Reese stared at Elena’s outfit, then down at her own. “We so look like Jedi right now, only cuter. These belts are figure flattering.”
Elena tugged on a hat that was square on top, with flaps that covered her ears. She tied the leather strings below her chin. “Except for the hat.”
“Yeah, the hat’s not so cute.” Reese glanced at Elena’s boyfriend. “Why does Derek get the cool hooded cloak?”
Elena groaned. “Reese, don’t start bitching about the clothes.”
“No,” Theda said. “Your friend is correct. She stands out among us with her shorter stature.”
Reese straightened. “Why do people keep saying that? I’m beginning to get a complex. Five foot six isn’t short.”
“My mom’s right—you’re super short by Fae standards. And your Halven power level is totally obvious. Which is why you’ll be in the middle of us at all times. Camille thinks that if we stand together, there’s a chance your power level won’t be noticed.” She handed Reese a cloak. “Wear this, and hopefully anyone looking will assume you’re a child.”
Reese snatched the article. “I’ll try to not find that insulting.” She put the cloak on and pulled the hood over her head. The hem dragged like a wedding train when she walked. “I might trip in this thing.”
Theda pursed her lips and Camille tilted her head.
“That won’t do,” Camille said.
“No,” agreed Theda. “We must shorten it.” She turned to her friend. “Do you know how to use thread and needle?”
Camille raised her eyebrows incredulously. “I wasn’t taught those skills.”
“Nor was I,” Theda admitted. “Elena?”
“I cook. That’s my one domestic skill.”
They all turned to Derek.
“Don’t look at me!” he whispered loudly. “I’m no seamstress.”
“Everyone, simmer down,” Reese said. She turned to Theda. “You’re organizing followers, correct?”
“Yes,” Theda said cautiously.
“Can we begin at the palace?”
“Too dangerous,” Derek blurted.
Elena shook her head. “Derek’s right. We considered it before we arrived. If something went wrong—if word got into the wrong hands—we’d be trapped. At least by beginning our search for loyalists outside the palace, there’s always the possibility of escape. The palace, on the other hand, is fortified with soldiers at every turn. We’d never make it out before they caught us.”
“The Presence Charm we triggered when we arrived has worn off by now,” Camille added, “but they have not stopped searching for the intruders. It seems Portia isn’t taking any chances.”
Theda nodded. “And if what you said about Keen’s oath to Portia is true, we cannot be certain he won’t betray us. We would be taking a large risk going to him.”
Reese lifted the hem of her cloak and flung it over her arm to get it out of the way. “I wasn’t thinking about Keen. I was thinking of someone whose emotions indicated she isn’t happy about Portia’s new position. I think there’s a good chance she’d be on our side.”
“Do you trust this person?” Theda asked.
“Enid is a palace servant, and she’s been kind. She snuck me books. I don’t think she’ll betray us.”
“It is all we have,” Camille said. “Our trust in others. And your ability to tell when one’s emotions conflict with their words. You will go to this girl, and she will help cover for you while you are gone.”
Reese shook out the cloak. “Not only that—Enid knows how to sew.”
Reese, Elena, Derek, and the two Fae escaped New Kingdom palace with a little help from Enid, who, with a conspiratorial look, asked no questions at their request to cover for Reese’s absence. Enid also did a quick hem job on the overlong cloak.
Rubbing the shoulder she’d landed on—or fallen on, to be more accurate—Reese stood and hurried after Elena and the others, who’d already recovered from the unusual transportation and were making their way down a cobbled street. “So that was a portal?”
Elena looked back. “Well, one of Camille’s portals.” Her booted feet sloshed through a puddle from what must have been a recent rain. The sky was dark, made darker with cloud cover—the only light came from the soft glow of gas lamps amid gray stone buildings straight out of another century. “Camille’s portals are bumpier than the regular ones.”
Reese chuckled quietly. “Right, because traveling through space is so normal. Do regular portals toss you around like the Zipper without a cage?”
“A zipper?”
“Not a zipper, but the Zipper. You know, the carnival ride?”
“Oh yeah, spinning is a part of all portals. So is the rainbow of lights. But Camille’s portals are rougher for some reason.”
“What about the sense of being shot from a cannon onto the ground?”
Elena laughed lightly. “That’s specific to Camille’s portals too.”
Camille looked over and grinned.
Elena’s face scrunched. “I’ve almost gotten to the point where I can land on my feet instead of my face. But I’m not as coordinated as you, Reese. With that cool tumble roll you did, you looked pretty good.”
“I’ll remember that when my shoulder is black and blue tomorrow.”
Elena grinned and stopped behind her mother, who was standing outside a doorway with a sign above it that read Lucifer’s Larder.
Broken wrought iron covered the single window on the building, and the sagging wooden overhang was one hard rain away from collapsing. “Classy. This place is safe, right?”
“Of course not,” Theda said, and opened the door.
“Just making sure.” Reese held her breath and stepped in after Elena, but before Camille and Derek. As they’d agreed beforehand, her friends surrounded her to make her Halven power level less noticeable.
Derek and Elena were Halven as well, but once they had drunk from the Ancient Allon to increase their powers—and as it turned out, their height and strength—their power levels became closer to that of Fae. Unless someone was paying close attention, they wouldn’t notice a difference—which was deceptive, because Elena and Derek had more magical ability than most Fae. They came from strong angel lines, and it showed.
Inside the small, den-like room, round tables and wooden chairs crowded the space, and were filled with men. Mostly. The few women there looked odd, and it took Reese a second to figure out why.
The women inside Lucifer’s Larder wore risqué clothing, something Reese thought she’d never see in Tirnan. Oh, these women weren’t wearing anything like what a girl going out on the town back home would wear. But bared shoulders and arms, and billowing, gauzy gowns where Reese could detect the outline of legs? That was downright scandalous for Tirnan.
“What is this place?” she whispered to no one in particular.
Camille looked about. “Part pub. Part brothel.”
Reese raised her eyebrow. “A brothel? In Tirnan? Among the blessed Fae? I thought you guys were pure and only procreated for heirs?”
Camille shrugged her dainty shoulder. “We are not perfect.”
Reese grumbled an obscenity. If this went on in Keen’s homeland, what was up with him being a bastard about her ball gown that revealed far less skin than what these ladies were wearing? Granted, these ladies were presumably offering up their bodies, but still.
“That is Amund.” Theda nodded to a group across the room.
Reese followed the direction of Theda’s gaze…to an extremely large, scary as hell Fae, sitting with about a dozen other men who looked like they could tear Reese apart with their pinky fingers.
“He’s very…burly,” she said, and noted that Amund was the only man in this land she’d seen rocking full-on beard stubble. His skin was slightly darker as well. Swarthy.
Theda seemed to consider him. “He is only reliable some of the time. Which is why I did not offer him a position on my guard. Otherwise, he’s a ruthless warrior who’s fought and won many battles. I would have liked to have had him at my side. Perhaps now is the time to take a chance.”
“On this ruthless, unreliable warrior?” Reese wasn’t exactly scared of the burly men, per se, but shit. Was this a good idea? Maybe there were others who were more trustworthy.
“He is the one person everyone claims holds the most influence,” Derek explained. “Don’t worry, Reese. Amund’s already indicated his support of Theda. Remember, we just need you to make sure everything is on the up-and-up and that there isn’t anything he’s hiding.”
“Okay, but I can’t read minds. I’m not Keen.”
“No,” Camille said. “But you will be able to tell if he has ill feelings toward Theda or any of the rest of us.”
Reese nodded. “I can do that. Right now I’m picking up on distinctly horny emotions from the Fae with the funny-looking beret in the corner, who’s checking out Elena. And the redhead sitting on the man’s lap to our left is worried for some reason, even though she’s smiling.”
Derek’s mouth twisted and he dropped an arm over Elena’s shoulders, glaring at the bereted Fae.
Reese studied the men Theda wanted to talk to. “I’m not sensing ill feelings from your group in the corner.”
“Good.” Theda started across the room.
Heads turned as Reese and the others passed through the pub. No vibes of surprise came from the customers, so she assumed they didn’t notice her weaker power level while she was smashed in between Elena and Camille. They arrived safely at the table, and Reese let out the breath she’d been holding.
Theda stopped across from Amund. “Greetings. May we join you?”
Amund flicked his fingers toward one of the Fae on his right. The man stood and walked the perimeter of the group, standing sentry behind Camille.
“The glamour is intact. Our conversation will not be overheard,” Amund said in a baritone that sent chills over Reese’s skin. She wasn’t sensing anything bad from the guy, but he was even bigger up close. Probably the most heavily muscled Fae she’d met, and they were all well built.
“What’s he talking about?” she whispered to Elena.
Elena tipped her head closer. “He put a silence glamour on our group. No one outside this circle can hear us, but they can read lips, so be careful.”
Theda took the only seat available, the one beside Amund, and Reese and the others stood, which was just as well. Reese was about as tall as the soldiers while seated, and that was just sad. She really must look like a child to them. At least from this position she could keep her hood drawn low without appearing rude.
Theda looked at Reese, a question on her face.
Reese gave her a subtle nod. So far, so good. The only sketchy vibes she was getting came from behind—from someone else in the room—but not these men.
Reese looked over her shoulder, but no one stood out. It didn’t matter anyway. Amund and his men were the ones whose trust they needed.
Theda set an amulet in front of Amund. “We will take back the palace three days hence. Present this to my lead soldier and you will have his complete trust. Are your men ready?”
“My men are always prepared for a skirmish.” He smirked devilishly.
“There can be no errors,” Theda said. “You understand what is at stake?”
Amund leaned forward. “I understand, Your Majesty, but my men and I want to know how you will repay our efforts. We will take down the queen’s puppet army, but only at a price.”
Theda’s mouth twisted into a frown. “Your payment is that you will have your rightful queen in power—a noblewoman born and bred for the position who will protect this land with her life.”
Amund glanced at each of his men. “A good reason, to be sure, but my men and I have been left on the outside for far too long.”
“Because you have been known to throw down your swords when the mood suits you.”
Amund’s battleax of a fist slammed down on the table, causing Reese to jump. She glanced at her friends, but they remained still, watching the heated conversation unfold.
Apparently, this was normal soldier negotiations?
“It was one battle three hundred years ago. I did not fight with our kingdom because I was called to the Land of Ice.”
Theda shook her head. “No one lives in the Land of Ice.”
“So sayeth some.” Amund drew his fist back to his side. “Be that as it may, I was not here when the Oldlanders”—he glanced at Derek—“ruthlessly attacked our people. Had I been present, we would not have lost so many lives.”
Theda laid her hands on the table, one over the other. “I am prepared to trust you and your men again. If you pledge yourselves to me.”
“We do,” Amund said without reservation.
Theda glanced at the others with him. “I must hear it from all of you.”
One by one, each warrior pledged his life and loyalty to Theda.
Reese understood why Theda demanded it. She couldn’t risk someone turning on her in mid-battle, but Reese couldn’t help remembering Keen’s similar oath to Portia. Only in this case, Theda truly had her people’s best interests in mind.
“And what of the rest of your warriors?” Theda asked. “For we will need an army of hundreds if we are to take back our kingdom.”
“I give you my word on their loyalty.” Amund grinned smugly. “You will have to trust me this time, my queen.”
Theda twisted around to Reese.
Reese nodded. He was goading her, but Reese also read admiration and enthusiasm from him. Amund respected Theda. He and his men also seemed pretty excited to go to battle against Portia and her military, if Reese was interpreting it correctly.
He lifted his chin toward Derek. “What of the Halven leader? Whose side does he stand on?”
“Derek O’Brien is my daughter’s consort, and the rightful heir to the Old Kingdom crown. He saved my daughter’s life. The two of them are responsible for healing our people from the virus, your men included, as I’m sure you’re aware. Derek can be trusted. In fact, anyone who causes harm to him or his Oldlander soldiers fighting alongside us will be severely dealt with. In this battle, the kingdoms are united. We can discuss how the kingdoms will move forward once I’ve regained my throne.”
“I don’t trust Oldlanders,” Amund grumbled. “But no harm will come to the Halven king. He saved my family and the lives of some of my men. We are indebted to him and your daughter.” Amund nodded to Elena, and she returned the gesture.
“And the cloaked one?” Amund’s heavy gaze landed on Reese. “I see the pale hair, but not the face. Who is she?”
“A youth, here to ensure you tell the truth.”
“Through mental abilities? Another Oldlander?”
“Yes. As is your man who created the silencing glamour.”
He grinned boldly. “And her assessment of me and my men? Can we be trusted?”
All eyes turned to Reese, and it took everything in her power not to squirm.
Nevertheless, she nodded, because these Fae could be trusted. She didn’t sense fear, envy, or anger from them. In fact—Reese looked over her shoulder again—the worst emotions from anyone in the room came from the man on whose lap the scantily clad redhead sat.
Reese had sensed it when they first walked in, and later as Theda negotiated with Amund, but she’d been more worried about the people Theda was aligning herself with. Now that she was certain Amund and his men wouldn’t betray Theda, she couldn’t help paying attention to the man at the entrance of the pub.
He was dressed all in black, and though he and the redhead were together, neither seemed focused on each other. The woman was still afraid, and the man had grown angrier the longer Reese and her friends lingered.
“We should go,” Reese said quietly to Elena. Even with the din of noise in the pub, she was sure Amund heard her, as did Theda, because they both looked up. The New Kingdom guards might not hear their voices through the heavy wooden door of Reese’s bedroom, but Fae had superior hearing, and even Reese had noticed an increase in her sensory abilities since she’d come into her Halven powers.
Theda stood, and so did every man at the table. “Samuel will be in touch. He is the leader of my soldiers. You will defer to him for further instruction.”
Amund nodded and watched them walk toward the exit. And they almost made it too—out the door and safe from the dilapidated pub and its nearly all-male inhabitants.
Until a large arm hooked Reese’s waist and dragged her onto a distinctly male lap.
“Little one,” came the deep, lyrical voice, “what are you up to?”
