“I was sent to bring the warlock. He never requested the fairy.”
“Now, don’t be like that. Nobody likes a spoilsport.”
I elbowed him in the side. “Quit egging her on.”
“Listen to your lover, fairy. I might decide it’s better to ask forgiveness than for permission.” Veronica made me glad I hadn’t whispered anything further.
To my relief, Schwint didn’t reply and fell silent as his steps aligned with mine. Our fingers intertwined, and he gave my hand a squeeze.
Veronica stayedoutside the doorway as she ushered us into the sun-filled space.
Automatically, I averted my eyes from the long table, certain I’d see the old warlock impaled on the spikes. Instead, I focused on the vines covering the walls. The flowers blossomed in thick clumps, making it seem even more like a waterfall was flowing in from the jagged opening so far above us. It still amazed me that such an ethereal space could be so vile.
“Thank you for joining me.” Gwala was dressed in the simple white robe, his dark chest naked and smooth. He motioned toward the entryway, and I heard Veronica slide the door back into place. Turning his attention back to us, he gestured toward the table.
Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t keep from glancing at the spikes.
“Have you lunched this day, or should I have food brought in?”
When I didn’t respond soon enough, Schwint jumped in, his voice losing all the ridicule it had held when he’d addressed Veronica. “Thank you, Your Majesty, but we have already eaten today.”
We hadn’t. Between Brett arriving in the wee hours of the morning, and then the lovemaking session with Schwint, eating hadn’t even crossed my mind. My mouth watered at the mention of food. Maybe I’d already had my last meal.
“Very well.” The king tilted his head slightly as he looked at me. “Is everything all right, Warlock Finn? Are you feeling sickly?”
I forced myself to meet his eyes. I decided speaking a portion of the truth might throw him off more than an out-and-out lie. “No. I’m fine. I was just picturing Omar.”
The king’s lips curved into a smile, and he pushed himself off the edge of the table where he’d been leaning and strolled along the side. He ran his fingers down the closest of the spikes. “Yes. Not the ending he’d envisioned, I’m certain. But, it was the one he’d earned.” He looked toward Schwint. “You have healed, I assume? No setbacks?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, I am still doing well. Thank you.”
Gwala nodded, then turned back to me, opening his mouth to speak. Before he could, the door opened once more.
Sonia stepped into the room.
“Ah, my queen. Perfect timing.” He motioned for her to stand next to him.
Without so much as a glance in our direction, Sonia strode across the room, looking every inch the queen Gwala had made her. A floor-length black gown, low cut and sleeveless, displayed her perfect honeyed skin. Her long black hair fell in a sheath down her back, not one strand out of place. If I hadn’t known, I would never have guessed she’d been covered in blood just a couple of hours ago. I wondered what story she’d given Gwala. Whatever it had been, there seemed no reservation on his part now.
With his queen by his side, Gwala returned his attention to us, specifically to me. “We have a celebration this evening. Charity, my boatwoman, has proven her value after centuries of service. It is time for her to join the ranks of the Royals.”
He paused, and his expression seemed to hint that he expected some sort of reaction from me.
I faltered momentarily. “Oh, good. What did she do?”
He stiffened.
Wrong thing to say, obviously. I probably shouldn’t have asked questions.
Gwala spoke slowly, maybe wondering why he was taking the time to explain. “She managed to trap three mers in a bay off the tip of South Africa. They are being transported into the pool as we speak.”
My heart missed a beat as I thought of Brett in the underwater cave. Surely, as long as he stayed away from the main pool he’d be fine. I couldn’t think of a reason the vampires would get in the water. “Do you need me to be there to help oversee their relocation?”
The king shook his head. “No, nothing as mundane as that. However, I will need you to help with a different transportation, a job that Omar always fulfilled previously.”
Transportation? At least that didn’t require me to force them to mate. As far as I could imagine. “Okay. What will I need to do?”
A look of irritation flashed across his face, but when he spoke, Gwala’s tone was smooth and measured. “I keep forgetting that Omar didn’t teach you all of my expectations. You will need to call one of the mers to you, then bring it to this room. The old warlock would float them a foot or so above the ground. I can’t remember what he called it.” His dark eyes narrowed, inspecting me. “You will then secure it on the middle spike, or more than one, depending on the size of the one you bring. I care not the age of the mer you choose.” He made a dismissive motion.
