“Very funny. Stay on topic. What do I need to do to see my friends?”
“You know more than you are telling me. Give me something. Did your friend create these chasms? Why? How did she do it, and when does she plan to do it again?” He rattled off the questions.
“I just told you we don’t know.”
“You don’t know how. But why? You have to know why.”
I debated my next move. I looked up at Creighton, and his eyes seemed to say it was up to me. “Even she doesn’t know why.” Maybe I was giving away too much, but beating around the bush wasn’t going to help anything.
“That makes no sense.”
“Do most things relating to newly discovered powers make sense?” I blinked, not from the light but because my eyes were begging to close. “That is if you’ve had experience with them before.”
“You can’t be involved in supernatural security without having that sort of experience.”
“Supernatural security, eh?” Creighton asked.
“Yes.” He crossed his arms, accentuating defined muscles.
“What are you?” I went for more questions. If he wanted information, he was going to have to keep sharing. Obviously he wasn’t human. A human wouldn’t run paranormal security or have nymphs running errands for him.
“A Pteron.”
“Then where are your wings?” I’d heard of Pterons, a hybrid bird shifter type, but I’d never met one.
“I don’t have them out all the time. Some things are best left covered up.”
“More than just wings.” I said the words and then realized how they might sound.
Creighton laughed.
I didn’t mind. I’d walked right into it. “Why are you so concerned with the chasms? Have you had attacks too?”
“The chasms have thrown off the balance of things. That makes it my problem.”
“That makes it all of our problems.” That was the truth wasn’t it?
“Your future mate is a wise one.” Jared grinned at Creighton. “From experience, smart girls are the best kind.”
Creighton
I was impressed, but there was no surprise. I knew Lacey was tough and driven. I knew she would step up when needed, but the way she held her own against Jared was impressive. There was no better word than that.
She was also tired. Exhausted really. I was tired too, but not like her. I needed to get her rest, but I was not entirely sure how. Neither of us quite knew where we were, or who we could trust. Nor did we know how to get back home. I feared I might have gotten us both trapped. I knew Lacey had been far from home in Icentris, but I did not know if this place was further from her home or closer. It likely mattered little. Whether you were near or far, if home was unattainable it was unattainable.
“You two can rest if you need to.” Jared pulled a small device from his pocket, glanced at it, and put it back. “I’m not going to lock you up. Contrary to what you think, I’m not a jerk.”
“But you have Frost and Elron locked up.” Lacey gritted her teeth. “There is no other reason Frost would have stayed away from Wren so long.”
“No, I have them confined to the penthouse suite.”
“Penthouse suite?” I had no idea what that meant. “What you call the cage makes no difference. Are they free to go?”
“Absolutely. They are free to go. But it’s not that simple. And you aren’t the only one who needs answers. I need someone to explain the chasms. I have to protect everyone. It’s my job. You’ve admitted to being royalty.” He looked to Lacey. “Surely you understand duty.”
“Oh. I understand duty.” Lacey got this faraway look. “It’s one of the things I understand most.”
She definitely did. She put her court before herself time and time again.
“Then you shouldn’t be surprised about my decisions.”
“What good does keeping them here do? Obviously they aren’t giving you the information you need.” Lacey wrung her hands.
“I already told you I’m not keeping them here, but clearly nothing I can say is going to convince you, so I’m just going to give up on that for now. They brought you here. That’s useful enough.”
“How is that useful? What have we done?” I was glad Lacey was by my side, but I was regretting letting her come more and more. We had no idea where we were or who we were dealing with.
“I now know a royal Fae is behind this.”
Lacey mumbled something under her breath.
“It’s okay. I already had my suspicions that it was tied to the wolf’s mate. Otherwise there would have been no reason for him to be so fiercely protective.”
“Perceptive.” I let the observation slip out.
Jared pulled out the device again. Whatever it was kept getting his attention. “I just know it from experience.”
“Will you at least bring us to them?” We needed proof they were unharmed.
“She needs rest.” Jared pointed to Lacey. “She can barely stand up.”
“She does. We can rest with our friends.”
“I would have thought you’d have wanted private time.” He waggled an eyebrow.
Of course I wanted private time. But this was not a time for selfish desires. “We want to get back home.”
“Are you from her court as well?” He studied me. “You don’t look very spring-ish.”
“No.” I had no idea what would make me spring-ish, as he called it. “But that is not an issue.”
“Then what home do you mean? What home will you reside in?”
“That isn’t your concern.” But it was a major concern for Lacey and me. She had her place at her court. That meant I was the one who would have to leave my home. Leave my mother and my friends. My people. But I could return for visits. And Lacey was worth whatever sacrifices I had to make.
“Trust me from experience, when you are offered safe time alone with your girl, take it. You never know when you are going to get it again. Notice I didn’t say if, because it will happen eventually.”
“Thanks for the relationship advice. I just have no recollection of asking for it.” I was tired of his friendly act. We were not guests. Maybe he was not restraining us, but I highly doubted he would have made it easy for us to leave.
“I’m not your enemy. I am quite certain we are on the same side of this. The trouble is we don’t know anything about each other. I’ve been in this position a lot of years now, and it’s becoming increasingly obvious that all of the different worlds need to work together. We can’t stay separate even if we want to, so we might as well join forces.”
“Join forces? And you have the discretion to advocate for that on behalf of your world? Wherever this world is?” If he was the ruler, why did he fail to share his title?
“I am not a leader if that is what you are asking, but I do hold significant power.” He raised his chin. “I can also offer significant power.”
“I am not looking for power.” I had zero interest in playing those sorts of games.
“No. Of course not.” Jared pulled out the small black device for the third time. He ran his fingers over it this time and then replaced it. I wanted to know what it was, but I assumed the explanation would merely lead me to more questions. “Right now you are concerned with rest for your future mate.”
“I’m fine.” Lacey tried to stifle a yawn.
“Of course you are fine, but you will be much better with rest.” Jared put a hand in his pocket, not the one with the device. “Personally I don’t need much sleep, but I understand that’s not how everyone else runs.”
“Of course you don’t need sleep.” Lacey rolled her eyes. “That would make you weak. And you aren’t weak.”
“Could you drop the attitude? I keep trying to tell you we are on the same side.”
“Okay. Take us to our jail cell then.”
“I have also told you I have no plans for you to be in a cell. I’ve already given away the penthouse, but I am sure we can find you two accommodations up t
o your standards—well, maybe not up to your royal standards, but that will work.”
“Fine.” Lacey sighed. “I don’t have the energy to argue.”
Jared smiled. “Follow me, please.”
I looked around, noticing for the first time that Mink and Della had disappeared. Had I been so focused on Jared that I didn’t notice? I’d also been focused on Lacey, and I knew it. “Where did Mink and Della go?” I knew calling them the nymphs was disrespectful. So far they had not led us astray.
“They like to slip away like that. It’s what makes them useful. They can get attention when they need to; they can avoid it if they want.” Jared walked out of the room, and led the way down a long hallway. The floors were all marble. It gave the place a cold feel, but I liked cold.
“Do you pay them?” Lacey asked. She seemed more at ease once we started walking.
“Of course. Who works for free?”
“Good.” She tugged down on the sleeves of her borrowed coat.
“Concerned for the well being of the nymphs?” Jared asked with amusement.
“Concerned for anyone's well being. We all deserve compensation.” She frowned.
“Once again I remind you I’m not a jerk. I believe the same thing.”
“The harder you try to prove you are a good guy, the less trustworthy you become.”
His forehead furrowed. “That makes no sense.”
“Sure it does.” I was pretty sure I knew what Lacey was getting at. “You are trying too hard.”
“I’m not trying too hard. I'm defending myself.”
“What are you defending yourself from?” Lacey turned to look at him. “Surely not me. Why would you have any reason to worry about me?”
“Your friend has created chasms between worlds that have unleashed terrible creatures. But I have nothing to worry about with you?”
“Okay. Thanks. That’s what I needed.” Lacey grinned.
“Uh…” Jared looked positively puzzled. Admittedly, I felt the same way.
“That was a normal reaction. Maybe you aren’t a bad guy.”
Jared leaned over toward me. “I do think she needs some rest.”
I was uncertain what to say. Agreeing with him was going to get me in trouble, so I went with a safer route. “I know I could use some rest.”
“Oh, well then, I will rest with you.” Lacey slipped her hand into mine.
Evidently that had been the right answer. I’d done something right.
“Will you take us to see our friends first?” Lacey asked.
“If that will make you feel better.”
“Of course it will make me feel better.” There was a new lightness to her step. “Us. It will make us feel better.”
I laughed. “Glad you decided to include me.”
“I’m not used to this couple thing.”
“You are calling us a couple.” I really liked the sound of it.
“Oh. Am I not supposed to?”
“We are going to be mating, so I think it’s entirely appropriate.”
“Then why did you ask?”
“Just surprised to hear you say it. A good surprise, mind you.”
Jared stopped in front of a metal door. He pressed a button.
I was not sure why we were stopping, but I assumed there was a good reason. If Jared had wanted to attack us, surely he would have done it already.
The metal slid to the side revealing an opening. Jared stepped in. Lacey and I exchanged glances. I gave her a little nod before I stepped in, pulling her lightly with me. The metal slid back into place, trapping us inside. Jared inserted a small card.
“You two okay?” He glanced over. “It looks like you’ve never been in an elevator before.”
“Elevator?” Lacey repeated the word as we started to move upward. At least that is how it felt. “Is that what this is?”
He laughed. “Of course. Your worlds don’t have modern technology, do they?”
“My court has everything it needs.” Lacey put the hand not currently in mine on her hip.
“Okay. Pit stop.” He pushed another button. We came to a stop. The metal slid to the side, and we were looking out at a cavernous room full of people. Jared stepped out. “First stop. This won’t take long.”
“Where are we?” I tried to find some comparison from my experience to what I was seeing, but I was drawing a blank. It was crowded like a market, but I did not see many wares, although there was a group of people crowded around a large wooden table top. Jared headed in that direction, and I followed, keeping Lacey’s hand firmly in mine.
Jared stopped. “Welcome to the Crescent City Hotel.”
“Hotel?” Lacey rubbed her temple. “I recognize that term. Is that like an inn or tavern?”
“Yeah. Sort of. A big one.” James started walking again.
A man wearing a large necklace displaying a pair of woman’s breasts nearly walked into us. We dodged him by moving closer to a group of women dressed in tiny, brightly colored outfits. “Quite a mix of people you have here.”
Jared grinned. “It is New Orleans.”
“Where?” Lacey and I asked in unison.
“You two really aren’t from this world. I’ve met lots of creatures from elsewhere before, but they usually know something of this city. It is a supernatural haven.”
“Are these people supernaturals then?” I glanced back where the man with the necklace waited with a group of men who all appeared to be deeply inebriated. They certainly did not appear supernatural to me.
“No.” Jared shook his head. “Mostly human up here.”
“I see.” I did not know what he meant by up here, maybe in contrast to where we had met him. With all the other questions I could have asked, that one seemed inconsequential.
James walked over to the wooden table top, which turned out to be a bar. At least I knew what that was. I eyed the rows of bottles behind it.
“You guys like whiskey?” He paused with his back to the bar.
“Uh, is that a spirit?”
“Yes.” Jared nodded. “Okay, I think I’ll save us all time and just order something I bet you’ll like.” He turned to the bar, and I turned my attention to Lacey. She was gazing all around her in wonder.
“All right then.” Jared held out two low glasses full of a brown liquor. “Hopefully I guessed right.”
“What are these?” Lacey accepted a glass.
“It’s a Vieux Carre, not that the name means anything to you.”
“Why are you giving them to us?” Lacey narrowed her eyes.
“Because I think you’ll like it. Didn’t you hear me?”
“Yeah… but.” Lacey sniffed the glass.
“But what? Is this when you tell me that my getting you a drink is me trying too hard, so I’m actually a bad guy?”
“No.” She shook the glass a little, causing the ice to clink against the side. “I think I'm over that line of argument.”
“Fantastic.” Jared held up his glass. “To getting over that line of argument.”
Without much thought I tapped my glass against Jared’s when he offered it and also Lacey’s. Sometimes our bodies respond to social gestures without us consciously meaning to join in.
I sipped the drink. It was smooth, with a bit of spice and a hint of sweetness. Well-balanced in nearly every way. “Nice choice.”
Jared put some paper bills on the bar. “Glad you think so.” He turned to Lacey. “Your turn.”
“Did you really only bring us here for these?” Lacey held up her glass.
“And to give you a sense of where you are. You seemed rather out of sorts. Now you see you aren’t in a castle locked away somewhere. You are in a hotel, in a populated area of a major city.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that our friends are prisoners.” It was strange calling people I never met friends, but it was easier that way.
“You are a very hard woman to please.” Jared walked away from the bar. “Good luck.” He laughed in
my direction.
“He doesn’t need luck.” Lacey linked her arm with mine.
“I’m not going to take a bite out of that one.” Jared laughed. “I’m finally off the bad guy list.”
He walked back over to what we now knew was an elevator and pressed a button. This time we weren’t surprised when the door slid closed. He pressed a button inside and we headed up again. There was ding, and the door opened. Jared sipped his drink before heading down a small narrow hallway. He stopped in front of a door and knocked.
The door pulled open from the inside. An elf peered out, and his eyes quickly moved to Lacey. “Oh, hey there. Glad you could make it.”
Lacey
“Hey Lacey.” Frost smiled from his place at a long table. “So good to see you.”
Hey Lacey? So good to see you? I was going to kill him. Kill him. Was this a joke? “What is going on here? Why did Elron just pull open the door?”
“Why don’t we continue this conversation inside.” Jared gestured for us to enter and pulled the door shut behind him.
“We thought you were kidnapped. Or detained. Yes, that’s the word the naked nymphs used when they came for us.” Anger boiled up inside me. And confusion. I didn’t enjoy either sensation.
“Naked nymphs?” Panic crossed Frost’s face. “Please tell me they didn’t visit with everyone.”
“With everyone?” I struggled to keep my anger down. It was boiling, and it was going to blow soon. “You mean Wren?”
Frost’s eyes darkened.
“Oh no you don’t.” I laughed dryly. “Don’t even start. I am so angry at you I don’t have words.”
“Okay. Let’s calm down here.” Jared made a downward motion with his hands. “She didn’t tell me anything I couldn’t have filled in the details of myself. You would have saved a lot of time being honest with me from the get go. And we are all on the same side here. Okay?” He turned to me. “Remember, we are done with the bad guy narrative.”
I wasn’t worried about what side Jared was on. I stepped within inches of Frost. “Explain yourself.” I was so exhausted I struggled to stand, but that didn’t mean I was going to back down. “Why would you do this? Lure us in? Stay away from Wren? She’s been so worried.”
Spring's Wolf (A Court of Shifters Chronicles #2) Page 7
