“It’s hard for the little pixies,” he said. “The last time a woman was in the house, she was going through a phase of all things human.”
“Father, I’m a woman,” Leonora said impatiently.
“No, you’re my daughter.” He looked me up and down, not a trace of subtlety in the action. “And fetch the queen her clothes before the realms think us petty thieves,” he shouted at someone while holding my gaze. He held out an arm. “Let’s have dinner, shall we?”
I hesitantly put my arm in his. MacKenzie was evidently king of his castle. He made me sit next to him at the table. He barely ate, focusing most of his attention on me, which made me too uncomfortable to eat much. I shot a wide-eyed look at Drake, who shrugged.
“You’ve journeyed long.” MacKenzie tapped his hooked nose. “The secret lives of the royal and infamous.”
I opened my mouth, ready with a smart remark of my own, but a servant approached the table with my cloak.
“Ah, the queen’s belongings,” MacKenzie said, wiping his mouth before making an exaggerated attempt to take it out of his servant’s hands.
“Thievery,” he said mockingly, peering at the frayed edges. His hand slipped into the pocket and took out the stone. He eyed me with fascination.
“I like geology,” I said, snatching it back and praying it wouldn’t transform into a magical tablet again.
“Interesting.” He gestured toward his daughter’s friend. “Perhaps Aiken can give you a tour of my land. He likes dull objects, too.”
Leonora flinched as though he were referring to her.
“We have to move on quickly,” Drake said, sensing my growing need to bite back hard.
“Everyone is fascinated with moving quickly these days. My dear Leonora, do you really have to stare?” he added with startling hypocrisy.
“I never see humans,” she gushed, and I derived the added words or anyone from her tone.
“I’ve seen you and Aiken before, actually. We didn’t meet—don’t worry.” I gestured at Drake. “It was around the time of his coronation. You were travelling through the Great Forest with Aiken. There was a carriage behind you, and you heard me move.”
“Move?” MacKenzie leaned forward as though fascinated. “What were you doing in the forest?”
“Hiding,” I said matter-of-factly. “This was before I had an army of my own.”
He chuckled then waved at me to continue.
“You were worried we were bandits, I think. Aiken warned us that your father was close by.”
MacKenzie snorted with a cold kind of laughter. “Warning the little human that Daddy would hurt her if she approached?”
“Well, he didn’t know who we were,” I said. “And according to those in the know, he might as well have been warning us for our own sakes because a bloodthirsty hunter once loyal to a mad queen was following. We waited until—”
“We?”
“A sprite, a brownie, a cat, and I,” I deadpanned.
“Simply terrifying,” he uttered, and a tiny part of me started to like him despite myself.
“We waited until you passed, and I felt glad I wasn’t Drake, who had to accept fealty from such people.”
Leonora had gone pale, but after Sadler, I didn’t intend on being cowed by anyone ever again.
“Ah, but I must disagree. I didn’t actually pledge fealty that day,” MacKenzie said.
“So, you accept that you’re a bloodthirsty hunter once loyal to a mad queen.”
“The human did trick me.”
“I think you’ll find it was a queen,” I said.
“Well, Queen of Chaos, tell me more.”
I picked up my fork and began to eat, feeling everyone’s eyes on me. MacKenzie was a big man in his own castle, but he didn’t own the world, and he certainly didn’t own me. I wasn’t in danger. Yet.
Leonora and Aiken began to speak loudly as if to distract from my cheekiness.
“Look at her,” MacKenzie said under his breath after a few moments. “Silly little airhead. I thought to marry her to the Green king, who I hear is pleasant enough to look at, and she said she would rather die. Daughters, eh?”
“I was forced to marry my daughter’s crazy great-grandfather,” I said dryly. “Do I really look like the sort of person who approves of girls being compelled to marry?”
“Ah, of course.” He touched the green-and-silver bracelet on my wrist. “You believe in love as all humans do.”
“Love is a lie.” I allowed myself a tiny smile. “But it’s a good lie all the same.”
“I should marry again just to spite her,” he said. “Not that she’d care. Too busy with her head in the clouds—she and that Aiken.”
“You haven’t sent him away,” I said, remembering how Donella had wanted to separate her son from poor Bekind.
“I like it when she smiles more than when she cries.” He handed me my cloak. “Perhaps you want to keep all of your secrets to yourself, my lady, but I find I’m very curious.”
“Curiosity killed the cat.”
“Some cats never die,” he said softly. “Or so I hear.”
I gave him a stern look. “Good for them.”
“As you say. And I heard you were on a journey with two kings. Did the second displease you as much as your husband?”
My stern look turned into a glare. “Brendan hasn’t risked the realm yet. Let me know when you do.”
His laughter surprised everyone—even he looked startled. “I understand it now,” he said, half under his breath. “Sometimes one tires of always being agreed with.” He stabbed his meat with his fork. “And is it true about this other king? Is he really a woman’s dream?”
“He’s very handsome.”
“Not like me.”
I met his eyes as I struggled to hold in my laughter. “Not like you at all.”
He relaxed in his chair. “But if he’s deserted you on your quest, then he’s surely not as brave as they claim.”
“Actually, he’s braver. He’s gone across the sea on a mission of his own.”
That surprised him. He sat up straight. “Across the sea? On a boat?”
“That’s generally how it’s done,” I said dryly. “His future bride is in possession of a boat, and they’ve gone together.”
He screwed up his face. “Which future bride owns a boat, of all things?”
“Her name is Yvette. She lives—”
“I know who you mean.” His cheeks flooded with a wash of pink. “I wouldn’t expect him to return anytime soon.”
I gave him a sharp look, but his conversation turned more conventional. Yet I couldn’t settle. There was a dark, quivering anger lying just under the surface of that man, and he was ready to unleash it when he felt it necessary. But something made me respect him. Maybe it was because I now knew how difficult the hard choices were. Or maybe it was because he'd echoed my misgivings about Yvette.
Before dinner was over, I offered to host Leonora at my home. I wasn’t altogether serious at first, but when her eyes lit up as though all of her birthdays and Christmases had come at once, I knew I had to force the issue.
“She can, can’t she?” I asked MacKenzie.
Leonora looked surprised when he said yes without hesitation.
After dinner, I excused myself to clean off the pixies’ heavy-handed work and change into my own clothes before checking on Dubh. At the stables, a giant black dog got in my way.
“Don’t worry,” MacKenzie said from behind a nearby tree. All I could see of him was a shadow and a wisp of smoke. “He won’t eat you.”
I tried to disguise my fright. “Is that a cú sídhe?”
“Ah, I forgot. The Silver king gifted you the one we sold him. I made Leonora send him the white runt. If I’d known it was your gift, I would have given you a beauty.”
“I happen to like the white runt.” I moved toward the fully grown cú sídhe in awe. It was almost as tall as me, even on four legs. “Will mine grow to this size?”
>
“This one's a brute, the biggest I’ve seen, but even a runt will be larger than any dog.” He approached me, putting out a cigar, which surprised me.
“It's not just the women who are into human things,” I said.
He looked at me and smiled. “Correct. And are you fleeing in the night from the dreaded MacKenzie then?”
“No. Sorry to disappoint you. I’m just checking that my horse hasn’t killed anyone.”
“This getup suits you better than your pixie dinner attire,” he remarked. He took my arm and guided me into the stables. When I reached for Dubh, MacKenzie chuckled. “Of course, that one is yours.”
I hid my smile.
“I hear your daughter is strong and healthy, a boon to the dark court.”
I turned and faced him, feeling fierce. “And what is it to you?”
He smirked. “You’ve met my daughter. Weak. Simpleminded, even. Not bad for a child, but for my child? A disappointment. I like her, but she can’t lead in my stead.”
“She seemed to have control over those soldiers who came upon us.”
“Those fools would piss themselves if I so much as looked them directly in the eye. I blame her mother. She was pretty but ridiculous.” He rolled his eyes. “An utter fool.”
I stared at him, wondering why the hell he was telling me his life story.
“I want something better. I’ve always wanted more from life, and I look at you, someone who has made more from life. Together, we could do astonishing things.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m proposing,” he said. “I want to marry you.”
I blinked rapidly. “Um, we just met today.”
“I’m not looking for your heart.”
“Then what are you looking for?”
“What all men seek: power. When the time comes to take sides, I want to take yours. You’re young and strong, cunning enough to survive anything, and you’ve already produced a good child. Marry me, give me a son, and I’ll give you knowledge and an army that would make either of those pathetic kings weep.”
“I’ve been married.”
“To Sadler. A weak-minded, suggestible fool who barely understood what was going on. I can be your general. I can lead your troops. I can protect your daughter and you. Between us, we have the traits needed to rule the entire realm, not just the Darkside. We would be an unstoppable force.”
“I’m flattered.” Sort of. “But—”
“Think about it.” He touched my waist. “I could make you untouchable.”
“I’ll… think on it. But we’re leaving in the morning.”
“Of course,” he said. “Perhaps I’ll visit you with Leonora.”
He left me then, and I shivered. The cold didn’t leave me until we were all safely away from MacKenzie’s home the next morning.
“What’s wrong?” Dymphna asked as we rode.
I blinked. “Who said something’s wrong?”
“Well, I’ve called your name four or five times, and all I’ve gotten is a grunt in response. I’m guessing there’s something on your mind.”
I looked over my shoulder to make sure the others were out of hearing distance. “Something weird happened last night. MacKenzie… proposed.”
She didn’t even look surprised. “I thought he might.”
“What? I didn’t!”
“You’re the most eligible woman in the realm.” She laughed when I made a face. “And you could do worse than a man like MacKenzie.” She hesitated. “If Brendan married Yvette, then someone like MacKenzie could be your safety net if everything goes wrong.”
Great. Yet another detail to worry about. Who knew life as a queen would be so complicated?
Chapter Twenty-Four
We finally reached the Green Court. Even at a fair distance away, familiar green flags could be seen flying proudly from the rounded turrets. The ivy-covered castle was like something from a little girl’s dreams of being a princess. My castle was derelict in comparison.
Grim waited at the gates to greet us. A good chunk of Brendan’s army lined up in the courtyard, too, which made me feel uncomfortable. Realtín flew at me and wrapped herself around my neck. At least some things hadn’t changed.
“We can’t linger,” Drake said. “We just wanted to update you.”
“Come to the study,” Grim said.
We made sure the horses were being taken care of then followed him inside. As soon as we sat in Brendan’s office, Grim leaned forward, giving Drake a keen look. “What has happened?”
“Brendan took Yvette’s ship, with Yvette on board, to find the first trees across the water.”
Grim looked taken aback. “How odd. Have you come straight from there?”
“No. We found the stone of destiny in the human realm.”
“The human realm. Of course,” Grim said thoughtfully. “And you’re now on your way to the Fade.”
“There’s no other course to take.”
“Anything else I should know about?”
As Drake filled Grim in on our journey so far, I couldn’t helping noticing that a Green Court adviser stood in the place of the friend I had expected to see. I realised I might never find a way to have all my friends around me again. My inner circle was broken up and separated. I had only been able to draw them together when I was just a human. A queen couldn’t perform the same task.
Before we left again, I pulled Grim aside. “When it all goes wrong, if I don’t come back—”
“You’re going to come back.”
“If I don’t, I need you to be a friend to Scarlet. I need to know you’ll care about her. You and Bekind are the ones I trust with her. Has that changed for you?”
“Nothing has changed.”
“Grim.” I tried on a weak smile for size. “Everything has changed. You were right about Brendan’s marriage. He won’t be my friend when that happens. He’ll be the king of a rival court. You didn’t pledge fealty to anyone. You’re here because you choose to be. Will you choose to watch over Scarlet?”
He took my hand and squeezed my fingers. “She won’t need me to, but if she does, I promise to be there. Scarlet won’t come to any harm.”
“She needs to visit the human realm regularly. She can’t be raised to think that murder is normal. She has to know Zoe and my grandparents… and my mother.”
“Your mother?”
“I think they deserve to know each other. I think that I can’t let Scarlet carry my issues with her. She has to decide for herself, and when she’s old enough, she can make so many decisions. She can choose where to live and who to have in her life. But it’s only fair to give her all of the information first.”
“Why are you thinking in this way?” he asked, sounding almost distraught.
“I have a bad feeling,” I said, remembering the mirror. I would die alone, full of darkness. “You were right about something else, Grim. It’s not fair to put my happiness on her. That was wrong of me, and I see it now.”
He blinked a couple of times.
“There’s one other thing,” I said. “There’s a baby left in my care. Liliana. I need you to make sure that she gets treated like Scarlet’s sister until her mother returns. If that means protecting her from even a Darksider, then I need you to make sure it happens.”
“Cara, why—”
“Goodbye, Grim.”
***
It took us too long to reach the Hauntings. First, a group of soldiers from my court met us at the Hollows for news. They verified that Fiadh had gone to her ancestral home and that they hadn’t heard from her since. I gave them news to pass on to the rest of my advisers.
After all the delays, we hadn’t dared hesitate too long with the Watcher. One way or another, we needed to know if we could use the stone without Brendan. But after Drake had managed to call forth rain, I thought we stood a good chance.
At the Hauntings, I took the lead, remembering how badly our previous attempts had gone.
“Should we w
alk?” Rumble asked.
“Yes. The animals will be fine,” I said. “They don’t get caught up in the memories like we do. We all need to touch. We can hold hands. Don’t break the chain, no matter what.” I looked at Rumble. “It’ll be worse for you because you’ve never done this before, but ignore everything you see. It’s not real. Keep your eyes down as much as possible. I don’t get caught up in the memories, so keep a tight hold of my hand.”
He nodded his agreement. We all dismounted and stepped into the Hauntings.
As soon as we did, I felt a difference. Something I didn’t understand lingered in the air, but there was a familiarity, too. I had felt this before; I just couldn’t place it.
Drake and Rumble’s hands tightened on mine as one, and I knew they saw a memory, but all I saw was mist.
“Hold on tight,” I said, gritting my teeth as a gust of wind almost knocked me over. I looked up and frowned. There was a figure ahead of us. I squinted, but I couldn’t make out any features. It didn’t seem like a memory, but there was something dreamlike about it.
“Fire ahead,” Rumble muttered.
“It’s not real,” Drake said.
“Keep walking, even if you have to pass through it,” Dymphna said.
I felt heat, but I saw no fire, only that same figure. It beckoned me, and I had to put my head down to ignore it in case it led us somewhere we didn't want to go.
And then I heard a voice whispering. Shadows surrounded us. The others didn’t appear to notice, so it was just for me. Old fears of the madness of summer wives jolted me.
Drake glanced at me, but I kept moving, determined to get through the Hauntings. My feet sank into the ground, and the whispers grew louder. The only way to save her is to close the portals.
Frowning, I listened harder. The voice continued. Sometimes, I made out only parts of sentences.
Death comes…
Humans will die.
The blight creeps on.
Death haunts…
Close the portals.
Blights can’t be stopped.
Death wins…
Save yourself.
Save yourself.
Close the portals.