Banished (21 page)

I think back and shiver. ‘It just wasn’t him. He didn’t even look like himself. And he smelled funny.’ As I say it I realize it’s true and my eyes widen in
surprise. ‘He smelled funny – like, I don’t know . . . the air at a bonfire.’

‘Hmm.’ Olga pushes her finger against my leg. ‘How’s your leg?’

I open my mouth to tell her it hurts like hell but then I realize it doesn’t. It’s still a bit achy, but nothing as bad as it was earlier. I stand up and walk around the room with a
slight limp.

‘Fine,’ I say, grinning at her. ‘Thanks.’

‘You’re welcome.’ Her smile is sweet but strained. ‘Kit, we need to know if Thorn is stable. His family are good people, but strong willed and sometimes difficult to be
around. Aelfric likes to see himself as a progressive leader, bringing the Fae slowly into the twenty-first century, but it’s hard. For centuries they’ve lived very secular lives,
occasionally stealing a human, spying on us from behind shrubbery. But things are changing faster than Aelfric can cope with. Factions in the Otherwhere are keen to tear down the gateways between
our world and theirs. They want free passage in the human world. They want it to be the way it was once before, before the gateways were put in place and our world and the Otherwhere separated
forever.’

Dread settles in the pit of my stomach. ‘But it won’t be safe. Not for anyone.’

She nods wearily. ‘Exactly.’

‘Are you saying Thorn’s uncle is the guy wanting to make these changes?’

‘I’m saying he might be behind this. And if he can show the Otherwhere he has the King of Alba’s support, then it’s likely the Seelie and Unseelie Courts will fall in
line. As would the Empress of Russia and Chin’s dragon lords.’

‘So he wants Thorn so he can blackmail the king?’

‘Is what I’m thinking.’ She straightens up and surveys me with her hands on her hips. ‘Okay, you’re done. Get dressed. But, Kit, can I ask you something . . . about
what it’s like when you’re with Thorn and he uses his magic?’

‘It’s a buzz. I feel it against my skin.’ I think for a second. ‘Give me your arm.’

I push her sleeve up to her elbow. ‘Now close your eyes.’

I lift her arm to my throat so that her skin almost touches mine. Then I start humming. ‘Like that, can you feel it? That’s what it feels like when I sense him using his magic. Only
all of me feels it and I can hear it in my head, this constant buzzing.’

‘I’ve never come across anyone who can feel magic. Or use it the way you do.’

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. ‘Really?’

‘Kit, there’s something about you and this prince that just—’ her voice trails off. ‘Something is clicking in ways it’s not done before. I need to do far more
research before I can even begin to guess what’s going on with him.’

‘But you suspect something, right? Olga, listen. If it helps him in any way, you have to tell me.’

She just watches me. ‘I’ll tell you as soon as I have proof, Kit. But in the meantime, stay close to him. Things have been set in motion I don’t think any of us have prepared
for.’

‘Those Elder Gods?’

‘Them, yes. And other things. Go on, get dressed. I’ll see you downstairs.’

In the kitchen Thorn’s sitting in the same place at the table as he did this morning when we were having breakfast. He’s also had a shower and looks clean and free
of monster blood. He’s dressed in a long-sleeved T-shirt that fits him better and I guess it probably belongs to Aiden. I take my place opposite him and lean forward to look at him. I take my
time, looking closely at his face, his eyes, the long dark eyelashes, the blue-green of his eyes, the fact that there are gold specks in one (his left) but none in the other. He watches me, his
gaze very steady, as I examine him.

‘Freak?’ he says.

I nod. ‘Freak.’

We smile at each other and I sit back. ‘Olga’s fixed me up,’ I say, pointing to my arm. ‘How are you doing?’

‘We seem to be asking each other that a lot,’ he replies but smiles. This time it almost makes it into his eyes. ‘I’m better, thank you. Still shaking but it could be all
the sugar Aiden’s given me in my tea.’

I look at his hand resting on the table and put mine next to it, palm down.

‘Any idea what happened back there?’ I ask him. ‘With the super-strength and everything?’

‘No, I have no idea. I can still see it in my mind’s eye. I came out of the coffee shop with our drinks and as I rounded the corner . . . Something in here tore loose when I saw that
thing standing over you. I panicked and all I could think of was losing you and I just couldn’t let that happen.’

I’ll admit it: my heart flutters in a very dramatic and girly way hearing those words coming from him. They are unexpected and sweet – and annoying. I feel my anger flare that he put
himself needlessly into danger. And he’d only just survived being either killed or kidnapped by his possessed friend.

‘You know I can take care of myself, Thorn,’ I say levelly. ‘Next time, before doing something stupid like that just stop and think. You
are
a prince of Alba. You have
to get home safely. Your family need you to help them. Your whole world is at risk.’

‘Really? You were almost killed, Kit Blackhart. Do you realize how close you came to that today? One day your luck will run out and you will find yourself in a world of trouble.’

‘Of course I realize how dangerous it was, dammit! I was there, remember? And, honestly, I did not save your ass back in the forest and bring you to London to watch you go mental. You have
to learn to pick your fights,’ I say, aware of movement near the kitchen door. ‘You need to get up north, regardless of what happens to me or Aiden or Olga.’

‘Oh, and leave you to martyr yourself for a cause that’s not got anything to do with you?’ Thorn is standing now and looks royally pissed off. ‘Have you completely lost
your mind? How do you think I’ll live with myself knowing that you sacrificed yourself to see me to safety? What is wrong with you?’ He leans forward and jabs a finger at me. ‘Are
you so desperate to get away from all of this that you are willing to die?’

I jump up, equally annoyed now, ignoring the clatter of my falling chair. ‘You know nothing about me! Are we clear? Nothing. I helped you because it’s what we Blackharts do. I
promised your dying friend to look out for you. But, if you don’t want my help, just say so.’

Thorn is glaring at me, arms crossed over his body. I mirror his body language and scowl at him.

‘You are being a giant idiot about nothing,’ I tell him.

‘I don’t want to fight about any of this,’ he says at the same time.

I narrow my eyes at him and he does the same.

‘So, do you feel better?’ Aiden asks, walking into the room carrying six pizza boxes balanced on his extended arms. ‘I heard some noise and thought we were being attacked
again. But no, it’s only you lovebirds having a bit of a tiff.’

‘Shut up, Aiden,’ I grind out. ‘Or I’ll punch you.’

Thorn just looks at us both and shakes his head. ‘You humans are impossible and contrary creatures.’

‘Enough sounding like an alien,’ Aiden says looking unconcerned about the high emotions flying around the kitchen. ‘Both of you, sit down and eat while this is still hot.
I’ve never been a fan of cold pizza. Olga!’

A few seconds later Olga strolls in and sits down at the head of the table while Aiden passes out plates and cutlery. We help ourselves to slices of pizza and eat in strained silence. Aiden
seems blissfully unconcerned about everything except the food and I must admit that the gooey cheese and crispy crusts do the trick. I wash it down with coffee and feel happiness spread from my
tummy outwards.

‘I’ve been thinking,’ Olga says. ‘We’ll all be going to Scotland to help Aelfric. Do we tell the Fae currently staying at your farm what’s going on?’
She directs the question to Aiden as he stretches out, patting his full belly.

His face is serious as he nods without hesitation. ‘I’d want to fight for my home country if the time ever came,’ Aiden says. ‘I’ll let the warden at the farm know
we’ll be travelling north. The Fae can choose what they’d like to do. Those staying behind will be safe on the farm. Those who choose to join their friends in Scotland will be given
food and whatever else we can spare them.’

‘How big an army do we think your dad has?’ I ask Thorn, whose face looks shuttered and moody.

‘Both the Courts will come when he calls. That aside, we have a standing army of thirty thousand Fae. The barracks are north of the Citadel. If the army’s survived, it and its
generals will be with my father.’

I can’t even imagine what thirty thousand warriors would look like.

‘What about the other lands in the Otherwhere? Would any of them send help?’

‘I think so. He has good ties with everyone, but it would depend on what my uncle’s offering them. Maybe they’ll decide it’s more prudent to sit it out until it’s
clear which side is winning.’

What Thorn says surprises me. I’d have thought that if Aelfric, Alba’s high king called for help, the Otherwhere’s rulers would do their utmost to help him. Clearly, I know
nothing about politics.

‘But why would they think about helping your uncle when your father is the rightful ruler?’

I’m grateful to Aiden for asking the question, but hide my smile when I see Olga huff impatiently at him.

‘Guys, Thorn’s having a tough time. He doesn’t have all the answers.’ She directs a look first at Aiden, then at me. ‘Does your dad tell you all the pack business
he has to deal with? Kit, does your uncle give you the lowdown on his negotiations when he sends you guys on your missions? I didn’t think so. It’s the same with Thorn. The best we can
do is guess and hope for the best. In the circumstances.’

‘Thank you, Olga.’ Thorn’s expression is pained. ‘My father is a very private man, keeping a small group of advisers only. I could only guess at his plans. Even if I did,
my guesses would be wrong, as he’s pretty eccentric. Prone to hasty decisions.’

‘Your dad sounds a real treat.’

‘He is the king.’ Thorn’s expression holds a bleakness I don’t like. ‘You never question the king.’

I try to sleep, but each time I close my eyes I see Thorn’s angry face and hear his words. I throw my duvet off and go stand in front of the window. If I were at home I’d go
downstairs to the gym and exhaust myself by hitting the punchbag until I couldn’t move for tiredness. There are no such options here.

I excused myself after dinner and came upstairs to think. I spent ages worrying about my cousins, wondering if they were safe. Knowing them, they would rebel against Aelfric’s rules and
try to contact me or their dad, for sure. If they were caught, Aelfric could have clapped them in chains. I wondered if he was the kind of guy who’d do that to make a point.

I spent about an hour working the phone, ringing people I knew to somehow make contact with my cousins, but no one’d heard from them for days. My only consolation was that we’d be on
our way up north by dawn, which was only a few hours away.

I sneak out of my room, careful not to wake the others, and tiptoe downstairs to the kitchen. I make myself a hot chocolate with milk and chilli, the way my nan always made it. I prop myself up
on the barstool, curling my legs under myself, and enjoy the peace and half-darkness, listening to the rain drumming against the windows. I am tired, bone tired, but sleep just won’t come.
Everything just keeps racing through my head and I want nothing more than to – I don’t know, have things laid out in a neat diagram. For stuff to make sense.

‘Kit?’

I recognize Thorn’s silhouette in the doorway and sit up straight.

‘Are you going to shout at me some more?’ I ask him, my voice wary.

‘No. I don’t want to fight,’ he says. He suddenly sounds young and somehow vulnerable. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Good. I don’t react well to being shouted at,’ I tell him. ‘Would you like some hot chocolate?’

‘I’m not sure I’ve had any before.’

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise but he can’t see it in the darkened kitchen. ‘Here, tell me what you think.’

He moves closer to the table and picks the mug up, takes a sip. ‘Nice. I’d like some, thank you.’

I get more milk out of the fridge and pour it into the pan. ‘Have you even been to bed?’ I ask him. ‘We’re going to be up in a few hours.’

‘Tried, but I can’t sleep. Instead I’ve been in Aiden’s dad’s study.’ He sees my look of surprise. ‘They have a decent selection of folklore.’ He
offers this by way of explanation and looks a bit sheepish. ‘I can’t resist a good lore book.’

I bite my cheeks to prevent a grin from spreading over my face. He was being very cute right now but I was still annoyed with him.

‘Oh? You find anything interesting?’

‘Not really.’ He rubs his face, frustrated. ‘All my life I’ve known of the Elder Gods. They are our bogeymen, the things our nannies told us about to scare us into
behaving. And now suddenly they are a real threat. Ioric told us as much, as did the chimera.’