“The issue at hand,” Devil said, finally moving to stand beside me, “is that someone is misusing the Arden’s magyk. An unknown person, close to Athenium’s royal family, has acquired the Archer’s Cup flower, and used it to enchant one of the Prince’s own daughters.”
There was a heavy silence, and Hippolyta appeared disturbed by the news, but Oberon calmly laced his fingers together beneath his chin before asking, “To what end?”
“Their aim was apparently to force her into an otherwise unwanted marriage, but I cannot yet say why,” Devil admitted. “If the culprit is human, it likely has nothing to do with us. Perhaps they bargained for a single flower. But if one of the Fair Folk is behind it…”
“The Arden might be at risk,” said Hippolyta.
“If the Prince begins to suspect his daughter is affected by faerie magyk, it could go poorly for us,” Simeon said to Oberon. “His eye has already been turned back to the Arden as of late.”
Devil nodded solemnly. “Lord, I need your permission to search for the flower’s antidote, that we might cure the poor girl of her…affliction.”
Oberon sighed and rubbed his short beard. “Very well. Puck, you will search for the antidote and work out a way to administer it. Simeon, I need your eyes and ears to monitor the situation and see it does not escalate. Hippolyta…”
“Yes, I know,” said the commander dryly. “Keep Titania out of it.” She put two fingers in her mouth and gave a sharp whistle. Over her shoulder, Primrose appeared, and Hippolyta cupped her hands around the tiny woman to give whispered instructions. Once she had her orders, Prim shot up in the air and did a loop before zooming back down to hover a few inches in front of Devil’s face. He turned his cheek so she could kiss it, then she was gone in a whir of feathers. When I looked back at the dais, Hippolyta had already vanished too.
“Cousin,” said Oberon, beckoning Antenor forward. “If your father can spare you a few weeks more, I would ask you to assist Simeon in his investigation. We must learn how the Archer’s Cup made it out of the Arden, and why.”
Antenor bowed at the waist. “It would be my honor, Lord. I will send a message back home immediately.”
“Adiscreetmessage, if you please,” Oberon said, and Antenor saluted by placing a closed fist over his heart. He then stretched out his great, bat-like wings and shot into the air, pulling himself up and disappearing through the dome’s oculus. The gust of wind he left behind threw my hair into disarray.
“Arrogant prick,” Devil muttered under his breath. Oberon stood again and nodded to Simeon, who bowed and left the stone circle too. Then, the faerie king raised an eyebrow.
“You have your instructions and are no longer needed here, Puck. If I have use of you, I will send a summons.” His tone was cold, his face hard as stone, and I couldn’t help but glance at Devil. Though he appeared impassive, his fingers were twisting behind his back, a small swarm of fireflies dancing around them. I felt the bizarre urge to take one of his hands, but before I could even quash the idea, he took one of mine and pressed a soft kiss to the back.
“Try not to miss me too desperately, Mayhem,” he whispered with a wink. He quickly left the stone circle, took the bow from his back, and unfurled his wings. Rather than give the impression that I was anxious about his departure, I turned back to Oberon before he took flight.
“Marina, please allow me to apologize again,” he said, descending the dais steps and holding out his hands. “I can only imagine how overwhelming this all must be.”
I dug my fingernails into my palms and tried to hold my chin up. “I came here to pay my debt, and was given the gift of knowing where I came from. I am grateful for that, if nothing else, my lord.”
“Please, no need for that.” Oberon shook his head. “I know we are not yet familiar, but…I…Ihope…” He trailed off and sighed again, hands folded in front of him.
The mantle of grief he wore was almost tangible. It was a heavy, hopeless thing, which I had seen before. Tuck wore it, so did Sissi, and many people in Nottingham—a shroud to match those covering their loved ones’ still bodies. My entire life, I had worn one too, woven from the grief of never knowing, and never belonging. Even the few answers I already had could not remove my shroud, however, merely change its color and weave. I would never truly know my parents, never have the opportunity to reclaim the life that had been taken from us. Butseeing Oberon, a stranger with whom I shared so many similarities, helped pull the shroud of grief back from my face. It was like breathing clean air again after a lifetime spent underground.
So, I held my hand out and said, “I hope too…”
Chapter twenty-three
Magyk & Mischief
Oberon took my handand pressed his forehead against it, then motioned for me to follow him. We walked around the dais and I nearly reached out, intending to touch the dripping branches, but thought better of it.
“Is that where all the Arden’s water flows to?” I asked him. “Does it go underground?”
Oberon threw a knowing smile over his shoulder. “Yes. This tree is sacred to Titania, so when she took the throne, it became the heart of the forest.” My tongue burned with questions, but he continued walking, heading for the opposite side of the enormous stone circle. I caught up and he slowed his pace, allowing us to walk side-by-side.
“Can I ask—”
“Anything,” he interjected. “You may ask any question you like, and I will do my best to answer.”
“What happened…when I was born? Why did you leave me at Locksley?”
Oberon took a moment to gather himself before speaking. “After you were born, your mother faded quickly, and your father was nowhere to be found. I swore to her that I would keep you safe, but I knew you could not stay in the Arden. As desperately as I wanted to, as much as it killed me to take you away, please understand, Marina. I had to do what was best for you. I knew Titania would blame our daughter’s death on two people: myself, and—”
“Henry…” I whispered. “Devil told me his name.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Devil?”
