The Queen Is Dead (The Immortal Empire) (28 page)

I shook him, felt my face start to shift.

“I swear on Albert’s grave, I don’t know!” It was the panic in his voice that stopped me. As delicious as his fear was, I was still in control of my monster, and I knew a broken man when I heard one.

“I’m not sure I believe you, Ainsley.”

“It’s true. I’m not involved in that. I only know as much as I do about it because…”

“Because of Dede,” I supplied. I released him, her name taking all of the anger out of me. It didn’t make sense. I should want to kill him for bringing her up, but his eyes had taken on a hollow look I’d never seen on him before.

“I did love her, you know.” He didn’t even step back or attempt to straighten his lapels. “I didn’t deserve her, but I loved her as much as I’m capable of loving anyone. Not as much as she loved me–I don’t believe there’s anyone who could love quite so thoroughly as Dede.”

If he’d punched me in the chest, I couldn’t have struggled any harder for breath. “No.” It was her love for him, for their child that had nearly crippled her, almost ended her, because even though they were both lost, she still loved them as though they were with her.

“I don’t expect you to understand, but I was told to make a choice. I was told I couldn’t have both Dede and our son, because if it got out that a halvie had produced a fully plagued child… well, I don’t have to nt siztell you what it’s like to be different.”

“Humans have had full-blooded children. I don’t know why it would matter.”

“It would matter if it wasn’t just a random act of God. It would matter if something had changed that made it possible for us to increase our numbers in a more substantial manner.”

Yes. If the aristo birth rate suddenly went up, the humans would get scared. And when humans got scared, they did terrible and stupid things like burning down Mayfair and becoming an all-you-can-eat buffet for the goblins. We were stronger, but they still outnumbered us, and they had become a lot smarter over the decades. Smarter and better equipped.

I looked at Ainsley–pathetic creature that he was. I was probably the proverbial sucker born every minute, but I believed his pain. “So you chose the boy.”

“What other choice did I have? If I hadn’t, they would have given him to someone else. I couldn’t let that happen and still look Dede in the eye. I had to do what she would have done. I chose my son. Sometimes I can’t even look at him he is so much like her.”

That might have been pouring it on a bit thick, but he seemed genuinely distraught, so I didn’t challenge him on it.
He was still a tosser, even if he had done what he thought was right.

“Who made you choose, Ainsley?” All the anger I’d once felt towards him for breaking my sister’s heart needed a new target or it would eat a hole in my chest. I needed to blame someone for all that had happened to my sister before that blame turned on me.

He looked away. “I can’t tell you.”

“Ainsley, we’re beyond that. I know about the boy, and I know about the horror shows. I’m not going to ruin you, but you have got to give me something in return.”

He scrubbed his hand over the back of his head, mussing his perfectly coiffed hair. “It was Vardan,” he said softly, raising his gaze to mine. “Your father.”

Fang me and chew the wound. What was it with vampires and duplicity? And why was I not more surprised to find out my father knew about Dede’s baby? This was a man who had encouraged my mother to continue her pregnancy after being infected by a were just as some sort of…
experiment
.

No. I couldn’t believe he’d be involved in Val’s disappearance. He might have played with my life and with Dede’s, but I couldn’t believe he’d be part of something that might lead to one of his children being hurt–especially not his son. Sons were as important to men of his time and station as they had been centuries earlier. Names and lineage continued so long as there were sons. Vardan no doubt knew about the secret labs and whatever the bloody hell else was involved, but he could not have knowingly let his only son be taken.

And if he had, I’d break his neck and make a bracelet out of his teeth–and not necessarily in that order.

I left Scotland Yard with a brain travelling in so many directions it was tripping over itself. This was what it was like when I first found out what I was. I’d had a bit of peace after Churchill’s death, but not much. Was this what my life was destined to be from now on? A never-ending series of questions, half-answers and unpleasant discoveries? There were times when I wished I’d just believed Dede had killed herself and never bothered digging around. Ignorance was bliss indeed.

I drove to the entrance to Mayfair. The RGs at the gate didn’t want to let me in.

“I’m the goblins’ queen,” I explained slowly, jaw clenched. “How am I supposed to access the plague den if you won’t let me in?”

Amelia Chesterfield–a little magenta-haired bitch I’ve never liked–shrugged. “That’s not my problem, ma’am. The prince is still the registered representative of the plague and he hasn’t put you on the list.”

Ma’am? Fuck her. I pulled my rotary out of my pocket. “All right then. You just came on watch, right? I’ll call the prince and he can come up once it’s dark and resolve this matter.”

She lost a little colour at that. Fang me, but this was a delicious power trip. I hoped the threat of goblins never diminished.

“Look,” I said, willing to give her a chance. “I just want to go to the den. Sign me in. I’ll be back within the hour. Put a tracker on my motorrad.”

Her expression was dubious, but obviously sticking a tracking device on me and taking a chance on catching shit for it
was preferable to chatting with the prince. Funny, but she didn’t see me as that much of a threat, even though I could tear her apart just as easily as my furry brethren.

I was going to have to do something about that some day. I couldn’t have these people I used to work with, who used to respect me, looking at me like I was less than them when in reality I was much, much more. Was I in danger of an ego trip? Probably, but this was about self-preservation more than anything else. Weakness was not something to show in my world. And not a word I ever wanted associated with me. How could I be the goblins’ queen if I wasn’t seen as at least their equal?

In the end she let me pass–a telltale red light blinking on the Butler’s petrol reservoir. It would sound an alarm if I tried to take it off, but I had no intention of doing that. If I needed to travel in Mayfair, I’d do it on foot and underground.

There was a bit of a party going on in the den when I entered, reminding me of the first time I ever set foot in this place. Goblins carried trays of fruit and jugs of wine, while humans–strung out on the finest opiates the goblins could refine–danced to the beat of music that sounded almost tribal.

I didn’t care. If humans were stupid enough to chase the dragon into the plague den, well then they were that stupid. I didn’t want to think about it because I wasn’t certain I wanted to know how these things played out. And when I saw a human woman being shagged by a male goblin and obviously enjoying it, I turned my back and made a mental note to check the calendar and avoid the den on nights when there was entertaining going on.

This was definitely not going to be the calming experience I’d hoped for.

“Our lady,” came a familiar rasp.

I turned to face the prince. “Hullo, William. Quite a bash.”

“If your coming had been known we would not have invited guests.” He scratched the side of his jaw. “This looks badly…”

I shook my head. “Don’t. You don’t owe me an explanation, and I really”–I chuckled humourlessly–“don’t want to know. I just came by to…”

“To what?” he asked.

I had no idea. Why
was
I there? Because Vex wasn’t around and I needed to feel like someone was on my side. I needed to feel like to>

William tilted his head and looked at me with his one amber eye. I forced a smile. “George brought me the photograph from Freak Show. I was hoping I might see the actual recording.” I said it as an excuse, but once the words had left my mouth, I realised it was probably a sound idea.

“Of course. I will take our lady.”

I stopped him. I could see Elsbeth waiting for him a few feet away. “I know where it is. You don’t have to squire me about. Go and have fun.”

He bowed, and I walked away. As I neared the monitor room, the sounds of the party diminished slightly. I leaned my back against the rough wall and exhaled a deep breath, forcing some of the tension from my muscles.

How much more of this was I going to have to take? More importantly, how much more whining was I going to have to do about it? I just wanted my life back. It didn’t have to be the life I had before–I knew that was gone. I just wanted to feel as though I was in control of this new one.

I stayed against that wall for a few minutes, just breathing
in and out, trying to relax. If I thought about things too much, it would make me hatters, and that wouldn’t do me or the people who depended on me any good.

With a shrug of my shoulders, I straightened and continued on to the monitor room. There were two goblins in there, both of whom bowed when they saw me. I told them what I wanted to see and one of them sat me down in front of a monitor while the other lined up the recording. A few moments later, the courtyard behind Freak Show came into view on the screen.

I watched the grainy scene play out before me in varying shades of black and white. The truck I’d seen before pulled up to the back entrance and a betty slipped out. It was the one in the photo George had given me.

He went to the back door and rang the bell. A few seconds later he leaned forward to speak into the intercom. A moment or two later, Penny came outside. Had he asked for her personally? It sure seemed as though he had. She didn’t look afraid.

On the screen, Penny said something to the betty. And then… he laughed–just like she’d said. I felt for her, but more importantly, I felt relief. I wasn’t proud of the fact that I had doubted, even suspected her, but I was glad to be wrong.

The betty got back in his vehicle and drove away. Penny remained on the back step for a moment or two longer. I watched her dab at her eyes with a handkerchief.

The betty had looked too relaxed. It was a trap, I was certain of it. I should take Avery with me, but I’d already lost one sister, and had a brother taken. If Avery was hurt while helping me, I’d never forgive myself. And neither would Emma.

No, if I was going to take someone with me tomorrow
night, it would have to be someone I knew wouldn’t get hurt. I’d ask Vex, but he’d be tempted to rush in if he thought I was in danger. Plus, it might cause more trouble with the pack. I didn’t want to make him choose between his people and myself. Mostly because I knew which one of us he was duty-bound to put first, even if his heart had other ideas.

“Is all well, lady?”

I turned. The prince stood in the doorway. He had blood on his muzzle and smelled of earth, smoke and sex. And blood, of course. He smelled of blood.

“All is fine. Do you have any plans for tomopla muzzle arrow evening, William?”

He shook his head, his one eye narrowing. “No. Do you wish something of your prince?”

“Could you come to Freak Show with me? I suspect I might be walking into a trap.”

He bowed his shaggy head. “Of course. You need only tell me when.”

I sighed. “Thank you. I’ll ring you before I leave.”

“Now, the lady will do something for me.”

I arched a brow at his tone, but then it didn’t take much for me to arch a brow. It was my second favourite expression. “What do you need?”

He extended his arm. Sometimes his hand looked more paw-like, but tonight it seemed incredibly normal, if a little furry. His fingers were callused and rough, but warm as I curled my own around them.

“The lady will come and eat with us. Eat with her plague.”

“Eat what?” I asked cautiously as he led me from the room.

“Important it is for the plague to see our lady dine on meat. Those who disrespect her will change their thinking.”

“What sort of meat?” I asked–my voice actually squeaked. Pathetic.

William turned his gaze to mine. “Warm. Bloody. Fresh.”

Sweet baby Albert, my stomach growled at the words. Saliva flooded my tongue, wet and sweet. I knew what he was offering, and instead of being disgusted by it, I was filled with a ravenous hunger I’d rarely felt before. The last time I’d felt like this, I’d almost ripped Ophelia’s throat out.