The Seven Year King (The Faerie Ring #3) (10 page)

Behind them, Tiki heard a slow murmur building, like a wave growing as it drew near to shore. She glanced behind her and was alarmed to see that a number of goblins had gathered and watched them with what appeared to be a combination of anger and curiosity. Were they reacting to the presence of the Macanna? Unseen to a mortal eye, it was obvious the goblins could see the other faeries. These men immediately caught one’s eye, with their wild hair, bulging muscles and bevy of weapons that hung from their belts.

“Yes, well, thank you for checking on me, but as you can see, I’m quite fine and I’ll be returning home shortly. No need for you to stay.”

“Perhaps you haven’t heard, Majesty?”

“Heard what?” Rieker asked.

Callan’s eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly and his nostrils flared as if he could smell a foul odor as he faced Rieker. There was an underlying antagonism in his manner that Tiki didn’t understand. “It’s the
liche.
He’s been spotted in London. In the vicinity of Grosvenor Square.”

Chapter Thirteen

T
iki’s heart plummeted into her boots. “Where?” Clara and Toots were unguarded back at Number Six. Could the
liche
be headed there?

“Majesty!”

Tiki jerked around to see who had called her. At her movement, a cry erupted from the group of goblins watching them. Whispers and hisses exploded at the same time crooked fingers pointed their way.

“I told you that’s what he called the boy!”

“Is it a boy or a girl? It must be a girl if she’s queen.”

“What could
she
be queen of?”

“Why is she dressed like that?”

“Who is she with?”

“Do you think she’s spying on us?”

Their heated whispers and grumbles sounded like an approaching thunder storm.

“Majesty,” Callan said in a low voice, moving to stand between Tiki and the group, “we should go now. Goblins are an unpredictable lot.”

“Teek,” Rieker murmured, “we should listen to them.”

“Yes,” Tiki said, “I think you might be right.”

Fiona’s eyes were round moons in her face as she looked from Rieker to Tiki. “Have you two gone mad? What are you on about?” Her eyes got even wider as she looked at something over Tiki’s shoulder.

Tiki reached for Fi’s hand. “I’ll explain when we get home. I want you to know we did talk to one of these…er… men…” she tilted her head toward the goblins, “about the cup and he said it’s not here. These aren’t the ones who have it.”

With a squeal of fright, Fiona darted behind Rieker and clutched at the back of his coat, hiding.

“Fi.” Tiki’s jaw dropped in surprise. “What’s wrong?”

Rieker tried to glance back over his shoulder, then lifted an arm, twisting, trying to see Fiona behind him.

Fiona pointed a shaking finger.

Tiki turned on her heel to see a tall, well-dressed man approaching. He wore a top hat cocked over his black hair and he was swathed in a long black coat that swirled about his knees as he strode through the market, oblivious to the succulent fruit displayed around him. The goblins had become aware of him too, some scuttling to the far side of their carts as he passed. Like a flame that had been snuffed, the cries of the goblins and the music of the market became muted.

Tiki’s heart clanged a warning in her chest.

Rieker straightened, eyeing the man with a frown. “Who do you suppose that is?”

“It’s the man who took Johnny,” Fiona cried in a strangled whisper.

“It’s the
liche
,” Callan said in a grim voice.

Tiki swayed on her feet, her breath hitching as though her throat had suddenly become constricted. The dapper gentleman walking toward them was the
liche?
How was it possible? He didn’t look anything like the monster Tiki had imagined. In fact, he looked quite the opposite. Some of the costermongers in Covent Garden were more frightening to gaze upon than this man.

“Fiona…” His voice carried toward them, not as if the words floated on the wind, but as if they
were
the wind. “There you are, my dear. I’ve been looking for you since we last met in Hyde Park.”

Tiki froze. There was something so elemental—so disturbing in the timbre of his voice—like death coated in sugar. In a rush of insight she realized the
liche
had been near Grosvenor Square not because he’d been looking for Clara or Toots or even herself—he’d been there looking for Fiona. Had she and Rieker led him straight to the girl?

“Don’t let him take me,” Fiona cried, as she huddled behind Rieker.

“We should leave, Majesty,” Callan said in an urgent tone. “Don’t let him get too close.”

Tiki’s mind raced. This attractive man, who appeared to be an upper-class gentleman, was the creature who had taken Johnny and injured him so gravely he lay dying in the Otherworld. He was the killer who had murdered five people of which they knew, including a sixteen year-old girl, and had cut out their hearts. He was the murderer of the Seelie King. He was the creature to whom Donegal intended to feed Dain’s heart—and now he was after Fiona. What power could she draw upon to stop this madman?

“We need to fight,” Tiki said in a low voice, clenching her fists by her sides.

“No, Majesty,” Callan cried, taking a step closer. “Their magic is different than ours—it isn’t simply a battle of wits or controlling the weather…”

“I can smell your sweet skin from here, Fiona…” The man’s voice was silk—undulating, mesmerizing. “Come to me…” He stopped ten feet away and held a hand out. “Come to me now….”

Fiona peeked from behind Rieker’s back. She slowly straightened. The fear that had twisted her features seconds ago had been replaced with complacency—she moved as though she were in a daze. To Tiki’s horror, she stepped from behind Rieker as if she intended to walk over to the man.

“No!” Tiki jumped in front of Fiona and stretched her arms wide to stop the other girl from moving forward. “You can’t have her,” she shouted.

The man snarled and for a second Tiki swore his eyes glowed red and become slitted like a cat’s.

“Get out of my way, urchin boy. You’re not part of this.”

Fear was so heavy in Tiki’s chest she could barely breathe, but anger made her voice strong.
“I AM part of this and you will not—”

The blow hit her from the side, knocking her off her feet. Strong arms wrapped around her waist and everything around her began to shimmer. At the last second, Tiki reached out and grabbed Fiona’s wrist.

THEY LANDED INSIDE the Palace of Mirrors in a room Tiki had never seen before. Though the soaring walls were white, intricate gold trim glittered from every inch of the walls and ceiling, making the room appear to have been spun from gold.

Callan’s strong arms braced Tiki’s fall as their momentum carried them forward upon their arrival. With no one to catch her, Fiona sprawled awkwardly on the floor, landing on her side with a painful
thump
. Before Tiki had time to react, Rieker and the other two Macanna arrived, as well.

Tiki jumped to her feet and jerked around to face Callan. “How dare you! What right do you have to treat me like that?”

“Majesty.” Callan bowed his head, several braids of his brown hair falling forward. “I apologize, but you were in grave danger. The
liche
has powers that could harm you, and I couldn’t take that chance.”

She propped her hands on her hips and glared at the huge man. “What powers?”

“Mind control, for one.” Callan motioned toward Fiona. “Did you not see your friend’s reaction? It’s why the
liche
targets young girls. They are the easiest to bend to his will.”

“Teek.” Rieker’s voice had a calming influence on Tiki. He stepped close and ran his hand down the back of her arm. The three Macanna shifted their positions and glanced at each other, unsmiling. “Remember what you said the Dryads told you and Dain? To kill the liche you have to burn his body on a stake of Ash. I don’t know what that means, but we weren’t in the best position to defend ourselves there. We didn’t even know what we were up against, plus, we were surrounded by goblins who didn’t sound too friendly.” His voice softened. “The first rule of war is to know your enemy.”

Tiki hesitated, her anger melting away. Rieker was right. She couldn’t just go barging forward against magic she didn’t understand. Especially when she didn’t even know what she was capable of doing herself.

“You’re right.” She glanced over at Callan. “I’m sorry. You did the right thing. Thank you.”

The relief in the room was palpable. All three of the Macanna visibly relaxed and a broad smile broke across Callan’s face. “It is my job, Majesty.”

“Where are we?” Fiona sat on the floor gazing around the opulent room with her mouth ajar.

Tiki whirled toward the girl. She hadn’t had time to process the fact that she’d brought Fiona into the Otherworld.

Fiona looked up at Tiki, comprehension dawning in her eyes. “We’re here, aren’t we?” She pushed herself to her feet, her voice becoming more excited. “We’re in Faerie.” There was a note of awe in her voice. She raced to Tiki and grabbed both her hands. “I want to go see Johnny, right now!”

Chapter Fourteen

“I
thought that was you I heard.” Larkin marched into the room, her golden hair swirling about her hips. Her gaze raked over Tiki. “And dressed to impress, I see.” She curled her nose in distaste. “You’re back sooner than I thought. Did you miss me?” She bit the corner of her lip and batted her lashes at Tiki in a coy expression.

“Hardly,” Tiki muttered, releasing her dark hair from her cap.

“Ah, guttersnipe, you’ll come to love me one day.” Larkin’s striking blue-green eyes narrowed as she spied Fiona. “You’ve brought more of your little rag-tag band of thieves here?” She planted a hand on her hip and cocked her head at Tiki. “Or perhaps you’ve come to your senses and realized she is the bait we need to lure the
liche
to us?”

“Bait?” Fiona echoed, looking from Larkin to Tiki.

“Don’t start on that again, Larkin,” Tiki snapped. “I’m not in the mood for your twisted humor.” She hardly drew a breath. “We want to see Johnny, the boy the
liche
brought here when he ran from Hyde Park. Where is he?”

“In the zagishire, of course.” She crossed her arms and gave them an appraising gaze. “Are you sure you want to see him? He is very sick.”

“Yes.” Tiki and Fiona spoke at the same time.

“Very well.” She motioned toward the Macanna who stood at attention nearby. “Callan or Toran can take you. After you see the dying mortal I need to speak to you about some other matters.”

“Dying?” Fiona squeaked.

“Larkin, could you be civil for once?” Rieker said in a disgusted voice.

Larkin lifted her chin in an arrogant fashion. “The truth is the truth, William. One grows stronger facing the facts rather than living in a world of make-believe.” She swept toward the door. “A hard lesson for some, but necessary.” She paused, a breathtaking snapshot of beauty and elegance. “A lesson I fear you’re soon going to have to learn for yourself.”

There was a note in the faerie’s voice that Tiki struggled to define. Could it be regret?