“Hundreds of years ago they were banished from the human world into a separate realm. It’s like another dimension only it’s really, really tiny. Understandably, they’re still pissed at us for banishing them, and they want the earth for themselves. There’s a doorway to their realm behind the castle. It’s our job to guard it, to stop them coming into our world. We’re witches, as you’ve probably figured out. This one fae, Daigh, he found a way to get here without going through the portal.”
“Don’t tell me,” Judge smirked. “He made a deal with the devil on a crossroads at midnight.”
“Pretty much exactly that. Only it turns out he’s also Maeve’s father, and he wants her to rule the world with him. He’s the one who killed Corbin. We’ve got him with us, locked in a secret room so he can’t hurt anyone else. But he lost all his powers, so he’s not important now. As part of the deal these fae made with the Underworld, in less than two days a host of restless souls called The Slaugh will ride across the earth, killing everyone they encounter until there’s no human left to oppose the fae. That’s why Ryan?—”
“I don’t know what you’re all playing at,” Judge yelled. “The whole village is a circus. People are pouring in from all over the country to see this painting before it goes into some private collection. Is this really a good idea with those bloody fae and restless souls around?”
“It’s how we’re going to stop them. There’s a kind of magic that’s created when people believe in something. Like how everyone in the village now believes in magic and witches, and that belief is spreading because of Ryan’s painting and the story of the statue appearing in the town square. We’ve figured out how to use objects like artwork to store that magic and then unleash it at the right time. It’s going to overwhelm the Slaugh before they do any damage.”
Judge glanced at her watch. “I’ve got to get back. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but if you need help with anything, you know where to find me.”
“Why?” I wasn’t used to people believing me so readily or jumping to my aid. Eloquent speeches that stirred hearts and changed minds were Corbin’s department.
“Corbin helped us out on a case a couple of years back,” Judge said. “It was the first dead body I’d ever seen. A professor committed suicide up at one of the old houses on Holly Avenue. He wrote the note in Latin. One of the other officers used to be in a medieval reenactment club with Arthur, and apparently he used to bitch about his brainiac housemate who knew all these old languages, so I called in at the castle to get Corbin to look at the note. He translated it in three minutes flat and discovered one of the verbs had been conjugated incorrectly. His evidence eventually convicted the professor’s brother of his murder. Corbin’s one smart kid, and he dropped everything to help us without demanding a reward. People always ask what’s in it for them, but Corbin Harris never did. I don’t want any other people to die on my watch.”
I vaguely remembered Corbin mentioning he’d helped the police out while I was over in Arizona. It sounded exactly like him, to do something just for the sheer joy of the intellectual challenge.
DS Judge released my collar, and we walked back to the drawing room. Inspector Wallace bent over the singed bookshelf, running his fingers across the ruined surface. He straightened up when we entered. “All done, then?”
Judge nodded. “Ready to brave the crowds again, sir.”
“Thank you for your time, Mr O’Hagan. We’ll keep you updated. No more guerrilla art in my village, right?” He tipped his head at me.
“You got it, sir.” I winked at Judge. She nodded.
CHAPTER TWENTY
TWENTY: MAEVE
Aline’s arms draped over my shoulders. “Sweetie, you should go back at Raynard Hall. You need sleep.”
My eyelids sprung open. The edges of a dream pressed against my temples, like a locked door with a misplaced key. Corbin had been there, and he’d been shouting something about a crown, and his hand was clasped around that metal lump he wore on a chain, then I’d fallen into the darkness. There were other details, but when I grasped at them, they faded away. I rubbed my eyes, but that did nothing to halt the weariness spreading up my spine. “I’m fine. I’m staying right here.”
“You’ll do no good for him sapping your strength like this. He’ll wake up when he’s good and ready.”
Arthur’s lifeless face stared up at the ceiling. I’d never seen him so still for so long. Arthur was a fireball of energy and passion. Now even his beard looked as though it was made of stone – a statue of a Viking warrior at peace with his gods.
No,I raged against the notion.He’s not at peace. Inside that thick skull of his, he’s fighting for us, for me.I had to believe that. I grabbed his good arm – the one he hadn’t mutilated – and shook it. “Arthur, you bastard.Wake up.”
“Sssssh, honey bee.” Aline placed her hand over mine and drew me away. A warm, calming feeling shot up my arm. I glared at her.Don’t use magic on me. I need to feel this. I need to feel all of it. It’s the only way I’ll be strong enough.
Hatred isn’t strength,Aline answered inside my head, but the warm feeling disappeared.
“Maeve, you’ve been here long enough. Why don’t you call Rowan or Blake? They can sit with Arthur for a while.” I started at the sound of Clara’s voice. I’d forgotten she was there as well. “Someone will be here when he wakes up.”
“Robert is waking up,” Smithers cooed. “Robert is greeting the birds.”
Aline hushed him.
I picked up Arthur’s hand. My stomach clenched as his limp fingers slid through mine and flopped back on the sheet. “Rowan and Blake aren’t talking to me. We had a fight.”
“What about?”
“They inserted themselves into my dream last night, so they could talk to Corbin.” A shudder of disgust wracked my body. The betrayal of it still smarted.
“They shouldn’t have done that,” Aline said gently. “Did you see Corbin in your dreams again?”
“Of course I did. I’ll never stop thinking about him or wishing he was with us. But they think Corbin is speaking to me through my dreams. They think he deliberately got himself stuck in the underworld and we can bring him back,” I whipped up my head to narrow my eyes at her. “And don’t say you believe them.”
