The Dead and the Dusk (The Nightmare Court Book 2)

by Val Saintcrowe

  She licked her lips.

  “Don’t argue,” said the king. “I won’t hear it. You can have a good life with us. The queen won’t mind. She is utterly consumed with the boys now. And I have assured you that I will not touch you. You won’t have to do anything you don’t like. You can spend all your time reading books if you wish. Or riding horses. Or if you do decide you want to dance, I will throw a thousand balls in your honor, and you shall be free to do as you wish. Seeing you so wan and weak has made me intent to never allow that to happen to you again.”

  She thought about it.

  She actually considered it.

  True, she had rejected a life as a fisherman’s wife, but that didn’t mean that all normal lives would be as boring. Living as a princess in a castle with servants waiting on her, she would be foolish to turn her back on that, would she not?

  But when she thought about days and days stretching out in front of her, with nothing to fill them except leisure, she knew that wasn’t for her. In some ways, being on the fishing boat had been preferable to that, because there had been work on the boat. Every day had a goal, and that goal was survival. In the castle, all her needs would be seen to, and there would be nothing meaningful to do.

  Survival was a consuming goal, of course, but it was wearisome.

  She was meant for greater things. She had a mark to leave on the world. She knew it.

  And besides, the king claimed he would keep his hands to himself, and she thought he was serious about it for now, but he wouldn’t be that way forever. Time would pass, and he would try again. To submit to his idea for her future would be to tacitly agree to be his mistress. By the time he asked for her favors, she would have been eating his food and wearing his clothes and sleeping under his roof for so long that she would be deeply in his debt.

  No, she was going to have to leave.

  Of course, the king was now surrounded by squadrons of guards. He had grown paranoid since Sir Eithan had come to the castle months ago. The guards were there to keep the king safe, but they also served to keep her from leaving through the front door.

  She didn’t want to try to fight anyone. She was stronger than before, but she wasn’t up to full strength. And even if she might have been able to fight half a dozen men at once and win, that didn’t mean she should.

  So, she climbed out of the window of her bedroom, using the sheets and blankets tied together as a rope. She would have liked to get a horse from the stables, but there were guards there too.

  Instead, she sneaked through the woods in the cold, and she laboriously made her way down the mountain.

  It took her through the night and into the next morning. By this time, her absence had been noted, and the king had sent men to look for her. They were galloping up and down the path and traipsing through the woods. It wasn’t easy to evade all of them, but she managed it, and when she got to the foot of the mountain, she saw the dark forest spread out to the east.

  She was reminded of the night of the Equinox, standing here with the Conclave as they muttered chants to the goddess of nightmares over her body, as they waited for the knights to come and collect her.

  Back then, everything had been simple.

  But as she started down the path in the dark forest, she felt a bit of the same excitement she’d felt then. She’d been ready then. Her whole life had built to that moment. She was going to kill Sir Eithan and fulfill her destiny.

  Now, she didn’t have the same certainty, but she was taking steps toward another goal, and moving toward doing something important sent that same excitement through her.

  She debated whether she should go straight to the portal or not, but she decided to go to the knights’ fortress. She hoped someone would be there, even if it weren’t Eithan. If the other knights knew about her blood and the changes it had wrought in Eithan, then they would want to work with her, and she could form an alliance with them instead of Eithan.

  But it was Eithan who greeted her at the steps of the fortress. “You just can’t stay away, can you?”

  “What can I say?” she said. “It’s something about how cold your skin is. Just gets me worked up.”

  He looked away from her, and she could swear he was embarrassed.

  “You owe me for leaving me with the king,” she said, pushing past him inside the fortress. “I haven’t forgiven you for that.”

  “By all means, come inside,” he said dryly.

  She grinned at him over her shoulder. “Thank you.”

  He sighed and shut the door behind them both.

  * * *

  Eithan was leaning over a table in the upper room in the fortress, the room where she’d been brought the night of the Equinox. She didn’t know why they couldn’t be in any other room, but this was where he’d brought her. “I’ve been thinking about other ideas to fight her, things that don’t involve you or your blood.”

  “Well, I’m here now,” she said. “So, we can go back to the first plan.”

  “We can’t get your blood to change,” he said. “Without the liquid sunlight, the first plan doesn’t work.”

  “We still haven’t tried having you drink my blood again.”

  “I thought we agreed that didn’t make any sense, and it wouldn’t work,” he said.

  “Well, I think we should try everything.”

  “I’m not doing that to you again,” he muttered. “You’re not strong enough to lose blood again, anyway.”

  She knew he was right about that. “What other ideas did you have?”

  “The jewels,” he said. “The ones from the Guild. Those topazes.”

  She brightened. “That is a good idea.”

  “Except for the fact that I don’t know if I can wield them,” he said. “And the knights might not be able to either. Even though sunlight no longer hurts me, whatever power is contained in those jewels does.”

  “Well, aren’t you glad I came back to find you, and that I can use the jewels?” She gave him a big smile.

  He hung his head over the table, laughing softly. “I don’t understand you at all.”

  “Well, I don’t think I understand you,” she said. “The king told me that you threatened one of the little princes to try to get Rhodes to talk.”

  His shoulders stiffened. “I’m not proud of that. It was needless, anyway. I should have simply used Rhodes as bait. That was what got you to come to me anyway.”

  “If it had worked, would you have been proud of yourself?”

  He raised his gaze to hers. “No.”

  It was quiet.

  He stood up from the table and folded his arms over his chest. “You find me so objectionable, why are you here again?”

  “I’ve explained this to you before,” she said.

  “Yes, you said you were bored.”

  “I didn’t say that at all.”

  “You said you wanted something to do.”

  “Not like… not just anything to do, something meaningful.” She touched her chest. “I feel it in here. I’m meant for something great. Perhaps that sounds like hubris, but I know it as sure as I know you’re standing here. I’m not the sort of person who can just… be. I need…” She gestured with her hands, trying to find the words. But they wouldn’t come. Finally, she dropped her hands. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Just know that you’re not going to talk me out of it.” She stalked across the room to him, stopping only when she was inches away from him. “And I need you in order to accomplish it, so whatever awful things you do, it isn’t going to matter.” She pointed a finger at his face. “You can torture more little boys and you can abandon me with as many lecherous kings as you like, but I will not give up.”

  He didn’t say anything.

  Slowly, she lowered her finger. Why had she come so close to him again? Her gaze skittered over him, over his pale skin and his glowing eyes and his broad shoulders. She wanted to back away, but she was too proud to give him ground.

  His lips parted. “I’m sorry about le
aving you with the king.”

  “I’m fine,” she said, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “As you said, I’m not helpless. Anyway, he didn’t try anything. He thinks that I was utterly traumatized by whatever you did to me, and I told him I couldn’t bear to be touched.”

  Eithan drew in a breath, gazing at her evenly. “I really am sorry.”

  “Yes, you’re quite an apologist,” she muttered. “You don’t need to bother.”

  “Fine, then,” he said. His voice was quiet, too. “I won’t apologize again. What’s the point, since you’re determined to stick around no matter my sins?”

  “Exactly right,” she said. Why was her voice so… whispery? She lifted her hand again, and she wasn’t sure what she was going to do with it.

  His gaze fell on her fingers as she lifted them. There was wariness in his eyes, as if he wanted to shy away from her but he was also too proud to do so.

  She put her fingers to his face. She remembered doing this before, in this room, when she was trying to seduce him that first night. It hadn’t worked, of course.

  He made a hissing noise when she made contact.

  “Like I said,” she murmured, tracing the outline of his cold jaw, “I don’t forgive you.”

  He shut his eyes.

  She brushed her thumb over his chin. It was cold, too, and she thought again that he felt like chiseled stone.

  He made a noise in the back of his throat. “What are you doing? Stop that.” His voice was guttural, full of fear.

  “Of course,” she said, but she didn’t stop. Her fingers crawled over his face, exploring his cheekbone, his eyebrow.

  He let out a harsh breath, leaning into her touch. His eyes were still closed.

  Her own breath quickened. She stepped even closer, and she stood on her tiptoes, her gaze narrowing in on his lips. They were perfectly formed lips, weren’t they? Had she noticed this before?

  What are you doing? something shouted in the back of her head.

  She didn’t know, but her mouth was moving toward his mouth, slowly but surely, and she slammed her eyes shut too. This close, she could smell him. She remembered his smell, like pine and the woods, like crisp winter air.

  Any moment her lips would be on his.

  Just then, the door opened.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Nicce let out a little cry of surprise, stepping backward, nearly tripping over her feet in her rush to get away from Eithan.

  He was off balance too, and he’d gone for his sword, which he had halfway out of its scabbard.

  She felt embarrassed. Oh, how like a girl of her to not think about her own weapon. Belatedly, she groped for it.

  But Eithan was shoving his sword back into its scabbard because he recognized the person at the door.

  It was one of the knights. Nicce had spent just enough time in their company that she knew some of their names. This one was called Absalom. He was shorter than Eithan, his build more compact and wiry. He had curly dark hair and he’d spoken to her in the forest, after she’d seen a nightmare for the first time. His voice had been gentle.

  “You found her, I see,” said Absalom, eyebrows raised.

  Eithan cleared his throat. “What are you doing here?” He was looking everywhere except at either Absalom or Nicce.

  “Ciaska sent Septimus and me to fetch you,” said Absalom. He turned and called over his shoulder. “Septimus, I found them.”

  “Them?” called a distant voice. “You mean the girl is here?” The voice grew louder and another knight appeared behind Absalom. He was very blond, with a smile that had always made Nicce feel unsettled. She remembered overhearing his eagerness to use a knife on her.

  Nicce narrowed her eyes at Septimus.

  Septimus looked her over, smiling widely, something monstrous in his eyes, even more monstrous than what was in all the knights’ eyes.

  “I wouldn’t get any ideas,” said Absalom, sounding amused. “I think you’ll have to fight Eithan for her.”

  “Absalom,” said Eithan, annoyed.

  Absalom winked at Nicce, sidling into the room. “How do you bear it? He’s so serious all the time.”

  Eithan folded his arms over his chest.

  Absalom went to a table and yanked out a chair. He settled into it and propped his feet up on the table. He examined his fingernails. “You had to go and get the Exalted One worked up, didn’t you? She’s regretted sending you off into the world after her rival. She spends every evening complaining to me about how she doesn’t know what you’re up to out here with her. And it turns out she should have been worried.” He grinned at Nicce. “No accounting for taste, I suppose.”

  Nicce was confused. “What is he talking about? You said that you weren’t, er, involved with Ciaska.”

  “Oh, he’s not,” said Absalom. “Much to her chagrin.” He set his feet on the floor. “Now, in the case of the goddess, I assume it’s simply that she wants what she can’t have. Eithan is an endless novelty to her. So, I suppose I can understand her interest, but in your case…” He turned on Nicce. “I have to admit, I don’t understand. Have you had a conversation with him? Hasn’t he killed everyone you’ve ever known?”

  Nicce opened her mouth to speak, but then felt confused and closed it.

  “You should really knock, Absalom,” said Eithan tersely.

  Absalom smirked. “I thought that you were going to get her blood, not bring her back here to, um, well, do whatever it was that you were doing when I walked in.”

  “Nothing,” said Nicce firmly. “We were doing absolutely nothing.” She adopted a stern tone. “You, Absalom, perhaps you can talk some sense into your leader. We have tried exactly twice to get my blood to change over to sunlight, and we’ve been unable to accomplish it. He wants to give up trying.”

  “It practically killed you,” said Eithan. “Trust me, if you want an ally in that, Absalom is not your man. He’s squeamish about bleeding out young women. I’m the one you want for that.”

  “No one ever gives me a chance to bleed girls,” spoke up Septimus, sounding sulky.

  Eithan ignored him. “The truth is, we don’t have any other ideas on how to turn your blood. And you can explain to them both how you’ve turned my request for your blood into a murderous crusade.” He gestured to her. “Go on, then.”

  “What’s this?” Absalom looked thoroughly entertained.

  Nicce spread her hands. “Don’t you all want her dead? You want your son back, and you don’t want her trying to hurt him anymore?”

  “You told her about that?” said Septimus, coming further into the room and looking her over.

  “I imagine they’ve been whispering secrets to each other as they lay on a single pillow,” said Absalom.

  “It’s not like that,” said Nicce.

  “It’s definitely not like that,” said Eithan.

  Absalom laughed. “All right, then. Are you serious, though? You want to kill the goddess of nightmares? I have to admit, I don’t understand this either. She can’t walk in the sun, can she, and if we gave her your blood, wouldn’t it allow her to do that?”

  “No, not if we killed her before she ever had a chance to walk into the sunlight,” said Nicce. “It would weaken her.”

  “You remember how I couldn’t get out of bed?” said Eithan.

  “Right.” Absalom nodded slowly. “So, we give her the blood and while she’s weak—”

  “We slice her evil head from her evil body,” said Septimus.

  “Yes,” said Nicce, smiling. “That’s exactly it.”

  “But we can’t get Nicce’s blood to change,” said Eithan. “We’ve tried everything.”

  “We haven’t,” she said. “You haven’t drunk my blood again.”

  “I’m not drinking your blood,” said Eithan.

  “I’ll drink your blood,” said Septimus, moving forward. “Where should I bite you?”

  “Stop it,” said Eithan, grasping the other man’s arm and pulling him away.

>   “What?” said Septimus. “I promise not to kill her. I wouldn’t do that. We need her alive, don’t we?”

  “She’s weak,” said Eithan. “We tried bleeding her to nearly the point of death very recently. She’s barely recovered.”

  “And you’re not so eager to share, I suppose,” said Absalom.

  Nicce wasn’t sure she wanted Septimus biting her, anyway. Would it be like it was with Eithan if Septimus did it? She suspected it wouldn’t be, but it might be worse somehow if it was. “I admit, I’m not exactly excited at the idea of losing a lot of blood again. But if my blood switches over, I heal quickly, so if it worked, it would be worth it.”

  “I’m afraid we don’t have a lot of time,” said Absalom. “I promised to bring you back by tonight. If I don’t, Ciaska will be spreading her darkness over the kingdom of Rabia, beginning at dawn.”

  “Absalom!” Eithan turned to the other man in horror. “Why would you make such a deal? I might have been across the seas trying to find her.”

  “I haven’t your gift for twisting her to my will, I admit,” said Absalom. “Do you want to see the marks from the things she’s been doing to me? It’s amazing I’m wearing a shirt.”

  “I’m sorry,” Eithan said quietly. “I shouldn’t have left you all alone with her for so long.”

  “Now, don’t do that.” Absalom stood up. “I thought we agreed. No more of your treating us like children.”

  “I never treated you like—”

  “We do need to go back,” said Septimus. “She’s pulled out the crystal twice now, and the descriptions of the things she says she’s going to do to Lian…”

  “Well, that’s fine,” said Nicce. “We’ll go to court, then, but we’ll bring the crystals, like you were saying, Eithan.”

  “No, you can’t come with us,” said Eithan.

  “That was the plan,” said Nicce.

  “Yes, if we were to go immediately on the offensive,” said Eithan. “But we’re not ready for that. And she’ll… I don’t know what she’ll do to you.”