The Cold Kiss of Death (36 page)
‘What the hell is he doing here?’ I pointed at Ricou.
‘If the naiad’s nae tae your liking, doll’ - he gave me a bland look - ‘just say the word; I’m sure the Lady Meriel will let you choose from the rest o’ them.’
‘But that’s not bleeding fair, kelpie,’ Ricou cried. ‘I’ve just told the
bean sidhe
—’
bean sidhe
—’
‘Hey, fishface,’ I waved my hand at him, ‘shut up, before you make me do something you’ll regret.’
‘Like what, luv?’ The clicking laugh came again. ‘I mean, the way I heard it, you ain’t got any bleeding magic to speak of.’
‘Yeah?’ I gave him a just-you-try-it look. ‘So who do you think built the sand-dune out there?’
His headcrest slowly subsided.
‘Of course, doll, if there’s nae one o’ the naiads takes your fancy,’ Tavish said coolly, his delicate black-lace gills shifting slightly at his throat, ‘t’would be an easy thing for me tae tell the Lady Meriel that we’re courting and save you the bother o’ disturbances like this one.’
Save me the bother?
‘C’mon, Tavish,’ I snorted, ‘this is your own private aquarium. The only way fishface could get in here is if you let him, so whoever you think you’re fooling, it’s not me.’
‘C’mon, Tavish,’ I snorted, ‘this is your own private aquarium. The only way fishface could get in here is if you let him, so whoever you think you’re fooling, it’s not me.’
‘Ach, doll, I’m only showing you your alternatives.’ He smiled, his silver eyes sparkling like the full moon on the sea. ‘Far be it from me tae stop you having a litter o’ naiad pups, or maybe half-a-dozen saplings.’
And as for that idea—No way was I being manipulated into something as important as having a child, so the whole lot of them could hold fire until I knew more about it.
‘Unless there was something else you were wanting?’ Tavish added.
Behind him, Malik appeared in the vault doorway, an edge of shadowed darkness slipping from him. He’d found a black T-shirt from somewhere and the plain cotton moulded itself to his lean, muscular chest, leaving a tantalising glimpse of pale skin at the low-slung waistband of his leather trousers. His black eyes fixed on mine with a half-lidded, almost lazy expression, a hint of a smile twitching one corner of his mouth, a suggestion of a promise weaving like smoke through my mind.
Crap. Talk about a double-act of annoying eye-candy! The pair of them were in it together. It almost made me want to take them up on their offer, whatever it entailed, just to see how far they would go ...
Okay, crazy thought
- and one I had a suspicion wasn’t mine. I glared at the pretty vamp. No doubt they’d go way further than I could imagine.
Okay, crazy thought
- and one I had a suspicion wasn’t mine. I glared at the pretty vamp. No doubt they’d go way further than I could imagine.
Damn, the whole curse thing needed sorting out, and while I could empathise with its awful consequences, I was getting more than a little pissed off with being either chased by dryads, hit on by fishface, or having a scheming kelpie try to trick me into whatever. Hadn’t any of them heard about sitting down and talking? Not that I had time for it right now, not until after my meeting with Grianne—
That was it, wasn’t it? Same as yesterday: they didn’t want me to meet the phouka, the queen’s ambassador.
‘Prohibition,’ I said softly. Neither of them made the slightest movement, which was telling enough in itself. ‘Or, to give it another name, everyone controlling, manipulating and deciding my fate. And you two are still doing it now.’ I waved at the naiad. ‘Trying to distract me with fishface here, threats of saplings and promises of whatever! Well, thanks for the offer, but I’ve got more important things to do. Like getting information that might solve a friend’s murder. So I’m not staying here in Tavish’s bed, however
attractive
the inducement, and just in case neither of you can recognise it,
that
was sarcasm.’
attractive
the inducement, and just in case neither of you can recognise it,
that
was sarcasm.’
Tavish grinned, displaying his sharp-pointed white teeth. ‘I could always make the inducement less attractive, doll.’
Frustration filled me until I felt I might explode. Still, if he wanted to play tough ... Stun spells sounded like a handy idea, except of course even in
Between
I couldn’t cast spells. But the magic seemed to like me just fine, so ...
Between
I couldn’t cast spells. But the magic seemed to like me just fine, so ...
‘Yeah, well how about this?’ I lifted my hands and
called
the magic net. It bundled itself into my palms until I felt like I was holding two balls of soft green cotton. I threw one out towards Tavish, willing the net to trap him. I was taking a chance, not certain the magic would heed me - it might just leave me with metaphorical egg on my face - but my frustration seemed to fuel the spell, just as it did before, and the net swirled out and landed over his head, tangling in his dreads. His silver eyes flashed with surprise as his fingers pulled at the net, trying to deny the magic—
called
the magic net. It bundled itself into my palms until I felt like I was holding two balls of soft green cotton. I threw one out towards Tavish, willing the net to trap him. I was taking a chance, not certain the magic would heed me - it might just leave me with metaphorical egg on my face - but my frustration seemed to fuel the spell, just as it did before, and the net swirled out and landed over his head, tangling in his dreads. His silver eyes flashed with surprise as his fingers pulled at the net, trying to deny the magic—
I
cracked
the spell, exploding the net - and his silver beads - into tiny motes that glowed briefly before dissipating into the ether. He grabbed hold of the shredded ends of his hair, snorting in dismay as he examined them.
cracked
the spell, exploding the net - and his silver beads - into tiny motes that glowed briefly before dissipating into the ether. He grabbed hold of the shredded ends of his hair, snorting in dismay as he examined them.
Okay, childish I know, but also satisfying pay-back for the blonde-bimbo Glamour he’d sicced on me.
I turned towards Ricou, who was staring at Tavish in wide-eyed amazement - at least I think that was what his gaping mouth and bolt-upright headcrest meant.
‘Hey, fishface,’ I called to get his attention, ‘unless you want me to do the same to your
credentials
’ - I tossed the other ball of magic in the air and caught it - ‘you’ll go back to the rest of your poker-playing pals and tell them that
if
I’m ever up for it - and believe me, I’m not talking about sex here - then I’ll be the one that comes visiting, got it?’
credentials
’ - I tossed the other ball of magic in the air and caught it - ‘you’ll go back to the rest of your poker-playing pals and tell them that
if
I’m ever up for it - and believe me, I’m not talking about sex here - then I’ll be the one that comes visiting, got it?’
‘Got it in one, luv.’ His face-gills slapped back against his head and he did the grin-yawn thing again. ‘And just in case you do fancy a bit of slippy-slippy, luv’ - he thumped his fisted claw on his chest and winked at me again - ‘drop a bit of blood in the water and give Ricou a shout, okay?’ Then he leapt and twisted, diving into the hole, and sped away like a dark streak through the water.
Yeah, I’d give him a shout - like when the Thames froze over again ...
‘Next time, Tavish’ - I held up the green ball of magic and blew on it until it exploded into tiny filaments that coated the glass floor like iron filings on a magnet - ‘it’ll be your aquarium here.’ I raised my eyebrows. ‘How’s that for a less attractive inducement?’
Tavish snorted. ‘Neat bit o’ magic, doll, I dinnae ken you could do that.’
‘I’ve been practising,’ I said. Getting the equivalent of ‘knocked out’ every time I
absorbed
a spell was
so
not fun. Trouble was, I could only
call
the smaller, more benign magics so far. Still, nice to know that Finn wasn’t reporting my every move back to Tavish ... and now it was time to put a stop to Tavish having any more crazy ideas.
absorbed
a spell was
so
not fun. Trouble was, I could only
call
the smaller, more benign magics so far. Still, nice to know that Finn wasn’t reporting my every move back to Tavish ... and now it was time to put a stop to Tavish having any more crazy ideas.
‘I think it’s time for some ground rules,’ I said, in my most reasonable voice. ‘I know about the nasty effects of the curse; Finn’s told me - something
you
should have done ages ago.’ I looked pointedly at Tavish.
you
should have done ages ago.’ I looked pointedly at Tavish.
‘Aye doll,’ he nodded, ‘that’s as maybe, but it’s nae the sort o’ thing one jumps intae when one’s courting. Better tae test the water first.’
Okay, so telling a girl on the first date you wanted her to play ‘mummy’ to your ‘daddy’ might be coming on a bit strong, but when it comes to pregnancy, by the time you get round to testing the water it’s usually too late.
‘And I get that the pair of you have been watching out for me with this prohibition,’ I carried on in the same reasonable tone. ‘And don’t think I don’t appreciate it, or that I’m not grateful’ -
or that I don’t know you’ve both got your own reasons for doing it -
‘but the longer you keep me in the dark, the more everything seems to get screwed up around me. So I’m going to meet the phouka, get whatever info she’s found out about the murdering sidhe’ -
and ask her some pertinent questions about the prohibition
- ‘then we can all have a chat about what to do next, okay?’ I glanced up at the paler circle of the skylight, although not ‘all’ of us would still be awake.
or that I don’t know you’ve both got your own reasons for doing it -
‘but the longer you keep me in the dark, the more everything seems to get screwed up around me. So I’m going to meet the phouka, get whatever info she’s found out about the murdering sidhe’ -
and ask her some pertinent questions about the prohibition
- ‘then we can all have a chat about what to do next, okay?’ I glanced up at the paler circle of the skylight, although not ‘all’ of us would still be awake.
Tavish looked at Malik as if to say ‘up to you’.
Malik was still watching me from half-lidded eyes, but all the amusement and seduction was gone. ‘Genevieve—’
‘I know the phouka’s dangerous, Malik,’ I said, firmly. ‘I don’t need convincing of that.’
And she’s not the only one
, I thought, looking from one to the other, hoping they weren’t going to make this a fight ... one I’d probably lose ...
And she’s not the only one
, I thought, looking from one to the other, hoping they weren’t going to make this a fight ... one I’d probably lose ...
‘Have a care.’ He inclined his head in what I took for acceptance, as opposed to something more irritating, like consent.
‘Great, glad we’ve got that sorted’ - I stood, pulling the sheet with me - ‘so any chance of some clothes?’ I smiled at them both. ‘Naked’s
so
not the best way to walk around London unnoticed.’
so
not the best way to walk around London unnoticed.’
And the sun would be rising soon and the phouka would be waiting for me.
Chapter Twenty-Four
T
avish’s magic beachfront door expelled me under London Bridge this time. I walked out of an open doorway near the entrance of the London Bridge Experience, the very one where I’d spent an uncomfortable time surveying ghosts with Finn a few days past - right now it felt like a particularly long lifetime ago. The green and blue lights twinkled in the pavement, and a couple of the exhibition actors - two women in ankle-length woollen robes made up to look like mediaeval plague victims - were organising the visitors waiting to go in. It might be Sunday morning, but scary tourist shows were definitely the in-thing for Hallowe’en.
avish’s magic beachfront door expelled me under London Bridge this time. I walked out of an open doorway near the entrance of the London Bridge Experience, the very one where I’d spent an uncomfortable time surveying ghosts with Finn a few days past - right now it felt like a particularly long lifetime ago. The green and blue lights twinkled in the pavement, and a couple of the exhibition actors - two women in ankle-length woollen robes made up to look like mediaeval plague victims - were organising the visitors waiting to go in. It might be Sunday morning, but scary tourist shows were definitely the in-thing for Hallowe’en.
I headed past the chattering queue, many of them stamping their feet and breathing into their hands against the cold wind that whistled off the nearby Thames. As I reached the bottom of Nancy’s Steps, I stopped and looked up, recalling my escape up them the previous night from the turban-headed dryads. The phouka, in her doggy guise, a faint silver sheen to her silky short-haired coat, gazed sphinx-like from the top. She angled her head to one side, ears pricking forward, then, giving me a tongue-lolling smile, she bounded down to meet me.
‘Hello Grianne,’ I said drily as she shook herself, casually scattering raindrops over me, and just as casually
casting
an Unseen spell. The magic settled round us like a cocoon, blocking out the noise of the excited tourists and the traffic rumbling across the bridge above.
casting
an Unseen spell. The magic settled round us like a cocoon, blocking out the noise of the excited tourists and the traffic rumbling across the bridge above.
‘How’s my faerie dogmother this morning?’ I asked. ‘Did you get enough exercise chasing sticks last night?’
‘Please do not refer to me by that ridiculous mortal name, child,’ the dog snapped; any human listening would hear just a low growl. ‘I am a phouka. And the dryads caused me no more problems after you had departed.’
‘Great to hear it.’ I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets and started along the street. After some discussion - during which Malik had disappeared to wherever - Tavish had finally come up with some clothes - the jacket, trainers, jeans and T-shirt all thankfully real - in exchange for me heading
straight
back after meeting the phouka, something I’d been planning to do anyway.
straight
back after meeting the phouka, something I’d been planning to do anyway.
‘So,’ I said, as the phouka fell in beside me, ‘have you managed to find any info on the sidhe who’s decided to visit London yet?’
‘None in the Fair Lands has opened any of the three gates.’ Her black-tipped claws clicked sharply on the pavement. ‘Clíona, my queen, has forbidden any from doing so.’
‘Because of the
droch guidhe
.’ I bent down and looked the phouka in her pale grey eyes. ‘Of which there is a detail you forgot to mention to me: like, the lesser fae who can’t have full-blood children?’
droch guidhe
.’ I bent down and looked the phouka in her pale grey eyes. ‘Of which there is a detail you forgot to mention to me: like, the lesser fae who can’t have full-blood children?’
Her ears flattened against her head. ‘It was not your concern.’
I straightened and gave the phouka a ‘don’t bullshit me’ look. ‘
Of course
it’s my concern, Grianne! I’m running round Sucker Town on
your
rescue missions, picking up any stray faelings that end up trapped there because you keep telling me
your
queen can’t break the curse and feels guilty about them. Now I find out not only is there an additional problem with the curse, but that she’s been refusing to speak to any of the fae here about it. I take it you
do
know what their solution is, don’t you?’
Of course
it’s my concern, Grianne! I’m running round Sucker Town on
your
rescue missions, picking up any stray faelings that end up trapped there because you keep telling me
your
queen can’t break the curse and feels guilty about them. Now I find out not only is there an additional problem with the curse, but that she’s been refusing to speak to any of the fae here about it. I take it you
do
know what their solution is, don’t you?’
‘Enough, child.’ She growled at me for real this time, baring long black fangs. ‘I am aware of the situation. But regardless of what I might have wished, I was, like all others, constrained by the prohibition.’
‘Which is another thing.’ I tilted my head to look at her. ‘Everyone else was “prohibited” from coming near me, but you just got told to keep the secret. What makes you so different?’
‘The curse does not afflict me’ - the hairs along her spine rose in a stiff ridge - ‘nor am I a vampire who wishes to enslave you.’ She padded a couple of steps forward and the air blurred around her. Grianne stood before me in her more human form, her usual haughty expression on her long, narrow face. A swathe of fine silver fabric was caught in a clasp at one shoulder and fell to pool around her feet, clinging like silk to her tall, slender body. It gave her an oddly ethereal air that belied her strength. Her ash-grey hair was feathered against her scalp, parting around the pointed tips of her ears, and her skin shone the same faint silver-grey as the dog’s. Anyone seeing her would know her at once for a fae - not that anyone would see her with her magic hiding us.
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