Fragile Destiny (The Aether Chronicles)

by Suzanne Lazear

  the men are wearing, and she wants me to dance with you until you’re not sad anymore.” She squeezed his hand. “We don’t like it when you’re sad.”

  “Which is why we’re going to drink away our sorrows.” James raised his glass.

  Steven suppressed a groan. Between his father’s and Charlotte’s deaths, James had been through a lot, but getting tipsy in a burlesque hall in New York City on ladies’ night wasn’t going to help. Not in a way that would actually be useful.

  “Drinking won’t bring anyone back.” Noli patted James’ arm. “I miss them too.” The kitten poked his head through the top of James’ coat. She laughed and scratched the kitten’s ears.

  “James, what do you think happened to Urco?” Seeing the kitten made Steven recall Mathias’ hound, which made him think of his own. Urco had been his dog as a child, but he’d had to leave him behind in the Otherworld.

  James shrugged and half-drained his glass. “I didn’t see him at the big house, but then I didn’t see any animals—no hounds, horses, or anything. Aunt Dinessa might know.”

  “That’s a good idea.” Perhaps Urco was in the palace kennels. Hopefully he was still alive. Steven missed him and should have thought to look for him sooner.

  Noli cocked her head. “Who’s Urco?”

  “Urco’s my dog. He’s a fae hound. Technically they’re not allowed in this realm, so I had to leave him behind when we were exiled,” he explained.

  “Oh. Do you miss him? I’ve never had a pet.” Noli took a sip of wine. It was a beautiful color, a sort of deep purple most unlike the wines he’d seen in this realm.

  He thought of Urco; the pup would be full grown by now. “I … I do.”

  “Ah, you’re here.” Mathias appeared, well-dressed and elegant as usual. His hair was a blond so pale it was near white, his eyes a clear blue. He looked curiously at Noli.

  “Mathias, this is Magnolia Braddock. Noli, this is Mathias. He’s the friend of Quinn’s I was telling you about,” Steven said.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Noli inclined her head politely, but curiosity shone in her eyes.

  “Come, join us.” James patted an empty seat at the table.

  Mathias looked at the kitten head poking out from James’ jacket. “I summoned you; a gift is unnecessary, Séamus.”

  James shrugged and handed the kitten to him. “I like catching them.”

  Steven smacked himself in the forehead.

  Noli’s shoulders stayed hunched. She focused on her drink as the music changed and men came over to the tables and asked ladies to dance. “You have very good taste.” Mathias indicated her glass. “It’s imported from the Otherworld and there’s a very limited supply.”

  “What happened to Quinn,” Steven blurted, sick of pleasantries.

  Mathias’ lips formed a thin line as he passed the kitten to one of the half-naked waiters. “Quinn and Ailís were on their way here, taking refuge in various safe places. Then … something happened. All I know is that I was to meet him in Central

  Park and take Ailís so that he could tend to something. When I arrived … ”

  “It was Brogan, wasn’t it?” Noli’s face contorted as she stared into the depths of her glass. “Another death that’s all my fault.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Steven squeezed her hand, trying to ease her guilt.

  “It was Brogan’s men, but they had no reason to hurt Quinn.” Mathias shook his head. “I fear they may have come for your sister and he died protecting her.”

  “Quinn’s dead?” James’ eyes went glassy. Quinn had been many things to them, including a father figure, since their own father was so absent, both figuratively and literally.

  They would have to mourn later, especially if Brogan was after Elise.

  “Where is she?” Worry swirled inside Steven like a maelstrom. It was his job to protect her; if anything happened he’d never be able to forgive himself.

  Mathias shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m so sorry.”

  “They didn’t kill Elise, did they? She’s a little girl.” James paled.

  Mathias raised his hand. “No. That’s the problem. My attempts to locate her have been unsuccessful.” He shook his head. “Quinn trusted me to protect her and I can’t even find her.” Pain crossed his face. “However, I think she escaped. I traced her to the portal in Central Park.”

  “Didn’t you tell us that there wasn’t a public portal here?” Steven’s eyebrows rose.

  “It’s not actually public, even if it is in the middle of the park. From what I can tell, Ailís took it to the Otherworld. I don’t know where she went. I can’t speak wood faery—or tree. I’m hoping she took the portal to your family’s home … or perhaps to your mother.”

  Steven sucked in a breath. “Elise doesn’t really understand the Otherworld; she was so young when we came here. She also thinks our mum is dead.”

  “Oh.” Mathias’ look turned grave. “Then you should go after her. Keeping her safe was of the utmost importance to Quinn.”

  “Indeed.” His blood went cold. Elise, alone in the Otherworld? There was so much she didn’t know.

  James finished his drink. “Where in Central Park is it? We need to get her.”

  “Of course.” Mathias punctuated this with a nod. “I’ll take you there immediately.”

  “What about the body?” Steven asked. Quinn deserved a proper burial.

  “What are your wishes?” Mathias folded his hands in front of him on the table. “If you have none, I’ll be happy to take responsibility.”

  “I think he should be buried at the House of Oak, next to my father.” His voice wavered slightly as he said that. He thought for a moment, wording his question carefully. “Do you think Quinn needing to tend to something has anything to do with the fact that someone may be … interested in something he once researched?”

  For a long moment Mathias stayed silent. “That’s a probability. I’ve heard things that might involve objects best left undiscovered.”

  Steven nodded, not willing to offer more information at this time.

  “Though Quinn was a man of many secrets,” Mathias added.

  Steven thought of the passage in his journal that mentioned Kevighn’s sister. “Indeed.”

  Mathias led them out of the establishment and they caught a motorcab to Central Park. Dark was falling and Steven kept Noli close.

  They came to a locked iron gate. Mathias gestured to them. “Anyone?”

  Steven used his magic to open the lock. They entered the garden and walked through an arch of ivy. The moon’s image reflected on a small pond.

  He sucked in a breath. “This is beautiful.”

  Mathias led them to a large, old tree. Immediately, little wood faeries poked their heads out of knotholes and other hiding places. Nosey little things. James questioned the faeries. No longer afraid of using magic in this realm, Steven spoke to the tree itself.

  Yes, there was no doubt that Elise had gone through here, though it had been used since. The tree said that she remembered where Elise had gone and could take them there.

  “She passed through here,” James told him. “The faeries remember her.”

  “The tree also remembers. Noli, let’s go.” Steven waved her over; she was speaking with Mathias.

  James’ face scrunched. “Should we really just barge into the Otherworld?”

  “Swords out, I suppose?” Steven took his pen from his pocket, flicked his wrist, and it turned into his father’s sword.

  “Showoff,” James muttered as he did the same to his boot knife.

  “I want a sword.” Noli’s lip jut out in protest. “James says I’m doing better.”

  “V, I know you have more than one sword on you. Just let her use one of yours,” James said with an easy shrug.

  “I don’t have a girl
’s sword.” It was difficult to not make a face. No one touched his swords. Not even Noli.

  “We’ll find one for you,” James assured her.

  “Mathias, we appreciate your help.” Steven gave him a wave.

  Mathias waved back. “Good luck with your search. I hope you find her. Please don’t be afraid to come to me if you ever need assistance.”

  “That’s a kind offer.” Steven put his hand on the trunk of the tree. Noli and James did the same. He reached out to the tree with his mind. Please, take us to where you took her.

  Kevighn walked the streets of New York, pulling his coat tighter, favorite cane in hand, top hat poised jauntily on his head. Once, it had been here, not San Francisco, where he sought amusement. This time he tracked Magnolia. Why was she here?

  At the door of the club, he frowned. This was a fae establishment. Not what he expected.

  Whose place was this? Kevighn sent out tendrils of magic. Oh, this was where Mathias was hiding? Figured. But what business would his fair blossom have with the likes of Mathias? He paid the doorman and walked inside.

  A very scantily clad girl in red sashayed up to him. “May I help you?”

  He smiled at her and tipped his top hat. “I need to speak with Mathias.”

  “Oh, do you, now?” Her look grew coy. “Do you have an appointment?”

  “I’m here on behalf of Kyran Dempsey.” He passed her a coin. She flounced off. He looked around at the lobby filled with well-dressed men. Some were led to a dining room and others past a velvet curtain behind the podium.

  The girl returned, pale. She gave him a little bow. “This way, sir.”

  She led him down a hallway, and into a small office. “He’ll see you shortly.”

  This was much more opulent and cluttered than Ciarán’s office. The back wall was entirely filled with books, with a fireplace on one side. Kevighn took a seat across from the desk.

  No, Noli wasn’t in this building. But she had been. Again, why?

  “Kevighn Silver-Tongue, you’re no longer working for the queen?” Mathias entered the office, looking like the same pompous bastard as always.

  “You have no right to judge me,” Kevighn snapped. “I’m working for Kyran again. He’ll be very interested to know your whereabouts.”

  Mathias spread his hands. “I am but a humble businessman.”

  “Bullshit.” Especially the humble part. Spoiled high court trash.

  Mathias’ blue eyes narrowed. “This is my establishment. You have no authority here. If Kyran has anything to say to me, then he should do it himself.”

  He remained standing, towering over Kevighn, trying to be imposing. But Kevighn’s years in the high court had made him immune to such posturing.

  “I’m tracking a girl for him. Her name is Magnolia Braddock. She’s probably traveling with two young earth court princes. How long ago was she here, why was she here, and where did she go?” Kevighn eyed him, daring him to not be forthcoming with the information.

  Mathias crossed his arms over his chest, expression chilly. “Why?”

  Ugh, he was still an ass. “That’s none of your business. Now, tell me or I will—”

  “Shut up, Silver.” Mathias pounded his fist in the middle of the desk. “You can’t command me to do anything. Leave or I’ll have you thrown out.”

  Kevighn stood; anger raged through him. “You’ll pay for this.”

  “You wish,” Mathias smirked.

  “A war is brewing. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get your loyalties straight. Oh wait, you don’t have any.” Kevighn shoved his way past Mathias and stalked out of the building. That was fruitless.

  Where did she go from here? Kevighn followed the tracking spell back to the garden in Central Park, the one he’d followed Elise through.

  What? Unless the princes know about their father’s death and were tracking their sister.

  Kevighn rubbed his hands together, hoping they wound up at the Thirsty Pooka and that he could get there first. Yes, this would be quite interesting.

  Nine

  The Thirsty Pooka

  Noli looked around the eerie, forgotten wood, a half-dead tree behind them. Why had Elise come here? Something about this place felt familiar. She looked around, studying the area. It seemed like she’d been here before, yet it was different. Oh, the rundown house was gone. This was where she’d run once, fleeing Kevighn’s advances.

  Without really thinking about where she was headed, she began to walk.

  “We’re in wild lands,” V said, close behind her. “It’s not quite the same as the pure magic I showed you, but close. We should be careful.”

  He pulled out his sigil, a sunburst of gold wire with a green stone at its center. It was the mark of his house, the House of Oak. If you looked closely, you could see the image of a tree, the branches and roots intertwined.

  “What are you doing?” Noli squinted at the medallion in his hand. Once, she’d had one; she still missed it. Right now, V was forbidden from giving her another.

  “Tracking her, just like I tracked you. It doesn’t work as well in the mortal realm, which is why we used the other spells,” V explained. He muttered something, holding it in his palm. In his other hand he kept hold of his unsheathed sword. James did the same.

  They walked through the chaos. Suddenly everything changed, like they’d crossed an invisible line. They stood in a grove of trees. Creideamh’s grove. Without waiting for the boys, Noli made her way to the base of the big tree in the center. The sweet smell of the star blooms she’d planted made her nose twitch in delight.

  Little wood faeries accosted her, pulling her hair and sitting on her nose, trying to tell her something.

  “Now that’s a tree house,” James breathed from behind her.

  “It’s all right,” she soothed, wishing she could understand faery speech. “They’re with me. We’re looking for a girl. Did she come through here?”

  They replied in a flurry of incomprehensible sounds.

  “Slow down,” V told them. “One at a time.” He frowned. “It seems as if Elise was trying to get to your tree house, but the portal brought her here instead.”

  “To my tree house? But it’s not a portal.” Noli’s nose scrunched.

  “I don’t think Elise understands how portals work.” V cocked his head in thought. “Since your tree house isn’t a portal, the portal must have taken her here.”

  James turned around and around, taking the place in. “But where are we?”

  It did make sense. But why did they have to come here, of all places? Hopefully Kevighn wasn’t present. That could be very, very bad.

  “What?” V’s eyes bulged as one of the faeries spoke to him. “Noli, the faeries said that they told her to wait here for you. Why would they do that?” His face fell and with it, so did her heart.

  Noli exhaled, stomach churning. “I’ve been here before,” she admitted quietly. There was no sense in hiding it. “This is Creideamh’s tree house.”

  “Oh. She was Kevighn’s sister, was she not?” V frowned, and James just blinked.

  “Indeed.” Noli sighed again as a little pink faery perched on her shoulder to comfort her, sensing her distress. “We’re behind Kevighn’s cabin, the one where he kept me when he brought me to the Otherworld. I … I spent a lot of time in this tree house when I was here.” As much as she wouldn’t admit it to V, those hadn’t been unhappy times. She’d enjoyed being in the tree house, taking care of the gardens.

  “Oh. This is Kevighn’s place?” The light went out of V’s face.

  Tears pricked Noli’s eyes. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but V’s distress made her feel guilty.

  “Where’s Elise?” she asked the faeries. “Is she still here? In the tree house? V, why can’t I understand them?” It came out as a partial wail. How c
ome V and James understood the faeries but she couldn’t?

  You’re not listening right, the sprite interjected. Listen with your heart, not your ears.

  What? How exactly did one listen without using ears?

  Just … here.

  Noli felt herself shoved out of the body and the sprite took over. Give me the body back, she snapped at the sprite.

  I can’t explain. I have to show you, the sprite replied.

  “Tell me again?” Noli asked the faeries.

  All of the sudden, she heard a sweet but high-pitched voice, something like a bird chirp. As the chirp continued, words emerged.

  Did you get that? the sprite asked her. Kevighn took her. She went with him because he said he’d keep her safe until he found you. He sent a faery to tell you he was taking her to the Thirsty Pooka in the Blackwoods. Can we go there? That sounds fun. Also, Kevighn is nice to look at.

  May I have our body back? She still wasn’t quite sure what the sprite had done.

  Did I help? The sprite liked to be helpful.

  Yes, so much. Noli assumed control of her body once more.

  “Noli, are you all right?” V steadied her. “That was—”

  “Really strange,” James finished.

  “Kevighn has her.” The words stuck in her throat.

  Outrage flashed in V’s eyes. “Why would he do that?” Then he listened to the faeries. “And where’s this place he took her? The Thirsty Pooka?”

  “It’s in the Blackwoods,” Noli whispered. That was also where Kevighn had told her she could find him.

  “The Blackwoods is dark court territory.” James went pale. “Why would he go there?”

  The pieces were starting to fall together, but only just. “Kevighn once belonged to the dark court, you know,” Noli said. “He rejoined it after Tiana exiled him. Also … ” Her hands twisted. “When you were talking to the tree and the faeries in the park, I was speaking to Mathias.” She met V’s eyes. “He told me that ‘Kyran’ was an alias of the dark king.”

  The air hissed out of V. “So when Kevighn paid your brother for the artifact pieces, he’d gotten the money from Kyran. That means that the dark king knows about the artifact.”