The Darkest Night

by Emma V. Leech

  Inés nodded her understanding. “And would that stop you from looking for your son? Do you think it will stop her?”

  Corin smiled and shook his head. “No. Not for a moment.”

  “She wants permission to come and look for him. She will need to bring her people with her and …” Inés hesitated and suddenly Corin knew what it was Jéhenne wanted from him. “And Corvus.”

  “No!” His voice was low and angry and he shook his head. “Do you think me insane? A vampire in the Fae Lands?” Corin snorted and shook his head.

  Inés took a step closer to him and he was unsettled to see the pleading in her eyes. Inés was the most selfish person he’d ever met, most of the time, but there were two things he knew she would die for, her granddaughter Jéhenne, and Jéhenne’s child. “Please, Corin. You’ve said yourself how dangerous it will be. She will need Corvus.”

  Corin cursed and rolled his eyes to the heavens as he considered the idea. The last time he’d seen Corvus, he’d been at a decided disadvantage. Here, however, on his own ground, as king… Things would be different. Besides which, if things got complicated, Jéhenne was still under his control.

  “And if I agree?” He turned to Inés, his face cool and hard.

  Inés sighed and shrugged. “Though it pains me to give in, I promise to leave you be. I will keep your secret about your child, and whether you believe it or not, I would always fight for you, if you had need of me.”

  Corin frowned, surprised by the offer, as it wasn’t one the woman would make lightly. She was too old and too smart to pledge her loyalty if she didn’t have to.

  “Very well,” he replied. “I will have the papers drawn up to give them safe passage.”

  Inés exclaimed with delight and went to throw her arms about him before remembering herself. Instead, she just smiled. “Merci, Corin, milles mercies.” She paused then, giving him a curious look. “Are you ever going to let Jéhenne know the truth? What you sacrificed for her?”

  He widened his eyes and laughed. “Sacrificed? She is in my power, Inés, you think that wasn’t worth a little risk? Do not make the mistake of believing I cannot be ruthless if the need arises. It would be a dangerous mistake to make.”

  Amusement glittered in the green eyes. “Say what you will … you care too much for her to ever put her in harm’s way.”

  He looked at her, his own eyes blazing amber as he spoke. “Put my family at risk and you may test that theory. Breathe a word of the child to anyone, and I won’t hesitate to kill you. You do understand that?”

  Inés smiled at him. “I told you, love makes you weak, but you have my word. I won’t tell anyone. Not even Jéhenne, which is a pity, I would so love to break that news.” She gave a dark chuckle, shaking her head. “She’s going to kill you for getting her best friend in trouble, you do know that? How old is Claudette anyway, eighteen?”

  “Nineteen,” he admitted, feeling suddenly awkward.

  Inés chuckled. “Oh, oui, she’ll burn you to a crisp.”

  Corin snorted, knowing it was true enough. Wanting to change the subject, he turned it around again. “Did Jéhenne not tell you she knows, then?” he asked, pleased by the surprise in her eyes. “She knows now that she is under my power. I felt her test the bond between us. It shocked her, rather, I think,” he added, returning a rather smug grin. “If she didn’t tell you, I suspect she’s yet to inform Corvus of it, either, don’t you? I wouldn’t feel too sure of who has the most confidences in hand, Inés.”

  Inés opened and closed her mouth. “Merde. That would cause trouble.”

  That, Corin suspected, was the understatement of the century. “My lips are sealed,” he said, his tone dry.

  Inés sighed and looked at him with regret. “Oh, well, at least you have one less thing to worry about.”

  “Oh?” he asked, finding that hard to believe.

  “I’m leaving.” She laughed at the suspicion in his eyes. “Oh, don’t fret, I’ll go quietly. I know when I’m beaten, and coming between a man and his fiancé is one thing, but even I wouldn’t break up a family.” She paused, looking up at him through her lashes. “You really do love her?”

  He smiled then, having no intention of hiding his feelings. “Yes,” he said, the word simple but encompassing such a breadth of feelings that she must be able to see it.

  Inés gave a heavy sigh and shook her head. “Such a waste,” she said, and then shrugged as she walked away from him. “Still, there are plenty more stags in the forest.”

  “Indeed,” he agreed with a wry smile.

  She stopped with her hand on the door handle. “Just never enough wolves.” She winked at him and closed the door behind her.

  A few moments later, the door opened again and Laen looked around, sniffing and wrinkling his nose as the smell of powerful magic hit him. “The witch lives?”

  “She does,” Corin replied, walking towards him. “You look surprised.”

  Laen stepped inside closing the door behind him. “I am, a little,” he admitted. “You looked like you were going to tear her into bite-sized pieces.”

  “Tempting, I admit,” Corin said with a sigh. “But messy.”

  “Is she going to cause trouble?” Laen demanded, frowning as Corin shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck as tension knotted across his shoulders.

  “No. She’s going home.”

  Laen quirked one eyebrow. “You trust her?”

  Corin snorted. “Not even a little, but she will keep her word on this.” He walked over to a large window draped with heavy brocade curtains and looked out at a star-studded sky. He decided not to mention the fact he’d just invited a two-thousand-year-old vampire into the Fae Lands. Laen would go into meltdown, and he’d had enough drama for one night. He’d find out soon enough.

  “How are you enjoying being king, then?” Laen asked, and Corin turned to see his friend looking at him with a smile at his lips.

  Corin narrowed his eyes at him and glowered a little. “Think you’re funny, do you?”

  Laen shrugged and grinned at him. “Just realising how relieved I am that it’s you and not me,” he said, grinning all the harder. “Anyway, Océane is putting her feet up in the library, Claudette is with her … are you coming?”

  “Yes.” Corin nodded, a bit of peace and tranquillity with their two ladies, that was exactly what he did need. “Yes, of course, but I need a drink first,” he added. He glared at Laen, holding up a finger in warning. “Don’t even think of nagging me. I’ve had quite enough traumas for one night.”

  Laen reached into his inside pocket and drew out a flask. He tossed it to Corin, who caught it in one hand and unscrewed the lid, drinking deeply. He closed his eyes, sighing with relief as the alcohol flooded his veins. As his eyes opened again, they flicked to Laen to see he was being watched, that look of concern visible again.

  “Yes, Laen, I’m fine.”

  Laen said nothing.

  “For the love of the gods, leave me be, will you?” He screwed the cap back on and threw the flask back with considerable force.

  “I didn’t say a word,” Laen replied, his tone mild, though they both knew he’d not needed to say anything.

  Corin sighed and pinched his nose. He was getting a headache. Big surprise. “I’m sorry,” he said, looking back at Laen. “I appear to be in a foul mood.”

  “Yes,” Laen agreed, though he didn’t comment further.

  “It’s just ...” Corin paused, wondering why he was talking about this after all, after being so certain he didn’t want to, but Devil wouldn’t leave his mind tonight. “I hate him, Laen. I know I deserve much of what he has done, which is why I never said anything at the time. I think I believed I deserved it. I owed him, but … gods, how I hate him.”

  Laen stepped closer, his voice soft but full of certainty. “You did not deserve it. What you did was an accident. You know that if you’d done nothing, both you and his brother would be dead. Besides, that isn’t the only reason you said
nothing. I see the shame in your eyes whenever this subject is raised. You should have told someone at the time … you still should.”

  “Enough!” Corin said and he saw Laen frown at the magic that prickled his skin as his anger flared. “I’ve said all there is to say.” He turned away. Talking about it didn’t help. It only made him want to kill Devil all the more. “Come on, I wish to forget this and try and salvage what remains of the evening.” He took a moment to erase the bitter emotions from his face, and opened the door.

  By the time they reached Océane’s room, Corin could breathe a little easier. He smiled at Océane, who was reclined on a chaise lounge, looking radiant, with Claudette beside her. She, too, looked up and smiled, her gaze momentarily torn from the man who was holding both of their attentions. He got up, bowing deeply to Corin, but then Laen saw him and rushed to Océane’s side.

  “Caelum!” he said, immediately in panic mode at seeing the great healer with his wife. “What are you doing here? Is there a problem? Océane, are you well?”

  Océane patted his hand, laughing. “I’m fine! Oh, Laen, you won’t believe it, but it’s him!”

  Laen looked back at Caelum with suspicion as the man sat back down again. “What do you mean? What’s him?”

  Corin watched as Océane struggled to sit up a little more, her eyes alight with pleasure. “It was him who came to me in the orphanage. He told me the stories, Laen. The story of the Dark Prince and the Bright King, it was him. I remember it all now.” She beamed at Caelum while Laen scowled harder. Corin didn’t blame him, there were many questions to be answered before Corin would be satisfied. Yet Caelum’s calm blue eyes twinkled back at Laen as Océane stared at her husband with an expectant expression. “Isn’t it wonderful?” she said, her smile fading a little as she saw her Laen’s narrow-eyed expression.

  “That,” Laen growled, “remains to be seen.”

  Chapter 39

  Corin himself felt a shiver of misgiving at seeing the great healer; Caelum was looking at him with such intensity that the back of his neck prickled with foreboding.

  “Oh, Laen!” Océane said, taking Corin’s attention from Caelum. “Don’t be so dreadfully suspicious.” Océane laughed, shaking her head. She was clearly of a mind that Caelum was to be trusted. Corin, however, would stand by Laen until the man could ease his mind. Caelum smiled at Océane and shook his head. “He is quite right to be cautious, Océane. He is your husband and wishes to protect you. I applaud such instincts.”

  Corin watched as Laen glowered at him, not looking the least bit reassured. “In which case, you will not be averse to telling me what the hell is going on,” he growled, staring at Caelum with such ferocity that a lesser man might have trembled and stuttered.

  “Not at all,” Caelum nodded, exuding calm as his blue eyes twinkled. If anything, he looked delighted by Laen’s aggressive need to protect his wife. His eyes turned to Corin, who was watching the proceedings in silence. There was something in his eyes that Corin didn’t like, but turning back to Océane, Caelum nodded towards Laen. “You two were destined to meet,” he said, smiling.

  Corin reached for Claudette’s hand. She had moved closer to him, settling herself at his feet, and Corin felt relief at having her close again. Laen lost no time in taking the place she’d vacated beside Océane. He took hold of his wife’s hand and squeezed it, his dark eyes on her, full of adoration. “Well, that much is obvious, what of it?”

  Caelum smiled, though there was sorrow in his eyes. “Your meeting with Océane would set off a chain of events which would end with the right man becoming the king of all Fae.” He paused to look at Corin. “Everything hinged on your friendship with Laen, it still does,” he said, his words sending shivers down Corin’s spine. He glanced at Laen, who was looking every bit as on-edge. “The strength of your friendship is what the Fae Lands depends on. If you had not found a way to resolve your differences, we would all be lost now.” Caelum paused, his shrewd eyes staring at Corin and giving him the uncomfortable sensation that the man knew far too much. “You were very unhappy when you met Océane.” It wasn’t a question, and so Corin didn’t answer. Everyone here knew the truth, in any case. “Things could have been very different if you had not met her,” he pressed, such a look in his eyes that Corin looked away. “Don’t you think?”

  Corin looked down at Claudette and saw the concern in her eyes. He didn’t want to talk of the fates and the future and what was still to come. He didn’t want Claudette to be afraid or to wish that she’d never been brought to his world. “Perhaps,” he said, giving Caelum a warning look to tread carefully.

  “Perhaps?” Caelum raised his eyebrows, ignoring the warning. “Tell me,” he demanded, his voice a little harder now. “What were your plans for the future when you returned from the human world to Laen’s lands?”

  Corin narrowed his eyes at him, glowering at him now as his temper flickered to life. He felt Laen shift in his seat, too, disturbed by Corin’s defensiveness. “Fine, you made your point, what of it?” he snapped, frustrated by the look of alarm in Claudette’s eyes. He had not meant to upset her.

  “My point,” Caelum replied, his face grave as he leaned forward, “is that there are those who did not want you to be king, those powerful enough to bargain with the darker gods, those who delight in misery and mayhem.” He sighed and sat up a little, his eyes a rather warmer now. “I think perhaps you are too young to remember my wife, Raeshe?”

  “The seer?” Laen asked, frowning at him. They all knew the name, of course. She had been Light Fae and was now considered a saint.

  Caelum nodded, his smile full of affection. “Yes, that’s right.”

  “We know of her,” Corin said, nodding and feeling sympathy for the man. He knew that the loss of his wife was still a heavy burden to him. “She was very powerful, and extraordinarily lovely, by all accounts.”

  He watched a wistful expression cross the man’s face and felt his own heart clench. How did he live with the loss of his wife? According to what Corin had heard, she was the love of his life. The idea was too terrifying to contemplate. “Yes,” Caelum said, nodding. “Yes, she was.” He sighed, and suddenly his face was serious again. “She saw all of this a very, very long time ago,” he said as Corin’s chest grew tight. By the gods, he hated seers and prophesies. “She saw that someone would interfere with your destinies.” Caelum paused and looked at Océane, his eyes full of sorrow as his voice became soft. “The way in which you met Laen was not quite as destiny would have arranged it, my dear. Your parents ...” He stopped, and Corin knew from the look in Caelum’s eyes that his next words would be hard for her to hear. “Your parents were well aware of us, of our kind and, if they had lived, they would have passed the knowledge onto you. You would have met Laen here, in the Fae Lands, and through you, he was to learn that humankind was not as they were painted in his mind.”

  “M-my parents?” Océane, stammered, tears sparkling at her eyes.

  “Yes.” Caelum took a breath, obviously knowing his words would upset her further. “They were British, holidaying in France when it happened. The car crash that killed them was no accident, Océane. By rights, it ought to have killed you, too, but, thanks to Raeshe, I was there when it happened. I could not stop it, but I did manage to save you. I was only just in time.” He hauled in a breath, and Corin could see the weight of his great age all at once, the burden of knowledge that he carried. He didn’t envy the man. “I so nearly lost you, the memory of it still haunts me.”

  Océane put her hand to her mouth and burst into tears as Laen pulled her close. He wrapped his arms around her, stroking her hair. Laen’s face was a mask, his jaw rigid, and Corin knew his emotions were too close to the surface.

  Everyone sat in appalled silence as they took in the fact that someone had been prepared to murder Océane and her parents to keep Corin from the throne.

  “I’m so sorry, Océane,” Corin said, his voice heavy with the weight of guilt in his heart. “I
had no idea.”

  “Of course you didn’t,” Caelum said, his voice soft, his craggy face full of sympathy. “It was not your fault. There will always be those who stand in the way of what is right, what should be.” His blue eyes fixed on Corin, that intense look returning, making Corin increasingly ill at ease. “All you can do is ensure the sacrifices made are worthwhile.”

  “What are you saying?” Corin asked, struggling to keep his breathing even as his heart picked up.

  Caelum gave him a hard look. “You know what.”

  Corin frowned in return, shaking his head. “I understand that you are saying I must do my best for my people, for the land, but somehow I feel that is not what you are getting at.” From the look in Caelum’s eyes, he felt he did not want to understand.

  Caelum was quiet; he scrutinised Corin, who looked back at him, holding his gaze. Finally he nodded. “There are dark times coming, Your Majesty,” he said, never taking his eyes from Corin, who felt he was being judged somehow. “I think perhaps you have heard a warning voice yourself. You will have trials to face, and the choices you make will impact all of us. You must be careful.”

  “Enough.” Everyone looked at Laen. He was on his feet, glaring at Caelum now, his voice harsh and angry. “Océane is upset enough without talk of this kind.”

  “I agree,” Corin said, his voice quiet as he met Laen’s eyes, grateful for his intervention. “I think I have had about all I can take for one night.”

  Caelum shrugged, though he didn’t look pleased. “Very well,” he said, returning his attention to Corin. “But we must speak of this soon, Your Majesty. You cannot ignore the future, or we will all be washed away in the gathering tide that follows.”

  Corin’s magic sparked at the words which took him back to the place between worlds, and an audience with a god. Caelum gave a knowing smile. “Don’t try to hide from me, I can see what you are afraid of, and I cannot blame you for it. But you must face it. You know now the risks of denying your destiny. Do no repeat the past.”