‘Rose will be fine in Sussurri,’ Vittoria assures me as if reading my thoughts. For all her faults, she wouldn’t lie to me, not about this. If Kinfolk lie to one another, there are harsh penalties to pay, and I’m sure my fiancée would never risk that. Especially as we never know what it might be as Court magic decides. The loss of her voice– or her magic? A visible mark of shame? She would never risk any of those, so my sister should be safe.
‘I’m sure she will,’ I say, and we exchange a look. She realises the significance as well as I do. Rose partying in a Riali-owned nightclub instead of being here is a giant ‘fuck you’ to our marriage. The two of them have never liked one another, and while I tend to agree with Rose’s opinions about Vittoria, our family has a lot to gain from this marriage going ahead.
Vittoria places a hand on my chest and leans in close to me and whispers, ‘But I expect you to make it up to me later.’ She nips at my ear with her teeth before sitting back and sliding a hand from my knee to my crotch. And if she notices that I’m already hard, she doesn’t comment on it. Thank fuck.
I text Sean to leave Rose be.
‘Well, I for one am looking forward to the big day,’ says Alec Carruth, changing the subject back to our wedding. ‘My father didn’t enjoy socialising, and I’ve kept myself hidden away in the darkest depths of Ayrshire for far too long, but now that I’ve seen what I’m missing, I’m looking forward to coming into the city far more.’
He gestures around the opulent room and Vincenzo preens. The Rialis have always been susceptible to flattery– it’s a flaw. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting Alec to attend. His lands lie south-west of Glasgow and until recently his father was the Kennard and showed no interest in making connections with the other Kinfolk.
‘Are you planning to wear white?’ Alec asks Vittoria.
‘Of course,’ she says sweetly, but her expression is tight and I hide my smile at the way he has managed to piss her off without giving her grounds for a challenge. ‘Everything will be very traditional,Alec.’
The way she says his name makes me certain he’s going to pay for that comment, but he’s smiling back at her, oblivious. I can’t bring myself to anticipate what my life is going to be like married to her.
‘It’s tragic, in a way, that the eight Kinfolk families of The Unseelie Court will reduce even further, but this way at least both our bloodlines will live on,’ Vincenzo says. ‘It’ll be a day to celebrate when your oldest son fully unites both families– although I hope that is a long time away.’
I’m sure he does, because he’ll be dead. Come to think of it, that would require my death, too. Let’s hope it is many, many years in the future.
‘So few Kinfolk females, nowadays,’ Vincenzo continues, shaking his head sadly. ‘The Blight took The Seelie Court in one fell swoop, but it’s killing The Unseelie Court just as surely.’
‘Like I said earlier,’ MacGowan puts in, ‘the pollution in the human world is having an effect. The Seelie Court thrived in the light, in fresh, clean air. We’ve only survived because of our links with the darkness, and even death.’
‘Oh, Thomas, you’re making it sound like a battle of good and evil,’ Carruth says, pouring his friend another glass.
‘It has certainly reduced the number of women born at all levels of society. Only two women in this generation. You’re fortunate Vittoria has chosen you, Cillian. Soon, only your sister, Rose, will be available.’
I clench my fists.
‘At least from your perspective, Cillian, it means there are potentially fewer rivals for the position of king in the future,’ Vincenzo says, laughing. ‘Although, I’m not planning on giving up my position anytime soon.’
In order to become king, a Kennard must marry the daughter of another– and there’s a growing fear that in thenext generation, no females will be born and every Kin of The Unseelie Court will die out– if the Blight doesn’t overcome it first.
‘Uncertainty doesn’t encourage anyone to breed,’ points out Thomas MacGowan. His family has always been a powerful one, working with metal to form weapons and ammunition. Their products are bought by both humans and Kinfolk, and perhaps one of the few universal truths is that everyone wants to be able to defend themselves– although it’s certainly convenient that those same weapons can also be used to attack.
‘Then we must work together to ensure stability,’ Vincenzo insists. ‘You two should set a good example and have as many children as possible, as soon as possible.’
I glance at Vittoria, but her face is unreadable. I struggle to imagine her as a mother, though I have few objections to the process of making her one. We’ve been lovers on and off for years, although ‘lovers’ seems too pleasant a term for it. We both know what we want and we both know how to get that from each other. No part of our relationship bears any resemblance to love.
‘Well, Cillian, we had expected Rose to be here, but we’ll give you your gift, anyway. Although it was really for the two of you,’ Vincenzo says.
Vittoria smiles, her eyes bright with excitement as her father gestures to a couple of his men.
‘You know, if your sister insists on being difficult, perhaps it’s time to marry her off, Cillian,’ Vincenzo adds. ‘There are a few possibilities for suitable husbands who should be able to keep her in line. Alec here is still young enough to marry her.’
I tense at the gall of this man, thinking that he can tell me what to do with my sister. I’ll be the one to take overhisKin. He gets no say in mine. And Rose will not be marrying a man twice her age.
‘I certainly wouldn’t mind taking her off your hands,’ Alec smarms. ‘She’s a pretty little thing. Feisty.’
Barely a second has passed before I’m out of my seat, my hand around the older man’s throat as I pin him against the nearest wall. Our chairs clatter to the floor behind us, echoing in the sudden silence.
‘No.’
‘Sorry, I’m sorry,’ he sputters, his hands gripping my wrists.
I let him go, stepping back and righting my chair before sitting back down. The room holds its breath as he brushes the front of his suit and sits back down– a little further away from me this time. Picking up his whisky tumbler and swallowing a mouthful, he stares at me. I stare back. The audacity. He’s already been married. He’s two decades older than her. How does he even think?—
