Lunar Court, page 6
part #8 of Alpha Girls Series
“My best guess? She been giving you time to come to terms with letting Chris go, and now that you know, you’ll be able to relax, fortify your power base with marriage, and then go find him and in time help with whatever Eli’s doing.”
“That’s…” I took another breath. “Okay.” That meant Chris was fine. I could cry from relief. But my relief didn’t last long.
“Oh, no.” If mother was going through that much—expending that much energy on time games—then she wasn’t joking around. I had to marry and quickly. “There’s no getting out of it this time, is there?”
“I’m afraid not. If it’s any consolation, you’ve lasted longer than any of your siblings. They married for power by their eighteenth year. Not that any of those marriages lasted, but…”
“I know.” And I was old. Much older than any of my friends in Texas knew. Only Chris knew the truth about me.
But I’d never needed to marry for power. I had enough on my own, just as my mother had enough. I could choose to marry for love, and so I’d waited. My siblings called me a hopeless romantic, but I didn’t care. I let them laugh at me behind my back—and to my face—for years.
Marrying for power now was a blow I hadn’t expected. “So, what do I do?”
Van stood and gave me a pointed look. “You shower before you get blood all over the rest of your furniture.”
I glanced down at myself. He was right. Blood had sprayed my shirt and pants, and now that he’d told me, my face felt a little itchy. I hated when blood got on my face. “I hadn’t realized any had gotten on me.”
“It did.”
“Yes. I see that now.” I snapped and then instantly regretted it. “My apologies.”
“Not needed. I’ll shower as well. We’ll meet back here in one hour. And just like before, I’ll be staying on your couch until it’s safe. I’ll move some of my things. I’d ask that you don’t dismiss the rest of your guards yet.”
“Why not?”
“I want to weed out who exactly has turned against us, but we’ll need to be on alert at all times until then. I’d be more worried if you still had more than fifty, but the good news is that you only have the required twelve guards for a nonheir princess on staff right now.”
I closed my eyes, letting myself wallow for a moment. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“We’ll get through. We did before, and you’re stronger now. Older and—dare I say—wiser?”
He wanted me to laugh, but I couldn’t. I hoped he was right. I couldn’t thank him, so I did the next best thing. I gave him a hard hug. “I appreciate you.”
“And I, you.” He rubbed a hand down my back. “We’ll be quick. If there’s someone that could fortify you at court, we need to find him. Fast.”
“We’ll find someone.” I had no other choice. Not anymore.
Chapter Five
CHRIS
After what had to be at least an hour, I was still alone at my round table. There were exactly eighteen of them in the room, all raised about a foot and half or so above the pillow-seats. There were a few tables that only had three or four people sitting at them, a couple were empty, but the rest had at least six each. Nearly one hundred and twenty people in the room and not one single person had come to talk to me.
It was hot as hell in there and the scent of the sweet smoke wasn’t helping me at all. Gone was the feeling of air moving, and I didn’t like being underground. Not even a little bit. It was funny how I’d hated being out on the dunes with the hot wind, and now I was desperate to have even a few seconds of that wind back. I picked up a piece of bread and hoped that food would fix how I was feeling, but after inhaling the rich food, I was left only with a churning brick in my stomach. And yet I was still hungry.
My wolf needed meat, but there was none here. Rayvien had warned me, and I was taking that warning seriously. I’d heard stories about nonfey entering the underhills, never to be seen again. Some of them warned not to eat anything or else risk getting trapped here. I wasn’t sure that eating tainted, rotting meat would trap me, but it could make me sick or worse…
A voice rose above the others. One of the fey men stood from his spot, throwing a tray of food across the room. In a flash of fire and smoke, the man disappeared. The room was silent for a second before the whispers started.
I’d given up on trying to eavesdrop hours ago. I spoke English, French, and a touch of Spanish. Anything else was a bust. Whatever fey dialect they were speaking, I didn’t know it, and I had yet to hear the few fey words Cosette had taught me. If I’d had paper and some charcoal, I would’ve been happy to spend the time there sketching all the faces and commotion of the room, but I had nothing else to do but wait.
A few minutes later, the room was back to normal. The fey alternated between talking—or more accurately, yelling—with each other while they traded their little sparkling coins. I wasn’t sure if they were placing bets or if it was a weird game or if the coins signified something else. I couldn’t figure it out, and Rayvien hadn’t come back so that I could ask her. She was still at the same table, sitting on the same man’s lap, and hadn’t spared me a glance since she left me with the order to wait.
She showed the man sitting across from her a large, glittery disk, bigger than the quarter-size ones that seemed the most popular. He reached for it, trying to snatch it from her. Rayvien laughed and the coin disappeared.
This was getting stupid. What the hell was going on? I felt like a waste of space just sitting here, but she’d told me to sit and wait. Maybe it was a test, but of what? Patience? Or a test to see if I was willing—and daring enough—to disobey the only request made of me so far?
I needed help from the Court of Gales, so I was hesitant to go against Rayvien, but I couldn’t get over the fact that Cosette was in danger and I was stuck here doing nothing. My thumb might as well have been up my ass for all the good I was doing her. And what was the point?
I glanced at my phone for the hundredth time. I’d tried to send a million messages to Tessa, Dastien, and Cosette, but none of them were going through. Cosette said that tech was a little unreliable at court, but I’d never believed it was this bad. I’d spent the last six weeks alternating between being annoyed that Cosette wasn’t answering my messages fast enough and desperately missing her, but as I watched another message fail to send, I was no longer annoyed. Now I was impressed she’d managed to get any messages through at all.
My hand started to tighten around the phone and I heard the barely there groan of metal and glass. I let go. It wasn’t the phone’s fault it wasn’t working. I wiped a bead of sweat off my face. It sure as shit was hot enough to be hell in here, but it didn’t resemble what I’d seen in the chapel.
“It won’t go through,” a voice said behind me.
My wolf rose up. Fur rippling along my skin and I instantly shut down the change. I won the tug-of-war I played with my wolf, but it cost me precious calories.
Damn it. I hadn’t heard him coming. The loud, smoky room was blocking my senses, and I hated that. But my wolf hated it more. I turned to watch the man move from behind me to sit at my right.
The man’s skin was a dark tan. His beard was long and had a few strands of gray running through it. His long hair was pulled back away from his face. He was smaller than me, and if I didn’t know he was fey, I might’ve assumed I could take him in a fight. But assuming something with supernaturals was stupid.
We sat quietly assessing each other. Staring him down wasn’t the same as staring down another Were. I didn’t feel the pressure of his power pushing at me, urging me to back down. But still, we were two predators figuring out a possible threat.
My cell buzzed in my hand. I didn’t want to look away first, but something told me that this man would hold my gaze for days before he looked away. Being fey meant he was a host and since he was talking to me, a potential ally. So, I gave in and looked at my phone.
Another goddamned failed message. “Is there a network I’m not seeing?” I finally asked.
He tilted his head. “You could say that.”
Cosette was usually more straightforward, at least with me, but I’d noticed how she talked in circles sometimes with everyone else. Usually that meant that there was something there, whoever was talking to her just wasn’t asking the right question.
I had to change my approach. “What would you say?”
“I’d say that you are a stranger here, and we’re not about to let you into our court and let you call in all your wolfy friends with a simple location finder.”
Except I wasn’t sure my friends could get here that fast. Not without help. “So this is specific to me.”
“Yes.”
“That’s some trick.” The way witches worked, to do something specific to me, yet covert, they’d have to take some of my hair or something personal from me. But I’d been purposefully ignored all evening, and no matter how much my senses were dulled by the environment, I was pretty sure I’d notice if someone had taken my hair.
“We have our own ways of doing things.”
“I’m sure.” Aside from Rayvien, this guy was the only one to engage with me since entering the Court of Gales’ underhill. I wasn’t sure what to make of him yet, but if he was talking to me, then there had to be a reason.
I held out my hand. “Christopher Matthews.”
The man looked at my hand without taking it and grinned. “Ziriel.”
I lowered my hand, not offended at all. “And what do you do here at court?”
“I rule it.”
I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came. I wasn’t sure why he was even talking to me, and yet I couldn’t waste this conversation. I came for help, and he—whoever he was—might be the one that could give it to me.
“You think I’d put one of my fey next to you and risk their life? A werewolf I don’t know, don’t trust?” The grin on the man’s face disappeared, his eyes went hot and dark, and as I kept my gaze locked on his, it was as if I was back in the chapel in Santa Fe. Back where the open pit to hell spewed demons into our realm. His gaze held the same heat and depth of that open pit.
I held my breath as I realized three things: I didn’t know anything about the Court of Gales, the fey here seemed to be aligned with something dark and sinister, and if I wasn’t extremely fucking careful, agreeing to come here would be the last mistake I’d ever make.
“I would say it’s a pleasure to meet you, Christopher Matthews, but you’re the reason we’re in hiding and I haven’t decided if I’ll forgive you for it yet.”
I pushed away the fear that was rising up before it could take hold of my thoughts. It wouldn’t do me any good right now. I wasn’t in Santa Fe, and as far as I knew, this underhill wasn’t anywhere near hell. And even if I was out of my depth, Eli had sent me here for help. He wouldn’t have done that if it would put me in imminent danger.
“You don’t want to be in hiding?” It was my understanding that the majority of the fey actually asked for this. So, I was surprised to hear otherwise.
“No. No, we don’t want to be.” He leaned to the side a bit, placing his elbow on the table as he looked at me.
Okay. Maybe I understood what he wanted. “And you want me to do something about it.” It wasn’t a question because I was pretty damned sure of the answer.
His smile came back, bigger than before, and he twisted to the side. “See! Marsta!” Ziriel yelled across the room. “I told you he wasn’t going to be as blond as he looked.”
A woman sitting at the same table as Rayvien yelled something back at him and Ziriel laughed. A few others started yelling and a quick exchange of coins rippled through the room. Rayvien gave me a long look before turning back to the man whose lap she was still sitting on and whispered something in his ear.
I was too baffled by the exchange and whatever was happening with the coins to be insulted. “Thankfully, no, I’m not an idiot, but I don’t think that I can do anything to help you.”
The man leaned toward me. “I can smell Eli in your blood and feel Cosette Argent in your Were magic. If you don’t help us, it won’t be because you can’t.”
That creeped me out. I wasn’t aware that either were true, even if both made sense. “You’re giving me too much power. I might be connected to both, but I don’t control Cosette and I sure as shit don’t have any influence over Eli.” That was the absolute truth. “The archon does what he wants.”
“But Cosette is your mate?”
I didn’t want to lie to him, but I wasn’t sure what the truth was. The bond barely existed. Neither of us had said the words to cement it, so technically she wasn’t my mate. Not yet. She was well within her rights to refuse the bond, but saying that she wasn’t my mate would be very close to a lie. And lying to the King of the Court of Gales seemed like a very stupid thing to do.
“It’s complicated.”
“Fine. Keep your secrets, but convince Cosette’s mother to stop this madness. We can’t live like this much longer. The courts will implode.”
It was funny that he thought I could change anything to do with the fey courts. “Honestly, I’m not sure I can help. I thought the fey majority ruled. Didn’t you vote on this?”
“Only two of the courts mostly wanted to go into hiding—including Lunar. And even their court had some reservations about it, but what Helen wants, Helen gets. The Lunar, Solar, and Midnight Courts are among the strongest. The elemental courts…we’re powerful, but not like them. Our power is made of a different breed.” Ziriel gave me a small smile, as if he were goading me into guessing.
I didn’t know what kind of power the Court of Gales had, but I knew that I was here because they could do what no one else could. “I can’t help without going to the visit the Lunar Court, and I can’t do that until I break my lunar tie. Can you do that?”
“Maybe. With the right incentive. You see, Gales like living in the mortal realm. We’re made of smoke and wind.” He motioned with his hand and he faded, turning to smoke for a split second before reforming. “Neither can flourish when confined.”
He was trying to intimidate me, and if I were anyone else, that would’ve worked, but I’d been subject to a lot of power plays growing up. I’d learned that the best way to survive them was not to engage. No matter what I said to him, he wasn’t going to be happy. I barely had control over my own life, so there was really no way I could help him overrule the fey.
After a long moment, he let out a frustrated huff. “Are you sure you want to get rid of your tie to the moon?”
It took my mind a second to process the abrupt subject change. “Yes.”
“Eli and I had a nice chat. You see, the archons and my court are good friends. Both of us thrive in the gray area and enjoy collecting information.”
“Can you get rid of my tie?”
“Yes, of course. I can do that for you, but I’ll need something in exchange. Nothing comes without cost.”
“I’m willing to bargain, but I can’t guarantee to get your court out of hiding.” I couldn’t promise something that wasn’t in my power.
“We’ll see what you’re willing to part with when given the correct incentive. And what kind of guarantee you’re willing to give as a result.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. Not even a little bit. When the incentive was saving Cosette’s life, I knew I would part with a lot. I had a feeling that we would’ve sat there staring at each other for a while, but something smacked into my face. I glanced at the floor to see a piece of bread, and then looked up to see Rayvien staring at me from across the room. Her gaze was colder than ice as she watched us.
What was her deal?
“Don’t mind her. She’s just angry.”
“At what?”
“Me.” He grinned. “She’s my wife, and she was once friendly with Cosette. Although that has been strained for the last few decades.”
I wanted to say something about how Rayvien was currently sitting on another man’s lap, or that he’d said he didn’t trust me with anyone yet he let Rayvien bring me inside and sit with me. Either she was extremely powerful or he didn’t give a shit about his wife. Either way, it wasn’t my business, but I was really hoping it was the former.
Ziriel snapped his fingers, and a platter of sour meat appeared on the table between us. When he bit into it, the scent grew stronger, and my stomach rolled.
“Rayvien! Come!” He yelled with his mouth still full.
The room grew quiet, and Rayvien slowly rose from her spot. She gave a not-too-gentle pat to the man’s face and stalked over. Her gaze narrowed at Ziriel. “What is it?”
“Show our guest to his quarters.”
An order? From her husband?
I really didn’t understand them at all.
Ziriel stood from the table. “Rest and be welcome.” He pulled a glittering coin from his pocket, throwing it high in the air.
The coin dropped down to hover in front of my face. I looked to Rayvien, but her face gave me no clue as to what the coin was or what would happen if I accepted it.
The room was still quiet, as if everyone inside was holding their breath. The small, dime-size coin emitted a high-pitched ring as it started spinning in front of my face.
I thought again about what Eli had said—what would I sacrifice for Cosette?
Everything. I would sacrifice everything for her.
I snatched the coin from the air.
“Good choice.” Ziriel’s smile sent a shiver through my soul.
And with that, Ziriel turned to smoke, disappearing from the room with a small breeze.
There was quiet for another couple seconds, and then everyone in the room jumped to life. Trading coins. Even if I couldn’t understand the fey words, I knew the yelling was trash talking. And a lot of pointing at me.
