The Day Human King (20 page)

“Are you worried about the day human?” Tara intuitively asked.

“Always,” Nessa replied honestly. There wasn’t a time he was away from her that she didn’t worry, and it wasn’t because of the bond.

“Because you love him?” Tara asked innocently.

Nessa scrunched up her face. Even if she were right, was Nessa about to admit that to a five-year-old?

“My mommy worries about my daddy all the time. She says it’s because she loves him,” Tara explained her train of thought. “I hear them talk. They say the day human is bad, but I think he must be an okay guy if he’s trying to keep us safe from the assassin.”

Nessa’s eyes shot open. They had not told either Tara or Sean exactly why they were being held in the room. Nessa was shocked to know that Tara already knew about the assassin.

“Who told you there was an assassin?” Nessa asked.

Tara shrugged. “I heard the older kids in school talking about it. They were betting who would be killed next.”

“Betting?” Nessa was stunned that they made it sound like a game.

Nessa had thought no one was looking for the assassin because they were afraid, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. No one was looking because they didn’t care. Now she could understand Devin’s frustration with the sidhe. What were they taught at home, if they thought you should bet on someone being killed for no reason beyond who they were? Nessa had heard Devin say hundreds of times that things needed to change, and at this moment she knew he was correct. The sidhe world needed to change.

“Am I a target?” Tara asked quietly. Her eyes were big, and she needed an answer. Nessa could tell the small child was scared, but she couldn’t lie to her.

“Everyone in this room is a target,” Nessa replied, pointing back at Sean and where her cousins were asleep in the next room. She didn’t want to scare Tara more, but she needed to be told the truth. “And that’s why we have to stay here. Devin put a protection spell on the room that won’t allow the assassin or anyone else inside it but us. We are safe here. He made sure of it.”

Tara nodded and stood back up. “That’s why the day human is protecting us. My parents were wrong about him. He really is a great prince.”

“Everyone is wrong about Devin. He’s much more than just a day human,” Nessa replied from her spot on the floor.

“Devin,” Tara tried out the name on her lips. “I like Devin. He’s a pretty good guy.”

Tara hurried back to the game with Sean as Nessa kept watch outside of the room. She didn’t expect Devin back soon, but she still felt the need to watch. If she caught a glimpse of the assassin, they could find him. Devin was able to link to every sidhe in the village and could recognize faces, so he would know where to find the assassin.

After sitting for at least ten minutes or more, Nessa quickly stood as someone approached. It wasn’t Devin and Turner, but a female, and she was running down the hallway to Nessa’s door. As she drew closer, Nessa knew who it was. Fiona stopped outside of Nessa’s apartment.

“Nessa, my mother will find me soon, but I needed to talk to you without her around,” Fiona explained, frantically looking behind her.

Nessa nodded warily. Fiona rarely did anything without her mother’s permission, and it could easily be a trap. Nessa had once trusted the Ferguson family completely, including Fiona’s younger brother, Finn, but she didn’t any more. Maureen had been trying to kill Nessa for months, and Finn had even stabbed Devin to kill him just days ago. If it wasn’t for her grandfather, Devin and Nessa would have both been dead. The Ferguson family wasn’t one Nessa wanted to associate with, but she found herself wanting to listen to Fiona. Something was different with her.

“I want out of here,” Fiona began as she continuously glanced around. The hallway was empty, and Nessa had no clue what Fiona was looking for. “I want to go into the day human world before I have the baby. I want to be free of this.”

Shocked at the request, Nessa’s mouth dropped open. Fiona was the last person Nessa ever expected to want out of the sidhe world. Her title might not be princess, since Nessa’s brother died before Fiona could marry him, but she was basically the equivalent of one. Fiona had everything, and anything, she wanted. Her family was respected, and ran most areas of the government. Fiona could do, and could be, anything. Why would she want to leave?

Fiona looked around again. She acted like she was being watched, but there was no one there.

“Help me. For the sake of your nephew, help me. Get me out of here,” Fiona begged. Her face was strained, and worry seeped out of her. Nessa wanted to stay strong and not believe her. Since her mother had easily tricked her, Nessa had no doubt that Fiona would do the same. Fiona held out her hand for Nessa, begging with her eyes.

“I can’t do anything right now,” Nessa replied honestly, unsure if to trust her or not. She needed Devin around to see if Fiona was telling the truth. “Devin has locked me in this room. There’s a barrier that won’t allow me out or anyone else in.”

Fiona looked at Nessa to see if she should believe her or not. When Nessa held up a hand and pressed on the barrier, her hand stopped just inches from Fiona’s hand. Fiona pressed her hand forward and found the barrier also. They were separated by just inches. Her desperation increased and she once again glanced around frantically. She was about to have a breakdown, and looked like the wind was taken out of her sails.

“Then I’m dead,” Fiona replied, and hung her head in despair. Her body shook a little as she talked. “My mother told me she just wants the baby. I’m worthless to her now. I didn’t keep your brother here, and I didn’t get him to marry me. She’s going to have me killed for the baby.” Fiona dropped her arms. She had given up.

Nessa stared at Fiona. She didn’t need Devin to tell her the truth; Fiona wasn’t just acting, she was actually being honest. Every fiber of Nessa’s being believed Fiona, but there was nothing she could do until Devin returned. Maureen wasn’t the woman she’d thought she was, but this was beyond what she could conceive any mother would do. She wanted her own daughter dead.

“Stay here,” Nessa said to Fiona. “I’ll tell Devin to come back. He can put you in this room, and keep you safe, too.”

Fiona smiled only slightly. “Don’t worry. My mother won’t hurt the child.” She acted like it was already decided. Fiona turned to go.

“Fiona, stay here,” Nessa begged. The baby growing inside Fiona was the only family, beyond her uncle’s, that Nessa had left. The baby was innocent, no matter what Rhys ever did, or even Fiona for that matter. The baby didn’t deserve to be raised by Maureen. Nessa needed to help Fiona. If she wanted out of the village, Nessa had to get her out.

‘Devin, come back now. Fiona is here, and begging to get away from her mother,’
Nessa told Devin across their bond.

Fiona turned back to Nessa. “She’ll be here soon, and neither you nor I will be able to stop her. She is evil, Nessa. Pure evil. She should be punished for all she has done, but there is no punishment that could match it.”

Fiona dropped to the ground just outside of the barrier, and Nessa stared down at her. She wasn’t the poised princess Nessa was used to, the Fiona she had grown up with. Her makeup wasn’t perfect, her hair was falling out of its bun. Now she seemed like a normal girl … a defeated girl. Nessa glanced up when someone entered the hallway. Fiona was right; they were coming for her. The assassin was only feet away, covered in a dark hood, and Nessa stood there watching, shocked and unable to do anything. Suddenly, Fiona hit the barrier and sprawled on the floor. Maureen, who was beside the assassin, smiled slightly at Fiona’s prone body. Maureen said something to the assassin, and then began to walk from him. He bowed, and then screamed as Maureen did something Nessa couldn’t make out. The assassin fled.

‘Devin, get here now. The assassin was just here,’
Nessa whispered across the bond. Maureen was in charge of the assassin after all.

Devin raced through
the hallways, pushing unsuspecting sidhe out of the way with either his hands or the magic he was randomly conjuring. Nessa was in trouble. The assassin was there. He needed to get to her; he needed to finally end this. The assassin had to be caught. His thoughts kept repeating as he sprinted around the bends of the palace. Turner kept up with Devin on his newly cleared pathway. He didn’t hear the words Nessa spoke to Devin, but he knew only one thing would get him moving like that. They both knew how urgent it was.

Devin rounded the corner to the hallway where Nessa was still standing in her doorway. She was pressed against the boundary, staring at someone on the ground.

“Fiona’s right here,” Nessa shouted to him.

Devin passed Maureen as he ran to the unconscious Fiona.

“Where’s the assassin?” Devin asked.

“He was beside Maureen,” Nessa replied. Devin looked over his shoulder at Maureen before he knelt beside Fiona. Turner only glanced down at Fiona before standing at Devin’s back, watching out for him.

‘She wanted out,’
Nessa told Devin silently.
‘She came here to get out of the village. She was afraid her mother would kill her. Maureen showed up and so did the assassin. The assassin did something to Fiona, and she dropped to the ground like that.’

“I took care of him,” Maureen stated as she stooped beside Devin next to her daughter. “I was too late to stop him, but was able to put a spell on him. He won’t live much longer, be assured of that.”

“Took care of?” Devin asked suspiciously.

“I was just out looking for Fiona. She had gone on a walk and hadn’t returned. I rushed here as quickly as I could when I felt her in distress, and once I saw that man attack my child, I put a reverse spell on him. What he did to Fiona would be repaid to him,” Maureen explained as if it was obvious. The matronly woman didn’t even have a hair out of place, nor was she exhausted. There was no way Maureen had rushed over to Fiona.

Devin didn’t look up at Nessa as she spoke more. He was too busy inspecting Fiona and keeping Maureen in his peripheral view.

‘I didn’t see any rushing, and if they were, it was to find Fiona before she escaped.’
Nessa glared at Maureen. The lady lied perfectly, but that didn’t matter anymore. Nessa couldn’t say with certainty what happened with Maureen and the assassin, but she was sure they were together.

“I got the scent,” Turner called from down the hallway. He had been pacing around, looking for something. “I can track him.”

Devin nodded to Turner, who turned to go after the assassin. He wanted to go with him, but he couldn’t leave Fiona dying. Nessa felt that through the bond, and he didn’t try to hide it.

“Let me go with him,” Nessa pleaded. She could help in place of Devin.

“No,” Devin replied. How could he let her leave the room, even if the assassin was dying just like Fiona?

“If he was injured, he can’t hurt me. Let me go with Turner,” Nessa pleaded.

“No,” Devin replied, inspecting Fiona for the poison. It was much more than a dart could have put into her.

“Devin, these are my people. Let me do my job. Let me keep them safe,” Nessa added, putting more authority behind her voice. “I am their queen. How can I be a ruler if I hide in my room? I need to do this. Trust me to stay safe. Trust Turner to keep me safe. He will need help once he finds the assassin. He doesn’t know his way around the village.”

Devin finally looked up. Determination shone in her eyes. Nessa needed to go with Turner, needed to save her people. Devin understood that, and knew that he couldn’t keep denying her from doing her job. She would be queen in a day. He had to let her go, no matter how much he wanted to keep her in a safe box forever. Devin sighed.

“Fine.” Devin stood and took her hand, allowing her to pass through the barrier. Devin pulled her close and kissed her. “Don’t do anything foolish, and keep me informed of what you find.” When Devin glanced down the hallway, he nodded to Turner and knew that was enough. Turner would do everything possible to keep Nessa safe.

Nessa made a wide circle to keep away from Maureen, who sat there holding Fiona’s hand. She only glanced down at Fiona, who was completely passed out. At least she wasn’t feeling the pain Nessa had felt with the poison. Suddenly, Nessa could smell blood, and knew that Maureen was talking to Fiona through a blood bond—the unique way night humans could talk to each other if they connect their blood. Nessa hated to leave Fiona there, especially with her mother, but there was nothing she could do to help. Devin watched the pain cross Nessa’s face, and he didn’t have the heart to tell her that the poison was already too much for Fiona to survive.

Devin looked back down at Fiona as Nessa left with Turner. The poison was at least ten times the amount that Nessa had ingested before, and way more than had been in Ronan and Gemma combined. Devin made a small cut and tried the poison to see if it would pull out of Fiona. He didn’t know how long it had been in her. If he were lucky, it would have just entered her, and he could get it out. It stuck to her as he suspected it would. Fiona was really in trouble.

Devin glanced at Maureen. Her expression was that of a caring mother, but her feelings—which he could slightly feel—were that of excitement. She wasn’t sad at all. In fact, she was excited that her daughter was dying. Devin didn’t want to deal with the lady, but needed to.

“Can she hear us?” Devin asked, knowing that they were sharing a blood bond to communicate.

“Yes,” Maureen replied honestly.

Devin examined Fiona again. He had to make a plan, but what were his options? The poison filled almost each cell of her body. There was so much, he wondered how she’d even made it to Nessa to talk to her. Devin moved a little of the poison around and realized that he had two options. He could put all of the poison inside of the baby and take it out before the poison spread to Fiona, or he could put all of the poison inside of Fiona and save the baby. There was no way he could save both; there was just too much in her.

“I can save Fiona, or I can save the baby if I act now,” Devin told Maureen.