Vowed (18 page)

‘What was that?’ I call into the guard’s ear as I step down onto the ground level. ‘I love it!’

‘That’s Torsten. He does that thing with the flute now and again,’ he says. ‘The crowd seems to like it.’

Everyone is bouncing, moving to the music, carried away by the rhythm. I push my way into the crowd, my tiredness and aches completely and utterly forgotten. I love feeling this elated.
I’ll stay for an hour before heading home, I decide. For an hour I can just be a girl dancing the night away, be someone with no worries and responsibilities. I throw myself into the crowd,
my fist pumping the air in time with the music and lose myself in the anonymity.

Being allowed a rare free afternoon away from the tower, to walk the hunting hounds, felt like a larger reprieve than it should have done.

Thorn tried not to think about his lessons but he felt wrung out and tense. Odalis had become insistent that he share his foreknowledge with her. She also made him study magical theory harder
than Istvan ever had. Combining this with the time spent in the crystal room, where he used his magic to keep watch over the realm, he had little concept of how long he’d been at the tower.
Day and night flowed into one, as did days and weeks. He was starting to resemble some damsel from a fairy tale, kept prisoner by a jealous aunt.

He laughed at the image, and one of the hounds peered up at him quizzically, before moving off to sniff an interesting grouping of fungi growing on the trunk of an ancient oak.

There’d been no word from the Citadel since he’d left. No messengers had come bearing missives from his mother or his brothers. Even if he saw them seemingly well in visions as he
patrolled the Otherwhere, he could sense the distance growing between them.

The loneliness sank into him at the thought of being all alone in this godforsaken place at the end of the worlds. It filled him with a melancholy he’d never known before.

His dreams were dark and unpleasant. He dreamed of worlds destroyed in the wake of the Elder Gods as he looked helplessly on, bound by manacles of iron. He watched his family perish under the
boots of giant warriors in steel armour. He felt his powers weaken as the Fae succumbed to a wasting illness. The forests of the Otherwhere withered and died, and with them went the animals.

He also saw the human world of the Frontier tear itself apart, attempting to prevent the disease destroying the Fae take hold in their own realm.

The dreams were so terrifying and real that, during his time in the chamber, he searched endlessly to find the cause of this destruction. He was tireless in hunting for the discordant note he
knew should be there. But he couldn’t sense it. The event was either too far in the future, or as yet mere possibility among several potential realities.

Amidst all of this, he was aware of a darker danger still, something stalking the young girl who’d risked her life so many times to save him. He raged then, unable to protect her, because
of his inability to find the root of the trouble.

On the nights he found sleep, he dreamed about the dark-haired human girl with the flashing eyes, quick smile and faster blade. When he woke in the morning, he wasn’t sure which hurt more
– knowing she was in danger from enemies he could barely sense or that he was powerless to help her until her enemies made their first move.

There is not enough caffeine in the world. I slump forward in my chair and wonder about pushing my face into my large mug of cooling coffee and if osmosis works with humans. I
don’t even look up when Dante scrapes a chair back so that he can sit opposite me.

I eventually straighten up, but barely manage to keep my head from bobbing. Or my eyes from drifting shut.

Dante’s face is a mask of disapproval. His gaze rakes my face, resting too long on the dark circles beneath my eyes, on the downturned line of my mouth and on how tightly my hands hold on
to the mug.

‘Are you wearing the same clothes you did last night, Kit?’ he asks me.

‘Yes,’ I answer dully.

‘Have you been home? Have you slept at all?’

I open my mouth to tell him I’ll sleep when I’m dead when I realize the flippant comeback may just lead to a fight and I really just can’t manage to summon any kind of energy
for an argument right now.

‘No.’

‘Where have you been all night?’

‘Milton’s.’ I sip from my mug. Why is it so heavy? ‘I went to speak to Miron.’

‘The demon?’ Dante leans forward so suddenly I jerk back in fright, but he holds up a hand to calm me. ‘Why did you go there, alone?’

‘I had to ask him something. I’m okay, really, I just need a few hours’ sleep, that’s all.’

‘Did he do anything to you? Kit?’ Dante grabs hold of both my wrists in an attempt to get me to look him in the eye. ‘Listen to me. You look really bad. Are you
okay?’

I really don’t like being touched by people. Even well-meaning people. ‘Let go of me. Or you will regret grabbing me.’

I stare at him, letting my magic surface to just below my skin. He should be able to feel the heat building under his hands. He holds on for a few more seconds to make his point while my skin
becomes hotter with each moment. Eventually he lets go with a disgusted sigh.

‘What can I get you?’ The waitress directs her gaze at me and I see sympathy and concern there. She must think I’m having a fight with my boyfriend, because something in her
attitude is solicitous towards me and she’s cold towards Dante. It makes me feel a tiny bit bad but he’s a big boy so I’m sure he’ll get over it.

‘Can I have the sourdough toast and scrambled eggs, please? Also, really crispy bacon?’ I twiddle the plastic-covered menu. ‘And more coffee. And orange juice.’

‘Tea for me and some scrambled eggs and toast, please.’ Dante smiles his chocolate-box smile and for a second she wavers but then smiles back at him.

‘What did you have to go and ask Miron that was so urgent?’ he hisses at me as she saunters off to place our order.

‘I went to ask him if any of his friends have a taste for human children,’ I shoot back, annoyed. ‘He said no, of course, but he’ll check and get back to us.’

‘And you believe him?’

I make an impatient noise in my throat. ‘As far as I can, yes. What you must understand is that there are a great many laws that govern the supernatural beings that live on earth. Most of
these laws are in place to protect humans. Miron knows that if one of his lot oversteps the line, they will be sent back to the Pit. They know that they walk a fine line and if he suspects any of
his Infernal are part of this, he will let me know.’

‘And then what?’

‘We take care of it.’

‘Why did you go there alone?’

‘I can’t figure this out, Dante. Are you annoyed with me because: a) I went there and spoke to Miron or b) I went there alone or c) I’m an independent person and not answerable
to you?’

A tiny muscle jumps in Dante’s smoothly shaven jaw. ‘You are a brat, Kit Blackhart. Here’s why I’m pissed off with you: a) you went there alone when I’m your
partner on this and b) you look like shit this morning and will be no good to me for the rest of the day until you’ve had some rest.’

I open my mouth to argue but I’m interrupted by the waitress as she puts our mugs down along with my glass of orange juice, removing my old cup.

‘There you go, loves. Your breakfast will be with you in a jiffy.’ She gives me a meaningful look and slants her glance at the bathroom by the counter. I get it: if I want alone
time, the bathroom is right there. I give a bleak smile of thanks before reaching for my coffee.

‘I get the impression she thinks I’m the bad guy,’ Dante says as he adds milk and sugar to his tea.

‘You are. You’re shouting at me and I’m just feeling a bit delicate.’

‘I’m not shouting at you. If anything, I’m speaking a bit softer than usual.’

‘Your eyes are shouting,’ I tell him and gesture to the offending items in his face.

‘And you burned me with your magic, you freak.’ The corner of his mouth twitches, as if he’s trying not to laugh. ‘My
eyes
are shouting? How is that even
possible?’

I shrug. ‘I don’t know; they just are.’ I’m surprised that I’m not even angry that he’s calling me a freak. Maybe it’s because he’s now laughing
in that cute way he has. Oh my God, what am I thinking? I should punch him in the head and run, right now. No way can I be finding this guy cute. I’m not even over Thorn and whatever we had
and now I’m faced with Dante-freaking-Alexander and his boss-level cuteness. There is just no time for it and I have no energy. The thought of Thorn brings back that familiar pang of hurt and
uncertainty that I’m not sure how to handle.

Fortunately our breakfasts arrive after a few minutes more and I shovel bacon, egg and toast into my face and sigh contentedly.

‘Aren’t you supposed to be in school?’ Dante asks me after a few mouthfuls. ‘Even for someone being privately home schooled I’ve yet to hear you say anything about
cracking open a book.’

‘It’s not really that kind of schooling,’ I tell him. ‘It’s more like, what incantation will stop a brownie from stealing honey from your bee hives. Or how to
protect your livestock from malignant faeries who you may have upset by not leaving buttered milk out for them.’

‘But what about regular school? Maths and history and geography? Stuff like that?’

‘We have that too, but less focus is placed on that than you might think. For instance, did you know that in the Battle of Trafalgar, a school of selkies came to Nelson’s assistance
during a massive storm? They saved a great many British soldiers and sailors from drowning.’

‘I did not know that.’ He sits back and narrows his dark eyes at me. ‘That’s rather important, don’t you think? That the Fae interfered in a naval battle as big as
that and possibly helped turn the tide of the war?’

‘Exactly!’ I point my buttery knife at him. ‘Humans like you know so little about the symbiotic relationship between humans and Fae. Yes, the Blackharts really do the crappy
job of sending the bad guys packing, but really, there’s far more to it than that. At any given time, there are at least a thousand Fae walking around London. Some work here and live here,
others are here for business. And it’s the same all over the UK and the rest of the world. We live side by side with them and it’s been like that since forever.’

‘How is it possible that we don’t even know half of it?’

I shrug. ‘Humans like not knowing. We’re still scared of what the shadows hold, of things that crawl around in the dark. Can you imagine the chaos out there if we woke up one morning
and a faerie raid was riding past? The Fae all tall and noble in their silvery and golden finery, with their horses, their armed guards? Followed by their baying hounds, flying creatures and things
that shimmer from shadow to shadow? We don’t even understand our own world, Dante. How do you expect the world to understand a hidden race of people that use magic?’

He looks a bit disgruntled but nods thoughtfully. ‘I’ll say it again. You explain things well.’

I chink my mug against his and take a celebratory sip. ‘Does this mean you’ll stop shouting with your eyes? Because if not, I don’t think I can take it and I’ll have to
go home.’

‘I’ll tone down the shouting, I promise.’

‘Phew.’ I wipe my brow dramatically and he laughs. ‘Can I ask you something, though? It’s personal.’

‘Uh oh.’ His smile falters but he nods. ‘Go on.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me your little sister was taken when you were younger?’

‘I hardly know you and I didn’t know if I could trust you.’ His gaze meets mine and he looks a little annoyed. ‘But I see you managed to do your own research on me
anyway. I’m impressed. Your uncle in New York sent you the details?’

Colour flames into my cheeks and I feel ashamed that, yes, I did snoop on his life. But then, I argue to myself, he is a Spook and they have files on us too. Quid pro quo and all that.

‘And now?’ I ask after I nod briefly. ‘Do you trust me?’

‘Still not sure. I’m leaning towards you being trustworthy but then you go and do silly reckless things like staying out all night, hanging around with a demon and his mates.
I’ll be honest, Kit. Sometimes you feel as wild and unpredictable as the creatures you’re meant to send back for their sins.’

‘Wow.’ Wow, how do you come back from that? I stare at Dante and consider just walking away from the table, out of his life. Would it be possible just to ring Uncle Andrew and tell
him I don’t want to work with Dante any more? To tell Suola that we will handle this ourselves? Force her to let us work the case with no Spook interference? My gut instinct tells me this is
not likely to happen – I’ve taken the vow and it’s on me, there’s no way of going back now.

‘I’m sorry you feel I can’t be trusted. But I am good at what I do. I know you’re worried that I’m young but I’d like to point out that
you’re not an OAP either, so maybe less of the doubt and more support?’ I turn my coffee mug around between my hands. ‘I went to Miron last night, by myself, because I knew
he’d play it straight with me. Even his lies are straight lies. With you there things could have become tricky. He doesn’t know you but he knows me and he knows my family. Maybe I
should have told you what I was planning to do but I didn’t stop to think about it. I’m not used to talking to people about what I’m planning, because –’ and here I
laugh wryly – ‘I act on impulse and mostly it works out okay.’

Dante sits quietly for a few seconds, taking in what I’ve just said before speaking again. ‘Are you Fae?’

‘Do I look Fae?’ I finger the tips of my ears; they’re round rather than slightly pointy. ‘If I were Fae you’d never see me look tired, my hair would always be
immaculate. I’d definitely not be doing this.’ I make a sweeping motion towards the cup of caffeine. ‘Besides, with no token from my liege, I’d become iron sick.’

‘Then why do you have magic? And why do you talk about humans as if you’re not one?’ Dante’s questions are putting me a little on edge; there’s a strange hunger in
his voice that makes me uncomfortable.