Beautiful nightmares, p.34
Beautiful Nightmares, page 34
My nose wrinkled. “You really think God instrumented it so we’d meet the Rat King?”
For a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of Gil’s crooked smile. “Yeah, you’re right. Probably not,” he admitted.
I was about to laugh when his expression shifted again, this time to one of concentration. I followed Gil’s gaze down the tunnel and instantly spotted the figures that he must’ve sensed—there were three of them. Torches flickered on both sides of the tunnel and shone upon their unnerving beauty. I didn’t hold back a resigned sigh at the sight of Nuvian. He stood where the path widened, flanked by two Guardians I’d never met. Both of them had unsheathed their swords, and the glass-like edges shimmered in the firelight. Nuvian’s yellow dreadlocks hung free and framed his sharp face.
Laurie had halted a safe distance away. I came up behind him and stood so close I could’ve rested my hand on his back… then I caught a whiff of the smell stuck to his clothes, and the temptation to touch Laurie evaporated.
“Miss Sworn,” the queen’s Right Hand said, reclaiming my attention.
To faeries like him, dropping someone’s title was an insult. I pretended to gasp, and my hand flew to my chest. “Nuvian. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?”
“We haven’t received a formal invitation from Her Majesty,” Laurie interjected, his gaze darting downward before smoothly rising back to Nuvian’s. He’d seen the Guardian touch the hilt of his sword, too. “But we come with no ill will toward this Court. We simply seek an audience with Queen Viessa.”
“You seek to start a war,” the other faerie said, his remote expression at odds with the fury in his eyes. “Do you think we’re completely cut off from the outside world?”
“Yes,” I answered flatly.
Laurie rushed to speak again, but the corners of his mouth were tilted upward, and I knew that he was enjoying this. “So you’ve heard that I hosted Lady Sworn at the Seelie Court tonight, what of it?” he questioned. “That doesn’t make her your enemy. She’s still unclaimed. A sovereign nation, as it were.”
Nuvian’s nostrils flared now. “I will not have the bloodline heads questioning Queen Viessa’s loyalty to this Court. Your presence will cast doubt upon her, not to mention what the presence of a vampire will do.”
He glanced at Gil long enough to show a flash of disdain and hostility. Only a promise stopped me from bringing the faerie to his knees. For whatever it’s worth, you have my promise that I will never use my abilities on you again, I’d once told him. The words echoed through my head as I strove for control. Gil’s side of the bond was dim and quiet. Knowing Nuvian’s comment hadn’t hit its mark helped me control the dark power rumbling inside.
After a few seconds I said, raising my eyebrows, “You better let your queen decide that for herself, Nuvs. I may not know her as well as you do, but I do think Viessa would be unhappy to find out you turned her ally away. Her very powerful ally.”
Tension in the tunnel thickened. If Nuvian had hated me before, there was no word for the intensity of his loathing now. He knew we had him. The fae were brutal, at times even gruesome, but they followed the rules when it came to politics. Even Laurie.
As we waited for Nuvian’s response, the seconds thudding in my chest like a countdown, I watched a crafty gleam enter his eyes. And I knew, before he opened his mouth, that I wouldn’t like what came out of it.
Then Nuvian threw me off guard even more by saying, “Forgive me. You’re right, of course. We should go without delay. Queen Viessa is in the throne room.”
His demeanor was almost… cordial. It took me a moment to think of the word because it had never applied to Nuvian before. My mind raced to figure out what the catch was. Unsurprisingly, Laurie caught on before I did. “We humbly request a show of hospitality before we present ourselves, Sir Nuvian,” he demurred. “In our current state, we’re not fit company for a queen.”
“I agree, but there must be no more delay,” the other male said, sounding anything but regretful. “If you’re her welcome ally, as you claim, she’ll want to see you straightaway.”
With that, he turned on his heel and walked away. The others immediately moved into formation, their leather armor creaking into the stillness.
I gritted my teeth and started after them, knowing any arguments would be futile. Nuvian wanted to humiliate me for that little scene I’d made with the werewolves. Well, the joke was on him—I didn’t give a shit what any of these faeries thought, no pun intended. Yanking my half-frozen dress off the ground, I lifted my chin and walked faster. Laurie and Gil strode on either side of me.
The pace Nuvian set was so grueling that we reached the other side of the maze in a few minutes. More additions had been made to the Mural of Ulesse, I noted as we strode out of the passageway. New brushstrokes, spanning two walls that formed a corner to the far right of the door, depicted the battle between Viessa and Collith. The two faeries faced each other, arms thrown out, the air between them crackling with ice and fire. His face was hard and grim while hers was twisted in determination. Looking at them now, it seemed impossible that they’d once been lovers.
The image lingered on my mind as our small party walked through the wide, arched doorway.
I’d hoped to never step foot in this room again. The moment I was past the threshold, memories flew at me like a host of furious spirits. I heard a whip coming down, again and again. I felt the weight of that wooden crown land on my head. I saw the blood running from Jassin’s ears, nose, and eyes after I’d killed him. I watched Collith’s face change when he saw me at Viessa’s side the night I gave her his throne. So much fear. So much pain.
To distract myself, I turned my attention to every detail around us, like Finn or Lyari would. The crowd was larger than I thought it would be. Viessa must’ve been throwing a feast, or the fae were celebrating something. Everything was unexpectedly elegant, especially when compared to the first time I’d done this walk. A string quartet played in one corner, and the melody, amongst all the murmurs and tinkling laughter, was distinctly… merry.
Unnerved, I surveyed the clusters of figures surrounding an empty dance floor—I knew it was a dance floor, because the stone flagstones had been covered in perfectly smooth tiles that looked like ice—and pretended not to hear the distressed exclamation of a female who’d detected the stench rolling off my gown. The current style at Court seemed to involve a lot of brown fur, I saw with distaste. Dozens of courtiers wore pieces of it like shawls, and others had made it into dresses. It made an odd contrast with the refined wine glasses and champagne flutes many of them held in their long fingers.
At least Chandrelle and Tarragon look normal enough, I thought as I passed them. I searched for other council members I knew, like the Tongue, Eamon, or Yarrow, but they were curiously absent from this gathering.
It seemed news of our arrival was already spreading. Or, more likely, our foul smell had. Faces turned and wafts of fear filled the air. I half-expected the music to come to a screeching halt. Glad to see they haven’t forgotten me. I almost gave my old subjects a chipper wave and a smile, but then I heard Collith’s voice again, advising me to play nice.
Annoying, hypocritical, self-righteous asshole. Get out of my head.
A fae male, thinking my glare was meant for him, glared right back. His lip curled with contempt. Probably a Tralee or a Daenan, I thought. They hated my guts. The Sarwraeks and Cralynns weren’t my biggest fans, either. Even with Gil and Laurie behind me, I’d need to watch my back every second I was down here. Suddenly I was tempted to kick Laurie in the shin for getting me into this.
I looked away from the sneering faerie and finished my perusal of the room, still following Nuvian. The buffet table was back, its edges decorated in wreaths and silver ribbon. From this vantage point, I could see cooked turkeys, cakes, and platters covered in silver lids. Christmas trees had been placed sporadically around the perimeter of the space, glittering ornaments tucked amongst the green needles. Guardians also lined the walls, and several stood near the enormous pillars holding the ceiling up. I didn’t see Lyari among them. Disappointed, I focused on the front of the room, where the Unseelie Queen sat waiting for us.
Freedom and food had done Viessa Folduin wonders. She’d also dedicated efforts to changing the dais itself, and the image she presented on that throne. More Christmas trees, more filmy drapery, more plants. Several figures stood behind her, dressed in gossamer clothing of white and silver. The colors perfectly complemented Viessa’s frosty appearance. Ladies-in-waiting, I thought. Most were human, from what I could tell, but there was also a faerie or two.
As for what the queen wore, it was a gown Laurie would’ve chosen for me, if I’d been the one still sitting there. Her front was covered in delicate white lace, allowing generous peeks of the bare skin beneath. A filmy skirt flared against the base of both armrests, glimmering like the surface of a pearl. Viessa’s red hair, which looked brighter than the last time I’d seen it, had been twisted into a simple chignon. It highlighted the complex beauty of her crown. Despite this, I couldn’t help feeling like her ensemble was missing something. But I couldn’t put my finger on it, and I was no Laurie, so I dismissed the thought.
My gaze lowered to take note of the white tiger resting at Viessa’s feet. It was unchained, and its sides were round, as if the animal had recently fed. Its fur gleamed and those black, wicked-looking claws looked as though they’d been manicured. Had Viessa seriously purchased a tiger for an aesthetic flair? I bit my tongue to stop the question from coming out.
Saving me, she spoke a moment later, her voice carrying dramatically through the drafty space. “Welcome back to the Unseelie Court, Fortuna Sworn. Conqueror of the Leviathan, Challenger of the Fearless, and Slayer of the Undead. It’s good to see you again, friend.”
“Good to see you, too,” I replied, my lips twitching. So this was Viessa’s move—using me just as Collith had. Holding me up as a potential threat against those who opposed her rule. Better not bite me, or I’ll sic my pet Nightmare on you.
Once we were nearly upon the dais, the queen rose to her feet. Her earrings glittered like two small stars. “Allow me to show you to the guest quarters. Nuvian should have done it upon your arrival, and for that, I apologize.”
I had to give her credit—she was a good actress. Genuinely good. As Viessa floated down the steps and glided across the floor, the enormous tiger trailing after her like a housecat, the smile she gave me emanated warmth. Even I struggled not to believe it. Without acknowledging Nuvian, Viessa reached me and linked our arms together. I managed not to shiver at the touch of her freezing skin.
“Try not to look so surprised,” she said out of the corner of her mouth, propelling us forward. Her perfume teased my senses, combined with the scent of frost. It made the smell sharper, somehow. Like a rose with frozen edges. Viessa directed her pale eyes at the band and urged the wary-looking musicians, “Play, play! Please, everyone, go back to enjoying the party. I will return shortly.”
A violinist hurried to obey, and the voice of his instrument wavered into the stillness. Hearing it, the others resumed their playing, too. Viessa and I were halfway to a small doorway when someone called after us, “She should be questioned!”
Viessa stopped short, forcing the Guardians around us to do the same. It was almost comical how everyone turned at once.
The speaker was none other than Lord Micah. Surprisingly, he hadn’t conformed to the fur fiasco, and his olive skin stood out strikingly against the white dress shirt he wore. My reaction to seeing him was identical to how I’d felt meeting Nuvian in the passageway, but this time I swallowed the sigh.
Viessa, on the other hand, did nothing to hide her irritation—icicles grew from her fingertips like long, deadly claws. The faerie lord ignored this and held his dark head high. I am not afraid of you, the gesture said.
“Did you say something, Micah of bloodline Shadi?” Viessa asked after a tense pause.
“Someone is murdering council members, Your Majesty, and Fortuna Sworn has made multiple threats against this Court. Publicly, I might add.” Micah shot a jeer at me, and a fresh surge of dislike went through my veins. I didn’t miss having to deal with this faerie. Maybe I should finally kill him, now that I was no longer obligated to let him live. Or maybe I should just let this mysterious vigilante continue their work. Sooner or later, Micah would be on the hit list, if he wasn’t already.
I was still considering the possibility when Viessa asked, “Do you need to be reminded, yet again, that the council has been disbanded? Because I tire of these reminders, Lord Micah.”
Silence swelled in every part of the room.
I kept my eyes on Micah, my instincts as a Nightmare perking. He was afraid of her, I realized suddenly. As the Unseelie Queen waited for a response, the temperature around us dropping, I saw his throat move. It was barely perceptible, but something told me that was only due to his centuries of courtier experience. What had Viessa done to elicit such fear?
“No. I am not speaking as a council member, Queen Viessa,” Micah answered at last. His high cheekbones had reddened. “I’m merely saying that before we welcome the Nightmare with open arms, an investigation should be conducted.”
Viessa allowed one more pause to thicken between them. The air seemed to crackle with hostility and clashing power. None of that showed in Viessa’s voice, though. “The next time you decide to question my decisions,” she said, “I will have one of my Guardians cut your tongue out. Enjoy your evening, Lord Micah.”
The tiger padded after us again. We hastened through the side door, brushing past two armored faeries standing on either side of it. There were already more of them waiting within the passageway, of course. The moment there was enough room, the fae warriors planted themselves ahead and behind Viessa, and consequently, me. I felt my shoulders physically tensing, and I forced the tightness back out, exhaling under my breath.
I didn’t miss that, either—the Guardians. Constantly feeling watched, hounded, judged. Whatever guilt I’d been feeling about abandoning the Court to Viessa was overpowered by my relief, and now I really didn’t regret the choice I had made.
Something bumped the back of my leg. When I saw it was the tiger, my heart launched like a rocket, and I fought the urge to run.
“Oh, don’t mind Paul,” Viessa said, noticing the exchange. There was affection in the way she looked back at the enormous animal.
“You named your tiger Paul?”
Viessa didn’t appreciate my tone; she shot me an irritated glance. “I can see you disapprove. I suppose I can’t fully claim innocence, since he is a pet, after all, and wild animals shouldn’t be treated as such. Would it make any difference to know the life I’ve given him is truly the best alternative? Paul was born in captivity, and by the time we met, he was too old to be released into the wild. To make matters worse, the witch selling him cast a spell to make the sale more enticing. She advertised what she’d done on a cardboard sign—wrote it in black marker. I’m not sure why that’s always bothered me.”
Her voice had gone quiet with remembrance. I peered back at the cat again, telling myself that I had too many questions to ask the Unseelie Queen. I didn’t have any energy to spare on chitchat.
“What was the spell?” I asked. Okay, I’d admit it. I was invested in Paul the fucking tiger now.
The corners of Viessa’s mouth deepened, not out of humor, but sorrow. “It was a binding drenched in docility. He’s unable to attack anyone. He struggles to consume meat. He even has an aversion to using his teeth. All those beautiful, ferocious instincts silenced forever. Out there, Paul would starve. I’ve paid dozens of witches to try reversing it, but every one of them says the same thing. The spell can only be undone by the one who originally created it.”
“Let me guess,” I said softly. “She’s dead.”
She nodded. “It took my investigator a year to find her, but by then, it was too late. The medical report said her heart had given out. I suspect it was an effect of all the black magic. You’re familiar with tragic stories, of course. It’s easy to forget that about you, since you’re one of the strongest creatures I’ve ever met. Godly, really. I get incredibly jealous sometimes.”
Her voice was matter-of-fact. The compliment took me off guard, and I faltered. I cleared my throat. “Thanks. So what did you do that made Micah so—”
“Viessa.”
Nuvian’s came from behind, making me jump. He’d been silent for so long, and I’d gotten so absorbed by Paul’s story, that I had started to forget he was there. Or anyone else, for that matter. Viessa just let out another sigh and stopped. I followed the queen’s gaze to her brother, who’d halted in the middle of the path.
“Yes?” she said, visibly striving for patience.
Viessa wasn’t the only one. Nuvian’s words were clipped, his expression dark as a stormcloud. “A word with you, please.”
She sighed again, but this time it was through her nostrils. In the brief time it took to do this, a girl appeared through the wall of muscled faeries. I felt Gil go rigid, a dead giveaway that she was human. I’d learned things from the echoes of his hunger, one of which being how potent mortal blood was. There was something more urgent about it. More vital.
Why was she here?
This mortal didn’t look prepared to defend herself against a vampire in the grips of bloodlust. She wasn’t frail or cowering, but her fear tasted like pepper and wariness lived in her eyes. Her clothes looked more suited for an office than a den of vipers. Was she a visitor to the Unseelie Court? A… friend of Nuvian and Viessa’s?
My questions were irrelevant right now. I monitored Gil, worried this was the moment he lost control. Viessa addressed the girl in a far kinder tone than the one she’d used with Nuvian. “Rachel, show our guests to their rooms,” she instructed.
When I saw the girl bow, my uncertainty vanished. All at once, my power rushed to the surface, crackling just beneath my skin. Sensing something was amiss, the girl fumbled over her response. “Of c-course, Your Majesty.”
