we’d better go before the king sends someone looking for us.” He urged her toward the door with a hand on her back.

  She halted. Corban had lifted his head to watch them. She slipped out of Fane’s grip.

  “Wait for me outside,” she told him. “I’ll be right there.”

  “Leave him.” Fane’s gaze followed hers. “We don’t need any more trouble.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Then I’m staying right here.”

  She recognized that tone. He wasn’t going to budge. Still, she tried one more time. “I don’t want you to see this.”

  “Jani,” he said, very patiently. “I've seen a hundred turns of the sun. Where do you get the idea you have to protect me?”

  She dragged a hand over her stubbled head. “Stay then,” she gritted, and crossed to her cousin.

  Corban pushed himself up to stand on trembling legs, chest working like a bellows. Tiny sparks of light spread over his black fur, dim but visible, and then he changed to ma
n. Somehow, he’d found the strength to shift.

  He crouched on the floor of the cage, lungs heaving. He’d always seemed larger than life: a dominant, compelling man like his father. Now he was emaciated, his brown skin covered with sores, deep lines of pain scored on his face.

  She felt an unexpected wave of sorrow. If only she could call Adric—let him handle this. But her smartphone didn’t work inside the castle, and besides, he was three thousand miles away in Maryland.

  She set her jaw. “Tell me what happened to Luc. Why is he with that fae bitch?”

  Corban lifted his head, and she braced herself for a sneering comment about how she’d managed to get herself captured not once, but twice.

  When he said, “I’m ready,” it took her a few beats to understand.

  She drew a serrated breath. “Not ’til you tell me what happened to Luc.”

  Corban didn’t seem to hear. “Use your fucking knife. Don’t let me die like some animal in a cage.”

  Her fingers tightened around the switchblade handle. “Why should I show you any mercy?”

  “Because it’s Adric’s fault I’m here.”

  She scowled. “Oh, no. You don’t get to put this on Ric.”

  “He sent me after Lady B.”

  “So? You were supposed to turn her over to the king, not ally yourself with her.”

  “I’m not stupid, Jani. I knew Adric sent me to India to die.”

  “Because you gave me to those river fada, you bastard. We both knew you were behind it, even if we couldn’t prove it.”

  His big hands clenched on the sheepskin rug. “Without any backup, I was an easy target for Lady B. So instead, I made a deal with her—she’d help me win alpha, and I’d protect her from Sindre. But the king kept sending people after her, and she gave up and came home. Somehow they worked out a truce—she has him wrapped around her little finger now. And I’m in here.” His gold eyes burned into hers, filmy and tinged with madness. “So my loving cousin owes me.”

  “Like hell. You brought this mess on yourself. You worked against him from the day he took over as alpha.”

  “I should’ve been alpha, not him.”

  “No fucking way. It was a fair challenge. The stronger man won.”