Betrayal (8 page)

Pike stayed away from court again.  My wandering thoughts went a little too imaginative as I pictured him heaving it up with the Nyms, rescuing his mom from the unknown place I knew nothing about, or with a girl.  Why did I care?

Danella moved about me helping to get ready for the day.  As a daily task I searched out answers from anyone who would give them.  I had questions about my parents I wanted to ask and she was just the one to solicit. My parent’s past just didn’t add up with the way the Fey did things. “Danella, why was my father allowed to stay with my mother in the human world?”  Presumptuous as I may have sounded, I wanted to know.

She worked out what she would finally say by way of folding the towel twice, “The queen checked to be sure he was safe to live with her.”

“How?”   This was news.  And I wanted the truth, not a sugarcoated historical version that others would give me.

“She made sure his memory was fully erased so he’d not be killed. She wanted him safe regardless of who he was.”

Wow!  Lazyra actually did something out of kindness.  I’d ponder that later so I could ask more.  “If we can start our book club back, will you join us Danella?”  I asked as she piled my hair up into a heap and started to pin it.

“Why Miss Grace, I am not into books like you.  Tren is.”

“Oh!  Will you continue to join in the mornings at least?”  I straightened and took a deep breath, disappointed to not fill the empty chair.

“Of course.  I would love to.”  Danella was like the cool mother who kept us in line most of the time and even joined in some of the time.  She just knew so much!

When another week passed and no sign of an invasion, but word from Kin said only that the Nyms and Pike came to an agreement that would have them remain on speakable terms at best, I ventured to ask Sarah about returning our book club meetings and maybe inviting the guys for the end of the meetings for coffee.  Her eyes didn’t spark with the mention of books, but it did when I mentioned Bane would be invited too.

She agreed to a short novel and long term coffee drinking.  She managed a smile at the mention of Bane’s name one more time.

“You are so lame.  Ian will see through your ways soon girl,” Cyly laughed at my pouty lip tale of getting my way with Ian, Pike, and Kin. 

“Yes, but for now I hold power, babe.  And it’s not in the magic.”

“No, it’s called bat your eyes and fall for my every whim as you string these three boys along,” Sarah played like she was flirting with the pillow on the sofa.  After her noisy kitten kisses I wanted to get her back.  At seeing her smile, I aimed for another one.

“I do not string them along Sarah!  They know their places.”

“No, they all know what place they wish to serve under the cover of sheets and a little humidity.”

“SARAH, innocent thoughts only in this room.  Danella would have my hide.”

“No, but I know three princes that would.”
              “SARAH!  Stop it.”

“Stop what?” a deep hum of a voice sounded from behind all of us.

All four of us jumped from our seats to a standing position and arched our backs in Bane’s direction.  Sarah's kissing pillow fell to her feet.

“Um, just discussing, um the kind of coffee that, um we like.”  I blushed red hot lava right along with the rest.  Pretending to need more caffeine wasn't incorrect because I needed it to survive this if Ian got wind of the previous heat worthy conversation.  I hoped he was truthful when he blocked most.  He’d even told me once he blocked so naturally that it took effort at first with me to dislodge the skill.  Now we are at an impasse of sorts where one day we do and one day we don’t.  The only mind I wanted him reading was my own and that was exciting and terrible all at once, but safe.  I wanted him all to myself.

“I get it, exclusive girl talk no enter zone.  Do you wish for us to come another night?”

Us? 
I looked for Ian behind Bane.

Sarah jumped in too quickly like she’d never done before, “Oh no.  Please stay.  The coffee is ready.”

Bane himself blushed.   He snatched a book off the shelf in haste.  It was the book we were reading.

Go Sarah!
 

Losing her sister made her sick sometimes, but Bane filled a void that was already forming before Lorah’s death.  Bane had sent her flowers before and after the funeral.  It wasn't unusual since the Fey rarely saw death among their people so harsh and unpredicted.  Bane visited her family and fulfilled daily duties in their family’s routine out of common courtesy.  He said he’d help with anything till they were to a point they didn’t need him anymore.  Fat chance since Sarah is involved.

Sarah dropped her eyes and headed to the side table where the coffee still brewed and filled the room with its delicious scent. 

Well, not enough to cover Ian’s scent.   In he came.

And the other scent.   “Why is Pike here?”

“He’s not.  How would you know anyway?”

His face shot into a glare remembering why I would know and he stroked his chin in agitation.  Bad reminder.  Then he looked me up and down rather heatedly like he’d get a better reading on my already obvious unnatural ability.  His mood changed just.like.that.

I hastily sat on the smaller sofa forcing Ian to sit with me and indicated to Tren and Cyly to head to the vacant chairs.  This forced Bane and Sarah on the sofa together.  Ian realized my game plan and snuggled his leg up against mine in obvious public display.  Fine!  I can play too.

I laid my legs across him sideways and leaned back on the side of the sofa to drink my heavy cream, less coffee drink in my hand.  He eyed me with a smile laying his head back to angle a look in my direction and hold my stare.  I complied telling him many things with my eyes only.  He complied by stroking his chin with an edgier sound that he knew drove my insides to mush.

Cyly and Tren excused themselves saying they had
things to do
.  That left just the two couples.  One very
close
together, and the other very
far
apart.

“So, do you two want to come out to the fire pit tomorrow night for marshmallows and stars?” No sense beating the dead horse when Cupid Grace was on the prowl. 

Neither of them looked at each other. 

“I’ll take that as a yes.  Meet Ian and I at dark.  It’s getting chillier so wear something warm Sarah.  Bane, wear the dark green shirt with the button missing.  Sarah, you and I will chat in the morning over more coffee.  Sorry boys for the no invite. Girls only zone.  Good night to you both.”

I pulled Ian up to standing taking our coffee with us.  Bane stood because I did, but I was ready for it.

“Oh, no.  Stay here.  You two can enjoy the coffee.  Make sure to turn off the coffee pot.  Oh and Sarah, make sure you read chapter one of R and J.  Might need the quote worthy advice.”  That’s Romeo and Juliet.  The boys would have to think a little to reflect and discover the meaning behind my words though I couldn’t help but wonder if it was his book choice or the first book he picked up upon seeing Sarah return to the library alone in hopes of a reason to speak to her.  I even think she was doing the same.  So far, it hadn’t worked for either of them. 

This little authoritative display of mine did exactly what I wanted.  I’d seen Bane reading the book not two or three weeks ago in the library while watching Sarah more than he spent time reading.  That would be a great first date starter conversation.  Yeah me!

Ian laughed and laughed all the way to his room.  “You are so bold my lady.  I don’t know what to say about your little
act
.”  Warmth filled me, and I inched closer to him, invading his personal space.

Glad he found this so funny, for I was a ball of knots with the idea of reaching some type of plateaued happiness for my friends and myself included.  Going around the subject with Ian was mostly pointless and got me nowhere but you know my mouth.

“Emergency broadcast announcement Ian, you made me this way with too many years of pent up hormonal rage for the man I loved and couldn’t have.  It makes a girl gutsy and able to just reach out and take what she wants.”

“Well then, by all means,” he held out his hand to the open door frame of his bedroom, “take what you want,” and our soon to be marital bed.  An invitation no doubt. 

My instant on blush surfaced.  “I...I...oh Ian.  Talk like that doesn’t do well reminding me that I am the fast and less prudish one of this relationship.  Don’t tempt me.”  Mocking my pain isn’t helping either.

A certain low growl emerged as the door slammed shut and I found myself against the same wall I become well acquainted with once before.  “Then move your pretty little derriere in the direction it should go and stop forcing me to point out that you.are.mine.”

“You seem to have a lot to say,” I tried my luck knowing this was towards the recent Pike confrontation.  “Too bad I can’t read your mind at the time.”

“It’s a good thing you can’t.”  His thumb was racing across my jaw line back and forth.

“Miss...Miss...Are you okay?” came Danella’s voice through the door.  A faint tapping sound metered her words that I knew would be her foot moving to the beat of her nervous nature.

I stuttered once again attempting to appear calm through the closed door yelling, “Oh yes.  I am perfectly fine.” No I’m not! 

“For now.” he whispered into my ear letting me feel the heat of his anger and other feelings he was making me well aware of.

The message from Kin came the following morning.  He delivered it personally asking for me of course.  Ian refused, but I prodded him to do as we’d done before with tight security and heavy guards.

“You had to deliver it in person Kin?” I said as smoothly as I could with a touch of mistrust in my voice.  He was unusually quiet compared to our previous encounters. 

“I aim to please!” His flippant attitude towards everything in front of others didn’t fool me.

“Why are you so quiet?’  I just had to ask, didn’t I?

“Thinking.”

“About.”  I am troubling disturbed to ask this.  Men never answer my questions the way I wanted.

“I might not be thinking things that are so cool to say in front of others,” he tried to surprise me.  He smiled “coolly” as he said it, still watching me too close, no one else.

    I decided to ignore it as much as I could.  “The Nyms are pliable and assured of our better etiquette on boundaries toward all, correct?”  There was a method to my madness whether they wanted to comply or not.  Eventually, with time, even the Fey would see that sharing space in the world doesn't mean everyone is out for the kill.  Changing Kin was the harder job.

A larger smile played across his lips, “Pike was convincing.  They will rest, for now.”

“For now means?” I crossed my arms across my front.

“Until he goes back on his little hidden adventures.”

Kin knew where or at least that Pike was sneaking around more than just his guard dog duties.  “He won’t.  I’ll talk to him.”  I’d check on Pike another time.  Pike let out the smallest grunt of displeasure.

Kin’s eye raised a small bit with a virulent smile, “You will?” He crossed his arms mocking me and took a step closer causing Ian and Pike to sync in step with him.  “Be sure to whisper sweet nothings in his ear as you have mine and your precious treeboy prince.”

Kin was baiting me and I refused to aid him in his stupidity.  The irony of their differences hit me.  Ian was a solid man where Kin was still searching for his wall to stand on.  Pike was the brittle wall that exemplified power, but without a meaning or purpose.  My hand flew out stopping both of Ian’s possessive arms that were snaking their way to my waist, “Kin, do you have any other business or are we done?”

Did I help to make Ian appear solid and therefore because of my smaller link in their lives, make Kin and Pike weaker?  That would crush me.  I needed to define our friendships better to solidify their greater being.  I sound like Buddha or Ghandi but hey, they have great advice. Sometimes wisdom comes later, not early in life.  I feel like I’ve learned so much about people in general since coming to the Fey courts. 

“Just one item of importance.  My father wishes to see you.  Give you back something that belongs to you.”

Was he joking?  “Belongs to me?” 

“He didn’t say what, so I don’t have the foggiest.  He said you may bring whoever you like with you for safety for he understands your first concerns coming to our court.”

“Concerns, Kin. That’s what you call it.  He has some kind of agenda like you.  Wouldn’t you hope to convince daddy that you are in charge just a little or will you just continue to let him order you around?”

His eyes turned dark with the indignant comment on my own part, but it would get results.  After an intense jaw clinching second of anger towards what I guess was aimed at me, he turned his glare to Ian.  “She has no idea.”

Ian nodded in agreement siding with the enemy.  Traitor.

I tightened my arms and glared back at both of them.  And this time my mojo was in swing.  I focused exclusively on what I wanted sort of aiming at each of them and stopping only seconds later.  I eyed Pike to see if he would side with the other two boys and found the same look staring at me.  He was with them.  So he joined them in my asinine power struggle I vowed to keep despite my naive dealings sometimes.  This mutual need to side with each other would get old fast if they were going to keep secrets together.

When all three of them bent over and bowed in my direction, I felt a certain once again, naïve superiority.  They were all knowing of my purpose in this world and I was not..and none of them were sharing.

They weren’t amused as they all three realized what I’d done, but I quickly snapped at them, “Okay, fine.  So the big daddy in charge mimics that of Ian’s mother, but isn’t that why I’m here?  To change that.  And you act all high and mighty Kin, but you can quit playing Jekyll and Hyde with me.  Either you’re like your father or you’re not.” 

I know I suddenly turned cranky like a switch in the weather, but with their consistent need to make me feel needed and then try to overpower anything I decide, I wanted them back in their places.

I have many dead people who talk to me, whisper advice into my ear in the finest of moments.  I take their advice in those moments where life shouldn’t allow you to make your own decisions.  This was one of those moments.  The dead whisperer? Eleanor Roosevelt.  The advice, “
Do one thing every day that scares you.
”  Here goes!

“Not!”  He said it coolly, but I knew him better now.

“Now that’s the Kin I know so well.  You say you’ve changed, but it will take a hell of a lot more than holding your temper to convince me.  You never needed me to step in your court to return, a factitious hoax.  One of your many.   I want to know what he knows and why he seems to think it’s such a big secret, but not at the expense of my court or the people I love.”

His face distorted at the last word.  The small piece of the new Kin was in visual heartache.  Maybe the others didn’t notice, but I did. 

“Fine, then he will meet you elsewhere.” His teeth gritted.

“Where?” I felt silly.  I wanted to just call the dude on a cell phone and get it over with.  This archaic way of transferring information gets old after a while.

“The lair my sweet gem.”

He knew I’d say no all along.  “Convenient that the meeting place is easily changed at a moment’s notice.”

“He and I remain prepared.”

Funny. Dear ole daddy’s son
was
still lurking somewhere inside there.  “We will be there.  I will send a message to you for as to the when.  Be sure to tell daddy to be on call.”

“Can I talk to you, privately?” his voice was nonthreatening, but desperate.

“Not a chance!” Ian said.

“Not in this life,” spat Pike at the end of Ian’s words.

Kin eyed me with a different look than I’d seen from him, yet I knew what his eyes wanted.  They went to where my winter court pendant would be hanging in the bottom of my shirt if it were located there at the second.  I opened my mind and blocked other places intending to gave a mere ten seconds.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Grace, I only want what I want.

I know.

I can’t be myself around these clowns.

Understood.

My father wants to tell you something that will throw you into my arms and make you run away from your court.

And you’re telling me why?

Ian and Pike figured out our little deceptive mind talk now and were trying to break through.  They couldn’t.

Because I don’t want you hurt.

Why?
  I eyed him cautiously.

Grace, don’t make me say what will never be.  I just want you to know that my father....

He trailed off in his mind.  That’s a hard thing to read since it isn’t exactly a science for me yet to follow completely. 
Yes?

He knows about your father. 

WHACK!  If this is what it feels like to be hit by an eighteen wheeler, then dang it hurts.

I jumped on complete advice taken from Mrs. Roosevelt herself or maybe just plain anger wishing now my impulsiveness could see the future of my actions sometimes.  I didn't foresee it.  “What.do.you.know.about.my.father?”  I held his shirt in my hand twisting and yanking him to me.  I hit his chest hard.  He was a brute force who ignored his own strength and allowed me to do it. 

My two guard happy boys beside me jumped onto me and held on.  I continued, “
IF
he so much as harms one hair on my parents head, I will kill him and have not one ounce of remorse.”

I think everyone was scared of me at that point.  Even me.

Grace, he doesn’t want to harm him.  He is the reason your father is alive.

I let him go and did the very girl thing to do.  I covered my mouth with the same hand that just held Kin and gasped.  The other hand was throbbing in pain so I shook it in front of me to gain some feeling in it.  I could smell him so strongly on my fingertips.  The pungent distaste I used to hold for the burnt rubber no longer existed.  The all freshly made leather smell covered it and made it bearable.  It seemed combined now with something else that had always been there, but I’d blocked it so readily before.  It almost had a taste to it.  It was like rain and thunder.  It smelled like a storm on fire overpowering the other for control.

“I will meet you and your father.”  Scratch my last thought.  Kin was like thunder and rain and hail and snow all mixed to make one super sized storm of the century.
              “I will not be there,” he said looking down at my feet.

“Then I will not go.” I was adamant.

His eyes lifted and searched mine, but I had blocked again for fear of him telling me the secrets I wanted to hear from his father only.  I didn’t know why my mind was set on that detail.  His roaring king of the jungle attitude always kept me on the defense.

“Then I will make it so.”

“Till then.”  I did the unthinkable scare moment number three from the day, I reached up and kissed Kin on the cheek. 

The hard as nails on the inside and out boy blushed slightly, but enough that Pike caught it with a smirk and inserted a coughing sound.  Ian was fuming with his glare directed at
me
!

Heck, it was just a goodwill gesture, but I was so dead!

Before I could blink open my eyes from the truth of the matter, I was surged up against what I assumed was Pike and stepping inside a sixties version of Grease.  Ian punched Kin so hard in the jaw it made me grit my teeth to the point of pain.

And like that, it was over.

Kin stretched his jaw wide and held his chin with same smirk all boys made in these kind of moments.  I glared at his complacent response to Ian’s testosterone induced reaction.

Kin’s ardent nod at me was not without notice.   He jerked his chin at Ian in a silent gloat that I now resented having been guilty of instigating and left our little circle of power like nothing ever happened.

Facing Kin was easy compared to what I had coming next.

Pike scoffed a laugh in my face as he threw his hand out in hint for me to retreat.  Ian didn’t move.  The seconds turned into decades.  Centuries.

We walked back through the court to be herded to the meeting room.  I wanted to stomp and throw a fit for feeling bad as I was.  When we were there and I waited in hope that Bane and Pike and the others would walk through the door, I sorely came to the conclusion that this was a private conversation between the queen and king to be.  I hated to prolong it, but it looked as if my fate was opening like a jack in the box that wanted to run away screaming at the injustice of being left out of the loop.

“It was a friendly gesture meant to douse the enemy in false hope.  It’s not attraction I feel for Kin, it’s pity.  I have to string Kin along if we are to make any headway into complete peace between the courts and outer areas.  Besides, I have to know what his father has to say to me.”

Ian was silent as he paced a foot from me.  I only assumed he was choosing his words carefully.  “What did he say to you about your father?”

Did he know too?  A tight breath held in me.  “Ian, what have you not told me?”

His face fell into a million pieces, “More than your heart can take.  The king will distort the facts either way.”

“Then you tell me.  Obviously Kin knew more than he was telling.  I can only assume Pike and whoever else knows also.”

He twisted his lips together.

“They do!”  I hated this.  We were kind of almost yelling at each other. 

“If I tell you will you still meet with the king?”

Scratch that.  We WERE yelling.

“Yes.  I want to know what he intends to say.  Besides, I will know if he is telling the truth by what you say.”

“You are mine, Grace.”

I knew where this was headed.  My own jaw tensed infuriated that he hit him when I am the one who “committed the crime”.  Either way, I learned my lesson on keeping my dang lips off anyone else.  “It was a goodwill gesture.”

“Kinsler will never see it that way,” he argued without restraint.

“KIN will see it the way I deem.  He wants more Ian, I get this.  He doesn’t see past it even.  The winter court doesn’t need me, it needs him.  One day he will see this and take up the place where he should be.  He is betrothed to someone else.  Did you know that?”