The Darkling Lord: Court of the Banished book 1 (Annwyn Series 4) (20 page)

A
day had already passed
in the mortal world by the time Darah returned. Dusk was falling, but all she could think about Henry and the way he’d kissed her. The bars between them keeping them from getting too close. Then his words widened the gap. He said things she couldn’t. It was one thing to know that she’d fallen for him and another to admit it. It had been hard enough admitting to Felan that she trusted Henry.

Love was dangerous.

She’d seen the most powerful fairies fall into disgrace because of love. Had Shea fallen for Eyra? Was it love that had driven him or purely lust for power? If her husband had betrayed her for love, that she could forgive. Given that he was dead and so was the old queen she’d never know the truth.

The old Court where scheming and power were placed above all else was gone. She had her place on the Council and would be able to make sure that it didn’t make a return. She had everything she wanted.

Except Henry.

He was there and she was here.

He should be here with her. Her steps faltered. It was true, the whole time she’d been in Annwyn she’d wanted to come back. And yet she couldn’t tell Felan that she didn’t want to be on his Council. Not after everything she’d been through to get there. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be on the Council as much as she wanted to be in the mortal world.

Nor could she tell Henry that she wanted nothing to do with him and that she was staying in Annwyn.

Where her path should’ve been clear it was now hidden.

Before her the casino loomed. By now Henry’s Greys would know that he was gone, they would know it was her—unless Penn had convinced them it really was Weylin. Kaid had no good reason not to tell the truth. He’d tolerated her while she was useful and that was all. Once again she felt vulnerable walking into the casino, and this time she was no longer anonymous. She’d worked with the people and they’d accepted her. It wasn’t just Henry she’d betrayed. It was all of them.

That she’d had no choice was a hollow comfort. Her word had been given to the King and she would not break that. Henry understood that. Would anyone else?

She walked past the gaming tables. A few Greys looked up and acknowledged her as she made her way to the bar that was where Henry held his Court.

Kaid and Penn were sitting at a table talking when she walked in. She braced herself for the accusations, but Kaid beckoned her over. Once she would’ve taken that as an order, not an invitation, and bristled at the gesture. Now she joined them and accepted the glass of liquor they poured her while waiting for the questions to start.

“How is he?” Kaid topped up his glass.

“Alive and in jail awaiting his audience.” If the Queen hadn’t been in labor, perhaps he’d have been seen sooner. Or perhaps Felan would’ve still made the point that he was King and Henry was a subject.

Penn nodded. “That is better than the alternative.”

“He is worried about what was happening here.” She left out the bit about Felan asking her to keep an eye on things.

“Ah, so you are now his spy.” Kaid laughed but it was cold and harsh.

She didn’t find it very amusing. “I’m not spying. I said I would keep him informed about what was happening here as I’m the only one who can cross the veil.” She gave Kaid a pointed smile. He couldn’t cross the veil because he’d tasted mortal blood.

Kaid’s eyes narrowed. “And your King is happy with this arrangement?”

Darah took a sip of the liquor. It burned, but she knew it wasn’t poison—although if she drank too much it would make her ill. Dodging the question wouldn’t win her any points. She was here to help in Henry’s absence. The best way to ensure that was to tell the truth, as much as she hated revealing everything.

“He also wants me here to see what happens. I think he wants to know how much sway Henry has.” She didn’t know what would be better, that everything fell apart without Henry or if everything kept moving awaiting his return.

“That’s a dilemma.” Penn laced his fingers. “For the moment no one else knows you can cross the veil. They believe it was Weylin who let word get back to Annwyn. He was run out of town.” Penn grinned. “That solved two problems in one stroke.”

That they had kept her secret surprised her. She’d thought they’d expose her in a heartbeat, but she wasn’t naive enough to ask why they’d protected her when they knew she was Annwyn’s spy.

She didn’t need to ask. They were still acting as though Henry was in charge and Henry had accepted her and her role for Annwyn.

But for how long would Penn and Kaid wait before they tried to take over? She glanced between the two men. Penn couldn’t be seen in public and Henry still had Kaid’s bridle. But if Penn were to get the bridle…she snapped her thoughts away from treachery. Not everyone behaved like a power crazed fairy.

“How long until everyone starts to get anxious about the absence?” That was a much safer line of conversation that could still reveal a lot.

Kaid glanced at her and gave a single nod as if happy with her question. “Not long. No more than a week. I’d say.”

If Henry wasn’t back soon, his work would start to fall apart. The Greys would start making trouble and then Annywn would have to step in and break up the gathering. Was that what Felan wanted? If so, why not just do it since he had the power?

While she may not know the inside of Henry’s business she’d seen how he worked and controlled the Greys. They had to attempt the same. “Well, we need to give them something to do. Did Henry mention if he had selected a second community garden location?”

F
ood had been delivered
to his cell. He was hungry and thirsty. However not quite hungry or thirsty enough to risk letting fairy food pass his lips. Not yet anyway. But soon. Definitely by morning. The night sky was a dark purple that seemed closer than it did across the veil. He wrapped the blanket around him and lay on the piece of tree that passed for a bed, watching the sky.

Something made him sit up, a movement or a whisper more felt than heard.

His body tensed but he kept his breathing even—too many people braced for an attack by holding their breath. Gradually he forced his muscles to relax. No one was coming up the stairs to kill him. And yet…

There
was
movement. He shrugged off the blanket and stood. The air around him was throbbing. Was this normal for night time?

Something in his cell moved, he spun, fists loose and ready, expecting to see someone but there was no one. He was wide awake and alert now. His heart beating too fast. If he was attacked, there was no where he could flee to. He was trapped.

Above him there was a rustle. He glanced up. The tiny green buds exploded into leaves. Branches grew as he watched and sprouted more leaves.

Panic kicked hard. He was going to be impaled, and there was nowhere he could stand that was safe as the whole cell was made of tree. This was not the kind of death he’d envisioned and it wouldn’t be clean or painless. He pressed himself against the silver bars.

He’d never been one for praying. The human church saw him as a demon and he didn’t know what fairies believed in…themselves? But he took a moment to ask the universe not to skewer him with a branch. He was trying to make up for youthful, and not so youthful, misdeeds, and needed a second chance.

The floor didn’t change. The ceiling remained above his head. And the branches didn’t fill the open space in the cell. He didn’t know how long passed but the new growth slowed. He drew in a deeper breath.

Was the air now warmer?

A white flower blossomed above him, a delicate tendril coiled down and a few more flower buds formed, but the growth of the tree had slowed to a pace he could no longer see.

The panic eased a fraction as he realized he wasn’t going to be killed by a tree. He touched the flower and stared up at the ceiling now made up of a thick mat of leaves. He was no longer able to see the stars in the purple night sky.

Summer. It was summer in Annwyn.

He laughed and the last of the tension drained away. That meant the Queen was no longer in labor. He was guessing that everything had gone well and that was why summer had arrived in a flurry of leaves and petals.

How many people got to see the change of season in Annwyn?

Not many. Even less saw it from a cell at the top of the castle.

Henry sat back down on the branch that formed a shelf suitable for a bed, and pulled the blanket around himself. Sleep was even further away as he lay down.

With luck he’d be seeing the King tomorrow.

H
e woke
with a dry mouth and his belly aching. He’d been hungrier—but that had been many, many years ago and he couldn’t plead his case if he couldn’t talk or was dead. He glanced at the plate of fruit and cake and the cup of wine.

It was still several moments before Henry could bring himself to lift the wooden goblet and bring it to his lips. Longer before he tipped it so the liquid touched his mouth. He closed his eyes and hoped he wasn’t making a fatal mistake. Then drank. Only a few sips at first to see if anything happened.

Nothing.

But now he couldn’t leave Annwyn unless the King allowed it. He glanced at the bars…not much had changed. Since he was already damned he ate the cake and then the fruit. At least his stomach wouldn’t grumble and offend the King.

In daylight he inspected the leaves and the flowers and tried not to get impatient. Impatience led to mistakes. Mistakes here would have consequences he couldn’t yet fathom.

He had no idea how long had passed before he heard someone approaching. Darah? The Hunter? He smoothed his now sleep rumpled clothing and stood by the silver web waiting.

A young man with dark hair and pale green eyes approached. While he was obviously fairy, he wore jeans and a shirt like a human, but his green waistcoat was long and covered in detailed gold embroidery. Gems dotted the hem. This was no low level fairy. The fairy had an air about him as though he was used to being obeyed.

Belatedly Henry realized this was the King. He took a step back and bowed.

“The last time I was up here was to say farewell to my mother before she was thrown in the river for treason.” Felan put his hands behind his back. “I don’t enjoy sending people to the river.”

So don’t do it
was the easy answer, but one that wasn’t an option. A ruler that didn’t occasionally use the full extent of his powers would face challengers. Henry didn’t want to be the example.

“I’m sure they don’t enjoy it either, Sire.”

Felan didn’t answer. He looked at Henry as though he was a bug to be studied. “Tell me, Henry Saint, do the souls you take enjoy it?”

That wasn’t something he’d ever really thought about. The humans certainly didn’t enjoy it, but he was sure no one enjoyed dying. “I don’t know. I cannot talk to them once they are in me. They do me no harm. I guess they like to live and since I am the new vessel I am their only choice.”

“And how do you acquire these souls?”

Henry was damn sure that Felan already knew the answer. “With a kiss. These days I choose those that prey on others. The criminals. I was once less careful.”

“Do you give them a choice or promise them anything?”

Henry shook his head. “No. I have never tricked a human out of their soul.” He knew that fairies did.

The corner of Felan’s mouth twitched up on one side. “So you are aware of Annwyn, our laws and our customs. You are also aware of what you are and your parentage.”

“I became aware in my forties. I was told what I was. As for my parents? I have no idea. I never knew my father and my mortal mother was the first person I killed—or so I believe. It seems a logical assumption.” There was no way he’d ever learn the truth about that, and he’d carried that guilt for a long time even though he’d been too young to understand what had been happening. Would it count against him? Should it?

Felan nodded. “I understand the need for a soul is a compulsion that you can’t avoid.”

The King had done his research when it came to darklings, via Darah or by other means? Verden had known what he was and had no doubt kept a distant watch on him. “It’s a hunger that once a year I must feed, or I die.”

“But you’ve killed others.” That wasn’t a question. Felan’s pale gaze has as hard and unflinching as a glacier.

Henry looked away first.

Murder. He couldn’t weasel out of those charges. He had killed, but not frequently and never for pleasure. “Yes. Some were accidental before I knew. Some for survival when it was me or them. Others because I needed to heal. My body doesn’t heal on its own and the scars never fade.”

Felan’s eyebrow moved a fraction, interest or disbelief it was hard to tell. “We don’t know much about darklings so I will take your word for that.”

Didn’t know much? He seemed to know plenty. But if the King was curious Henry was happy to feed him. A little good will could go a very long way.

“I can do better than that.” Henry unbuttoned his shirt. There were scars on his ribs from knives, on his stomach from a bullet that came close to killing him. He even had scratches on his hand from when he’d played with a kitten.

The King examined the scars without disgust but with careful consideration. “You are an awkward combination of fairy and human.”

“Yeah.” That was a good way of putting it. “I haven’t always been the best I could be, but I’m trying to make amends.”

“And yet you ordered the death of a human for political gain.” Felan’s gaze lifted from Henry’s scars to his face.

He’d wondered when the Mayor was going to come up. “He was trying to stop my work.”
Just like you.

“And what is your work exactly? You are gathering Greys, a small army. You have set yourself up as their leader and they obey. You want the city for yourself. You understand how it looks to me, your King. King of all fairies, banished or not.” The conversation took on an edge. The almost friendly curiosity was gone. Now they were getting to the point of Henry’s visit.

Henry felt as if he should bow again and apologize for stepping on the King’s toes. But Darah had said be strong without being a threat and show enthusiasm for what he was doing. Now didn’t seem like a good time to be ignoring her advice. So he held the King’s gaze even though he wanted to look away. He wasn’t just defending his life, but everything he’d set up and was working toward.

“I never gathered them to me. They came and I gave them something to do as I didn’t want them making trouble. The mortals have enough troubles as they try and piece things back together after…after your war.” He might as well say it. “Yes, I went to Detroit to invest and make money, but I found things were worse than I’d expected so first I have to help the people rebuild their lives before I can have business up and running. Didn’t you send fairies across the veil to help with the rebuilding effort? That is what I am doing. What the Greys who work with me are doing. I am following your orders.” Even though he was unaware of them when he started.

Felan gave a grunt and nodded. “You are just as good at twisting words as any fairy.”

That was probably a compliment but it was hard to tell. “I have given the Greys something to do, a home and a place to belong. What they want is a chance for a reprieve. They want parole and a chance to go home. They want hope.”

“They are criminals and banished with good reason.”

“So they don’t deserve a second chance? Ever?” Henry suspected that his words were missing their mark as Felan remained silent. “You might have banished them from Annwyn, but without a goal you know the trouble they can cause. They have no reason to behave.”

“And you give them a reason?”

Henry saw the trap before it could snap closed and shook his head. “No, I’ve made no deals with them. I simply re-direct their efforts.”

“To suit your purpose.”

“It is mutually beneficial.” And didn’t break any rules. There were no actual rules about large gatherings of Greys even if Felan didn’t like it.

Felan glanced past Henry and into the cell. “Did you enjoy our food?”

“I had no choice.” It had been eat or starve.

“I suppose not. You may enjoy Annwyn until I make a decision. Darah has expressed her trust in you. Don’t do anything that would make me doubt her word.”

And there was the catch that Darah had warned him about. Relationships and words could be used against you. If he messed up, it would look bad for her, and Felan had somehow managed to work out that he liked Darah.

Felan unlocked the cell. “People are arriving back at Court to celebrate the return of summer. I’d advise against gambling as you have a soul.”

The silver web swung open. Henry didn’t move. He was up here alone with the King, as far as he could tell, wasn’t that a bit of a security risk? Although only the King could let him leave Annwyn. If anything happened to Felan there would be another battle for the throne and who knew when he’d get back home.

Felan had waited until he’d eaten. Tricky bastard.

The King smiled as if he knew exactly what Henry was thinking. “You are of course invited to the celebration of my daughters’ birth as I’d like you to see how the Court operates.”

“Thank you.” That time he did bow as he was very aware he’d just been handed something very rare indeed.

D
arah was
sure that even the Greys sensed the change in season in Annwyn. It was nothing definite, just the feeling that the wait was over and a newfound energy. Despite the progress they were making on the second community garden and with the Deputy Mayor she knew she had to get home. There would be a celebration and more importantly she had almost a week’s worth of news for Henry. Hopefully he’d had a chance to talk to Felan.

And hopefully Felan had listened.

When she crossed the veil, the change was obvious. This was the Annwyn she remembered. The field between the doorway and the castle was lush and green with no traces of the mud, the snow or the battle that had taken place. More importantly there were fairies everywhere. People were returning home.

She smiled, even though she knew she should be schooling her expression. As she crossed the grass she nodded to those she knew. It felt like forever since she’d seen so many of them. Longer since they’d seen her. She’d effectively vanished from their lives when she’d become a shadow.

Despite all the changes her gaze was drawn upwards to the highest branches where Henry was imprisoned.

She moved through the castle knowing that her first stop should be to see Felan and congratulate him and his wife. From the talk around her she knew it was twin girls, Loryn and Elicia. In her bag she had gifts from the mortal world, something the Queen would appreciate.

With Felan in the Hall of Judgment were several other fairies and a man who while handsome, wasn’t pretty enough to be fairy. A changeling? Here?

She walked over, her curiosity spiked. Then she realized that there was a second changeling. That was even odder.

“Darah merch Hathor, the newest member of my Council.” Felan smiled. “There are a few you may not have met. Isaac ap Robin Greenfellow and Bramwel ap Joria.” Both men nodded and both assessed her the way she was assessing them.

Bramwel was fairy through and through and from the way he glanced at the Hunter there was something going on there. Isaac was a changeling, but without a soul, and who obviously had no idea who his fairy parent was as Robin Greenfellow was a false name frequently used by fairy men.

“And this is my son Caspian, who is simply visiting and meeting his sisters.” Felan indicated a man who bore a resemblance to the King, yet looked older. They didn’t look like father and son, more like brothers.