The Seven Year King (The Faerie Ring #3) (40 page)

IT WAS AFTER breakfast when Tiki told Fiona that she’d brought Johnny’s body home. Fiona’s eyes instantly welled up with tears, but she clutched Tiki’s hands and thanked her.

“Maybe I can sleep now, knowing he’s home and we can watch over him,” she said softly. “Where is he?”

AFTER A BRIEF discussion, it was decided that Toots and Clara would remain downstairs with Mrs. B. and Tiki, Fiona, Rieker and Dain would go upstairs to view Johnny’s body before Rieker would start the process for his burial in London.

It was a solemn group who climbed the stairs up to the fourth floor. The house was quite cool on this level, with no fires lit to heat the unused rooms. The gray light of the day did little to reach into the corners of the house and illuminate the shadows.

Fiona held Tiki’s hand as they walked down the hallway, her grip tightening with each step they took closer to the bedroom where Johnny was lying. Tiki paused in the doorway.

“Are you sure you’re going to be all right?”

“Yes.” Fiona nodded but her face looked uncertain.

“Here we go. I’ll be right here for you, Fi,” Tiki said softly as she led the other girl up next to the bed. Fiona sniffed then released Tiki’s hand. Rieker and Dain stood silently behind them.

“Oh Johnny,” Fiona cried, sitting down on the bed next to the still body and running her hands gently over his frozen features. “Why did that horrible creature have to hurt you?” Her tears dropped onto Johnny’s cheeks and rolled down the side of his motionless face until it looked like he was crying, too.

“I love you, Johnny,” Fiona whispered brokenly, “I’ll never forget you.”

Before Tiki could stop her, Fiona leaned forward and pressed her lips tightly against Johnny’s. After a long moment, Fiona sat back, her shoulders shaking with anguish.

There was a long, audible gasp, as if someone was sucking in air after holding their breath for too long.

“What was that?” Tiki glanced around.

There was another one, less painful this time.

“It’s J..Johnny,” Fiona stammered, a look of fright on her face. “I think he’s breathing.”

“He can’t be,” Rieker said, as he stepped forward to investigate.

Johnny’s thin chest shuddered with the effort but it was clear to all that his bony ribcage had risen and fallen on its own.

“Johnny.” Fiona cried in a mixture of hope and disbelief as she shook his arm. “Wake up. It’s Fi. Wake up and talk to me.”

Tiki stared at the young boy in amazement. Was he truly breathing on his own? How was it possible? Behind her, Rieker and Dain were speaking in low tones.

On impulse, Fiona leaned forward and kissed him on the lips again. This time, he took a deep breath, then opened his eyes. There was a moment of stunned silence, then Fiona cupped Johnny’s face in her hands and kissed first one cheek and then the other.

“You’re alive,” she said, laughing and crying at the same time. “You’ve come back to me.”

Tiki moved closer to Rieker and Dain. “How is that possible?” she asked quietly.

Dain slid his hands into his pockets. “True Love’s Kiss.” He nodded at Rieker. “William said you’ve fed the boy from the Cup of Plenty. Legend has it that the cup will cure all ills, but they also say that should a
mortal
drink from the cup it will cast them into a deep sleep, only to be awakened by True Love’s Kiss.” He shrugged. “I think they’ve written a few stories about it in the mortal world and you can be sure they didn’t just make it up.”

“But Larkin said he was—” Tiki stopped as her mind raced, trying to recall what it was exactly Larkin had told them. Tiki glanced over at Dain. “She knew to drink from the cup would put him to sleep, didn’t she?”

Dain nodded. “Of course she did.”

Chapter Fifty-Four

O
ther than being weak and painfully thin, Johnny seemed normal. He stretched his thin arms over his head and grimaced. “Good lord, Fi, I feel like I’ve been run over by a horse and buggy. How long have I been asleep?”

“Quite a while,” Fiona answered, shooting a conspiratorial glance at Tiki. They had decided not to tell Johnny that he’d ever left London. “What’s the last thing you remember?”

Johnny had insisted on getting out of bed and getting dressed. He was sitting in a chair by the fire in the drawing room and he leaned back, his brow furrowing as he stared at the ceiling in concentration.

“Let’s see now, I think I remember meeting Rieker, but he was really Lord Richmond…” his voice faded as he tried to recall. “It’s all a bit fuzzy now…”

Fiona and Tiki both started laughing. “Lord William Richmond a pickpocket?!” Fiona cried. “You better be careful what you dream, Johnny Michael Francis O’Keefe, or you might find yourself thrown in Newgate for speaking ill of your betters.”

His lips curved in a sheepish grin. He shook his head, his mop of brown hair shifting with the movement. “Don’t know where that hare-brained idea came from.”

LATER, TIKI AND Dain sat with Rieker in his study. Though also much thinner, Dain was his usual charming, mocking self, though the coolness with which he had regarded Rieker in the past had evaporated. Instead, he seemed anxious to know his brother better.

Tiki had told them of her encounter with Donegal in the Queen’s chambers at the Palace of Mirrors, leaving out his threat to burn her as he had been burnt.

“He doesn’t intend to relinquish the throne next May 1
^st
,” Tiki said. “If Larkin is correct, he’s going to attack the Seelies soon, in an attempt to decimate the court well in advance of Beltane. From what I’ve seen, I think she’s right.”

“We’ve got to make a plan to leave Grosvenor Square for now,” Rieker said. “The last thing we want Donegal to know is that we were involved in Dain’s escape or that you’ve recovered three of the Four Treasures. I don’t know what meaning or power the Treasures might offer—if any—but it’s to our advantage to keep our cards close to our vest and lie low for a while.”

“Where will we go?” Tiki asked.

“A better question might be, where would Donegal expect us to go?”

“Ireland,” Dain answered. “It’s Tiki’s heritage, it’s our spiritual home. Ireland is the place we should go to gather strength and insight into what our destinies might hold.”

Tiki crossed her arms and looked from Rieker to Dain. “Excellent point, Dain. That’s why we’ll be going to Scotland.”

Chapter Fifty-Five

I
t was easy to prepare to leave. Rieker informed the staff that they were going to Paris for a month or more.

“I should talk to Shamus and see if he wants to come,” Tiki said.

“Maybe it’s better if he doesn’t know the whole truth,” Fiona replied. “You can’t give away what you don’t know. Besides, I think he’d rather stay here.”

Tiki turned from where she was folding clothes to take with them and looked at Fiona over her shoulder. “Why do you say that?”

Fiona gave her a bright smile, the dimples showing in both her cheeks. Tiki couldn’t help but notice what a change had come over Fiona since Johnny had awoken and was glad for how happy the girl was now.

“I think Shamus fancies Juliette.”

Tiki’s hands dropped to her lap. “What?” With all the excitement they’d had over the last few months, she’d barely paid any attention to Rieker’s housemaid. The poor girl was usually being ordered around by Mrs. Bosworth or one of the other staff and rarely spent any time around Tiki and Rieker.

“Yes, in fact, I’m quite sure of it.” Fiona sang a little melody under her breath, grinning happily.

“I’m sure of it, too.” Clara piped up from where she was pretending Doggie could fly. “I saw him bring her a rose one day when Juliette was dusting the hallway. His face was all red an’ he acted all fumbly and strange. I thought maybe he was sick, or something.” Clara threw Doggie up in the air and jumped up to catch her. “See? Doggie can jump like Dain’s horse. Hmm…I wonder if I should put some red ribbons in her hair….”

“And what does Juliette think, do you s’pose?”

“Seems like she thinks it’s a fine idea,” Fiona said, “because she giggles a lot when Shamus is around.”

“Well, imagine that,” Tiki murmured, turning back to her folding. A happy smile creased her lips.

THE NIGHT BEFORE they were to leave Tiki stood at the window in her room and stared out toward the square. Their trunks had been packed, arrangements made for travel and they were to set out in the morning.

She gazed around the now familiar room. Grosvenor Square had come to be home, not only for Rieker, but for her and her family, as well. What did the future hold? Would they return to these grand hallways and rooms as a true family one day? Or would there be heartbreak and catastrophe in their future? Tiki was almost happy she didn’t know.

“Let each day bring what it may,” she whispered. “We will celebrate our successes, learn from our mistakes, and be grateful for each day we have together.”

“IT APPEARS YOU’RE leaving.”

The voice woke Tiki. There were so many things on her mind it had been difficult to sleep lately and when she did drift off, even the most minute sounds woke her. At first, she thought Larkin’s voice was part of her dream, but then the faerie spoke again.

“Before you go there are matters to be discussed.”

Tiki jerked up right, suddenly aware that she wasn’t dreaming. “Larkin, what are you doing here? It’s the middle of the night.”

“Exactly,” the faerie said. “That’s why I’ve come now. I knew we could be alone. It’s time we talked about Clara.”

Tiki’s stomach clenched as she leaned over and lit a bedside candle. “What about Clara?”

“You need to know the truth.” Larkin’s eyes glittered in the half-light of the wavering flame. “Clara is my daughter. Surely, you’ve noticed the resemblance?”

Tiki froze. She couldn’t have heard the faerie correctly.

Larkin laughed, the sound like wind chimes, and a slow smirk twisted her lips. “I would have thought you’d have figured it out by now. I’m quite sure William has known for the longest time.”

Tiki fought to breathe. Was this a nightmare? Was Larkin telling the truth? Could it be possible that Rieker knew of this? But even as questions raced through her mind—the answers were undeniable. There were too many things—the blond hair, the blue eyes, the laugh, the uncanny ability to know of things beyond a normal child’s grasp, not to mention Clara’s ability to see visitors from the Otherworld when others couldn’t.

“I don’t believe you,” Tiki cried.

“Yes, you do.” Larkin scoffed at her. “When have I ever lied to you? Do you think it was coincidence that Clara was directly in your path on Craven Street that day? Have you never wondered why
you
were the one who found her—among the masses who inhabit London?” She stabbed her thumb into her chest. “It’s because I wanted you to find her. I, alone, knew who you were—the destiny that was waiting—and I knew she would be safe with you, filthy little pickpocket that you were.”

Though her hands were shaking, a surge of anger made Tiki’s voice strong. “I don’t care if she’s your daughter or not—you gave her up and she belongs with me now.”

Larkin gave a derisive laugh, her gaze suddenly as cold and deadly as a well-honed dagger. “I
loaned
her to you, but that is beside the point. I dare you to try and take her from me.” The faerie’s voice changed to a conversational tone. “However, as with most things in life, guttersnipe, you do have a choice. If you relinquish the Seelie throne to me, I promise I will never bother the two of you again. You can go off with your mortal family and never have another worry about those in the Seelie Court.”