Authors: Suzanne Lazear
Tags: #Juvenile Fiction, #Fantasy & Magic, #Steampunk
Innocent Darkness (27 page)
Prince Stiofán
The courtiers perked at the word
prince
. Noli stiffened. Who was Stiofán?
Still on her horseless chariot, the queen approached, looking self-satisfied, voice cool enough to freeze a pond. “Not that I mind. But, if I remember accurately, weren’t our parting words something along the lines of
I’m not returning until I can reclaim what’s ours?”
“I believe you are correct, your majesty.” V’s arms tightened around Noli. “But I didn’t expect your huntsman to take what belongs to me.”
“You are from a house in exile, and still a child. You have no rights. Unless, of course, you’ve tired of playing mortal with your father,” Queen Tiana sneered, clutching LuLu so tight that if she were a real dog she’d yelp.
“Playing mortal? What is she talking about, V?” Noli’s voice rose in pitch as her mind spun and belly tightened.
The queen laughed eerily, putting a hand to her lips. “How quaint. You and a mortal. I never should have allowed you to join your father in exile. You probably picked up all sorts of bad habits.”
A lump formed in her throat as the meaning of situation hit her. Her voice broke, “Is what she says true, V?”
Was her life nothing but a web of lies?
“Yes, Noli. She’s right. I’m not a mortal like you. I’ll explain everything in a moment, I promise.” His green eyes shone in the daylight with fondness and perhaps just a hint of regret.
“What?” Pushing herself out of his arms, she put her hands on her hips. “Steven Darrow what the world is going on here?”
“Yes,” Kevighn added, yellow eyes narrowing in anger, taking another step towards them. “What is going on here? I still don’t know who this is.”
“He’s a prince,” Breena told him sagely, still holding the mallet.
“A young one,” Nissa added.
“Yes,” the queen confirmed with a regal nod. “Ladies, Kevighn, I’d like you to meet Prince Stiofán. Or perhaps I should say the prince formerly known as Stiofán, since he chose to go into exile with his father, the former king of the earth court.” Her lips puckered in distaste. “Steven? What a horrible bastardization of your name.”
V’s face tightened and he sighed, suddenly looking very tired. “Please, your majesty, I’ve come for Noli. I’d like her back.”
“I’m not going anywhere until someone explains.” A firestorm of anger burned inside Noli. First Kevighn’s lies; now V’s.
“You’re not taking her anyplace,
prince.”
Kevighn’s eyes flashed with anger.
“Yes, I am.” V took Noli’s hand. “This isn’t the place to explain. Come with me?”
“Why? So you can lie to me too?” She didn’t bother to hide her hurt. But she didn’t pull away from his touch, either.
“Do you really think I’d let you take her anywhere?” The queen shot him a haughty look, as she resumed petting LuLu.
“With all due respect, yes, I do.” V’s eyes narrowed at her. It was odd seeing him without glasses.
“Why do you all do nothing but lie? I don’t want to be part of your games. I only want to go home.” Tired of being here, of being lied to, and just being tired, Noli wrested herself out of V’s grasp and sped past Kevighn, the bewildered Breena and Nissa, and a disgusted Donella. She ignored V, the queen, and the guards, going through one of the exits, disregarding the shouts in the background.
When she stopped running she found herself in what could only be the air garden, filled with will ‘o wisps and pussy willows. A breeze blew through, soft like whispers— or kisses.
“Noli, wait.” V ran into the garden, sword still in hand.
She turned her back to him, a lump forming in her throat. “Stay away from me.”
“No.” He came up behind her, pressing her back against his chest. “Never.”
“You lied. Everyone lies here. I want to go home.” Turning around to face him, she leaned her head on his shoulder like she had so many times before.
“I know you want to go home. If we’re to figure everything out, I need you to come with me.” He stroked her hair with one hand and held her close with the other. “I didn’t lie to you. I never said I was mortal.”
“You hid large chunks of truth,” she hiccupped, face still buried in his white shirt.
“I hid them from everyone—on my father’s orders. He doesn’t know I’m here.” His fingers traced her neck sending little shivers down her spine.
“No?”
“No. Besides, would you have believed me if I’d told you?” His fingers found the necklace chain around her neck and traced it, reminding her of her last dream.
The stories, all the odd things he said … it all made sense now. “Does my faery tree in the backyard really have little wood faeries in it? Will I be able to see them when I come home?”
“It’s a real faery tree,” he told her gently, as if the very words might break. “But no wood faeries live in it. I’ve had a devil of a time trying to keep clans of them from settling, too.”
She looked up at him, blinking. “Really? Why?”
“Because it’s a nice tree—and who wouldn’t want to live in a tree cared for by someone like you? But I was afraid it would draw attention to you so I kept them away.”
Noli stepped back from his embrace as if burned. “What? You know that I’m all Sparky and whatnot?”
V looked around and held a finger to his lips. He lowered his voice, “I do, but it’s important that you don’t let the queen know that.”
“Why?” Her hand went to the necklace. “Did you know this would happen?”
“No.” He took a step, closing the gap between them. “I didn’t think Kevighn would find you. Strange things lurk in San Fran, things even more dangerous than Kevighn. I gave it to you to protect you from them. I see you didn’t take it off.”
She fingered it, looking at the green stone and gold design, not him. “I do listen to you sometimes. Kevighn and the queen keep trying to get me to take it off.”
V cocked his head, a lock of blond hair falling in his unspectacled eyes. “Do they?”
“Is it really bad faery repellant?” She looked up at him through veiled lashes, feeling a bit ridiculous for saying it out loud.
He laughed and it reached all the way to his eyes. “No. It’s the mark of my house—my family crest. That’s also why it looks like a tree.” Taking his out, he traced it with his finger. “Those are the branches, those are the roots, all intertwined, and the stone is its heart.”
V tucked the necklace back in his shirt. He waved his sword in the air and before her eyes it shrunk and became a pen, which slipped into his shirt pocket.
Noli grinned. “Is your pen collection really a sword collection?”
“Yes. Nice trick, isn’t it?” He grinned boyishly. It was always difficult to be mad at V for long, especially when he smiled.
“You still owe me an explanation.” Noli poked him in the chest with her index finger.
“I never meant to deceive you, only to keep you safe.” Reaching up, he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. His fingers trailed down her cheek, making her skin blaze.
“Because they like girls with the Spark here.” Noli sighed. “I still don’t know what exactly the queen needs my help with.”
V’s eyes widened. “She asked for your help? Did you agree?”
“Not precisely.”
“Good. We really need to talk. I’ll answer all your questions if you answer all of mine. Please, come with me?” He took her hand like so many times before. Only this time it made her toes tingle.
“Then I can go home?” Biting her lip she looked at him. “I miss Mama.”
“I know you do. We’ll figure it out together. I promise.” He put her hand to his lips and kissed it as if she were a fine lady.
“I … ”
His lips silenced her. It reminded her of the kisses in her dreams—gentle, sweet, and tasting of nectar. Their lips and tongues danced as his body pressed to hers as if he sought to unite them. Her hands ran over his back, feeling his muscles, him.
V broke it off. “I missed you so much.”
“I … ” Breathless, her heart raced. It was one thing to kiss him in her dreams …
“This place isn’t private and we really need to talk.” He led towards a different garden exit than the one they’d come from.
Her lips burned with desire, as did other places. “Won’t they stop us?”
“She’ll let us leave for now.”
“Why?” She half-expected them to come charging into the garden any moment.
V’s cheeks colored and he looked at his feet, bashful. “I told her I just wanted to speak with you, and well,” he kicked the ground. “She
let
me. It surprises me. But, then, there’s no hiding from her in the Otherworld. She’ll grace us with her presence soon enough.” A worried look flashed in his eyes. “Please, let me explain?”
“Don’t think you can simply come in brandishing a sword, rescue me, kiss me, and everything will be fine.” She tried to make her voice tough, but she could only think of that kiss.
“If only it were that easy. But we’ll figure it all out.” Worried colored his voice, but that was V for you—always fussing about something.
“Promise?” Her heart fluttered like the wings of a wood faery.
He smiled. “Promise.”
Steven relished the sensation of holding Noli’s rough, tanned hand as he led her through the wildwood and through several gates. He knew the queen wouldn’t pursue him … yet. But it still surprised him no one did—or that she allowed him to take Noli.
“Where are we going?” Her voice, though soft, didn’t tremble.
“We’re going to my home. I can’t wait to show it to you.” He had to give her credit for taking this all so well, but who knew what things she’d endured before his arrival.
“Another palace?”
“Our real home, where I grew up. We spent most of our time there, not at the earth court palace.” His face contorted as pain pierced his heart. Coming here, facing
her,
was much more difficult than he’d expected.
She squeezed his hand, the corners of her lips twitching downwards into a slight frown. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either, quite honestly.” As high queen her word was law unless the magic—or the Bright Lady herself—objected.
“What happened?” She swung his hand back and forth while they walked reminding him of better, more innocent times.
“The short version is my father was king of the earth court. He made a decision the high queen objected to and wouldn’t reverse it. As punishment, she took away his throne, gave it to my uncle, and exiled my father to the mortal realm. As children, James, Elise, and I could have stayed here—with our uncle or with her—but James and I chose to stand by our father, since we understood why he made the decision in the first place.” He would have made the same one. “Elise was too little to understand, but my father didn’t want to separate us.”
Noli took this all in, drinking the information like a plant did water. “Is that why he’s so sour? Because once he was king and now he’s simply a man?”
“Yes. We all lost a lot that day.”
Noli squeezed his hand again. “Your home, your life.”
His mother. “Coming to the mortal realm, no longer being a prince and just being a boy was difficult. To have to conceal our nature, use our magic in secret … ” He looked away. “To be forced to hide in shame, even from those of our world who walk the mortal realm freely because unlike them, we can’t return at whim.”
“But you came for me?” Her face scrunched in confusion. “Will you get in trouble?”
He laughed. Such a dire situation and she worried about punishment? That was his Noli. Too soon she’d understand. “My father will be angry, but I needed to protect you.”
“Why?” Biting her lip, she looked at him with questioning eyes.
Stopping, he pulled her to him, planting a kiss on top her head. He’d missed her so much. “You know the answer.”
She looked up at him through veiled lashes. “Truly?”
The way she said it sounded so fragile, like she didn’t dare believe it.
Stopping, he cupped her face with his hand and gazed deep into her beautiful steel colored eyes. “Truly.”
They continued to walk hand in hand. They stood at the edge of the property now. Steven inhaled the rich woody scent. Home.
“You wanted to return and take your kingdom back? Like in a story?” She cocked her head, studying him.
“One day, yes. That was the plan—it still is, really.”
“Will your uncle give it back?”
“Not willingly. My uncle wanted the throne for a long time. The queen thought everyone would be happy—my uncle would get the throne and she’d get what she wanted. No one counted on my father preferring exile, especially when she cast him out not only from our court and home, but from the Otherworld entirely.” It was difficult to speak of it, even to Noli.
“I’m confused.” Her nose wrinkled and he found the gesture adorable.
“I know and I’m sorry. Desperately, I feared someone would discover how you shine with the Spark and seek to use you.” His face crumpled as he kicked the ground. “Some protector I turned out to be.”
Noli stopped. Gently, like feathers, her fingers brushed his face in a tentative, exploratory motion. He closed his eyes, drinking in her touch. When he opened them, she held his gaze.
“You came. I wished and wished and you charged in with your sword like a knight from a story.” She smiled shyly.
“As everyone tells me, I’m no knight—or adult—yet. You … you aren’t too angry with me, are you?” His belly tightened. “As I said, no one knew. Who’d believe us?”
“I… I’m not sure I would have … before all this.” Her voice trembled ever so slightly.
“I never meant for you to experience this.” He led her towards the grove. Maybe he’d take her to visit his tree and they could check on the wood faeries. “It uncomplicates and complicates things all at the same time.”
How
would
he solve this mess? But he would. He had to.
“How? Kevighn said my talents lay in gardening and fixing things. How can that help the queen? She said the fate of your whole world lay on me.”
“Unlike them, I’ll be completely honest with you— even if it’s unpleasant or hurtful.” They entered the grove and she grew in a sharp breath. “It’s nice here. Isn’t it?”
“It is.” She looked around, eyes widening in wonder.
Giant rowan trees, as old as the land itself towered above them. Soft moss covered the ground. Bird chirped in the distance. “I … I like trees too. That’s why, in part, I think I like spending time with you. How could I not love being with someone who likes trees and plants as much as I do?”
“You’re earth court, right? So you like being outside?” She made another darling confused face, face scrunching in an unladylike way. “Does the water court have tails and air court fly?”
“Some.” He touched her face again. Steven couldn’t stop touching her. No longer did he have to. Now she knew the truth and they knew of her and her beautiful Spark. Now he no longer had to hide his feelings to protect his secret or conceal her Spark. “My talents lay in trees and plants.” Elise possessed some of those gifts, but not to the same degree, yet. She also showed a dangerous propensity towards their mother’s gifts. Frightening. Another reason for them to shelter her the way they did.
“Can you speak to trees?” She looked up at a tree that seemed to have no end.
“That’s how I figured out you were in the Otherworld. The tree at Findlay told me.”
Noli’s face crumpled and her shoulders drooped. “I didn’t mean to come here. Findlay was so dreadful, and I wished I was any place but there and suddenly I sat in some strange garden with faeries and Kevighn promised to help me find my way back to Los Angeles … ”
Her words came out rapidly. Pulling her to him, he held her. “Shhh, it’s not your fault, Noli. It’s not your fault.”
They sat on the velvety moss under one of the giant trees, his back against the smooth trunk, her in his lap, his arms tight around her. The very weight of her against him made him certain they were no longer children.
He ran his fingers through her wayward, curly strands. The sunlight streamed through the trees, making it shine. The pink gown she wore did nothing for her complexion. She would be radiant in his family’s colors.
“Noli, darling, you must tell me everything from the moment you made your wish to the moment I found you. I need to know every detail—even the ones you may not want to share.” He laid a finger on her protesting lips. “I promise I won’t get angry. If we’re to get you home, you can’t leave anything out.”
“Promise?” Biting her lip, she looked at him with worried eyes.
His heart sunk and his insides knotted. But he needed to know in order to help her, to keep her, to prevent her from dying, yet still save his people. “I promise.”
“Very well.” She said this with much resignation, like it were punishment—or schoolwork. Getting comfortable, she repositioned herself in his lap. “It’s a long and strange tale, one I hardly believe myself … ”