Chapter 40

“Ye little prick,” I yelled, slamming Simeon against the wall, and pinned him there. “Ye left Avery alone after ye knew there was danger.”

His violet eyes widened in shock. “Danger is everywhere, Darrius. You of all Fae should know that.”

I pressed my forearm against his throat, my lips curled into a sneer. “Aye. And I also know that idiots like ye get people killed. Trust no one has always been my motto, but I made an exception for you and Malcolm.” I leaned forward, ensuring he could feel the rage woven into my words. “If I catch ye leaving Avery alone again, I’ll rip out yer balls and stuff them down yer throat.” I lowered my arm and he leaned over coughing.

“She’s a Fae assassin,” he said, brushing his sliver hair off his brow, “she can defend herself. Why does it matter that I left her alone when she was sleeping?”

I straightened. Could he be that blind or deaf? Surely by now Varaux had told all the brownies in the palace, who had chattered to all the servants and kitchen staff. The gossip had to be buzzing around to everyone in the whole damn place. Still, he looked at me like I was the one who was daft.

“A shadow kin attacked Avery in the castle.”

He paled and wrapped his arms around his side, wincing. “I-Is she all right?”

“I’ve got Varaux watching her in my chambers.” I lowered my voice. “She almost died this morning, Simeon, and her blood would be on yer hands if she had.”

“I-I didn’t know…I thought she’d be…”

“Time for assumptions is over, Simeon. I know if Malcolm were here, he’d want to coddle ye like he always did growing up. Trying to shield ye from anything bad. The days of thinking we’ve no enemy are long gone. They’ve banged at our doorstep for years and now they’re in our bloody home. Nowhere is safe.”

“Where is Malcolm?” Simeon once again looking for the buffer between me and him. “He was supposed to return from the bar early this morning.”

“Tell him I want a word with him as soon he returns.” No longer would I allow Malcolm to shelter our cousin and his whimsical ideas about all the Fae living in harmony. Too many dark Fae with malice pumping in their veins for that. I turned on my heel before I started punching something, which would end up being Simeon as we were the only two in the hallway. “I’m getting breakfast for me and Avery.”

I clenched my fists and marched to the kitchen. There, the cooks were elbow-deep in flour and kneading dough. The aroma of baking bread filled the air along with an undercurrent of muskiness. An older woman was cleansing the floor where the creature had been with sage smoke.

Good. Before this they’d have washed the stones with blessed Fae water, then dried them with fans made of goose feathers before singing to the stones an ancient Fae blessing until any magic-using Fae could detect no shadow kin residue, then they’d smudge the area as they were doing now.

“Need two plates and waters for me and the queen,” I said, unable to keep the pride out of my voice. Ever since I was a little boy, I’d dreamed of finding the missing Fae princess. Wonder what Avery would think of that tidbit about me? My smile broadened and I couldn’t stop my chest from puffing out a bit.

“Of course, me lord.” One of the cooks wiped her hands on her apron and settled a braided ring of bread dipped in sugar and honey onto a plate, then did the same with another.

“Water will be brought to yer chambers right away, sir.” She dipped into a curtsy, her red hair spilling out the sides of her white kerchief. “We’ve got to fetch it from the wells, the boy who gets it is missing this morn’.”

My insides turned cold. “He’s gone?”

“Aye, but don’t worry about him, sir. He often oversleeps and he ate all the berries in the larder last night, so I’d not doubt if he has a tummy ache.”

I nodded. “Send someone to check on the lad and then inform me of how he is.” Shadow kin loved to feast on innocents, and I had to be certain this boy was okay. I picked up the plates, even though I didn’t feel like eating all of a sudden, and carried them down the hallway toward my chambers. Avery didn’t need to know about this. Not yet. Not until there was something substantial.

At my chamber door, I kicked it open with my foot, balancing the dishes on each hand. “Hope ye’re hungry, these are still warm.”

My voice echoed through the empty room. No Avery. And no ‘effin brownie.

“Varaux! Show ye’rself now.”

He popped in front of me, guilt wading in his murky brown eyes.

“Where’s Avery?”

“S-She was here when I left.” He dry-washed his hands, backing away from me. “I was only gone a few minutes, I swear.”

A sick feeling dove into the pit of my stomach. I dropped the plates. The pottery smashed on the stone floor as I spun and ran.

“Avery!”

Please let me find her in time. Fae pressed themselves against the walls as I ran past them shouting her name. No response. My heart thumped at the back of my throat. My breathing was hard and raspy.

“Have you seen Avery?” I snatched an elder servant who was dusting cobwebs off chandeliers in the archway. More clung to his white head than the rag he was holding.

He blanched and I dropped my hands. “No, sir, not since yesterday.”

“Avery,” my voice boomed, and the man jumped. I kept going. I had to find her. Panic choked me, clawing its fingers through every cell of my being.

I skidded to a stop outside the weapons chamber. She’d have gone in here before anywhere else, I was sure of it.

With bile burning the back of my throat, I pushed the door open. She lay face up, her eyes closed, and my heart gave a little skip that maybe she was meditating like the humans she’d been raised with. But then I noticed the dark pool of blood around her head.

“Avery.” I rushed forward, kneeling next to her. My hand trembled as I touched her cheek. Her skin was cool to the touch, her breathing ragged. I shook with horror and rage. My throat nearly swelled shut. She was still alive. I admonished myself not to give up hope. Not to fade away into the wrenching despair like I’d done so many years ago. The grief that left me hollow inside for years and still gutted me every time I thought of that moment.

I still had time. I could fix this.

Healing. She needed a healer.

“Helga,” I shouted against my raw throat and prayed for the first time in my life for a miracle.