Marny (30 page)

“Well now, mortals.” The queen’s fearsome
midnight gaze settled upon them once more. “What a lovely offering
you three shall make. Alas, my preparations are not yet complete.
Until they are, I offer you the hospitality of my court.”

The watching fey folk laughed, a cacophony of
rasping and shrill mirth, overlaid with a silver ripple of
chimes.

“We’d rather just be going,” Nyx said. “Thank
you so very much for the offer.”

The queen winced a little at his words, but
simple thanks were not enough to wound so powerful a faerie.

“Nyx Spenser,” she said. “By your name I bind
you to my will. Look into my eyes, and know the enchantment of the
Realm.”

“Um, that’s a no,” he said, blinking
rapidly.

“Once I call you.” The Dark Queen reached out
a long-fingered hand. “Twice again, Nyx Spenser, for none can
resist my sway.”

Marny darted a panicked look at Nyx, who was
staring at the queen, his expression going slack. This time, he
didn’t make a sassy comeback.

“Stop looking at her,” Marny said.

She grabbed his hand and tried to make him
turn to face her, but he resisted, his gaze focused upon the
queen.

“Thrice I name thee, Nyx Spenser. And the
deed is done.” She set one finger under his chin, and he swayed
forward at her touch, his gaze unfocused.

“No!” Marny cried. “You can’t have him.”

The queen turned a searing look upon her. “I
grow weary of meddlesome mortal girls who think they can snatch
their presumed beloveds from me. This one is mine, and his sister
as well. But you, Mistress Marny, shall be the first
sacrifice.”

Oh, crap
. She was in deep trouble now.

And where the hell were the Feyguard? Wasn’t
this the very thing they were supposed to prevent from
happening?

“Bard Thomas.” The queen snapped her fingers,
purple sparks flying from her hand. “Take these humans to your
quarters and tend them well until I call for them.”

Expression strained, Thomas stepped forward.
“As you command, my queen.”

“Can’t you help us?” Marny asked him,
desperation squeezing her chest. She glanced at the bonfire, then
back to him, hoping he could read her mind.

Although she wasn’t going to use her talisman
and return home, not without Nyx and his sister, so what good would
it do to walk past the flames?

“I am sorry.” Thomas shook his head, his eyes
filled with sorrow. “I am bound to do the queen’s will, much as it
might pain me. Now come.”

Thomas took Emmie by the elbow and began
leading her away from the throne. Nyx turned and followed, moving
like he was half-asleep. For a moment, Marny hesitated. The knife
strapped to her leg burned in its hidden sheath, but without Nyx’s
help, there was no way the three of them could escape.

A cold wind stirred the branches of the oaks,
and despair settled over Marny like a black cloak, muffling her in
its folds.

“Mistress Marny,” Thomas said. “Follow.”

There was nothing else she could do, short of
throwing herself at the Dark Queen, which could only end in
disaster. Steps heavy, Marny went to join the others. They were
moving slowly, due to the enchantments laid on both Nyx and Emmie,
which let Marny catch up quickly, but also allowed the watching fey
folk plenty of time to jeer and chitter at them as they passed.

To her surprise, Thomas seemed to be veering
toward the bonfire. Maybe he’d gotten her message after all. Not
that it would help. Both Nyx and Emmie were zombies, and Marny
couldn’t save the three of them single-handedly.

Do something!
a frantic voice inside her insisted.
Before it’s too late.

But what?

She cast her mind back, trying to recall the
queen’s words. Something about meddlesome mortal girls saving
their—how had she put it? Presumed beloveds.

Swallowing hard, Marny glanced at Nyx walking
in front of her. Despite the thousand reasons why it was a bad
idea, she had to admit she was starting to fall in love with
him.

Was that the answer?

Ahead, the purple flames of the bonfire
leaped, smearing the air with violet light. She had to act.
Now.

“Nyx.” She caught his arm and tugged. “Nyx
Spenser, listen to me.”

He paused a moment, then kept walking.
Dammit.

She hurried ahead and blocked his way. The
eerie purple fire cast shadows flickering over his face. He tried
to sidestep her, but she spread her arms wide and pulled him into
her embrace. Thank goodness for her size and strength. Although he
struggled, she was able to hold him for long enough to lean forward
and whisper in his ear.

“Onyx Spenser,” she said. “I love you. Come
back to me. Please.”

He went rigid in her arms, but the look in
his eyes remained blank.

“Onyx,” she said. “Onyx.”

There was no sense of recognition in his
gaze. Desperately, Marny thought of all the faerie tales she’d ever
heard of.

Couldn’t evil spells be broken with a
kiss?

Desperate hope trembling through her, she
tilted her head and pressed her lips against Nyx’s, willing him to
respond. His mouth was cold and set, but a heartbeat later she felt
something change.

A shiver went through him, and his lips
warmed beneath hers. His arms went around her, and she felt as if
someone had just set off a firecracker inside her chest, a sudden
explosion of sound and light.

“No!” the Dark Queen cried. “Stop them.”

Cackling, the redcap goblins thronged
forward, first among the terrible creatures of the Dark Court.

Marny tore herself away from the kiss and
took Nyx by the shoulders. “Wake up—please.”

He blinked, and awareness returned to his
eyes. With one glance she saw him take in the clearing, the
approaching faeries, his sister. The bonfire.

“Go,” Marny said, giving him a little shove.
“Grab Emmie. I’ll buy you a couple seconds.”

She grabbed her knife, just in time to stop
the first surge of goblins. They drew up short at the sight of the
cold iron and hissed at her, baring sharp teeth. She thrust the
knife at them and slowly backed toward the fire.

From the corner of her eye she saw Nyx grab
his sister, then pull the talisman from his neck. Thankfully,
Thomas did nothing to stop him. She supposed the bard was trying to
help in whatever small way he could, without directly opposing the
queen.

“Ready,” Nyx called.

“Go—I’m coming.” The only problem was, she
couldn’t undo her bracelet.

The second she stopped waving her knife
around and tried to get her trinket off, the goblins would swamp
her. And if not them, the ogre who was clumping his way across the
clearing would finish the job.

Nyx had his hands full, too, holding his
sister and the talisman.

“Hurry,” he cried.

“Please, please, just go now! You have to get
Emmie to safety, or this was all for nothing.”

An agonized look crossed his face. Nyx
glanced at his sister, then at Marny. His eyes were stark with
emotion—fear and hope. And love.

Holding her gaze, he cast his talisman into
the heart of the purple flames.

The fire flared up, lighting the underside of
the towering oaks and throwing violet reflections into the goblins’
eyes. The queen rose from her throne and let out a cry of bitter
anger. Frost swept through the clearing and the flames faltered,
but it was too late.

Nyx and his sister were gone.

M
arny stumbled with relief, and the goblins surged
forward.

“No you don’t.” She tightened her grip on her
knife and waved it menacingly back and forth.

The goblins hissed and halted—closer than
before. Their red caps were the color of old blood, and their eyes
glittered with rage.

Stalemate, but only a temporary one. At least
Nyx had escaped, along with his sister. Marny’s heart squeezed
tight; she was glad he’d made it out, but terrified of what her own
fate might be.

The bonfire flickered weakly behind her, but
she couldn’t remove her bracelet. Even if she cut it off, the
moment’s inattention guaranteed that the goblins would swarm,
overwhelming her and snatching it away. What a stupid talisman it
had turned out to be.

Still, she wasn’t going down without a
fight.

“Take her,” the Dark Queen said, violet
sparks crackling from her hair. “We still have a mortal at our
disposal. This one cannot be allowed escape.”

Marny shot a look at Thomas, who remained
near the bonfire. He gave a nearly imperceptible shake of his head.
No help there.

The ground vibrated with the heavy tread of
the approaching ogre. Panic tightened Marny’s breath. Here she was,
a lone human girl armed with a small knife, against the creatures
of the Dark Court—including the queen herself. She was doomed.

“Tasty morsel,” the ogre said, staring at her
and licking his fleshy lips. “Hearty mouthful, that one.”

“No eating her,” the queen commanded. “She
must be saved for the tithe.”

Marny thought she might actually prefer being
devoured by an ogre to being the blood sacrifice used to open a
gateway between the worlds. She glanced at her blade. Turn it
against herself? That might be the best solution, in terms of
saving the world.

“Aieeee!” a shrill, raspy voice cried.

From across the court a small figure darted,
pasty-skinned and bulbous-eyed. It dived in front of the ogre, then
wove around the lumbering creature’s feet, confusing it so that it
swayed and halted.

“Korrigan!” Marny cried, gladness flaring
through her. At least she wouldn’t die totally alone and
friendless.

“Seize him.” The Dark Queen’s voice was cold
with displeasure.

The redcaps turned from menacing Marny and
focused their attention on the changeling. Such a foolish, brave
creature who dared interfere with the queen’s will.

The goblins were distracted, the ogre
stopped—this was her chance, and she owed it all to Korrigan.
Forcing back tears, Marny sliced the bracelet off her wrist.

“Korr—you are the best changeling ever!” she
cried.

Then she whirled and threw her talisman into
the fire.

Purple light flared and the Dark Court spun
before her eyes. She caught a glimpse of Korrigan, grinning
fiercely as he fought off a goblin, Thomas with the faintest of
smiles curving his lips, and the queen’s fathomless gaze, full of
winter and night.

An arcing pain sizzled through Marny, as if
she’d been struck by lightning, and everything went black.

Nyx groaned and opened his eyes. Afternoon
light slanted through dust motes high above him. The ceiling of the
warehouse swam into focus, and with it, the memory of what had just
happened.

“Marny!” He sat up, shook off the dizziness
trying to tip him over, and glanced around.

Emmie lay on the floor beside him, her eyes
closed. Fear spiking through him, Nyx scooted over to her and felt
for a pulse.

Alive, thank God.

Where was Marny? She should be coming through
any second—but there was no sign of her. He scanned the warehouse,
desperately hoping that she’d appear.

Time moves differently in
the Realm
, he reminded himself as the
seconds ticked past. He waited, heartbeat ratcheting up as a minute
went by, then two, and she still didn’t arrive.

Okay. He made himself take a deep breath. He
could deal with this, despite the panic scratching through his
brain.

First, wake Emmie up. By the time he got his
sister going, Marny would be back in the human world, right?

“Em.” He gently shook his sister’s shoulder.
“Hey, open your eyes.”

“Hmm?”

The sound of her voice made hot tears spring
to the corners of his eyes. Her eyelids fluttered open and she
blinked up at him.