Fire in the Darkness (38 page)

Simmons went straight and rigid. With a proper salute, he agreed. “Yes, my lady.”

Gazing over at Cal, I tilted my head waiting for him to respond. He huffed, “Yeah, yeah . . . whatever.”

“Thank you.”

Okay, now for the fun to really begin.

Pressing my ear against the wooden door, all I could hear were muffled sounds: pots banging, china clinking, and people talking.
Okay Em, now or never,
I said to myself, then reached for the handle of the door. Cracking the door an inch, my eye was the only thing exposed. An enormous kitchen lay out in front of me. On the farthest wall, which felt like half a soccer field away, was a stone fireplace. The opening was at least my height and four times as wide. There were racks and pots hanging off poles. Between the fireplace and me were endless tables, storage areas, and other culinary objects.

There were only three people in the kitchen cleaning up. They were all at the far end, but I had to be extra careful not to attract their attention. Going low, I slipped carefully through the slight opening and darted for the doorway closest to me, hiding behind tables as I went. With a sigh of relief, I got through the entry without detection. My relief was premature. Twenty soldiers stood with swords drawn and guns and arrows pointing at me. The man standing right in front was fueled with rage as he looked at me. His nose was red and blotchy, trying to heal itself from the damage I had bestowed on it a little while ago.

Oh crap.

“
Téigh trasna ort féin,
” the man barked roughly at me. It didn’t take a genius to know he had probably told me I needed to get very limber and intimate with myself.

“Back down, Quilliam,” a voice said from the back of the group. I knew the voice. Torin pushed through the horde of men, a haughty smile playing on his lips.

“Wow, your stench could be smelled all the way down the hall.” Torin waved his hand in front of his nose.

“What . . . ?” I stuttered.

“You smell, Ember.”

My lids constricted into a glare. “Traveling through a sewer will do that.”

“Yes. It will.” He tilted his head. “You should have entered through the front door. Save time and my senses. Either way, did you really think I would simply let you walk right in and take your family?”

Swallowing, I looked at the man who had promised me so many times he would protect me.

“I am the First Knight, the Queen’s knight. She will always come first with me; my loyalty is to her. Deceiving you was quite entertaining, though.” Torin strode forward, gloving his hands. I knew what it meant. Stepping back away from him, my body bumped into a solid form. Craning my neck I saw it was a man with a bruised neck, a lump on his temple, and a glare that could turn a person to stone.

Crap! Crap! Crap!

Guard number two clamped down on my shoulders. Torin pulled a pair of thin iron cuffs off his belt. “You aren’t known for your good behavior.” He slipped the handcuffs over my wrists. I was getting really tired of this cuffing business. My legs gave out as the iron weakened my powers. His arms gripped me firmly, holding me up. Not having strength to struggle against his hold, I let myself fall against him. When my iron levels started to even out, he placed me firmly on my feet.

Hatred spewed from my eyes. “This whole time you have been playing me?”

He shifted, crossing his arms. “You really made it a little too easy.”

“Sir, the Queen is requesting your presence in the Great Hall immediately.” A young guardsman stepped into the mass of men, looking directly at Torin.

Torin didn’t take his gloating eyes off me as he replied. “Thank you, Castien. Tell her we are coming presently.” With a nod, the boy turned and disappeared into the throng. “Let us go, Ember. We cannot keep Her Majesty waiting.”

TWENTY-SEVEN

The soldiers stepped aside as Torin escorted me down the hall. The men I had beaten up nailed me with a shoulder or a foot as I passed them, grumbling Gaelic insults in my ear. My fear kept me from feeling or hearing anything except my own heartbeat.

Guards standing at the door bowed respectfully to Torin, opening the door for us. He gave them a quick nod, his hand on my lower back, and pushed me forward. Twisting away from his touch only made him laugh. As we stepped into the room, I couldn’t hide the awe that flooded me. The Great Hall was exactly that. It was similar to the Throne Room where Torin and I had dreamscaped one time. This was the size of a football field and equally tall. Windows filled one entire side of the room, overlooking the brilliant blue lake below. Fire-encased bulbs dangled from the ceiling lighting up the space like thousands of glow worms. I took in everything, calculating and assessing.

“Well, Torin, it is about time. I was beginning to worry you let this loathsome creature slip through your fingers once more.” The Queen’s expression was lofty and beautiful. It took me a moment for my eyes to adjust to her beauty. She was so stunning and so ethereal that it was hard to take her in. Today she wore a gorgeous, one shouldered sheath dress that followed the contours of her thin body to the floor. The fabric was so thin and lacey her skin looked like it was inked with a delicate design appearing through the dress.

“I will not disappoint Your Majesty again.” Torin bowed his head, but she didn’t seem to notice, her eyes searing into me.

“I love when the prey plays so easily into my hands. Did you think Torin was on your side, my dear?” Her lips parted in a thin smile. “That he would go against me and help you?” A breezy laugh floated out of her as she stood up. Servants and guardsmen instantly rushed to her. Without moving her eyes off me, she waved her hand for them to back down and continued toward me. “He was using you this whole time. I told him to get close to you to win your trust and, like I imagined you would, you fell for it. We planned this, and the whole time you thought he was helping you. You are such a fool. He is mine and is faithful to me.”

My gaze snapped over to Torin. His jaw locked tightly, turning his cold, unemotional face toward mine. “Did you really think I had feelings for you? A Dae? You are revolting. My Queen needed you, and I will stop at nothing to please my Queen.”

An impish smile curved the Queen’s lips. “And he does know how to please me.”

“It was all a lie?”

“I found it laughable how easy you fell for it.” His sneer looked wrong on his face.

“Y-You are sickening.”

“No dear, you are the one who is nauseating. And your odor is even worse.” The Queen grimaced as she stepped closer. “Actually, it suits you.” She smiled cruelly. Gulping, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. She was stunning, powerful, and extremely scary. She was my height and, therefore, could look directly into my eyes. A strange cloud seemed to pass over her features as she assessed me.

Her hand reached up to my hair. I flinched back, but she didn’t seem to notice or care. For some reason I didn’t feel like she was really seeing me. Her hand slipped through my hair, softly rubbing one of my red streaks between her fingers. Her focus became even more distant. She was not here with me, but lost in some past memory I was not aware of. Keeping my eyes on her, I watched as her hand moved up, cupping my face. Vulnerability and an unbelievable sadness flooded her face.

She whispered something so softly I couldn’t make out what she said. There was something about the way she said it that made me react. My movement finally broke her trance. Her hand jerked away from my face and anger filled her body. Fury shot from her eyes, as she looked me up and down. “You are a disgrace to Fay blood,” her voice seethed. “You should not have lived. You took everything from me!”

A palpable energy saturated the room, making it hard to breathe. Her anger was so palpable I could feel it digging into my skin. Silent tension kept even a single breath from being released. The Queen looked around suddenly aware of being watched by her people. She snapped back into her usual cool, controlled demeanor. Taking a step back, she yelled, “Guards, take this
thing
down to the dungeon.” She swished her hand at me and pivoted, heading to her ruling seat.

“My Queen, permit me to take her down.” Torin took a step forward. “I feel the need to see this all the way through. I want the honor of locking up this atrocity myself.”

Turning back to face Torin, the Queen stared at him for a brief moment before a small, cruel smile hinted on her lips. “If it will make
my love
happy.” My stomach rolled at her words. Her tone had me feeling I was missing something.

“It will, my lady.”

“Then by all means take her,” the Queen replied.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Torin grabbed my arm as he gave another bow to the queen.

“Get away from me!” I screamed as I looked back at him. “Don’t touch me.”

“Like I want to.” Torin looked me up and down with revulsion. Hurt flushed through me. No matter what, I couldn’t stop his callous tone and gaze from ripping through me. Tugging me roughly by the arm, he quickly rushed me out of the hall. Neither of us spoke as he pulled me through the corridor, down the long descending stairs, and among the dark, dingy hallways leading to the dungeon.

Stopping at the door he abruptly turned me to him. With gloved hands he unlocked my irons, looping them back onto his belt. Then taking another key from his belt he opened the entry to the crypt. Rows and rows of cells lined the way, disappearing in the murky shadows. The heavy, wooden door creaked with weight as he pushed me through it. As soon as we were in, I whirled around to face him.

“Well . . .” Crossing my arms, I took in his stony expression. Slowly a grin turned up my mouth. “We did it.”

His features softened and suddenly I was in his arms, his warm lips kissing the top of my head. “I hated every minute of that.”

“Yeah, but it had to be this way. You said so.” I shifted under his embrace to look into his eyes. “Do you think she bought it?”

“Definitely. She would never dream I would betray her . . . and technically I did not. I told her of our plan. It was the truth.”

“Part truth. Thank God she did exactly what you thought she’d do.”

Our plan was based upon Torin knowing her so well that he could predict, down to the most minuscule aspect, how she’d react. Though I hated that he knew her so intimately, I couldn’t deny it had been extremely helpful in this case.

Turning, I looked at the tiny, cold cells lined up down the long corridor. Scatterings of dirty straw sparsely covered each cell floor. A set of chains hung off each of the back walls.

“Home sweet home,” I said dryly.

“Just for the night,” Torin replied. “We will have you, your dad, and friends out soon. I promise.”

I nodded, my eyes locked on the set of shackles.

“You trust me, right?” Torin’s gentle hands gripped my arms. “You know I’d do anything in my power for you.” He pulled me to him and his warm lips found mine in the dim corridor. My first instinct was to push him away, but he held me in tighter, his lips hot and passionate, consuming me with emotion. Like floodgates, all the emotion I kept locked inside—the hurt, the fear, the loneliness—came pouring out. I kissed him back with desperation and need. He was my only link to safety, to my family and friends, to my escape, to anything I knew. Passion and desperation are strong motivators. Heat sizzled in my veins as his mouth moved over mine. I longed to escape from this harsh reality, to let him help me forget Eli, to forget all my pain.

“Oh, this really is precious,” a voice tinkled out of the dark, full of saccharin. “Young love always is, but young love renders you stupid. You become careless . . .”

Torin and I sprung apart, whirling around to the shape emerging from the shadows. Queen Aneira stood behind us, followed by several soldiers. Her eyes on Torin.

“You are a fool. You thought you were being so careful, so meticulous with your little planned rendezvous with her. I knew you would hang yourself eventually; all I had to do was provide you with a little rope and be patient. In the meantime, you would lead me directly to her.” She continued to move forward, her gaze never leaving Torin. “My dear . . . how much you have hurt me. I have given you everything. Loved you.” Her voice held no emotion as she stepped up to him, her fingers gliding softly along his face.

Torin had become still as stone, jaw and emotions locked down hard.

“Nothing?” Aneira nettled him. With no response from Torin, she sighed. Her voice then turned icy. “Kill her.”

“No!” A protest immediately came from Torin. “Your Majesty, you don’t want to do that. Please, hear—”

“You. You of all people dare ask me for leniency?” She spit at him. Her face twisted into fury. “You, who betrayed me? I gave you everything . . . and you deceived me for this monster? How could you? Is it because you were promised to her years ago? This was not what was meant for you. You were promised to a true Fay, not this abomination. You were meant for me.”

“My Queen, you don’t understa—”

“Stop,” she demanded. Magic flared through the room, zeroing in on Torin. Pain and anguish distorted his features, bringing him to his knees under the pressure. “You have no rights anymore.”