The Seven Year King (The Faerie Ring #3) (2 page)

“You told her we had him?” Donegal’s voice was low.

Bearach nodded his great head, the copper locks shifting with the movement. “The cry of the Tara Stone still echoed in the room. The new queen seemed most distressed at my news.” One side of his mouth curled up with derision. “She wanted to trade.”

Muffled snorts of laughter could be heard among the others.

“And Larkin?”

“Arrogant as always. Denied knowing him.” Bearach’s voice tightened. “Asked if he was an UnSeelie who wanted to defect.” Behind him, as if sensing his animosity, one of his black hellhounds let out a low rumbling growl.

Donegal straightened. “I would expect nothing less from her.” He nudged the crumpled body on the floor with his boot, eliciting a low groan. “Yet, I have no doubt that she is the one who sent him here to his death—not this newfound
queen
.” He sneered the word. “We shall mark him as our Seven Year King and sacrifice him on Samhain as payment of the tithe due the Seelie Court—the very throne to which he vows his allegiance.”

Bearach spoke again, his beady eyes glowing with anticipation. “Larkin may think she’s clever, but she doesn’t realize she has sent us the very bait we need to lure this new Seelie queen to her own death.”

Donegal let out a low demonic laugh. “Or perhaps, that was precisely Larkin’s plan.”

Chapter Two

London, England

May 1
^st
, 1872

D
usk settled over London like a sooty overcoat as a carriage left Westminster Abbey and made its way toward the wealthy district of Mayfair. The cry of
TARR-UH!
still echoed in Tiki’s ears with the rhythm of the horse’s hooves against the cobblestones. She clutched Rieker’s hand, grateful for the sense of security his touch always provided.

The teeming streets of the City, crowded with all states of humanity, gave way to genteel landscape as the pair of black, matched horses snorted to a stop inside the coach house of Number Six Grosvenor Square.

“All right?” Rieker asked softly as he leaned close. The shadows in the carriage emphasized the aristocratic features of his face: cliff-like cheekbones and dark, sultry eyes which too often in the past had been shadowed with secrets.

Tiki gave a shaky nod. “Shocked, still, I think.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Indeed. It has been a day of discovery.”

Tiki forced a smile, but her lips wavered. “Almost too much to take in at once.” She gripped his fingers tighter. “I’m so worried about Dain—”

The muscles in Rieker’s jaw tightened as he ran the backs of his fingers along her cheek. “I know. We’ve got to—”

The door to the carriage swung open on well-greased hinges to reveal their driver standing at attention, his back ramrod straight. “May I assist you from the carriage, Miss?”

Rieker let out a low sigh of frustration before he answered. “No need, Geoffrey. I’ll assist Miss Tara. Thank you.” In a low voice he said to Tiki, “Let’s go directly to my study. We’ve much to talk about yet.” In a graceful movement he stepped from the carriage. His frame held the height and strength of his eighteen years, emphasized by the contrast to the wiry build of the small, middle-aged man next to him.

Tiki clutched the fabric of her crimson gown to step down, happy to hold on to something real in a world that was shifting and changing like a restless sea. There were still moments when she had to remind herself that the young man before her, Sir William Richmond, a noble who had grown up with Princes Leopold and Arthur of the royal family, was also Rieker, the infamous pickpocket she’d met scavenging on the streets of London. He was like a chameleon, changing his skin to fit his environment.

As they walked into the house, the patter of bare feet echoed down the hallway in their direction.

“Tiki!” Clara’s high voice was tinged with excitement as the four year-old raced toward them. “Where’ve you been? You left without tellin’ us…”

“And you missed supper!” Ten year-old Toots interrupted. He hurried behind Clara, his red hair bright even in the shadows of the hallway. Perhaps it was the constant struggle to fill his belly after his mother had kicked him out of the house at age nine because she’d had too many other children to feed, or maybe it was the endless pangs of hunger that had wracked his young body for so long, but Toots never missed a meal if he could help it.

Clara threw her arms around Tiki’s waist, hugging her tight. “Don’t go away again,” she said, her voice muffled against Tiki’s skirt. “Fiona needs you and I want you to read that book Ol’ Potts gave me—the one about the lep’reecons.”

Tiki hoisted Clara up and propped the little girl on one slim hip. “I’m sorry. I won’t leave again, it’s just that—” she hesitated.

“We were called to Buckingham Palace on short notice,” Rieker finished for her. “But we’re home safely now. Not to worry.” He started down the hall in the direction of his study, beckoning Tiki with the tilt of his head.

“What were you doing at Buckingham?” Toots asked, his green eyes bright with curiosity.

“Did you see the Queen?” Clara chimed in, her small hand smoothing a lock of Tiki’s long, dark hair, a stark contrast to the little girl’s own blond curls. “Fiona told me Queen Vic has a doggie just like my Doggie an’…”

“How is Fiona?” Tiki asked, her forehead creasing with concern.

“She’s in ‘er room.” Clara’s smile faded as her voice dropped to a whisper. “I think she’s still cryin’.”

Tiki sighed. Fiona had developed more than a friendship with Johnny O’Keefe, a charming pickpocket they’d met at Charing Cross a few months ago. In an unexpected twist of events, Johnny had come to live with them at Grosvenor Square, but had recently gone missing when he, Fiona and the others had journeyed to Hyde Park in an unsuccessful attempt to contact Larkin.

Tiki tweaked the tip of Clara’s petite nose. “Well, I’ve got some good news for Fi.”

“You do?” The little girl’s blue eyes lit up. “Did you find Johnny?”

“Sir—” The butler appeared from the foyer. Tall and robust, he was immaculately groomed as always, in black trousers with a white shirt and grey vest, a black cravat neatly tied beneath his chin. His moustache was greased to fine points beneath a hearty nose.

Rieker turned. “Yes, Charles?”

“You’ve a caller. A young lady. Wouldn’t give her last name. Says she must see you—” his gaze moved to Tiki and his thick eyebrows rose, shifting his usually imperturbable expression— “and Miss Tara immediately. Shall I show her in?”

Rieker frowned. “Did she give you a first name, at the least?”

“Yes. Said it was Larkin—like the bird.”

“Larkin?” Toots squeaked and scooted closer to Tiki. Last December, Larkin had stolen a deathly-ill Clara, intending to trade the child in exchange for the Queen’s ring. Even more recently, the mercurial faerie had arranged for Toots to be taken to the Otherworld as a means to convince Tiki to do her bidding. Though Toots had been returned unharmed, his travels had left a significant impression and he now had a healthy fear of Larkin and her manipulations.

Behind the butler, a young woman swept into the hallway without waiting to be escorted.

“Ah, William—there you are.”

Long, blond hair cascaded over Larkin’s shoulders to frame an exquisite face. She was dressed in a fashionable gown, the color of ripe plums, and held a small matching purse. Her gaze paused for a long moment on Clara, held in Tiki’s arms, before she spoke to the butler in a haughty tone.

“Thank you—” her delicate nose crinkled— “
Charles
, is it?” She flicked her wrist as she sauntered past, as if dismissing the man. “We’ll carry on from here.” She came to a stop in front of Rieker. “William, I have an urgent matter to discuss with you and Tara. Let’s use the study.”

Tiki’s lips twitched as the butler’s jaw sagged at the impudence of their visitor.

Clara tightened her grip around Tiki’s neck and leaned close, her breath warming the skin of Tiki’s ear. “You’re not going to leave again, are you, Teek?” There was a hint of desperation in the little girl’s voice.

Rieker didn’t seem surprised by Larkin’s arrival or her arrogance. He lifted an arm toward the other end of the hallway, and raised his eyebrows at their visitor. “You know the way.”

Tiki’s heart quickened. Though her relationship with the faerie had been fraught with distrust and deceit, for once in her life she was glad to see Larkin. Recent events had raised many questions and the faerie was her best hope of getting answers.

“Don’t you worry,” Tiki said softly in Clara’s ear. “I’ll be here.” She let the child slide down to the floor. “Why don’t you and Toots go play upstairs while Rieker and I talk to Larkin? I’ll be up shortly.”

Clara clung to Tiki’s skirts as she stared up with large blue eyes. “You promise?”

Tiki cupped the child’s face and kissed her forehead as she breathed in the fresh scent of Clara’s skin. “I promise.”

“Yes, do send the children along.” Tiki started at Larkin’s proximity. She hadn’t heard the faerie approach. “We want to keep them safe, don’t we, Tara?” The beautiful young woman leaned down and smiled. “Though it’s nice to see you again, Clara.”

The little girl leaned against Tiki’s legs and stared at Larkin with no fear in her face. “Yes’m. Where’s Dain? I haven’t seen ‘im about lately.”

Rieker jerked around. “What do you know of Dain?”

Tiki frowned at Rieker as she placed her hands on Clara’s shoulders. “Shush, never mind about Dain right now.” She turned the little girl to face down the hallway and gave her a gentle shove. “Run along with Toots.”

Against her will, Tiki pictured Dain’s face. He was as handsome as Larkin was lovely—with a similar wild streak. Tiki suspected that like Larkin, Dain gave little consideration to rules before he broke them. In fact, not really so unlike Rieker.

Though often mocking and arrogant, Dain could also be charming. But there was something else about the young man—something Tiki couldn’t quite put her finger on—that pulled at her heart when she was around him. Perhaps it was the air of loneliness that permeated his smile at times or the longing that Tiki sensed just below the surface. She imagined the look on his face as he’d traced his fingers so gently over the palm of her hand and whispered ‘
Have you kept my secret?
Even now, her heart wrenched at the memory.

“C’mon, Clara.” Toots grabbed Clara’s small hand in his own. He cast a wary glance at Larkin, as if he expected the faerie to spring at him. “Bet you can’t beat me upstairs.”

“Yes I can!” Clara yanked her hand free to sprint for the stairs. “I’m going to tell Fi about Johnny.” Toots followed and they both dashed around the corner, their footfalls echoing on the wooden stairs. A pang of love filled Tiki’s chest as their giggles and shouts receded into the upper depths of the townhome. As she followed Larkin and Rieker into his study she vowed silently that she would never be separated from them.

Rieker had barely shut the door when Larkin whirled to face them. She pointed a long finger at Tiki.

“We can’t waste another moment. Tara—you are needed in the Otherworld immediately.
Cloch na Teamhrach
has spoken. You have no choice—you must claim the Seelie throne
today
.”

Chapter Three