The Darkling Lord: Court of the Banished book 1 (Annwyn Series 4) (10 page)

Damn Verden. He was not a one-stop banished fairy rescue center. Although as he looked around the lobby, he realized that it did kind of look that way. Where were Kaid and Darah?

Double damn it all. This was another complication that he didn’t need.

Yet Henry smiled. Verden may no longer be the Hunter of Annwyn, but it would do Henry no good to deliberately ignore a request. Besides that, they were talking about a darkling child. “Where were you for Peri’s other birthdays?”

The mother looked away. “Her father always insisted on taking her out. But he vanished in the plagues. Then Peri was kidnapped. Verden rescued her and said you’d be able to help. You can help? You are Henry?” Her voice took on a higher pitch, as if she had reached the end of the line.

The last thing he needed around was another darkling. However he had to admit that he was curious, as he’d never crossed paths with one. Most died on their first birthday or their second. Some got lucky—or unlucky depending on where you stood—and obviously some got help. Peri’s Grey dad had stuck around playing happy family.

How did he tell this woman that her pretty little daughter was a soul-stealing killer?

“Yeah, I’m Henry. And I can help.”

Then the woman started crying. “Thank you. We’ve been travelling for months. It’s so hard these days.”

None of the Greys moved. A couple of them pointed at the woman, indicating he should do something. He didn’t want to accidentally kill her. The little girl put her arms around her mother’s legs and patted her.

Henry finally stepped forward and gave her an awkward embrace, making sure to keep his face well away from hers. “It’ll be okay.”

He was such a liar. He glanced down at Peri; she had the palest green eyes. The pale eyes betrayed her fairy blood. Her parents had stuck by her. She didn’t know how lucky she was. Her father must have been one of the Greys that Sulia had blackmailed by kidnapping their family. What hell had Peri been through?

Peri regarded him with a look that said she knew that they were the same. “Don’t tell Mommy about the monsters.”

Mommy drew back and brushed away her tears. “There are no monsters here. She pretends she can see monsters and fairies. Her father encouraged it.”

Henry sighed and stepped away just in case she decided to slap him—he’d learned that on early on. Don’t deliver bad news within striking distance. “She’s not pretending, and her father was one.”

The woman blinked. Then blinked again. Confusion halted her tears. “I’m sorry, I must have misheard.”

“Your daughter gets sick on her birthday because she needs a new soul. Her father used to take her out and find her a…” Victim wasn’t the right word in this case. “Donor.”

“What?” Her manners dissolved.

Peri bent down and picked up a tiny Grey. “Ooh, you’re a living dolly. Can I make you a fairy princess?”

The Grey laughed.

Mommy looked concerned. She looked between Peri and Henry. “Her mind—”

“Is fine. I can see what she sees because I am just like her.” He’d known that there were others, and that Marlis’s child had been one—Marlis had been banished and her child had been born on the wrong side of the veil. He also now knew that her child had given up because the cost of living was too high. That was something that he weighed every year.

The woman stepped back and tried to tug her daughter with her.

Peri refused to move. “I like it here.”

“Honey. I think I made a mistake.” Desperation had turned into outright fear.

“My birthday was weeks ago. I’m perfectly safe to be around, just like your daughter—although I’m willing to bet your partner warned you never to kiss her on the mouth?”

“How did you…no.” She shook her head. “My daughter’s soul is fine. How could she need a new one?”

“Souls don’t survive in our bodies. After a year they are rejected and die. We need a new one to live. I can help her…or you can take your chances, and one of you will be dead the day after her birthday. Your partner was protecting you and saving her.”

Saving Peri for what, a life like the one he had, constantly besieged with guilt? Would it be kinder to let her die? This woman had risked everything to get help for her daughter. Her partner had done what he could. Fairy children were treasured because they were so hard to conceive. He could imagine that neither of Peri’s parents would let anything happen to her. He wasn’t sure he could either. It wasn’t Peri’s fault that she was darkling and like him, she’d have to make the best of it. Unlike him, she had help, and she’d have knowledge and his years of experience.

He was already talking himself into helping even though the woman looked as though she wanted to get out of the casino in a hurry.

Mommy hesitated, torn between what was seemingly impossible—for some reason humans were very attached to their souls, for all the wrong reasons—and what she knew would happen.

“He could’ve just been taking her out for a treat like he said.” But her words petered off as she considered what that treat might have been.

“And Verden? Why would he lie?” Henry knew the ex-Hunter wouldn’t lie. Most fairies wouldn’t, as it was a point of pride. Half-truths, misleading information, omissions…they were acceptable. But an outright lie was dishonorable. Not because of the lie, but because it showed no skill or respect for the game. And everything was always a game.

He looked at the child again. He’d been stealing and begging at her age. He hadn’t gotten smart about picking rich targets on his birthday until he was ten.

At sixteen he’d killed a man who’d had the misfortune of having a passing resemblance. In France he’d passed himself off as the young Lord, emptied out bank accounts and lived very well until the First World War.

He smiled at the girl. She didn’t smile, just quietly assessed him. He doubted that she’d grasp the significance of what her birthday would mean for a few more years. He’d had to grow up faster than her.

“I don’t know.”

“You came here for help. I’m happy to help. But you need to understand what your daughter is so that you can help her and protect yourself. With your partner gone, no one else can. Trust me, she needs someone on her side.”

The mother shook her head. “Souls and invisible monsters that only you and she can see. What is your affliction?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. You are free to leave…but when she gets sick, be very careful.” Henry moved away, the sweat that had slicked his skin was now dry. He felt gritty and smelly. A long hot shower was sounding better by the heartbeat.

“Do you live here?”

Henry turned and glanced at the woman. “Yes. You know where to find me.”

The woman picked up her daughter. Peri was still holding the little Grey. He gave both the thumbs up behind the woman’s back. Peri grinned and so did the Grey…her name was Zaly if he remembered correctly.

Zaly would report back if there were any problems.

He looked at the rest of the gathered Greys. Not all of them were here, although in truth he had lost track of the numbers. And they were growing every day. Kaid’s warning about Greys fraternizing with humans echoed around him. If he didn’t do something, someone would get pregnant and then there would be another darkling child to look after. He hadn’t taken any precautions with Darah. She hadn’t seemed concerned. He had with Marlis—she had insisted. While fairies couldn’t breed with each other he didn’t know if he fairy enough? But a Grey could definitely get a mortal pregnant. The odds were so small…and yet if one darkling drew Annwyn’s gaze, two or three or more…that would be a problem and draw lots of the wrong kind of attention from all quarters.

Perhaps he shouldn’t get involved. If the mother didn’t want his help, perhaps he should do nothing and just let Peri waste away like any Grey. The thought sat uneasily. That wasn’t his choice to make. But he could make sure there were no more darklings born under his watch. The deaths of too many mortals would be noted.

“I want every banished or exiled fairy in the city here by ten tonight. Spread the word I’m calling a meeting.” He didn’t want to rule the banished, but it was his city and if he didn’t take care of it soon, it would be just a city of Greys. It would literally become a ghost town.

No one made money off ghost towns.

That was what he’d come here for. Profit. Nothing more. Not helping humans, ruling Greys or saving darklings. No one had ever tried to save him. But to turn a profit he first had to help. He hadn’t lied to Darah. This was a long game. Maybe this time he’d been overly ambitions. Ambitious enough that Annwyn had noticed and sent a spy. What was the worst they could do to him? He was already a Grey in the King’s eyes. There was no further to fall.

I
t was late
when Darah and Kaid—now a man again—returned to the casino. They had a truck, two cows, a dozen hens and one hopeful rooster. And nothing left of the roll of money. Darah had been forced to glamour the armed man at the petrol station so they could fill up the truck they had acquired.

If anyone came looking for the truck, she was going to have to glamour them too. She and Kaid had agreed that since weeds were growing in the tires, it had probably been abandoned for a while.

The whole experience had gone more smoothly than she’d imagined, although if she never rode another kelpie that would be fine. Fleet footed didn’t come close to describing how fast Kaid could travel on four legs. To his credit, he hadn’t tried to drown her or throw her off, but she suspected that had more to do with Henry’s request than anything else. Kaid didn’t like her or trust her. She was happy to keep the feelings mutual and be civil for the sake of Henry. She’d been sent to watch the darkling, not the kelpie.

She’d expected the casino to be dark and quiet, but lights were on and she could hear Henry talking. His voice was firm and clear. Kaid hurried on ahead of her, obviously expecting trouble of some kind. Her heart sank. She didn’t want to get enmeshed in whatever was going on. She wanted to be an observer…but maybe that time had passed and it was too late. So she followed.

When she walked into the bar that was the hub of operations—Henry’s Hall of Judgment in Annwyn terms, perhaps—it was full. Over thirty fairies were there, not all of them Grey. She recognized one man as an exiled Lord who’d fought for Sulia. Her heart kicked over and beat a little faster. Would Weylin know that she wasn’t exiled like she’d let everyone believe?

Of course her panic didn’t show on the outside. She was too used to Court for that. On the surface she was reserved and in control, even if she was weary and concerned on the inside.

Henry glanced at Kaid, who’d somehow slunk his way up to the front. He was creepy as a man and scary as a horse. Like a shadow with teeth and an attitude to match. He’d refused to give her curiosity even a morsel of detail to chew on.

“We cannot have a city full of darklings.” Henry spoke with a conviction she’d only heard when he talked about his plans to bring the city back to life.

“But mortals are fun,” someone said.

“You keep using magic so they can see you and you will waste faster.” Marlis said from a table at the front. She seemed to rarely stand. How frail was she? Darah realized Marlis was probably closer to the end than she was letting anyone know, even Henry.

A pretty woman stood up. She was Grey, but only recently—which probably meant in the last mortal decade or less. A Grey could hold onto their looks if they gave up using magic. Some gave up their looks to keep the magic and stature. “I want a child. I was denied that chance in Annwyn. I don’t care if it is darkling. You are darkling. How can you hate your own kind?”

Darah watched as Henry drew in a breath. He took a moment to glance around the room and meet people’s stares, some of which were openly hostile. “I don’t hate darklings, nor do I have any desire to be the only one.” He looked directly at her. “However, I know the cost and weight of living like this. I wouldn’t wish this life on anyone. Use birth control with mortals. You have my permission to steal condoms.”

“Birth control? How human are you?” the exiled man sneered. “As if we need your permission to do anything.”

It was true that fairies never used protection; the chances of becoming pregnant with another fairy were nil as one parent needed a soul, even with a human the chances were slim. Before meeting Henry, she would’ve sided with the exiled man on principle. Fairy children were rare, rarer over the last couple of centuries because of the old queen. The number of fairies had dwindled. But they weren’t talking about blue blooded fairies, or even changelings. Darklings were different and Henry might have a point.

A few of the Greys cheered but it quickly tapered off, as if they weren’t sure they should be agreeing with the exiled Lord Weylin.

Henry didn’t appear to pay the noise any attention and yet she saw a slight change in his posture. He became less relaxed, as if on alert. He put his hands in the pockets of his black suit pants and looked at the gathering.

This was the first time she’d seen him in something other than jeans. He’d dressed for this meeting carefully. The suit, shirt and tie, his hair was swept back and he was cleanly shaved. The flutter in her heart wasn’t caused by nerves or panic, but by attraction. He looked calm and in control even though he must realize he was one wrong sentence away from losing the crowd.

“No you don’t.” He shrugged as if he couldn’t care less. “You can leave Detroit anytime you want.”

“I want to stay,” a male Grey said. From where Darah was she couldn’t tell who, not that she knew all the Greys by face or name.

Henry gave a small nod. “Fine, but you stay and you play by my rules.” He paused. “Detroit is my town, and any banished or exiled fairy needs to acknowledge that and obey.”

For several heartbeats, there was silence.

Even Darah wasn’t sure what to think. Her ever-scheming mind whirred without progress.

He’d just claimed the city. No fairy had claimed a city in a very long time…not since they were worshipped as gods and goddesses. Was that even allowed these days? What was the alternative? That he let the Greys, and this exiled man, run amok and do what they wanted?

If Henry had just broken one of Annwyn’s laws, it was for the best…wasn’t it? That she could no longer be sure was a worrying sign she was too involved in this little drama.

She glanced at Henry and the way he waited without seeming to care what everyone else thought. He was doing the right thing for everyone…except maybe himself. She knew this wasn’t what he wanted.

Unless he’d lied to her.

Darah frowned and considered what she knew of him, both from action and his words. He didn’t seem like a liar. Claiming the city meant he was protecting his interests the best way he could.

The role of Lord of Detroit suited him. He was every inch a fairy Lord claiming power and expecting to be obeyed. Henry could own the city. Not just the fairies, but the humans too, if his plan paid off. There was nothing more attractive than man who had power and knew how to use it. Her frown eased into a small smile.

She released a slow breath. He was a darkling, though, not a fairy. She wasn’t here to get excited by his plans or prowess. She was here to report back to Annwyn. She doubted Felan would be quite so impressed, even though Henry wasn’t threatening Annwyn…yet.

Would he, if he got enough support? Once he got the taste for power, would he want more?

“And who’s going to stop me from doing what I want, Darkling?” Weylin stood up.

Kaid stopped leaning against the wall and moved closer to Henry. “I haven’t tasted fairy blood in a long time.” He licked his lip. “I look forward to it.”

Cold spiked through Darah. She’d spent the day with him forgetting that he killed on a regular basis. Had he really tasted fairy blood before?

“You can’t threaten me, I’m Lord Weylin.” He didn’t sound quite as sure as he should’ve in front of so many people.

He’d been a minor Lord who’d thought his rise to the top was by hanging on to Sulia’s skirts. Not for the first time Darah was glad Sulia had been defeated. She wouldn’t have exiled her opponents; she’d have banished them to prevent any further opposition. By not doing that, Felan had showed that he wasn’t afraid.

He wasn’t stupid either. Darah had no doubt that she wasn’t his only spy.

“Not here you aren’t, Weylin. Annwyn is as out of reach for you as it is the rest of us.” Henry smiled as if Weylin was his new best friend.

Weylin suddenly became aware that he was the only one standing. He glanced around then sat.

“My doors are open, and all fairies,” he looked at Darah, “are welcome, but you have been warned. There is a standard of behavior that is expected. If you don’t like it, leave. Find yourself another city to play in. I am here to work, to create something out of the shell that remains. Being a Grey doesn’t mean your life is over and that you have no purpose. My council stands at three: Kaid, Marlis and Penn. I will choose others as our numbers grow.”

“You’re creating a Court.” Weylin said as though already contemplating a way to latch onto power.

“No, I’m creating a way for us to live and thrive among the mortals.” Henry walked out of the bar, effectively dismissing everyone in the room.

Kaid and Weylin had a few words. Darah suspected that by morning Weylin would either be gone or dead. She didn’t feel any pity for him. He had behaved poorly for someone who had been schooled in the ways of Court.

Despite Henry’s denial, he was creating a Court for the banished, and while his intentions seemed true, he was amassing more Greys to his side. King Felan wouldn’t like that. No one in Annwyn would, as they all believed that Greys meant trouble…but what if they didn’t mean trouble? What if they were doing something positive?

What was she going to tell the Hunter when she made her report?

She didn’t want to bring Henry’s plans tumbling down, because she wanted to see how far he’d take them. She wanted to be a part of them instead of just watching.

For too long she’d been the spy, living her life for someone else’s desires. It was time she got to explore her own desires.

H
enry knew
he had crossed the line and was in way over his head. There were far too many Greys in Detroit now. Somehow they knew where to find him, had they heard about what he was doing.

It was unsettling. He stalked into the elevator, pressed the button with more force than needed and pulled off his tie.

No one had followed him. He wasn’t in the mood for any more talk. Had he said the right things? Or was Lord Weylin now trying to convince them all that he was a far better leader? He knew nothing about the man, and yet it was enough to hate him. The smug attitude that he was better than them all…Henry was willing to bet that Darah would know who Weylin was. Perhaps he was also a spy sent from Court in case she failed.

The elevator doors opened and he strode down the hallway to his room. He swiped his way in to what had once been the penthouse suit and slid the card into the slot so a couple of soft lights came on and gave the room a warm glow.

It was deathly quiet. And he was alone. Usually he liked the end of the day when he was able to be by himself. No Greys and no one to take care of. Now he had to think about Peri, and the pregnant banished fairy. How many darklings in one city were too many? He suspected the humans would say even one was too many.

He tossed his tie onto the large desk and then added his suit jacket to the pile, the two dice he’d had in his pocked rolled out. Double six, roll again. He smiled. His game wasn’t over yet. He ached all over from today’s efforts. While grubbing about in the dirt wasn’t in his overall plan, he needed to cross off these preliminary steps. The recovery from the plagues wasn’t going to happen fast. He should know that. He’d lived through the Spanish flu, and through the Great Depression and now what was known as the Unprecedented Pandemic of the century.

The only thing that was different this time was that he had more money to play with, having made good decisions after the previous two events. More money meant more risk…maybe too much.

On the desk was his bowl of dice. He trailed his fingers over their corners, then picked up a handful and let them scatter over the desk. Some caught the light and glittered, others looked no different. He picked up the one made of stone. It was larger than the others and well worn, the corners smooth. It had a nice weight, a solemn weight. He held it in his hand and looked at the others. He should choose another one ready for tomorrow.

Wood seemed too plain, the gems too gaudy, the bone too stark.

He couldn’t decide.

Someone knocked on his door.

He was half tempted to ignore them. If it was Kaid, Penn, or Marlis they’d leave, or tell him to open up if it was urgent. He waited. The person knocked again. He slid open the desk drawer and picked up the letter opener. It had a lovely walnut handle and an iron blade. When dealing with fairies, it was always best to take some precautions.

With the weapon in hand he silently crossed the carpet and looked through the peephole. If someone was really trying to get to him, a flimsy hotel door wouldn’t stop them. He’d learned that lesson a century ago when doors had been much sturdier.

Darah stood on the other side, waiting almost patiently. The way her gaze flicked down the hallway and back to his door betrayed her nerves. However she looked immaculate as usual, even after a day with Kaid. He needed to talk to his assassin to see what had transpired, but right now that could wait. Darah no doubt wanted to pump him for information on his plans. She glanced down the hallway again. Her lips pressed together and a small frown forming.

There were worse ways to spend an evening than with Darah using sex to get to him. He’d enjoyed their last encounter, and not just because he could actually kiss her.

He slid the letter opener into his pocket and opened the door. The worry left her face immediately and was replaced with the carefully constructed almost blank expression. She let just enough lust show in her eyes and the curve of her lips. Court must be a bitch of a place to live if even your expression could be used against you. He’d liked seeing the worry on her face, the same way he’d liked seeing the ecstasy—although that too had been quickly masked, as if she’d been afraid to let him see the effect he had on her.

“I was beginning to think you weren’t here.” She met and held his gaze as if daring him to lie.

“How did you get my room number?” It wasn’t something he handed out freely.

“I asked Marlis,” Darah said as if the answer were obvious.

And of course Marlis had told. Damn her. “I supposed you’d better come in since you’re here.”

“That would be nice.” She smiled, but again it was calculated. It would be nice to see her unguarded for more than a split second. She brushed past him, her hand touching his for just a moment.