Thorn Queen (19 page)

Searching wasn’t easy since the place was still cluttered with books, incense, and candles. My task was made more difficult by the fact that I had no clue what I was looking for. I lifted and moved things as best I could, hoping the place wouldn’t look ransacked. In spite of the mess, I was again struck by how nice the apartment was, how it had been expensively restored. The floors were true hardwoods—no laminate here—and all the molding and crownwork was elaborate and beautiful. This place couldn’t be cheap, and it seemed a shame she’d let her pack-rat habits get the best of it. Not that I was one to talk.

I concluded my search with a quick scan of the bedroom. It was less messy and hence had less to browse. Her duvet was a patchwork of brightly colored silks, and the closet was filled with scarves and gauzy dresses. A jewelry box on her dresser displayed a stunning collection of necklaces and rings, and beside it was—so help me—a pair of handcuffs. I almost laughed, trying to imagine New Agey Abigail into something kinky. Maybe I hadn’t been the only one to visit the sex-toy shop. Of course, whereas mine had been cheap and lightweight, these were industrial-strength steel ones, like cops would use. If she was into kinky stuff, then it was pretty hardcore.

I drove back to Tucson after that, arriving in early evening. My autopilot sense of direction started to take me home, and then, at the last moment, I called Tim.

“Has Kiyo called or stopped by?”

“Nope. But one of his cats threw up on the living-room floor.”

“That’s not quite the same.”

We disconnected, and I checked my cell phone for the hundredth time. Nope. No missed calls there either. With a sigh, I turned toward Saguaro National Park and its easy-access crossroads. If Kiyo couldn’t emerge from the Otherworld and into this one, then perhaps he’d sent some sort of message to the Thorn Land. I felt stupid and desperate, like a girl waiting by the phone. But what else could I do?

Unfortunately, the Otherworldly news was no better.

“No, your majesty,” said Nia. Her voice was anxious and apologetic, as though she herself was personally to blame. “There’s been no word.”

I thanked her and figured that if I’d gone to the trouble to come here, I should find Shaya and get some sort of update. When I went searching, however, it was a most unexpected visitor I found instead: Girard, the dark-skinned courtier and metalsmith from Maiwenn’s party.

“Your majesty,” he said with a bow, as flamboyant as ever. “I was hoping I’d see you before I had to leave.”

“Before you had to…what are you doing here?” I asked, more perplexed than displeased by his presence.

“I’ve come to bring you this.”

Like a magician producing a rabbit from under his cape, Girard held out a stunning necklace. The chain was made of exquisite, swirling links that rippled like water, and a pear-shaped sapphire ringed in pearls hung from it.

“Oh my God,” I gasped, taking it from him. “This is incredible. Did you make this?”

“Yes, your majesty.” His voice was modest, but he was clearly pleased by my regard.

“Who’s it from?”

Recalling the comments others had made about his political aspirations, I half-expected it to be a gift from him. Then, suddenly and hopefully, I wondered if Kiyo had sent it as a token of affection since he had to spend so much time away from me. I wouldn’t have put it past Dorian either, but he would have presented it himself.

“It’s from Prince Leith of the Rowan Land.”

Of course. I should have known. Leith accepting his fate last night had been too good to be true.

“His highness adds that he’ll also have me make a crown to match if you would like. He sends this with his greatest love and devotion.”

“I’m sure he does.” I sighed and handed the necklace back. “Well, a crown is definitely out of the question, I’m afraid. And actually…I’m really sorry, Girard, but I can’t even keep this. I hate for your work to go to waste.”

He took the necklace and deftly slipped it into one of his many pockets. “It’s no trouble at all. I understand how romantic affairs go—or rather, how they don’t go. His highness will be sad, but I enjoyed the chance to work on something new for a change, so it was worth it, even if it won’t grace your neck.”

I recalled how he lived at Katrice’s court. “What do you usually work on?”

He made a small face. “Her majesty Queen Katrice is partial to animals and collects figurines, jewelry…anything depicting them. Last week, I made a crystal squirrel. It was lovely, of course, but it’s the fifth squirrel I’ve made this year.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, I guess I’m glad for this, then. Maybe…” An idea suddenly came to me. “Maybe I can give you another project away from her menagerie. Do you have the time?”

Girard bowed low. “Of course.”

“I heard you can work with iron to a certain extent. Here’s what I need….” I described my problem with Jasmine and how I needed more flexible restraints that contained as much iron as he could handle. Theoretically, I could have brought over human handcuffs, but I wanted special ones not only for mobility but because I needed bronze or copper somewhere on them so that my guards could touch them if need be.

Girard listened thoughtfully, nodding as I spoke. “Yes, of course I can do this. I can have them for you tomorrow.”

“Whoa, I didn’t expect—”

He threw back his head and laughed. “Your majesty, you forget that we don’t forge and work metal like humans do. I order the metal to bend, and it does. The rest is in skill and patience.”

I supposed he had a point. I thanked him profusely, telling him that Shaya would settle the price with him later. Once he left, I then set out to find Shaya myself, still needing a report.

Before I could, I was intercepted again—this time by Ysabel. She was alone, which I took to mean Dorian had returned to the Oak Land. That was something, at least. I didn’t want him camping out around here—particularly after my teary-eyed weakness last night.

She came to a halt before me, arms crossed. Whatever fear she’d had from our last lesson seemed to have completely vanished. Maybe Dorian’s visit had reassured her. Or maybe she figured she had little to fear from someone who’d spent all of last night moping and drinking away her sorrows.

“My lord says I
still
cannot leave until we’ve worked together at least one more time.”

“Bummer,” I said and started to pass her. “I’ve got to find Shaya.”

She blocked my way again. It was déjà vu of the last time she’d accosted me about this. “Shaya’s gone right now. The sooner we get this over with, the better. I know you have nothing else to do with your time right now either. You’re simply waiting for your kitsune to throw you some sort of bone.”

Alright, now she’d pissed me off, largely because she was right. “That’s not true. I have plenty of things to do. Besides, I don’t know if I really need your help anymore. I think at this point it’s all just practicing on my own.”

With my mind, I reached out, feeling the different types of air around us. I stayed well away from her but pulled together several groups. Now that I understood their individual natures, it wasn’t that hard to combine them into larger gusts. I blasted the air through the hall, creating a gust of wind that rivaled the one she’d smugly showed me that first day. Her expression showed disdain, but I swear, there was fear in her eyes again. I remembered what Shaya had said, that I was learning too quickly and too well.

“That is…acceptable,” Ysabel said at last. “But it was clumsy. And you can’t combine it with water yet to truly control the weather.”

She was right on that, but I felt I had a good enough understanding of both to just keep practicing. “It’ll come with time. I’ll be fine on my own.”

“My lord said one more time…” That scornful expression faded now, replaced by uncertainty. “There is something else…something…well, you haven’t even come close to it yet.”

“I inherited storm magic. Water and air. What else is there?”

“Follow me, and I’ll show you—if you can handle it.” There it was, the old attitude. It was almost comforting.

She took me back out to the courtyard we’d been in last night. A servant I’d seen around the castle was painstakingly setting more tiles into the ground, expanding the patio area. We stood well away from him, and Ysabel continued keeping her arms crossed over her chest, posture still rigid and defensive.

“I’ll be glad when this is over and I can return to the Oak Land. It’s obvious my lord misses me.” Her eyes glinted wickedly. “He made love to me last night with a passion I’ve never seen before. It left me screaming and aching in ecstasy.”

I rolled my eyes and stopped myself from saying,
Yeah, because he was thinking of me.
“Let’s just get this over with so you can leave and get all the screaming and aching you want. What else was there I needed to know?”

“There’s something else in the air,” she said. She bit her lip in thought, trying to articulate her meaning. “I can feel it, but I’m unable to touch it. Probably you can’t either.”

“Can you be a little more specific?”

“It’s always there…it’s like the pieces of the air are…prickly. Sharp to the touch. There are more of them, though, before a storm.”

I stared stupidly for a moment, and then the human part of me put it together. “Lightning…you’re talking about making lightning,” I breathed. What was the scientific term? “Those are charged particles.”

The term meant nothing to her, but she’d nodded when I mentioned lightning. Eagerness flared up in me, and I immediately felt out around me. Sensing all the air molecules was easy now. The only two I could name were oxygen and carbon dioxide. All the others had their own unique feel, but I couldn’t say if they were nitrogen or hydrogen or what. After a few minutes of groping with my mind, I shook my head.

“I don’t feel anything like that.”

Ysabel seemed pleased by this. “Like I said, you likely aren’t strong enough.”

“It’s a clear day,” I pointed out. “There probably aren’t any around.”

“No, they’re always there. There aren’t many today, but I can feel them.”

I set my lips into a hard line, trying again. It was just like the old days with Dorian: endless waiting, save that he would have tied me up. Ysabel probably would have too if I’d let her, if only to use the chance to slit my throat.

Air, air, air. Every particle unique, yet none of it had the sharp, prickly feel she was describing. Distantly, I remembered the one time I had summoned a storm. I’d been caught by an elemental gentry, on the verge of being raped while my mother lay injured. In my crazy desperation and panic, I’d summoned a storm that nearly leveled my house. I had little memory of how I’d done it, though. The whole thing was a blur, like some kind of dream that—

All the hairs on my arms suddenly stood up. There. There, mixed in with other air above us was something…well, to put it bluntly, electric. It felt prickly, just as she’d described. I reached for it, trying to control it as I had the other particles, but it was slippery. It was like oil running through my fingers, and I understood now why she couldn’t do it. It was a very different phenomenon. Steeling myself, I tried again, and for one heartbeat, I drew them together into a knot. The smell of ozone filled the air, and then I lost my grip. No flash of light, no thunder.

But Ysabel’s face was aghast. “You…you did it. You shouldn’t have been able to…”

“I didn’t really do anything.”

“You shouldn’t have been able to do that…not yet….
I
can’t even touch them.”

Too fast and too easily. Just like my father.

“I’m nowhere near to being there yet.” I hoped I sounded reassuring. “This is going to be harder.” I couldn’t say how I knew; it was just something I felt. Wielding air, creating wind…that would come with practice. Lightning was a different beast. But when I did…

I suddenly shivered and was astonished at the exultation that ran through me. If I could learn to create and control lightning…Jesus Christ. That kind of power was unimaginable. It was a large part of what had made Storm King so feared. Being able to do that would be unbelievable. Amazing. Exquisite. Being like a god…

I snapped myself out of those thoughts, aghast at what I’d been thinking—again. Talk about megalomania. I was no god. Craving that kind of power was wrong; everyone said so. Well, those from the human world, at least. Yet, if I could summon lightning, I could blow a fair number of those fucking demons out of existence. Surely that was a good use of my power. Unfortunately, what I’d said to Ysabel was true. It was going to take awhile, and until I developed some other amazing weapon, those demons were going to keep coming back and—

I froze, suddenly forgetting about the phenomenal power I’d just touched. I had a weapon right in front of me, something that might seriously get rid of those demons once and for all. Unfortunately, it was not an easy one to use.

“Son of a bitch,” I said. “Jasmine.”

Jasmine nearly leapt ten feet in the air when I came tearing through the hall that led to her cell.

“You!” I exclaimed. “You can summon water demons.”

She widened her eyes, speechless for a change. It appeared as though I’d interrupted her doing…well, nothing. In a fit of guilt, I’d sent some books down to her to pass the time, but reports from the guards said she did little but sulk. Well, that and try to cajole them to let her out. I guess she figured she’d deal with Volusian after she got one of the guards to crack.

Recovering herself a moment later, she adopted a sneer reminiscent of Ysabel’s. Considering their mutual hatred of me, maybe I should have sent her down here to entertain Jasmine.

“Maybe,” Jasmine conceded. “Why? Afraid I’ll use them to break out?”

“No,” I said. “But I need them to get rid of some fire demons.”

Roland had told me the best way to oust the demons would be by summoning their opposites. I’d dismissed the idea then, knowing it was beyond my capability. At the same time, I’d considered the possibility that Jasmine could do it…though it had seemed a useless sentiment considering I’d had no clue to her whereabouts or any reason to think she’d help me.

But now? Well, things were different.

Art’s attitude had left me feeling helpless and ineffectual. Now, I suddenly felt as though I had the means to take control and actually right some wrongs in this kingdom.

“So?” Jasmine asked, not seeming startled in the least. “That’s got nothing to do with me.”

“Not true. You’re going to help me. We’re going to face them and their master, and you’re going to summon water creatures to take down those demons.”

Jasmine’s expression was almost comic in its disbelief. “Why would I help you?”

I tried good cop first. “Because it’s the right thing to do. They’re hurting innocent people.”

“So? Like I said, that doesn’t affect me.”

“Spoken like the selfish child you are.” She flushed. Considering her obsession with having a baby and ruling over both worlds, she didn’t like having her age or capabilities mocked. “I thought you wanted to be the queen of this land once.”

She glowered. “Yes. And I would have been if you hadn’t stolen it!”

“Why? Why be queen if you have no intention of doing anything? Did you just want to wear a crown and have people grovel?”

She didn’t acknowledge that and instead replied stonily, “I’m not helping you.”

I stepped toward the bars, smiling sweetly, even though I was about to enter bad-cop mode. “Oh, you are. Whether you like it or not.”

“What, you’re going to force me or something?”

In a matter of seconds, I had my Glock out and pointing straight at her. She paled and backed up against the wall, looking very much like she wanted to melt into it. Behind me, I heard a slight shuffling among the guards. Guns were a very human weapon, made of steel and alloys and other substances that were anathema to the gentry. They were equally deadly to humans—or, in Jasmine’s case, half-humans.

“You’re crazy,” she said.

I shrugged. “I’ve got a job to do, and you’re key to getting it done. You can cooperate, and maybe I’ll improve your living arrangements. Give you a room instead of a cell.”

I could see thoughts and schemes spinning behind her eyes. Jasmine was young, inexperienced, and self-centered…but she wasn’t stupid. I had to think somewhat cheerfully that that too was a family trait.

“And if I don’t do it, you’re going to shoot me?”

“Well, everyone says I should kill you anyway.”

My voice was calm, my face hard. I didn’t know if she would believe me or not. Hell, I didn’t know if I believed myself. She knew I had little love for her after everything she’d done, and I’d long had a reputation as a ruthless fighter and—as many gentry saw it—murderer. Jasmine swallowed. She was trying to look calm too, but her eyes betrayed her.

“How do you know I won’t summon them and have them turn on
you
once my cuffs are off? You know I can’t wear them and still have that kind of power.”

I released the safety on the gun, which was still pointed at her. “Because I’ll have this on the back of your head the entire time.”

Long silence fell. Volusian was so still that I’d nearly forgotten he was there.

Finally, Jasmine said, “I hate you.”

“So…that’s a yes?”

I took her silence as a confirmation and put the gun away, putting the safety back on and feeling a bit surprised at the pounding of my own heart. Had I really just pointed a gun at a fifteen-year-old girl? Roland and Kiyo both believed dealing with magic could change the kind of person you were. Was messing with lightning and air turning me into someone who could easily threaten others to get my way? No, I decided. This had nothing to do with the magic. This was necessity. I needed to oust those fire demons, and this was the way to do it.

“Eugenie?”

A soft voice pulled me from my churning emotions. “Kiyo!”

He stood there in the hall, and I wondered how much he’d overheard. It didn’t matter. I was just so insanely happy to see him. The heaviness in my heart lightened, and if there hadn’t been so many witnesses, I would have run into his arms. He looked amazing, dressed in human garb: jeans and a plain gray T-shirt that hugged his muscles perfectly. The silken black hair curled around his chin, and his skin looked like caramel.

But his eyes…his eyes were hard.

I gave Jasmine a warning look. “We’ll talk later.”

“Fuck you, Eugenie,” she called.

I caught hold of Kiyo’s hand and walked back upstairs with him. Seeing him released all the nervous tension in me that had been building up since last night. I’d been so wound up, so worried and afraid. Now, it was like all was right in the world once again. The news about the baby was hard on me, but I still wanted to congratulate him. The words were on my lips as soon as we were alone, but he spoke first.

“Really, Eugenie? This is what it’s come to?”

My head was still giddy over seeing him. “What do you mean?”

He pointed back toward the dungeon door from which we’d just emerged. “That! I never expected to find you with a gun to a teen girl’s head.”

“It wasn’t exactly to her head,” I said. “And she
can
help us get rid of those demons. Even if she can’t summon true water demons herself, we both know she can call other water creatures.” Kiyo and I had fought off some such creatures—including one that had caught us in a compromising position in his car and nearly killed both of us. “Those could give us the edge.”

“And if she doesn’t, you really are going to kill her?”

I sighed and stopped walking, leaning against one of the tapestry-covered walls so I could face him. “Do you really think I’d do that?”

“She seemed to think you would, and to tell you the truth, I kind of did too. I don’t think you realize how scary you can be.” He stood in front of me, with little distance between us, and there was an odd mix of sexual chemistry and antagonism in the air. “There’s a strange feel to you…have you been practicing magic?”

I didn’t answer immediately, which was as good as an admission of guilt. The look he gave me was almost more horrified than when he’d thought I was going to shoot Jasmine. “A little.”

“A little! Eugenie,” he hissed, leaning close. “There’s no in-between with this stuff. You keep doing it, and you’re just going to fall farther and farther down the rabbit hole.”

I laughed and threw my arms up, gesturing to the castle. “I fell into Wonderland a long time ago.”

“You know what I mean. I thought you weren’t going to do it anymore. I thought we agreed it was bad.”

“You agreed,” I corrected, feeling my own temper start to rise. “I had a chance to learn more, and I decided to take it. And like I said, it’s only been a little.”

“Learn from who?” he asked suspiciously.

“A woman from Dorian’s kingdom. She has some ability with controlling air and has been showing me how to use it. I might be on the verge of calling lightning too.” In front of his furious gaze, there was an instinct to be sheepish…and yet, I felt kind of proud at what I’d accomplished.

“Of course. Dorian. Somehow, I’m not surprised.”

“Hey, Dorian’s been nice to me lately.” My defense of the gentry king surprised me—as did the truth of it. With so much in chaos recently, I’d found Dorian’s presence almost comforting.

Kiyo rolled his eyes. “Yes, and I’m sure he’d love to be nicer still. Look, you start putting all those magical elements together, and you’re going to have some serious power on your hands. You’re going to be like—”

“Do
not
say like Storm King!” I cried. “I wish everyone would just stop assuming that’s inevitable. Plenty of gentry use magic without becoming tyrannical warlords. Give me some credit here.”

“I’m just worried about you,” he growled.

“And do you know what I’m worried about? I’m worried about people starving here, about people not getting enough water. I’m worried about brigands and demons preying on innocents. I’m worried about girls disappearing and possibly being abducted by those who face no accountability. And all of this is on top of trying to still live my human life and keep every goddamned Otherworldly guy out of my pants. So don’t come here and start dictating to me. You’re never around. You have no idea what I’m going through!”

I was shouting, and it was a wonder none of the servants had come scurrying to see what was wrong. My breathing was heavy, and I’d clenched my fists without even realizing it in my anger.

“Why
are
you here anyway?” I demanded.

Kiyo’s dark eyes were hard to read, but I could see some of his earlier fury had cooled. I wasn’t sure if he’d reconsidered his accusations or simply decided I wasn’t worth arguing with. “I came to see if you wanted to visit the baby.”

“Oh.”

For whatever reason, it was like a bucket of cold water on the rest of my anger. I sighed. “Kiyo…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you—”

He raked a hand through his dark hair. “And I shouldn’t have jumped all over you.” A sly grin turned up the edges of his lips. “Well, not that way at least. But you’re right—I haven’t been around. You’re going through a lot that I’ve missed, and I don’t know fully what’s going on. I mean, that doesn’t change how I feel about Jasmine and magic—”

I held up a hand. “Enough. We can fight about those later. Tell me about the baby.”

And like that, Kiyo’s face completely transformed. Joy and wonder of such purity filled his features that it was amazing to behold. I’d hardly ever seen him look like that—no, scratch that. I might have
never
seen him look like that.

“Oh, Eugenie. She’s so beautiful. So perfect. I never…she’s like nothing I ever could have imagined.”

Something sank in the pit of my stomach, something cold and leaden. I almost wished he’d get angry again so that my own fury would return. Anger was warmer than sadness.

Forcing a smile, I reached for his hand. “I’m so happy for you,” I said. “I’d love to see her. What’s her name?”

“Luisa.”

He said the name like a prayer, like a magic word that could fix all the world’s ills. I’d heard him say my name like that too, often in the midst of sex. Obviously, his attitudes toward the two of us were a bit different, but the intensity of his love was similar.

“It’s a pretty name,” I said, still trying to smile. A moment of uneasy silence fell. “Ready to go?”

I was growing better at convincing Rurik to let me leave without an escort, and Kiyo and I were able to make good time to the Willow Land. I rode on horseback, and he ran alongside in fox form, able to easily match my pace. While this wasn’t an official state visit, I’d grumblingly put on a gentry dress in recognition of my queenly status. It was a simple one, pale blue with cap sleeves and light material. It actually had kind of a Jane Austen feel. The worst part was that since I refused to ride sidesaddle or anything ridiculous like that, the skirt rode up on my legs. With only Kiyo to see me, it didn’t matter too much, and he certainly didn’t mind.

Along the way, we passed another village in my kingdom, one I had yet to visit. I recognized it from Shaya’s descriptions. I was pretty sure it was one of the ones with copper ore. Near its outskirts, I could see people working and digging. I made a mental note to stop on the way back—if the Otherworld didn’t decide to send me through a different route.

Kiyo’s fox form meant we didn’t have to make any conversation. Spring was progressing rapidly in the Willow Land when we arrived. In fact, it had come much more quickly than I would have expected based on my last visit. There was no snow, and buds were bursting on the trees. The air was warm and picnic-perfect, with crocuses, daffodils, and other spring bulbs sprouting in brightly colored clusters. I was startled at the change until I remembered how the Otherworldly kingdoms were tied to their monarchs. I could pour my energy into the land and help heal it. Dorian kept the Oak Land in a perpetual state of autumn because it brought on memories of his youth that made him feel good and strong. If Maiwenn had just given birth, wouldn’t her land reflect that burst of new life?

Kiyo shifted back to human shape as we approached the castle’s main gates. Those guarding it gave me curious looks but welcomed him with cheers and genuine affection. Indeed, the happy energy was palpable as we walked the halls. Everyone in Maiwenn’s hold acted as though they were on their way to a party. Smiles shone on everyone’s faces.

Kiyo required no escort or guide as he led us swiftly through the halls, up a few flights of stairs, and into Maiwenn’s bedroom. As soon as we entered, I decided I might need to have a talk with Shaya about redecorating. The bedroom I’d inherited from Aeson was that of a medieval warlord, with blocky furniture, few windows, and everything—from the thick stone walls to the bedding—in dark, somber colors. Maiwenn’s room was light and airy, ringed in windows and filled with exquisite, delicate-looking birch furniture. The sheets on her bed were lavender silk, and gauzy material hung from the canopy. It looked like a room befitting a fairy princess—er, queen.