The Seven Year King (The Faerie Ring #3) (32 page)

“How did you get in here?” Rieker asked, feinting toward the man, forcing him to dodge the blow.

“Your butler was kind enough to invite me in to wait, once he learned I had important news for you from the Palace.” The
liche
grinned. “I didn’t mention
which
palace, of course.”

“Why did you kill him?”

“He was in my way, just as you are. When I finish with you, I’m going to take your friend away with me. You’ll never know what’s become of your lover…” his manic laugh echoed down the hallway.

It was all Tiki could do not to run from the room and attack the
liche
herself. How dare something so depraved speak of an emotion like love? He could never understand the depth of feeling that would inspire one to give their own life for another.

She dropped to her knees before the flames and yanked the cork stopper from the bottle. Shaking the strands of hair into her open palm, she shuddered as they touched her skin. With trembling fingers she pinched the black strands and balanced them carefully on the T-shaped portion of the stiletto-like limb.

When she’d seen the movement of the
liche’s
hair, she’d finally understood what the dryad had meant: she didn’t need to stab the liche with a branch of Ash—she needed to burn him on it. Literally. She held her breath as she slowly moved the limb and strands of hair into the flames.

A wild scream of pain erupted in the hallway.

“Stop!” The
liche
shrieked. “STOP! What are you
doing
?”

Tiki dug her teeth into her lower lip as she watched the flames lick and dance around the branch. “Hurry,” she whispered. “Hurry, hurry, hurry.”

From the hallway a terrible growl erupted that turned into a roar of terror, horror and excruciating pain. The horrendous noise echoed and grew louder and louder, filling the room until it seemed the windows might blow out with the pressure.

Propping the stick against the grate so it continued to burn within the flames, Tiki pushed off the floor and ran for the door. Her heart leaped with relief as she spotted Rieker still standing in the hallway. She raced toward him and slid to a stop next to his side.

Before him, the
liche
was on his knees writhing in pain. Steam rose from his head where his hair had dissolved into a bubbling mass. His face was melting like candle wax.

“NO!” he cried, “
STOP
!”

As they watched, his clothes caught fire and he imploded into flames. In a macabre echo of Tiki’s cry upon seeing Charles’ dead body, he screamed, “
You wicked girl—what have you DONE?”

Chapter Forty-Three

T
iki shuddered as the
liche’s
screams seemed to linger in the hallway long after the last of him had turned to ash. Convinced that he was no more, she rushed for the stairs.

“I’ve got to check for the children,” Tiki called over her shoulder as she sprinted away. “Clara! Toots! Shamus! Are you here?”

“Wait for me,” Rieker called, as he hurried behind her.

Tiki could barely breathe as she ran from one room to the next, fearful of what she might find, but even more fearful of not looking.

They found the note in Rieker’s study. She snatched up the page and opened it with trembling hands.

“What does it say?” Rieker asked, moving to look over her shoulder.

“It’s from Leo. He and Arthur came and got the children. Even the Bosworth’s, Geoffrey and Juliette went with him,” Tiki said, a note of wonder in her voice. “He writes that Charles refused to leave.” She looked at Rieker. “How could they have known—”

“Mamie.” Rieker said. “She’s the only one who could have possibly convinced them. They know enough to believe her, though.”

Tiki stared at Rieker, hope and fear reflected in her expression. “They’re safe, aren’t they?”

“Yes, they’re safe.” Rieker opened his arms. “And you’re safe.” He kissed the tender skin of her temple as he pulled her close. “I was so afraid I might lose you—that he might—” he stopped, unable to finish.

Tiki cupped the side of his face and looked into his eyes. “I’m safe, because you saved me.” An overwhelming sense of love flooded her

“I think we saved each other.” One side of Rieker’s mouth twisted, but not quite enough to erase the fear that still clung to his features. He ran his fingers across her brow, brushing tendrils of dark hair back from her face. “In those moments, when he was here, looking at you, saying you would be his—” he closed his eyes as though in pain— “I couldn’t bear the thought that you might not be with me—”

“I’ll always be here for you, William.” Tiki drew his hand up to kiss his fingers and gasped. “You’re bleeding!” She grabbed his wrist and turned his arm so she could assess the injury. “Dear Lord, the
liche
cut you.” Panic filled her voice. “We’ve got to clean the wound—make sure he hasn’t poisoned you like he did Leo and Johnny.” She dragged him toward the kitchen. “We’ve got to rinse that cut. How deep is it?”

“I’m fine,” Rieker said, only slightly resisting. “I don’t think it’s deep. Let me take my jacket off and we’ll be able to see better.” He lifted his arms to pull the garment over his head, revealing his naked chest and torso.

Tiki stared at the lean muscles rippling along his ribs and chest with his movement. He was so beautiful and perfect. She wanted more than anything, to run her fingers along his ribs, to feel the warmth of his skin against hers.

Unaware of her perusal, Rieker dropped his jacket and held up his arm to reveal a three inch cut that stretched between his wrist and elbow. Standing in the kitchen, he put his arm to his mouth and sucked for a moment, then spit a mouthful of blood into the sink.

Tiki choked. “What are you doing?”

“Sucking the venom from the wound, of course.” Rieker raised his eyebrows and grinned at her. “Would you like a go?”

Tiki playfully slapped at his shoulder, letting her fingers drift down his arm in an ill-disguised caress. “You’re a right disgusting prat, at times, you know that?” But his lack of concern eased her worries, and her panic subsided as she waited while he continued to suck the venom from his arm.

“Let’s rinse that now like a civilized person might,” Tiki spoke in an overly-prim voice, “and wrap it in a clean bandage, shall we?”

Rieker sighed and leaned against the counter, watching her every move with an intensity he made no effort to conceal. “If you insist. But I think fewer coverings might be a better idea.” He brushed the torn front of her jacket, revealing her cleavage and his fingertips lingered against the tender skin, before she moved out of reach.

“William.” She shot him an innocent glance from the corners of her eyes. “Whatever do you mean?”

He reached for her waist. “Let me show you.”

Laughing, she dodged free of his hands and stepped over to where she’d lined bandages neatly on the counter. “Mind your manners, or I’ll put you out with the horses.” Rieker stood docilely, but more than once Tiki glanced up to find his eyes not on her face, but on her partially exposed chest. She told herself there wasn’t any more skin showing than in some of the dresses she’d worn to parties at Buckingham, but somehow, in this moment, when it was just the two of them, she felt like her very soul was laid bare for his eyes.

Her cheeks began to warm and after a minute her fingers were so fumbly it took twice as long to wrap his arm. Finally, Tiki finished with the bandage and stepped back. “There. As good as new.”

“Thank you, Majesty.” Rieker bowed and lifted Tiki’s left hand to kiss her fingers, reminding her of the first time she’d met the dashing William Richmond at Buckingham Palace. That time when he’d kissed her hand, her birthmark had been revealed and practically caused Leo to have an apoplectic fit. “You have saved me—” Rieker’s voice was low and husky— “your humble servant and inconsequential half-breed.”

“William.” Tiki spoke in a stern voice. “We don’t speak ill of the less fortunate.” A smile wavered at the corners of her mouth. But instead of relinquishing his grip, he turned her hand over and pressed a kiss into her palm. For a second, she could feel his tongue against her skin and something stirred deep in her belly at the intimate gesture.

“You mean you’re not ashamed to be seen—” his lips moved up her arm and kissed the black swirls that twisted around her wrist— “with someone like me?” He slid his other arm around her waist and pulled her close.

Tiki giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing against his hard chest.

“If you’re not ashamed to be seen with a lowly pickpocket.”

An expression that was both pleasure and pain crossed his face, before he lowered his lips toward hers.

“Let me prove to you how unashamed I am…” his tongue traced the corners of her mouth, tenderly pulling at her bottom lip before he covered her mouth with his. He kissed her with an urgency that was unfamiliar and primal, as if his patience had worn thin and he couldn’t wait any longer.

Tiki was surprised to find the same urgency burning inside her. She pulled him closer, wanting to feel him against every inch of her body. He was hers and she was his and there would be nothing that would ever come between them.

AFTER THEY DRAGGED Charles’ body out to the coach house and covered him with a black tarp, Tiki swept up the ashes of the
liche
from where they lay on the floor. They poured the remains through a paper funnel into a plain brown crock she’d retrieved from the kitchen and carefully sealed the lid.

“Where can we put this where it can never be opened?” she asked.

Rieker took the stoneware from her and disappeared into his study. A few minutes later he reappeared.

“Locked up tight.” He slid his arms around Tiki and pulled her close, pressing his lips against her hair. “You were brilliant. And brave.” He leaned back so he could see her face. “And you’ve done it. The
liche
is gone forever.”

“YOU’VE COME FOR Prince Leo’s guests?” The butler asked upon their arrival at Buckingham Palace. “They’re in the upstairs library.” He stretched his arm out. “By the sounds of it, they’re having the time of their life.”

Shrieks of laughter could be heard as Tiki and Rieker hurried down the grand hallway. Tension, that had been coiled like knots in her shoulders, began to release as they listened to the sounds of merriment coming through the door.

Another guard stood outside as they approached. “Lord Richmond. Miss.” He bowed deeply then pulled the door open.

Tiki and Rieker stepped through the door and paused to take in the scene. Arthur was on his hands and knees while Clara rode on his back as if he were a pony. She was clutching the collar of his shirt and laughing gaily, “giddyup little pony, giddyup!” Nearby, Toots was petting the silky coat of a cocker spaniel, who stared at him with adoring eyes, her tail thumping the carpet. The young boy was holding a stick in one hand and having a heart-to-heart talk with the dog about fetching.

Fiona stood by the fire next to Leo who sat with a grin on his face as he watched his brother’s antics. Next to him, Shamus also sat, with eyes as wide as two silver shillings. Tiki smothered a giggle. He looked like he needed a good pinch.

“Teek!” Clara waved happily, as if they all dropped into Buckingham Palace on a regular basis. “Arthur is my pony.”

It was all Tiki could do not to burst out laughing at the sheer absurdity of the situation. What would the people of England think if they could see their prince now?

Leo bolted from his chair and hurried toward them. “Wills—Tara.” Relief was thick in his voice. “You’re all right. Thank God. Mamie convinced us you were in dire straits and we’ve been worried sick.”

“Tiki—” Toots called across the room— “we should get a dog!”

“Mamie was right to be worried,” Wills said as he shook the prince’s hand. “Thank you for bringing the children back here. But we’ve brought good news.”

“What’s that?” Leo looked hopefully from one to the other. “We could use some good news.”

“The murderer who has been loose on the streets of London? The one who took poor Charles Bagley’s daughter?”

Leo hesitated. “Yes?”

“He’s gone. Forever. We won’t be bothered by the likes of him again.”