The Darkest Night

by Emma V. Leech

  Leola flushed, stammering a little at the intense look Claudette was giving her. "I-I said he is up to the job. You won’t be disappointed."

  Claudette smiled at her with delight, reaching out and taking her hand. "Tell me more,” she gushed, as though speaking to her best friend in the world. “How on earth can you know that?"

  Leola bit her lip, clearly hating giving what could be damning information into another’s hand. "Because … because before I married ..." She paused, and Claudette had to retrain herself from shaking her just to make her say it. "We were lovers."

  Claudette gasped, making sure she looked pleased by the confidence Leola was putting in her. "You and Tully were lovers?" she repeated, in a voice designed to travel the room. "For how long?"

  "For some months," Leola said, preening a little as she added, "He was in love with me. He wanted to get married."

  "Really?” Claudette demanded with wide eyes. “Bram asked you to marry him?"

  "He did." Leola nodded, looking unbearably smug. Claudette felt satisfied that they had enough.

  "Oh," she said, looking puzzled and frowning at Leola before hardening her voice. "Well, in that case, why did you tell everyone he tried to rape you?"

  Leola looked up with a gasp, her eyes growing round with horror as she took in the look of disgust Claudette was sure she could see in her eyes.

  There was a noise behind them as the sliding doors opened and the curtains drew back. Leola gave a scream as she realised she had been tricked, and reached out to slap Claudette across the face. Her hand stopped in mid-air and she dropped to the floor with a shriek of pain as fire erupted around her fingers.

  "You dare to raise your hand to her?" said a cold voice.

  Leola looked up, her rosy cheeks suddenly bleached of all colour as the king stood looking down at her. Claudette took a breath herself, startled at the fury in Corin’s eyes. Leola cradled her burned fingers to her chest as tears slid down her perfect face. "I-I ..." she stammered, trembling visibly.

  Corin raised his hand to silence her. "You will have plenty of time to make a formal confession,” he said, the words hard and contemptuous. “I would counsel you to be very thorough when you do so,” Corin added, his gaze on her unwavering. “The more I believe your words, the more lenient you will find me. Do you understand?" Leola looked around at the disapproving faces of the witnesses with an expression of bewilderment, and Claudette watched as Corin shook his head. "You were ever a gold-digger, Leola, your ambition for wealth was only ever matched by your desire for power. That has been your undoing this day." He gestured for the guards to take her away, and they all winced as her piercing shrieks and cries rent the room. She kicked and bit, lashing out at the guards with the fury of a shackled banshee, but they carried her away as her cries faded along the corridor. The witnesses left with them, and silence filled the room.

  "It worked!" Claudette exclaimed with delight, letting out a breath of relief. It was short-lived as she looked up and saw the expression on Corin's face. He was looking at her with an intensity that made her stomach drop.

  There was a knock at the door Bram had left through, and Laen crossed the room to open it, giving Claudette a surreptitious wink as he went. He let Bram in, who looked around the room at them. He was pale and anxious.

  "I heard screaming, I thought perhaps ..."

  "Congratulations, Tully, you seem to have regained a stainless reputation, thanks to Claudette,” Laen said, clapping him on the back so hard Bram winced. “You did quite remarkably well, by the way," Laen added, addressing Claudette directly and with a wicked twinkle in his eyes.

  Claudette flushed and then looked back to Bram, who was looking at her with gratitude shining in his eyes. He looked really rather emotional as he took a step forward, as if he would embrace her. Claudette widened her eyes and gave a tiny shake of her head. Bram looked perplexed. Jerking her head slightly to the side again, Bram followed the movement until Corin came into his line of sight. The prickling sensation in the room rocketed.

  "Corin ..." he began and stopped as he saw Corin's fists clench.

  "Bram," Corin said, his voice dangerously quiet. When he spoke again, the words were clipped and precise and spoke volumes about his state of mind. "Go and find Ameena, and return to your home. You have earned the right to do so."

  Bram nodded, his expression cautious. "Thank you, Corin." As though the man had a death wish, he then turned to Claudette, his eyes so full of affection that Claudette doubted his sanity. "I can never thank you enough, Claudette. I am ever yours to command."

  "Bram!" Corin said, his voice sharp now. "Do us both a favour and get out of my sight … and stay out of it for some considerable time."

  To Claudette’s astonishment, Bram, ever the showman, couldn't help himself but smirk and bow with a flourish. "As you wish, Your Majesty." He winked at Laen and shut the door just as Laen grabbed hold of Corin as he went to follow.

  "Calm down, you fool,” Laen scolded him, laughing. “You must have known the temptation was irresistible."

  "I'm going to kill him,” Corin growled, jerking himself free of Laen’s grasp. “Very, very slowly,” he added with quiet fury.

  Laen shook his head, clearly amused as he slapped him on the back. "No,” he said, his tone stern now. “You're not."

  Corin turned to look at him, his face full of frustration. "Please. Please, let me kill him."

  "No."

  He glowered at Laen and turned away, going to stand in front of the fireplace, where the flames leapt up the chimney at his presence. Laen smiled at Claudette and mouthed, "Good luck," leaving them alone together.

  "Mon loup?" she said, hearing her voice quake a little as she went to stand beside him. He didn't turn. "Corin?" She tried again, and this time the golden eyes focused on her and she felt her heart begin to thunder. "Corin, you can't think ..."

  He didn't give her time to tell him what he couldn't think. His hand went to the back of her neck and his lips met hers, none too gently. Corin pulled her close, so close she could hardly draw a breath, but she pressed against him harder still. Her arms wound around him as he kissed her with a mixture of fury and desire, his magic blazing around them. Claudette met his need with her own, needing to show him that no one could ever take her from him. Bram was handsome, certainly, and a good friend, but nothing … nothing in the world compared with this. Not for her. Not ever.

  He drew back and paused with his lips almost touching hers, his breath coming fast against her mouth. "Mine and mine alone, ma belle, don't ever forget that," he warned her.

  Claudette looked up at him from under her lashes, desire flooding her veins at the possessive quality of his voice. Pressing her lips to his, she bit his lower lip, nipping at the delicate skin. "Then you'd best be sure you never let me forget … mon loup."

  Chapter 46

  Claudette sighed with content. She could feel Corin's chest pressed against her back, the steady thud of his heart against her as he slept. His hand rested on her stomach, fingers splayed, as though he was holding both her and their baby in an embrace. It was going to be alright, she told herself. Yes, she was still afraid, but if she could get a man like Corin to fall in love with her … well, then just about anything was possible.

  Of course, there was the small matter of a wedding.

  Corin had not pressed her before, knowing that the idea terrified her; but now it could not be avoided. Plans would have to be made with all haste, before she began to show and could create a scandal. Though, of course, anyone believing Corin had failed to take her to bed when they had been together for some time would be hard to find. Nonetheless, appearances had to be kept up, the social niceties observed, and the king's child born on the right side of the blanket.

  The whole idea of the wedding was enough to make Claudette want to dig a hole and crawl into it for the foreseeable future. She had always dreamed of a white wedding, a pretty church, flowers, a party with her friends and family. She hadn't banked on
a state affair, a cathedral, thousands of guests, and the eyes of three nations upon her as she walked down the aisle. Swallowing, she pushed the idea from her mind as best she could or she wouldn't get a wink of sleep, tired as she was.

  Corin had tried to reassure her by saying that if she preferred, his mother would take care of the details, as she had such a wealth of experience at dealing with these occasions. Her immediate rebuttal of this idea and the indignation it had sparked in her eyes had made Corin change the subject with some haste. Having said that, she could have sworn she saw him hide a grin. Claudette couldn’t help but wonder if he had known exactly what her reaction would be and had said it on purpose. He could be sneaky like that. Either way, Audrianne would rule the affair over her dead body. She wanted her advice, naturally, she wasn't a fool, but she wouldn't be bullied into something she didn't want.

  At least Corin had agreed that of course her family must come. He would not have them both lie to her parents any further, and indeed they would need to be on their guard now, as they would be related to the king. Their lives would change, too, for better or for worse. Claudette had pointed out that they needed to return to her home and tell them about the child. The look of horror on Corin’s face as he realised they were not likely to be best pleased that he had made their teenage daughter pregnant had almost made the whole thing worthwhile. She’d never seen him so discomposed. King of three nations or no, facing an irate father whose daughter he had impregnated was not something to be taken lightly. Claudette chuckled inwardly and wondered if it might be worth the awkwardness just to see Corin deal with her large and protective papa. It would be a sight to behold, and no mistake.

  She sighed as she realised she still hadn't stopped thinking about the wedding and the baby, and that she really was very tired indeed, and finally drifted off to sleep.

  It was a strange dream. Parts of it were vague, as though viewed through a mist, and yet others disturbing in their clarity.

  Claudette was standing in a meadow. It was still, too perfectly still … until she saw dark shadows flit out of the corner of her eyes. She turned in alarm, only to find herself face to face with a woman. She was older than Claudette, and wore a simple white dress, her long plaited hair falling over one shoulder, almost to the floor. It was her eyes that demanded attention, though. They were gold, and filled with the same kind of power and knowledge Claudette had seen only once before.

  "I can see why he chose you," the woman said to her, looking her over as though she was a horse at auction. She moved around Claudette and she got the strangest feeling that the woman could see into her, into her bones, her soul. "You're strong,” she said, nodding her approval.

  Claudette didn't know quite what to say to this, so she said nothing, glad it was only a dream. She looked about her, feeling nervous all the same. The sky behind them was a strange shade of purple and it appeared to be night time, but it wasn't dark.

  "We are strange creatures, you and I," the woman said, returning to face Claudette, her gaze intense and disturbing.

  "Oh?" Claudette replied, not wanting to agree or disagree. Instinctively, she felt that angering this woman was to be avoided at all costs.

  The golden eyes flashed with amusement as a smile curved over her mouth. She was incredibly lovely, and somewhat familiar. "Oh, yes. We are both mothers and have such tender hearts towards our young that we could weep simply for looking on the beauty of them." She paused, and the golden eyes became hard and cold once more. "Yet threaten our child, and you will find us the most implacable enemy.” Claudette held her breath at the flicker of violence that glimmered in the gold, the promise of retribution. “We will cut out your heart with a smile on our faces and rip into your flesh with our teeth, if you even come close to harming what we love."

  Claudette sucked in a breath and covered her stomach, needing to protect her child. Dream or not, she was afraid. "What do you want?" she asked, hearing her voice tremble.

  "The Bright King must fulfil his destiny." The words were hard, her voice implacable, and power shimmered about her, the feel of it familiar and frightening all at once.

  "What?” Claudette asked, as her heart clenched. This was about Corin, and suddenly it seemed less like a dream. “Who are you?” she demanded, even as her name formed in her head. Nerthus. Claudette stared at her. It was a dream, it had to be. “What do you mean?" she demanded, angry despite her growing terror. “What destiny?”

  She watched the woman shake her head in disgust. "You humans, you are strong and tenacious and full of creativity, yet so blindly unaware of anything outside of your own existence.” Nerthus stepped closer as Claudette instinctively kept the distance between them, moving away. “The nine worlds, Claudette. He has conquered the Fae Lands, but there is disorder amongst us still. We all share the same world, even though yours is in a different realm. The human world, the Fae Lands, the underworld, they are all tied to the earth. Your land is lost to us, the magic once present in your realm too feeble to ever be reunited with us again. The other lands in our realm remain, but they will follow Solastire’s path if they are not reminded of the debts they owe, of who gave them their bounty.” Claudette swallowed, as it seemed clear enough to her in that moment, as though the knowledge had been gifted to her. Nerthus was the mother earth, it was her who had tormented Corin with her screams as she too felt Solastire dying and endured its cries. “They forget their gods,” Nerthus said, golden eyes flashing with anger and frustration as her power began to crackle and shine brighter. “And those few of us who remain grow weaker for lack of their worship, their respect, their sacrifice. If the earth fails, we will all disappear beneath the waves."

  Claudette backed away from the intensity of her magic, the burn against her skin and the fanatical blaze in the woman's eyes. "I don't understand?” she said, her heart thundering now, terror clawing at her throat. “What are you telling me?"

  "I am telling you that you must ensure that he acts,” Nerthus commanded, her voice washing over Claudette, the power of it sinking into her skin, into her bones. “He will not want to. He will see it as an act of aggression, but the Bright King must intervene before things go too far. You must make him see the way, Claudette. You will see the way." She moved closer, and though Claudette tried to move away, she was frozen in place. Nerthus touched her fingertip to Claudette's temple, the cold sting of magic burning her flesh. "You will see."

  Claudette cried out in fear and tried again to turn and run away, but she was held fast by magic. The goddess laid her hand over Claudette's as she covered the tiny life inside her. "A mother will do most anything to protect her child, Claudette,” she whispered, a barely veiled threat in her soft voice. “Don't forget that."

  Claudette woke with a start and sat up in bed, her skin clammy, her heart hammering in her chest, and she breathed hard as though she’d been running for her life. She stared around the room, perplexed and totally disorientated.

  "What is it, ma belle?" Corin woke, sensing her distress, pulling her into his arms as she fought to calm herself. "What is it, darling? Your heart is pounding," he said in alarm as he turned her towards him, stroking her face with his hand.

  "I … I don't know." Claudette frowned as she tried to remember, but the images were disjointed and vague. The harder she tried to grasp them, the quicker they slipped from her grasp. "I'm not sure,” she said, wondering why she felt so sick with terror. “A nightmare, I think,” she said, frowning, and was unsure why that didn’t satisfy her as an answer.

  Corin sighed with relief and kissed her shoulder. "It's gone now, ma belle,” he said, his voice soothing and reassuring in the darkness. “Go back to sleep." He settled her against his chest, stroking her hair, and Claudette sighed as her fears slipped away little by little, in fact, they seemed rather silly now. It must have been a worry dream, what with the wedding and the baby and heaven alone knew what else. She made a mental note not to snack on cheese so close to bedtime, her grandmother had always said it bro
ught on strange dreams. She must have been right after all.

  ***

  "Ouch!" Corin glared at the young man who was finishing the tiny plaits in his hair with gold thread. He was aware that the fellow was a nervous wreck, as he'd never worked for a king before, but really, the man was clumsy and ham-fisted. Silently, he lamented the loss of the little dark-haired elven girl, Felice, who had always done this job for such events before Claudette arrived. Not that he wanted any of the other services she had been so generous with any longer, but she had never pulled his hair, at least. But then the foolish girl had tried to come between him and Claudette when she’d realised Corin was no longer interested in her. Her interference had caused the most terrible row between them, one that he’d almost not lived through. Corin shuddered a little and decided it wouldn’t kill him to get his hair pulled from time to time.

  "Oh, gods, you're not still preening are you?" Laen shook his head, giving a snort of disgust as he entered the room without knocking.

  "I'm not, no," Corin grumbled as his hair was tugged so hard his eyes watered. He shot a dark look at the already terrified young man who bowed and scurried from the room as fast as he could.

  Corin’s valet, Alsten, came back in and tutted, shaking his head with disapproval as he inspected the man's handiwork. "Not a patch on Felice," he said with a heavy sigh.

  "No. Alsten, I agree." Corin got to his feet as Alsten held out his jacket for him. "She was far more skilled."

  "So I've heard," Laen said, his eyes full of mischief, and earned himself a glower from Corin. It was hard enough to keep his past conquests and rather colourful past from Claudette’s ears without Laen making suggestive comments. Still, she wasn’t here, to be fair.

  "Shall I bring your cloak, sire?" Alsten enquired, and Corin grimaced, shaking his head.

  "Gods, no. Not yet. Damn thing weighs a ton. A drink, however, would not go amiss,” he added, his expression hopeful.