The Queen's Crown (Court of Midnight and Deception Book 3)

by K. M. Shea

  “Gee, that’s an uplifting thought,” I said. “Please don’t tell Chase, or he’ll never let me leave to go get coffee again.”

  Before Rigel could reply, Solis breezed into the tearoom with a smile. “I apologize for my tardiness. I had some unexpected delays at home. My poor sun stallion kept the portal open for a good five minutes while we went back and forth between the castle and the gate to retrieve things I’d forgotten.” He shook his head in mock disapproval at himself, then seated himself with his usual grace in a wooden armchair across from Rigel’s and my sofa.

  “Good afternoon, King Solis,” Verdant said.

  Solis nodded to her. “Queen Verdant. Ah—thank you, Consort Flora. Might I enquire what today’s blend is?” Solis smiled warmly at our hostess as she handed him a porcelain teacup.

  “Indeed. I selected a green tea with notes of ginger, that it might warm our inner beings in this beautiful but frigid time of winter.” Queen Flora curtsied slightly to Rime, who looked up from her cellphone game long enough to acknowledge the comment.

  I tried to discreetly shift so I wasn’t getting sweat all over the sofa pillows—so hot! “I don’t think that’s really a problem in this realm?” I asked.

  “Perhaps, but I do find the temperatures of the human world sink into my bones and stay with me, even when I visit my milder weathered Day Realm,” Solis said.

  “Indeed,” Verdant agreed. “Tea is the perfect remedy for such an issue.”

  Birch glanced at Verdant and opened his mouth—probably to insult her—but his wife passed in front of Birch in order to refill Fell’s cup, and I was pretty sure she stepped on his toe or something in the process because he abruptly shut his mouth.

  “Ginger, I feel, especially helps with such a thing,” Flora said.

  Although the tea talk was interesting, I recognized this more casual setting was hopefully going to give me the chance to ask something I’d been dying to know for months.

  “Hey, Rime.” I shifted my body to face the Winter Queen. “What are you always playing on your cellphone?”

  Rime paused, then reluctantly held out her phone. It depicted a girl dressed up in a winter parka, and a line of accessories were on display next to her. “It’s a dress up game. You play as the main character and battle others using varying clothing styles and designs, which you collect and make as you journey from land to land.”

  I stared in shock as Rime scrolled through some of the outfits, showing me everything from a cute cat themed outfit, to something more like a fairy princess.

  “Huh, wow,” I said, unable to think of anything else.

  Rime slightly lifted her chin. “I have a very extensive collection as I’ve been playing for a number of years. I enjoy it.”

  “It looks fun! All those outfits are really cool.” I backtracked fast. “I just—I mean…it’s not the kind of game I would have thought you’d play.”

  This is Rime! I assumed it would be something cut throat but elegant, like online chess or something. But maybe that’s my own prejudice? Rime should play whatever she likes—and at least this is a human developed app.

  Plus, now that I think of it, with the way the fae play dress to fit the image they want to project for the day, maybe it’s not so shocking that Queen Rime of the Winter Court likes playing dress up.

  “How did you get into mobile gaming?” I asked.

  And then the world imploded.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Leila

  Something roared, and magic blazed across my senses before that ancient and sharp magic Chase and I had been tracking forever sliced through it, engulfing the burning magic—which I recognized as dragon shifter magic—and consuming it.

  Before I could even blink Rigel was standing. He pulled his daggers from his bracers without making a sound. “Aer,” Rigel said, and the daggers sparked to life.

  Birch and Flora turned to each other, their faces filled with unguarded horror and fear.

  “Amaranth,” Flora whispered.

  Birch jumped a coffee table and ran for the patio.

  “Flore.” I activated my charm bracelet and barreled after him, aware of a high-pitched buzzing.

  Six motorbikes were speeding across the hill the night mares and I had climbed when we’d first arrived, plowing through the field of green crops as the motors of their bikes purred. They all wore helmets and black clothes, but I was betting they were fae.

  Is this an attack on me? But why follow me to the Summer Realm?

  “There.” Flora pointed to one of the motorbikes, which had two riders—and one of them was child sized and fighting. “Amaranth!” Flora screamed, her voice brimming with anguish and terror.

  I gulped. “Amaranth—is that?”

  “Our daughter,” Birch said grimly. “Guards! Intruders!”

  Three enormous hawks appeared in the sky, their piercing screams loud enough to split clouds.

  They dove at the motorbikes, but one of the drivers raised his fist and loosened a barrier that curved over their heads, walling them off so the hawks’ claws scraped the protective spell. The magic was the same knife-like magic I’d felt earlier, but stronger and more potent.

  Bells clanged, and I saw guards emerge from the hidden inlets and rooms of the house.

  Birch ran, disappearing down the hallway as he raced to join his men, while Rime and Solis joined us at the patio.

  “They’re aiming for the forest,” Solis said. “They’ll never catch them once they reach the trees!”

  I unthinkingly clutched Rigel’s arm, leaning into him as I watched the motorbikes race through the wheat fields, making for the forest that stretched out on the other side of the palace.

  “No!” Flora grabbed the patio bannister and collapsed to her knees.

  Rime placed a hand on Flora’s shoulder, which shook as she cried.

  Something in my gut twisted. I have to help.

  “Kevin, Steve!” I shouted, hoping they’d hear me above the racket.

  My shades leaped out of the stream and gazed up at me with glowing eyes.

  I pointed at the motorbikes. “Track them—they’re heading to the forest! I’ll be right behind you!”

  The shades left—black shadows that skittered across the courtyard as they escaped into the open fields.

  I waited long enough to make sure the hawks weren’t going to bother them before shouting again. “Comet!”

  The mare tore out of the lean-to, screaming a challenge and flashing her serrated teeth.

  I glanced at the hallway Birch had run down, but I knew there was no way I’d be able to find my way. So I climbed over the patio bannister.

  A waterfall gushed directly below me, dropping into a pool of water that looked like it was maybe shin deep, but I couldn’t tell for sure since I was hanging directly over it.

  I’m going to break my neck.

  “Leila!” Skye shouted.

  I ignored her as I eased myself over the side of the patio, slowly shimmying down the bannister so I didn’t hang quite so high up over the waterfall.

  It’s fine. Totally fine. I am not, in fact, going to die from this.

  My muscles burned and shook as I dangled from my arms.

  I held my breath and let go.

  I was too scared to scream, but I breathed again in a startled gasp when I landed in the pool. The shin-high water was freezing cold, and dropping a story down jarred my legs and spine, but it didn’t hurt when I splashed my way out and climbed into the courtyard.

  “Leila, here!” Indigo chucked my helmet at me. I caught it one-handed and crammed it down on my head. I snapped the buckle in place, then took my handgun and shoulder holster from Indigo as she passed them over. I yanked the shoulder holster over my arm as I jogged toward Comet, who danced in place and rolled her yellow eyes.

  She stilled as I threw myself at her bare back, ungainly scrambling as I pulled myself up.

  “Why is it that whenever we have to go somewhere fast, you’re never wearin
g a saddle?” I kicked my leg over her back and sat up, digging my fingers into her thin mane.

  Comet screamed and turned in a tight circle that almost had me pitching over her side.

  “Here,” Skye snapped. Unafraid of Comet’s prancing, she got close to us and thrust my staff into my lap.

  “Thanks! Call Chase—tell him the kidnappers used that foreign magic,” I called over my shoulder as Comet pranced toward the courtyard entrance, Nebula a few steps ahead of us.

  “What? Leila—then you can’t go after them! It’s too dangerous!”

  I clamped my legs around Comet’s barrel and leaned low over her neck. It was the easiest way to twist my arms around the staff—with it leaning against Comet’s neck on one side and then her opposite flank as it crisscrossed across her body—and keep my own balance.

  The night mares picked up speed as we left the courtyard for the open fields.

  Somewhere ahead of us, at the edge of the woods, Kevin and Steve howled.

  The motorbikers weren’t quite to the forest yet, but they were already far ahead of us.

  “We’ve got to catch up!” I said.

  Nebula snorted, tucked her muzzle, then took off.

  Comet screamed as a shadow from one of the giant hawks passed over us, then she burst into a gallop.

  I’d always known the night mares were fast.

  I’d never seen another animal that could keep up with them.

  But as Comet and Nebula tore across wheat fields, their hooves digging up plants and clods of dirt, I realized we were gaining on the motorbikers. Fast.

  My stomach did a few somersaults in my gut when I glanced down and saw how fast the ground raced past.

  My eyes stung.

  I wanted to squeeze them shut, but that would be stupidly dangerous—if Comet had to make a tight turn and I wasn’t prepared I’d slide right off. And at the speeds we were going, that was dangerous—even with my helmet.

  I kept my eyes open and focused on hanging on—and not banging Comet in the head with my staff.

  Just before the six motorbikers disappeared into the forest I saw Amaranth—the little girl—flail.

  The memory of Flora’s anguished sobs burned across my shoulders. I clenched my teeth and didn’t pull back or try to slow Comet down as we closed in on the forest.

  Nebula and Comet plowed into the trees at a full gallop, their hides streaked with sweat.

  I shrank even lower over Comet’s neck, trusting the mare to choose the safest path as twigs scratched my arms and legs.

  I heard the angry scream of the hawks. They undoubtedly flew above us, but they couldn’t see what was going on through the screen of the trees.

  Off to the right, Steve and Kevin howled.

  Comet and Nebula turned in their direction, veering away from the buzz of the motorbikes as they checked their stride, avoiding trees and bushes.

  We caught up with Steve and Kevin seconds later—the shades had found some kind of hunting trail that was cleared of underbrush. They were loping down it, but they slowed—and the night mares curbed their speed—when we caught up to them.

  Judging by the purr of the bikes—which I could hear now that the wind wasn’t howling in my ears—they were unknowingly driving parallel to us.

  “Get in front of them,” I said. “We’ll circle back and face them head on. We can’t sneak and take them out one by one—we’ll risk letting them get away. And the kid might not survi—” My throat closed, and I snapped the unpleasant thought off before I could complete it.

  Comet and Nebula snorted, then took off, their hooves striking the soft turf like thunder.

  I wish it was a little darker. We could use the intimidation factor.

  The forest was dim, but there weren’t many shadows. And while I would rather die than admit I was hoping for help from my consort, my heart wasn’t nearly so prideful.

  Twice I almost lost my grip on my staff as my palms started to sweat, but I clung on through sheer determination as we passed the throaty growl of the motorbikes.

  When we got far enough in front of them the night mares cut across the forest, moving to intercept them.

  The light was a little dimmer in the heart of the forest, and the temperature seemed cooler as we raced toward the kidnappers.

  When I saw the first motorbike’s headlights I sat up and tapped the magic my staff had been spitting out since I’d taken it from Skye.

  I forged a rune, intending to raise a ward that would stretch out in front of the bikers, making them stop and change direction.

  My purple magic glowed as I channeled it into the rune, moving as quickly as I could to build something that would be strong enough.

  Nebula screamed a challenge as she and Comet slowed to a trot. To my surprise, even before I erected the ward the bikers skidded to a stop.

  “That’s her!”

  “Shoot now—take her down!”

  Shoot? I wondered bewilderedly as I activated the rune, which bloomed into a purple barrier, then almost tumbled over Comet’s shoulders when the biker closest to me pulled a gun off a shoulder holster I hadn’t noticed and shot at me.

  My ward stood steady—it didn’t even ripple when the bullets pinged on its iridescent surface.

  I was not quite so solid.

  “They’ve got guns? Wh-why? When?” I threw myself off Comet’s back and plunged my staff into the ground, hurriedly expanding my ward as some of the bikers in back started to edge toward the sides of my magic.

  Very few supernaturals fought with guns. The Drakes did, as did many werewolves, but typically fae looked down on the weapon.

  But these people wielded that specific foreign magic we’d been tracking, and now they were moving on to using guns?

  This was a trap. Amaranth was the bait.

  One of the bikers drove his bike around the side of my ward.

  Comet and Nebula were on him in an instant. Nebula crushed his bike, and Comet ripped through his black leather jacket with her unnatural teeth, digging so deep into his skin it made him scream, which I could hear even though it was muffled by his black helmet.

  They lured me out here to get me away from Rigel and the other monarchs. And now they’re going to kill me.

  I couldn’t beat six—now five—guys in the Summer Realm. And that’s probably what they were banking on.

  “Guess I’ll die—as if.”

  I stalked up to my shield and snarled—I didn’t even notice when the forest grew even darker. Wielding my magic, I started a blinding light inside the helmet of a biker who was starting to go over to the other open side of my ward while Comet and Nebula were occupied.

  The biker clawed at her helmet before ripping the thing off and chucking it away.

  I only had to glance at her face to confirm my suspicions—with her long hair, fine features, and slightly tapered ears she was most certainly a fae—and one of noble blood to boot.

  She rubbed at her eyes and staggered on the other side of my ward, coming so close I could see the zipper on her jacket. I was surprised the other bikers didn’t hit her—they were still peppering my ward with a seemingly endless stream of bullets.

  I felt my shoulder holster and the weight of my handgun in it, and I wondered.

  Can I disrupt my ward just enough to lift it up a tiny bit? I wouldn’t have to worry about getting shot—they’re not aiming for my feet.

  I dug my nails into my staff as I watched bullets ping off my solid ward.

  The bikers were starting to move again—they were going to try to creep around me.

  If I’m going to try this, I need to make a move now.

  I threw myself to the ground, ripping my gun from my shoulder holster as I fell.

  When I hit the spongy, moss covered forest floor I wracked my handgun—loading a bullet—and flicked the safety off.

  My staff half landed on top of me—I banged myself in the head with the metal moon hard enough to make me hate the Original Creep a little more in the moment
. But it meant I kept contact with my artifact and I could feel my ward.

  Up. Just a hand’s width up, please.

  Moving by instinct, I retracted the ward, pulling on it instead of pushing it like I did when expanding it.

  I carefully peeled back the magic at the base, drawing it up just enough to create a small gap.

  Perfect.

  I poked my handgun under the barrier and lined up my shot—which was pretty much impossible to miss because I almost could have reached out and grabbed the lady’s boots—then took my shot.

  The biker shouted in pain and toppled to her knees.

  I lined up my second shot—this time aiming for her chest. I gritted my teeth—I’d never take pleasure in hurting people, even if it was necessary—and shot her again.

  She flopped to the ground, her muffled shouts sounding agonized.

  I considered trying another target, but handguns are not the most accurate weapon at a distance, and the rest of the bikers were pretty far back.

  As they realized what I’d done and started to aim at the ground, I slammed my ward back into place as I flicked the safety of my handgun on.

  I stood up, and my night mares rejoined me, taking up a post on either side of me.

  “Two down—that means we’re facing four. I’m feeling pretty confident in those odds, don’t you two?” I asked my night mares.

  I studied the bikers in the very back of the group.

  I don’t think I’m going to be able to lure them forward now that they know they’re not the only ones with firepower. How do I attack them, then?

  “No!” Amaranth screamed. “Stop! Look out!”

  The biker holding Amaranth—fighting with her, actually, because the little girl was resisting with everything she had—was tottering off on the very fringe of the group. I think he’d been trying to sneak around my ward, but the little girl figured out his plan.

  I saw pinpricks of crimson glow behind him, and then Kevin and Steve appeared.

  The shades yanked him off his bike and pulled him off to the side, away from the gun fire. He shouted as they bit him, but he held on to Amaranth, dragging her along with him, until Steve bit down on his wrist.