Prince by Blood and Bone: A Fantasy Romance of the Black Court (Tales of the Black Court) (26 page)

She slid into her robe and crossed over to where her dress and cloak hung on chairs, drying in front of the cold fire. “What’s a puca?” Something about the too-liquid way the young man had moved across the room and his unworldly beauty, that put even Kian’s elven looks to shame, said that Solanum wasn’t human.

“An amoral, shapeshifting fae. Be wary of him. He’s unpredictable and untrustworthy.”

“Why?” She squeezed her dress. The fabric was dry, but her heavy, fur-lined cloak still held some damp.

Balancing the sword and clothes in his arms Kian walked over to the door. “The puca are bound by few laws. Only an old vow of blood and bone ties Solanum to Logan’s command. Should Logan die without heir, Solanum will be loosed upon us all, and none will be safe.”

Bryanna recalled the cold malice of the young man’s face.

Kian used one claw to depress the bronze thumb latch, and the bedroom door creaked open. “Come downstairs for breakfast when you’re dressed,” he said, his voice curt. “Solanum and Logan will be here soon.” He left, and Bryanna sank down, clutching her dress.

Already Kian was acting more like a prince. She’d been dismissed in favor of his own people, his man Logan, and the likely battle ahead. There would be more men, and more plans, and soon, her troubles would be lost in the confusion of reunion and strategy that was sure to come. Her head spun.

The puca didn’t seem like he’d help her willingly. Even Kian said not to trust him, and there was the matter of payment.

A cold trickle of fear slid into her belly, spreading out under the warm robe and leaving her feeling like ice.

She rubbed her hands on her arms, trying to warm up. What kind of payment would a creature like that require? She wasn’t sure she wanted to know. She groped in the folds of her dress, searching for the locket. She felt the small hard lump, tucked deep within an interior seam, and something inside her eased.

It was safe.

She pulled it out. The shiny gold sang to her, the thrum tempting her to open it and find her heart’s desire. She thought of Cassie and her mother and inserted her thumbnail into the edge. The locket showed a picture of her heading downstairs, dressed.

The blood rushed from her head as relief flooded her. She fumbled for a chair and sat.

It still worked. She didn’t have to depend on Kian. She didn’t have to trust the malicious mystical creature with eyes dark as an abyss. She’d stick with her original plan, find them herself, and avoid being in debt to anyone.

The forest was deadly, there were things there she had no idea of, dangers she would not see coming. Things that seemed innocent, like the quick-snow. But did she have a choice? A flicker of doubt ran through her and she quickly squelched it.

She re-hid the locket and hurriedly got dressed wishing she had normal clothes. Jeans, sweater, a heavy jacket. Clothes that would make what she had to do easier. Carrying the still-damp cloak, she made her way out into the upstairs hall that looked over the great room. The pines outside were covered in a light layer of snow glinting in the sun, and brightening the hall as the weak winter sunshine streamed in the large front windows. She made her way down the stairs and entered the room they’d had dinner in the night before.

Kian, a green plaid wrapped around the bottom half of his torso and flipped over one shoulder, paced in front of the large window. It was strange, a beast walking in a piece of clothing so well known for showcasing the male figure. His hairy legs, chest, and misshapen back were so unlike the Kian she’d made love with the night before, she swallowed.

He couldn’t help being a monster, just as he couldn’t help being the son of one.

“You’ve stopped hiding under your cloak.”

“Why should I, you’ve seen it all, haven’t you?”

She didn’t even respond to the bitterness in his voice. What could she say? She knew what he looked like, both in this form, and in his true form. He was right. She’d seen it all.

His dirty plate and gleaming, unused silverware sat on the table. He’d eaten without her. While she knew he’d done it to spare her the sight, she still felt let down and even more alone than she had upstairs. It was simply one more barrier between them.

The food smelled delicious, and she served herself from the sideboard. Crispy fried ham and potatoes, eggs scrambled with cheese, some odd purple fruit, but she found she wasn’t hungry when she sat down. She picked up her fork and ate anyway, not tasting or really seeing what she ate. She would need every bit of energy for what lay ahead.

“Kian…”

“Hmm?”

“I’m leaving after breakfast.”

He stilled. “Leaving?” He turned his large head away from the window. His crystal-violet eyes caught her gaze. He was a beast, but those eyes were the same ones that had looked at her with such desire the night before. And, she’d thought, maybe a little tenderness.

“You’re headed for battle, and I need to find my family now.”

“How will you do that?”

“I’ll scry for them,” she lied.

“Scrying isn’t all that accurate Underhill. Maps are unreliable because the borders stretch and change, you need to be close to your subjects. If they aren’t in this demesne, you’ll have trouble finding them at all.”

“I have to try.”

“Solanum will help.”

“No.” She shook her head. “You said he’s dangerous. I’d rather not end up owing a creature like…that.” She shivered. “I have to go.”

His voice dropped low. “What if I asked you not to?”

He’d demanded everything from her since she’d met him, and here he was asking, instead. She was sure this proud prince had asked for very little in his long life. Her heart soared. Inside, he must care for her, at least a little. Not that she could stay with a fae prince, son of the woman who had killed almost all of the MacElvys.

“I’d say I’m sorry,” she said. He couldn’t know how reluctant she was to go, despite everything.

His paw clenched, sharp claws flashing in the sunlight pouring in through the window.

“My mother and sister need me.”

“I need you.”

“No, you don’t.” She folded her napkin and placed it next to the plate of half-eaten food. “I’m leaving.”

He took a step toward her, his face serious. “Bryanna…”

There was a loud pounding on the front door.

“They’re here,” she said and rose, picking up her cloak and pulling it around her shoulders.

She thought she heard him say something low and soft. Something that sounded like, “Wait.” But it didn’t matter anyway. He might end up cured, he might end up loving her, but there was no magic to fix his background. No magic to erase his parentage or hers.

She ignored the soft tug of his voice on her heart and headed for the hall. She’d made her decision, it was too late.

He sighed, and followed her.

“Open!” he commanded. The carvings on the door slithered into life and it swung wide. Solanum strode in, behind him entered another man. An elf, with long black hair, strung with sparkling ornaments, high boots and pointed ears, but the build of someone shorter and stronger than Kian. If you could call six feet short.

“See what I’ve brought you, Prince.” Solanum spread his arms wide, his angelic face split with an evil, cocky grin. “Surprise.” He bowed and moved out of the way, finishing off with a flourish of his hand.

Behind him, a petite dark-haired woman, looking so normal with her over-sized shoulder bag, leather jacket, and jeans, poked her head around the two men. “Let me see,” the woman said, and her green, almond-shaped eyes met Bryanna’s.

Bryanna’s throat seized up and tears she’d held back for far too long, poured out. Her hand flew to her mouth. “You,” she said.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Bryanna fought for words at the sight of her cousin.

“Oh, Trina.” Was all she managed to get out before another wash of tears closed her throat and stole all her questions away. Trina’s long, dark hair lay in two fat braids on either side of her face and her MacElvy eyes looked so much like home that Bryanna had to shut her own. She focused on just breathing as a stab of combined grief and joy hit her hard.

“Bree?” Trina ran forward and they hugged, her much shorter head tucking itself under Bryanna’s chin.

Bryanna clung to her tiny cousin and gasped for air through her too-tight throat. “We thought you were dead,” she choked out.

“I’m okay. I’m okay.” Trina murmured against the skin of her neck.

The storm of tears broke. By the time Bryanna managed to get herself together the men had all stepped to the far side of the room, their expressions the kind of bewildered incompetence men seemed to apply to women in tears.

“Would you like to take Trina upstairs?” Kian asked.

She wished she could see his face. His fur and tusks distorted his facial expressions so much, she couldn’t tell what he was feeling. She couldn’t tell from his polite, flat tone if he was relieved she wasn’t leaving immediately, or if he was just stunned at the turn of events.

She nodded, her voice still clogged with tears, not sure if she could let Trina go long enough to make the short trip up the stairs.

“Why don’t you show her the room next to yours?”

“Maybe you should stay with me,” the stranger said. His hand hovered near his sword and his turquoise eyes darkened into a summer storm. Trina pried herself loose and went to him. She wrapped her arms around him, her tiny body fitting into his with deep intimacy.

Bryanna flushed. Could Trina be involved with this man? Yes, she’d slept with Kian, but this was a stranger. An elf. The enemy.

“I’ll be fine,” Trina said, squeezing him around the waist and giving him a quick peck on the lips. “It’s my cousin.”

He frowned. “I’d feel better if you stayed close.”

Trina rolled her eyes. “I’ll be fine.” She let him go and came back over to Bryanna, looping her elbow through hers. “We’ve got a lot to catch up on,” she said, her voice as bright as the look in her eyes. “And the first thing we need to do is get you some clothes. Is that the best this place can do?” She eyed Bryanna’s bedraggled gown, pointing at the muddy stains streaking the hem.

“I’d love something else.”

“Well I have some new magic tricks.” Trina patted her shoulder bag. “And I think we can get you back into cool, modern, and sexy, instead of looking like you got lost in a medieval romance.” She winked and Bryanna nearly lost it again at the warmth, and scent, and smile of her cousin. She snuffled back her tears and hung on to Trina’s arm, hardly believing any of this was reality.

As they climbed the stairs, she eyed the stranger. “You kissed him,” she whispered.

“Mmm, I did. We’ll talk, but my Goddess, what is that creature?” Trina whispered. “Can that really be the prince? I’ve never seen anything like it, and trust me, I’ve seen a lot of things recently.”

Unexpected anger tightened Bryanna’s grip on her cousin’s arm. “That’s Kian.” she said, through clenched teeth. “And he’s not an
it
.”

“That really is him?” Trina glanced back down at the group of men standing a few feet apart. “What the hell happened to him, and why are you here?”

“You first,” Bryanna said, opening the door to the room next to hers and motioning Trina in. “You’ve been missing far too long, I have to know why.” She glanced over the balcony at the men.

Everyone’s body language was tense. Shoulders tight, legs braced. Solanum and the dark stranger stood side by side, shoulders together. Kian faced them alone, arms wide, hairy palms out. Bryanna wanted to run back and stand with him, defend him. She wanted to tell them he hadn’t had a choice, hadn’t been able to escape, hadn’t been able to get messages through, but she turned her face forward and followed Trina inside the room instead.

It looked like she wasn’t leaving for a while. Now, instead of only getting herself out of here, she had to figure out how to get Trina away from that sexy, dark man downstairs. Two elven lords and a puca. How were they ever to win free?

She should have left as soon as she’d had the chance—first thing this morning. Of course, then she would never have known Trina was alive. And anything, even staying here one more day, was worth that.

Inside the cozy guest suite, they dragged chairs in front of the fireplace. Bryanna located matches in a small bone cup on the mantle, and lit the fire.

Trina rubbed her fingers together. “It’s cold out there,” she said. “I should have put on gloves. I’ve never been this close to the White Queen’s demesne. It’s got Logan’s nerves hopping.” She dug into her bag and pulled out a small drawstring purse. “Ah, clothes.”

“Quit stalling.” Bryanna scolded her cousin.

Trina’s eyebrows rose.

“We thought you were dead.” Hot tears rose, pushing to escape Bryanna’s eyes. “We waited at the safe-house too long hoping you would show up, and you never did.”

“I wanted to. Goddess knows I wanted to. At first, I couldn’t…and then it was too late.” Trina pulled out some jeans and a strappy black top and tossed them to Bryanna. “That night, when I stayed behind to find out why the queen hunted us to extinction, I thought it would be easy. Capture the queen’s spy, tie it up, find out why the queen bitch is after our family.” Trina stared into the fire. “I never expected Logan to show up.”