Tressa's Treasures (The King's Jewel Book 1) (22 page)

When Shamus opened the door, Keelin descended the staircase in triumph, wearing a short, pale blue silk Cheongsam with yellow embroidery. Rosheen, still arguing, followed behind her.

"Shamus," I said, with an eye on my cousins. "I think Sophia should eat with you and JJ tonight."

Sophia skipped off toward the kitchen, delighted to escape the formal meal.

We took our seats at the table and exchanged greetings with everyone.

"Where's Gil?" I asked.

"He went out earlier," Keelin said. "He said to text him so he can meet us wherever we end up tonight."

Keelin's bubbly demeanor was in stark contrast to the identical yet sulking figure next to her.

"Keelin, how lovely you look in that dress," Connor said, fanning the girls' argument. "Don't you agree, Xander?"

Rosheen and I both glared at Connor. He knew that Alexander wouldn't have heard the twins arguing from outside. I didn't appreciate his attempt to walk Alexander into a trap.

"All the women look wonderful," Alexander said.

"Rosheen, I love your outfit. Is it your design?" I asked, trying to defuse Connor's teasing.

She brightened.

"No, but I have a new one upstairs I could wear."

"I would love to see it," I said.

Her temper now dispersed, Rosheen turned her attention to Matt. He was back to his old self—none of the bruising, swelling or the sling from the day before. He had even replaced his broken glasses. She beamed at him.

"Well you turned out to be a cutie. Why don't you come out with us tonight?"

"Oh aye," Keelin joined in, argument forgotten. "It’ll be fun."

Between the two of them, the twins cajoled Matt into joining us on our outing. They tried to do the same with Alexander but with less success. Alexander bowed out of the evening, citing Sophia and unfinished work as his reasons for staying home.

He kissed me before he gathered Sophia from the kitchen and headed home. Then Mamó retired to her room, saying goodnight just after Alexander left.

Rosheen ran upstairs to change, keeping the rest of us waiting for an hour before she came back down.

We rolled past
JR's
without going in; the twins pronounced it too small-town for their liking. I hadn't expected
JR's
to suit their needs, and I was happy to keep their frivolity away from my neighbors, even though leaving town would make it harder to get home at a reasonable hour. We drove on to Scranton in pursuit of a better place to party.

We arrived at a club the twins said Gilleagán had suggested. He stood at the entrance, waiting for us. He held my gaze as he lit a cigarette. I jerked when he flicked open his lighter, which was exactly what he had wanted. He smirked, pleased with himself.

Inside, the club was dark and gritty. Multicolored lasers shot through the darkness to the beat of music, which blared from all directions. Gilleagán led us around the crowded dance floor to a circular booth near the bar.

A server arrived as the six of us settled into the brown leather cushions.

"Shots all around," Gilleagán shouted into the server's ear, twirling his index finger to indicate the whole group.

I refused a second shot, and Matt switched to a cola for the third round.

"I'd better designate myself as the driver," he said.

After the others downed their third shot, we got up to dance. The music had a wonderful beat, although it drowned out the melody. I always enjoy the sensation of moving my body in rhythm with the music. The Sidhe are generally ardent dancers, and this time I wasn't the exception to the rule.

The crowd eventually jostled us apart, and I soon lost track of everyone. Looking around, I saw Matt dancing with the twins and enjoying their attention. Off in a corner, Gilleagán was huddled with a blonde woman—probably propositioning her.

The separation from my friends took some joy out of the dancing. The front of my head ached from the flashing lasers and the too-loud music. It seemed like a good time to go back to the booth.

I tried to step in that direction, but a wall of dancers made the way impassable. I turned, thinking to take a more circuitous route. Suddenly I had the odd sensation that people were closing in on me. The crowd condensed, blocking every direction.

My headache increased as my blood pressure rose. The pain interfered with my vision. I became more aggressive, not concerned with being polite anymore as I tried to push my way clear. I was trapped, and couldn't get free. I scanned the faces around me looking without success for someone I knew.

The lasers pulsated: red, orange and yellow lights illuminating the room with a blazing glow. The music screamed. My breathing became short and rapid; I thought I would hyperventilate. I pushed again, harder, but I still couldn't get out.

A hand reached in through the crowd and grabbed my wrist, pulling me forward. The crowd melted away.

I forced myself to take slow, deep breaths as relief surged through me. When my breathing returned to normal and my headache had subsided a bit, I was embarrassed to see that Connor held me in a close embrace. I stumbled as I stepped away from him.

"Are you okay?" The amusement in his expression seemed to mock my discomfort. It felt like a slap in the face, although I couldn't say he knew how distressed I had felt. The episode had been so strange... I had to wonder—had he hexed me?

"Dance with me, Jewels," he said.

The old nickname aggravated me even further. Over his shoulder I saw Matt heading toward us, so I bit back my retort.

"Matt, would you mind taking me home? I have a headache," I said.

"Sure thing." Matt looked over the crowd. "Should we say goodbye first?"

I followed his gaze. Keelin was spinning, the crowd spurring her on by counting her pirouettes.

"I find it's best to just slip out," I advised.

"How will they get home?"

I hesitated, wondering if I should explain flitting to him when an easy solution popped into my head.

"Gil will take them."

We passed Gilleagán on the way out of the club. He waved us over.

"You're leaving already?" he asked.

"Aye, it's late," I said. I had forgotten how much I hated evenings like this.

He snickered. "You haven't changed much, have you, Jewels?"

"Nor have you, big brother," I responded.

As I followed Matt to the car, I felt guilty for imposing on him when he had been having a good time.

"Mattie, I'm sorry to drag you away."

"Don't worry about it. It's late. My mother always said nothing good happens after midnight."

I barked out a surprised laugh.

"Your mother, clearly, is not a Sidhe."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I began closing the store earlier than usual. Without Holly to wait on customers, I had little time for my jewelry making. The shop wasn't as enjoyable if I couldn’t practice my craft.

I would leave early enough to freshen up before walking to the Manor House for dinner. Alexander went with me or not, depending on how late he returned from his excursions.

Sophia spent her days at the Manor House. The Sidhe in general couldn't resist children. Sophia, an exceptionally charming child, had us all enchanted. The twins played with her nearly every day when they first awoke. I had even seen Connor giving her lessons on playing the flute.

Sophia enjoyed her time with them; however, they tired her out quicker than the Pixies. After about a week with too much activity and attention, Sophia was overwrought.

Alexander and I decided a quiet evening at home was due. Alexander cooked while I helped Sophia bathe and get into her pajamas. He kept the meal simple: a hamburger and a salad. Sophia ate the burger with gusto and dawdled over the salad.

Later, she sat in my lap as I sang to her. I went through three of her favorite songs before she let sleep take her.

Alexander carried her to bed, quietly closing the door as he came out of the room. He returned to the living room grinning.

"Alone at last. It feels like we haven't had a minute alone since the first night the
will o' the wisps
arrived," he said. Alexander had taken up my grandmother's expression for her guests.

I patted the spot next to me on the sofa. When he sat, I snuggled into him.

"Tell me about your search," I invited.

"I keep finding pieces of River Rock, like bread crumbs, but I'm not convinced they're leading me anywhere. I’ve started going further north; the last spot we covered was near the New York State border. I think I'm too far out now, so I'm going to circle back."

"The journals aren't helping?"

"Brion described landmarks. He even sketched out small maps. If I could just find the right place and recognize one landmark, it should all be a breeze from there."

My cell phone rang.

"Who is it?" Alexander asked as I picked it up to look. Usually it was his phone interrupting us; mine rarely ever rang.

"It's the store phone." I showed him the caller ID on the face of my phone. I answered to the sound of weeping. It could only have been one person.

"Pix, are you okay?"

She took a while to find her voice.

"I came to the store, like you said I should."

"Stay right there. I'm coming." I met Alexander's eyes and he nodded.

"Do you want me to come?" he asked when I disconnected the call.

I shook my head and stood. "It will be faster if I flit."

"Will it be safe? What if he followed her?"

I waved off the threat.

"I'll flit to the back of the store and enter through the back door. No one will see me. He can't come into the store. Worst case, if I have to hold
Dominion
over him again, I will."

He got up to kiss me. "You'll be careful? Don't drain yourself too much."

"I won't. I promise."

He seemed satisfied with this. He walked me to the door.

"Call me if you need me. I'll get Shamus to stay with Sophia."

Once outside, I walked half a dozen steps as I willed the wind to gather me up. I flitted to the alley behind the store, arriving a second after the wind lifted me.

The alley was dark except for a security light that shone from the third floor of the building. After the breeze swept through, the air became unusually still.

I slipped my key into the deadbolt and unlocked the door that led into the storage room. I opened it slowly so I wouldn't frighten Holly if she were nearby.

The room was darker than the alley. I stepped inside.

"Pix?" I called as I moved further into the store. A strip of light shone from under the door of the break room. I opened the door, calling her name again.

Holly sat huddled in the corner on the floor. She covered her face with her hands. Her bent knees supported her elbows, limbs cradling her slightly rounded belly.

I rushed to kneel in front of her, heart pounding in my chest.

"Pix, are you okay?"

She didn't respond. She didn't move. I held my breath as I reached out to touch her shoulder. At last, with her hands still hiding her face, she spoke.

"I really thought he had changed this time." Her voice came out raspy and tear-soaked.

"I know you did, Pix. Look at me, honey."

She lifted her head. Her face was painful to see. Her left eye was black and swollen. The skin on her cheek from her nose to her ear was raw and red. A gash across that same cheekbone trickled blood. Finger shaped bruises covered her neck.

"He said the baby wasn't his." Tears spilled out of her good eye. "I think he would have killed me this time."

I privately agreed, but I knew better than to say so out loud.

"How did you get away from him?"

"I stabbed him with a steak knife. I don't think I hurt him too badly." Her breath caught in her throat. She swallowed painfully before continuing. "I never tried to fight back before. It startled him enough for me to get out of the house."

I didn't know what to do for the girl. She clearly needed medical attention, but was this something I could or should attempt on my own? I'd never laid hands on a pregnant fae, let alone a pregnant human.

And of course, there were the problems that would come with opening her eyes. Did I want to bring a pregnant woman into that mess?

A banging on the front door interrupted my thoughts. I tensed, thinking it might be Fred.

"That should be Matt," Holly told me. "I called him too."

I went to let him in.

A measure of relief showed in his eyes when he saw me. "Thank god you're here," he said.

"I don't know how helpful I can be," I whispered. He nodded, but I didn't think he was listening. He rushed toward the lit room and knelt, as I had, in front of Holly's balled up figure.