“Glimrey,” a thankfully familiar voice said. Tarian walked up, handsomely unimpressed, but the dangerous energy around him was palpable. “Whatareyou doing speaking with my new toy?”
The male—Glimrey—straightened before taking a step back. He affected an air of pompous disinterest, but he couldn’t hide the wariness in his eyes.
“Ah, Tarianthiel. Back from your journey, I see.”
Tarian spread his hands as he stopped beside Daisy. She scurried behind him, badly wanting to rub her aching temples.
“I am. Was it just me, or were you asking questions about matters that do not pertain to you?” He cocked his head, tsking at the other male. “Why could you possibly need to know about royal business? Unless you’ve made new friends outside of this court…”
Glimrey tensed. “Not at all,” he said, slipping a hand into his pocket casually. “I just wonder why the royals allow someone such as you to come and go as they please.”
“Hmm. Maybe that is a question for the king…and not my property.”
Glimrey lifted his eyebrows, affecting Tarian’s unimpressed stance. “Speaking of your property…” He took a few steps toward the wall, inviting Tarian for a more intimate chat. His voice lowered until Daisy could barely hear it. “Outsiders know how you are treated in this court. I know your power alone granted you your title. Wouldn’t you rather find a court more interestedin your…talents? One that treats you like an official member instead of a kick-box? I have friends of a certain status, Tarian. They are interested. I can work out a trade.”
“What kind of trade do you think might entice me?”
“Oh, you know, the usual. Status, placement, the most eligible gentry as a possible mate. Sire a powerful heir and you will be set for years to come.”
“And for you?”
Glimrey shrugged, looking around in pseudo-boredom. “A few nights with your property, for starters. A pleasure loan.”
“Apleasureloan? That only? Because it seemed like you were trying to access her thoughts. Surely a few nights would give you plenty of time to break my favorite toy.”
“Break? Nah. That isn’t the kind of pleasure I seek from my nighttime activities.”
“Well.” A black haze once again dimmed the light in the hall. It curled around Glimrey, thick and dark and forbidding. Tarian’s voice turned rough. Wariness once again leaked into Glimrey’s features. “While I would greatly enjoy the ramifications of your touching my plaything, I happen to know the king does not want you dead. Not yet. So I will simply inform you that I do not share. I do not loan.”
He leaned in aggressively. His magic coiled, then spun. Daisy felt a painful yank from her middle and knew Tarian was boosting his magic through the crystal chalice. Now would’ve been a fantastic time to have stolen magic stored, becausefuckthat hurt like Hades had kicked her right in the twat.
Gold glittered within the black, and an earthy scent mingled with the acidic smell of the obsidian magic. His power pulsed, hard and hot and heavy, so enormous it felt like it had chased all the air out of the corridor. Glimrey’s eyes rounded in fear.
“If youeverattempt to push past my blocks and ransack my pet’s memories, I will defy my king and turn your body into amangled mass of tissue and bone. Alivingmass that will beg me to end its suffering. But I won’t. Instead, I will put you on display as the spy you are and let the king fuck your eye sockets in front of the whole court. Do you understand me? She ismine. Touch her again, even with magic, even from afar, and I will make good on my claim.”
He stared the other fae down, his magic pulsing, solid black but with a gorgeous sheen of gold. Then he turned away, not sparing Daisy a glance before he was walking down the corridor, back the way he’d come.
And we’re walking,Niall said quickly, plucking her sleeve to get going.Don’t look back.
That was fucking close,Lennox said, shaken.Glimrey was putting all his power behind cracking my shields.
Yeah.Niall hurried them along, getting glances and not caring.If there hadn’t been three of us to split his focus, he might’ve gotten through. He’s desperate to know what the king is planning.
Do fae not usually do that?Daisy asked as they turned a corner. They didn’t slow down.
No,Lennox said.Oh, they’ll read a mind that is open for the taking, but to get past shields, they’re usually sneaky. Drugs, pixie wine—something to loosen up the victim or knock them out entirely. They’d need the victim to be too far gone to remember what happened, because the practice itself is an act of hostility in a court. It is essentially sneaking into someone’s chambers and rifling through their possessions. Glimrey really ought to know better. He is gentry with one of the highest statuses in this court.
He thinks Tarian is a puppet,Niall said.A fool. They all do, even though they fear him. They think the king can keep him on a leash. That trade offer was nothing but smoke. Calling attention to Tarian not being of royal birth, as far as Glimreyknows, was a slight. He knows Tarian is trapped here by some sort of deal. They all know that. He knows very well that Tarian can’t leave, or he would’ve done it by now. Glimrey wants the information regarding that bridge. Everyone must know that Tarian brought back the crystal chalice, which they think is the item in the throne room. With the Celestial unrest growing and magic starting to twist, everyone wants out. They want to escape to lands where they can rule themselves with unlimited power.
They reached Tarian’s chambers. Niall worked his hands, using magic to tear down the ward, before opening the door and ushering her inside.
“Think he believed that Tarian was capable of following through on that threat?”Lennox fell onto the couch with a sigh. He massaged his head.
“Wouldn’t he be worried that Tarian knows he’s a spy?” Daisy asked, sinking into a chair. She massaged her head as well. That had been rough.
“The king knows Glimrey is a spy.” Lennox let his head fall back. “He says he is loyal to the Obsidian Throne but that he needs to trade information sometimes.”
“And the twisted king believes him.” Niall huffed and shook his head, finally taking a seat.
