The Seven Year King (The Faerie Ring #3) (22 page)

A small face peered around the butler’s legs. Leo blinked in surprise at the little girl. “Who are you?”

“I live here,” Clara said. Her blue eyes surveyed the two men who stood on the doorstep. “Who are you?”

“Shush.” Charles reached down and tried to shoo Clara away. “Watch your mouth, young miss. Run along now.”

“You live here with Wills?” Leo couldn’t hide his surprise as he squatted down so he was eye-level with her. “But who are you?”

“I’m Clara,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Clara Marie. What’s your name?”

“Clara Marie,” Leo echoed faintly. He turned to look at his brother. “Charles Bagley’s daughter was named Marie Claire…the names are so similar…”

Arthur raised his eyebrows at his brother. “Indeed.” He shifted his gaze back to the butler. “Who is in charge during Lord Richmond’s absence?”

“In charge of what, sir?” Charles asked, shifting his stance in an effort to block the little girl from view.

“In charge of the household.” Arthur nodded at Clara. “The child.”

Leo reached around the butler and took Clara’s hand, drawing her back into view. “Are there other children here?” he asked gently.

“Just Toots,” she said, then leaned forward and said in a conspiratorial whisper, “but his real name is Thomas. He’s ten.” She pointed at her chest. “I’m almost five. Fiona’s gone right now, but she’s quite a bit older, you see, almost sixteen. That’s where Tiki and Rieker have gone—to get Fiona and Johnny. What happened to your neck?”

“Rieker?”

Clara clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes growing wide. Then she giggled and gave Leo a sly grin. “Just a nickname we made up for Wills.” She motioned to his neck. “Wills had scratches like that on his leg once.” She cocked her head, her eyes bright with curiosity. “What happened to you?”

The butler coughed, clearly uncomfortable. “Miss Tara cares for the children.”

“But when she’s gone?” Arthur persisted.

“Mrs. Bosworth, our housekeeper keeps an eye on them and they’ve an older… uh.. brother… who watches them, as well.” Charles tugged on his vest again and twisted his neck as if he found his cravat to be too tight.

Clara leaned close and whispered to Leo. “We used to be orphans, but now, we’re a big family.”

“I see.” Leo rocked back on his heels. “Is William part of your family?”

“Of course.” Clara grinned at him. “Wills and Tiki are going to get married.”

Leo smiled at the little girl. “How fascinating. I knew Wills had secrets—but an entire family hidden here? He’s pulled the wool over my eyes.”

Arthur glanced at Clara then dropped his voice and directed his comment to the butler. “I don’t mean to alarm you, but there has been a sighting in the vicinity of a man who—” for a second he seemed at a loss for words— “a man with evil intentions.” He motioned toward Clara. “Children in particular, seem to be at risk. We’ve come to warn Lord Richmond so he can take the necessary precautions, but now—”

Leo pushed himself to his feet. “Now, since William isn’t here, we must insist—for the safety of all—that several of our guards remain here until Lord Richmond returns.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

A
dark shadow stood hidden among the trees in the square across from Number Six as the red-coated Palace guards were being given instructions at the front of the townhome. The
liche
hissed in anger at the interruption of his plans, though he’d learned the one he sought—sweet Fiona—was not on the premises.

Earlier, he’d overheard a conversation between the housekeeper and the butler discussing the fact that the girl was caring for Johnny, though they weren’t quite sure where. The
liche’s
sharp teeth glistened as he smiled, for he knew exactly where to find the injured boy Fiona cared for—he was in the Otherworld—right where he’d left him.

THE SUN WAS setting as the
liche
approached the zagishire and sniffed the air. The breeze carried the succulent scent of Fiona’s tender skin—he was sure of it. He’d changed his clothes to blend with the Seelie fey who worked around the Palace of Mirrors—a green tunic with tan breeches, his black hair braided behind his head.

“Can I help you?”

He turned to find a nurse staring at him, a basket full of cut herbs slung over one arm. He motioned to the building. “I was wondering about your patients…”

“We’ve only one at the moment.”

“The boy?” He tried not to sound too hopeful. “Johnny?”

The nurse blinked in surprise. “You know the mortal?”

The
liche
tilted his head and knotted his brow in a concerned expression. “Is Fiona caring for him?”

“I believe that’s her name.” The nurse’s lips pursed. “I’ve been instructed not to speak to her much.” She lifted the basket with a sour expression. “Yet, I’m good enough to deliver these herbs.”

“Someone doesn’t appreciate your talents, do they?”

The nurse glanced over her shoulder, then spoke in a whisper. “It’s Larkin. I swear she thinks
she’s
the queen of the Seelie Court now.”

The
liche
held out his hands for the herb-filled basket. “Allow me to take these to Fiona. She’ll be pleased to see me and you can take a well-deserved break.”

The nurse hesitated. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“Of course not.” He wrapped his hands around the handle and pulled the basket free from her arm. “Scoot off now, while you’ve the chance.” Without waiting for her reply, the
liche
pulled open the door to the zagishire.

“Tell the guard I asked you to deliver the herbs to her,” the nurse called after him.

The man paused. “The guard?”

The nurse rolled her eyes. “
Queen
Larkin insisted. Don’t ask me who those two are, but she’s keeping a close eye on them.”

Chapter Thirty

R
ieker had Geoffrey drive for several miles before dropping them off at the nearby Penrith Inn, where he advised the man they were going to travel back to London in a few days time with several business partners who lived in the area.

Once they’d dispatched the driver to return to the City without them, Tiki and Rieker walked through the inn and out a back door. Tiki held the Luck wrapped within her cloak and clutched in her arms. A copse was situated nearby with a beck running through the middle. They followed a footpath to the stream and crossed over a small bridge into the trees. Tiki glanced around, to make sure no one was watching, then held out her hand to Rieker.

“To the zagishire?”

Rieker clutched her fingers and smiled. “To save Johnny.”

THE SUN WAS low on the horizon when they returned to the gardens that surrounded the Palace of Mirrors. They arrived next to the stone statue of Danu, the original goddess of Faerie.

Tiki gazed curiously at the statue. Larkin had told her that Danu was the mother of the
Tuatha de Danaan
, the first faeries of Ireland, but that she’d been captured by a human who was so besotted with her beauty that he’d torn off her wing to keep her in the mortal world.

During winter, while Donegal and the UnSeelies were in power, Danu’s face had been etched with torment and she’d reached for the heavens as if she meant to take flight. One great wing had stretched from the left side of her back, while the other had lain broken on the ground.

Now, she wore a glittering mask, not unlike the one Tiki had worn to the masked ball at Buckingham Palace and her lips curved in a seductive smile. Instead of taking flight, the faerie appeared to be sliding her arms around the neck of an invisible dance partner, both wings arching gracefully from her back.

“Rieker, look. The statue has changed—how is that possible?” Tiki tapped on the carving, running her fingers along the cool stone, testing the rock. “One more thing that’s different since the Seelies resumed control of the court. It’s like there are two different worlds here. ”

“You say ‘the Seelies’ as if you’re not one of them,” Rieker replied. “Don’t forget it was because of you the Seelies were able to take control again on Beltane.”

“I suppose that’s true,” Tiki mused, “but Larkin only needed me to find the Stone of Tara and claim the throne. She seems able to rule this world just fine without me.” Tiki frowned. “Perhaps better without me.”

Rieker slid his arm over Tiki’s shoulders and pulled her close. “That remains to be seen. For now, let’s focus on helping Johnny. Come along.” Rieker set off down the path that led toward the zagishire.

The Night Garden glowed with a colorful luminescence from the nocturnal blooms of the plants, the blossoms swaying gently in the soft breeze as they made their way down the path. This time, the flowers were breathtakingly beautiful, rather than the bloodstained predators that had flourished when the Winter King ruled. A lilting melody whispered through the branches, as though borne by the wind.

They didn’t pause to enjoy the beauty of the sight, however, hurrying toward the small building where Johnny was being treated. Larkin was exiting as they approached.

“There you are,” she said, looking Tiki up and down. Larkin wore an elegant dress the same color as the summer sky, which, at this moment, matched her eyes, making Tiki all too conscious of the plain, brown clothes she’d donned in attempt to remain inconspicuous as they traveled. “Callan has been beside himself trying to find you.” The faerie glanced around. “Have you seen a guard out here? He’s supposed to be inside, but I can’t find him.”

“No, but we just got here. How’s Johnny?” Tiki asked eagerly.

“I doubt he’s going to make it through the night,” she said in a flat voice. “Really, I’m amazed he lasted this long.”

“Perhaps he’s stronger than you think.” Tiki didn’t want to argue with Larkin, but the faerie’s arrogance was too much to bear. “I believe he has a will to live that you’re not able to see.”

Larkin tilted her head. “Such confidence. I’m afraid it will take much more than even I’m able to offer at this point to save him.”

Tiki held up her bundled cloak. A small triumphant smile tweaked the corners of her mouth. “Or maybe all he needs is a cup and a little luck.” Beside her, Rieker let out a small chuckle.

The blond faerie frowned and eyed the rolled up cloak in Tiki’s arms. “You didn’t.”

“I did.”

Disbelief was thick in Larkin’s voice. “You’ve found the Cup of Plenty?”

“It has been known as the Luck of Edenhall for several centuries now,” Rieker said, “locked up tight in the cellar of the Edenhall estate up in Cumbria.”

Larkin gestured at the bundle. “Let me see it.”

“I’m not going to reveal it out here,” Tiki said. “If you want to see it, come back inside.”

Larkin yanked the door open and they stepped inside the small building. Tiki carefully unwrapped the glass goblet. Even in the dim light, the colors glowed with a mystic effervescence.

Larkin put her hands on the glass with an unusual reverence. “The Cup of Plenty,” she breathed. “I don’t believe it.” She ran her long fingers over the colorful pieces of glass, as if by rubbing them, some of the magic might transfer to her. Her gaze shifted to Tiki, her blue-green eyes bright with an emotion Tiki couldn’t identify. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”