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Chapter 17

Meera

What could one do when locked in a room for days? Well, I’d spent the first two destroying things and crying, plotting the demise of a certain leprechaun. The necklace that had been forced on me? I knew all about it. I was the one who’d been paid to find it last year. I just didn’t recognize it when I first saw it in the library. If that’s not the consequences of my actions coming back to bite me in the ass, I don’t know what is. Even though I knew what would happen, I still tried to take it off, hoping and praying that since I’d touched it before, it wouldn’t hurt me. The burns on my hands proved that theory was wrong.

If I spent too much time focusing on my situation, the rage tears wanted to make a reappearance, and I was over the stuffy nose and swollen eyes. Besides a good long nap, the only thing that kept me sane was the company of a certain cat and reading romance novels.

Vareck was clearly trying to suck up to me. Flowers? What a generic, shitty gesture after binding my powers. Even though the lilies were downright beautiful, something as simplistic as a floral arrangement wasn’t an apology. It was actually maddening that he could think something so shallow would win my affection or earn my forgiveness. Then he sent books. While it was still a shitty attempt, all things considered, he was at least sending me romance books. Stacks of them. I was devouring them like potato chips. Even though I was still pissed at him, the books did make for some interesting dreams. Weird how I could want to strangle him during the day, but each night my dreams were filled with him. Every delicious inch of him. An ache throbbed between my legs, and I squeezed them together.

Think about that damn leprechaun and how he did you dirty, I reminded myself. The thought of Lou, Lucian—the liar—sent ice through my veins and cooled any heat that had been building.

“Quit moving,” Corvo mumbled, half asleep. His heavy weight pressed into my abdomen.

I groaned, trying to adjust my body and stretch. I had no idea how long I’d been asleep for, but now my bladder was full, and a fat cat was pressing on it. I had no reason to be tired. None. Physically I hadn’t done much at all, minus some furniture tossing worthy of an Olympic medal. Emotionally, I was drained. The loss of my magic filled me with an exhaustion of hollowed sadness.

“Get up, Corvo, I have to pee.”

He meowed in annoyance, a long and loud drawn-out sound, but he complied, and I ran to the bathroom. When I came out, he was curled up on the bed where I’d just been, hogging the warm spot.

“I have a question,” I began, running my finger through my hair to comb it. “Why are you sleeping on me? That’s the sixth time I’ve woken up and found you on top or curled up beside me. ”

“You were cold.” He looked away, staring at the window when a small red bird landed on the sill.

“How did you know I was cold?”

He returned his golden eyes to me, giving me the most deadpanned look I’d ever seen on a cat. “You were shivering. Usually that indicates someone is cold. So I warmed you up.”

“You’re kind of an asshole ninety-nine percent of the time. Why are you being nice to me?”

“I like you. Don’t tell Vareck.” Corvo turned his paw upside down, nibbling on his nail and licking it afterward. “I’ll deny it if he asks.”

I huffed loudly. “I won’t speak to him anyway, so you have nothing to worry about.”

“You should know, I threw up in his shoes for you. You’re welcome.”

I chuckled, hoping Vareck stepped in it. Jackass. “Something tells me you like doing that for yourself, and not for my sake.”

“Can’t both be true at once?”

Laughing, I reached over and scratched Corvo behind the ear, and his eyes closed, pressing his head against my hand as he started to purr loudly. “You have the touch, Meera. Keep scratching my ear like this, and I’ll trip him out the window for you too.”

“I appreciate the gesture but maybe avoid the windows. Faerie needs a king. I wouldn’t be sad if you shit in his shoes, though.”

“I’ll have a hairball for him later. Right on his favorite chair.”

“Sounds perfect.” I winked before asking, “What time is it?” I wished I hadn’t broken the clock. I might have been able to get it working again had I not thrown it in the fireplace. Hope it wasn’t important.

“Ooo, it’s almost afternoon tea,” he cooed, excitement in his voice.

I walked over to a crate that had been delivered the day before, and squatted down, balancing on my toes as I started sifting through the contents. It looked like an entire thrift store was in here, except everything was my size. He clearly had no idea how to go thrifting, or whoever it was he sent, so they just bought the lot, cleaned them all, and sent them to me. “You don’t drink tea,” I commented, pulling out a white turtleneck and an oversized, long black cardigan with deep pockets, holding them up to each other. What a killer find. Another pair of jeans, a black belt, and some black boots and this will look great. Leggings will have to go under the pants. It was simply too cold without them here.

“No, but I eat chicken, and they’ll definitely send you some,” he said, smacking his mouth and licking over his whiskers. He moved himself across the bed, closer to the edge as he observed me. “What in the nine realms did he send now? It looks like he robbed a rubbish bin.”

I threw a shoe at him, and he ducked, though I purposefully didn’t aim to hit. “Watch it, lord high-and-mighty. Thrifting is wonderful, and too many people don’t appreciate it, looking down on it like it’s some bad thing because it’s not brand new. But let me tell you, cat, I have a seven-dollar cast iron pan that is better than any expensive name brand nonsense on the store shelves. It’s a wonderful and cost-effective concept, and it lessens waste.”

He tilted his head, considering me for a while. “You know, you could do a lot of good for Faerie. ”

I stopped sifting through the clothes, glancing at him for clarification. “Meaning?”

“When you’re queen, of course.”

I choked, causing me to bounce on my toes and then tip over with a thud. “You have some stash of catnip around here, don’t you?”

“Of course I do, but that’s beside the point.”

Before I could argue with him any further, a knock at the door interrupted us. Normally, whoever was leaving something would knock and then leave. I usually waited for a while before opening it, just in case. This time was different. A familiar voice called my name from the other side.

“It’s Kaia,” Corvo said to me as if I couldn’t tell. Then he turned in a circle and curled into a ball.

“I know that,” I shot back, heading to the door and opening it just a fraction. I peeked through the sliver and raised a brow in question.

She was dressed in her royal blue uniform, leather armor layered on top as I would have expected. Did this woman ever take a day off? Her purple eyes softened when she saw me, and even though she was this badass High Commander, she smiled. I figured under different circumstances, we’d be friends. “I come bearing a gift,” she said, holding a small box up so I could see it. “And I’m alone.”

Swinging the rest of the door open, I let her in. I wanted to be mad at her. She was the one that found Lou. She was the one who procured this fucking necklace. Hell, it was her idea! Still, I was good at reading people, for the most part. I tended to go against my better judgement when it came to taking jobs from a certain trickster, but my instinct said Kaia was inherently good. Loyal. And honestly, there was a kindness in her eyes that couldn’t be faked .

“I see you’ve redecorated,” she said carefully, glancing around the room at the broken wreckage.

Crossing my arms, I shifted my weight to one leg. “Needed a woman’s touch.”

Corvo snickered, and Kaia frowned at him.

“His latest delivery, I presume?” She commented, gesturing to the crate of clothes. She assessed the sweatpants and sweatshirt I’d been in for two days before noticing the outfit I’d just picked out. “Looks like he made a good choice.”

“Because he cares so deeply, right?” I turned around, heading back to the crate. Picking up the cardigan and turtleneck, I laid them out on the bed. “What do you want, Kaia?”

She stepped forward, her chin lifted slightly and her shoulders straight. “I thought about trying to talk some sense into you, but I see you aren’t up for reason just yet.”

I was completely taken aback, and my body stiffened, ready to verbally spare. “Excuse me? Reason ? Because I don’t find his gifts flattering? I was taken from my home, my magic was bound against my will, and I am being held captive. Please tell me how I should be acting right now, High Commander.”

Kaia barked a laugh. “Oh, playing the innocent now, are we?” She shook her head. “Take some accountability, Meera.”

My jaw dropped, and I pointed to the door. “You can see yourself out, Kaia.”

“No.” She took a step forward, the box still in hand. “Stop acting like a petulant child. Your current predicament is due to your actions. The king didn’t take you captive for his own pleasure, so stop playing the victim. You came here and kidnapped the prince. What was he supposed to do? Tell me. You have a sister, yes? Brothers? You’d go after them too.” I inhaled sharply, caught off guard that she knew about my family. “You think I didn’t research you the moment I found out who you are? You’re smarter than that.”

“This goes beyond Prince Damon,” I argued, jutting my chin out.

“Of course it does, but the prince isn’t a red herring. He’s just the catalyst. The king has been looking for you for years, but only to know who you are. To find out if you were real. If Vareck had discovered your existence any other way, do you honestly think he would have just kidnapped you once he did?” She huffed humorlessly, shaking her head in disappointment. “The man has been obsessed with a dream for four long years. I can assure you; this was not how he expected it to go.”

“He bound my magic. And it was your idea,” I said through clenched teeth, my heart starting to pound with anger.

“I’d do it again. And you know what? If you were in my position, so would you.” She tossed me the box, and I caught it before she continued. “You’re incredibly strong, Meera. It’s admirable, really. A good match for him. But the reality is you can’t be trusted, and you know it. I won’t have you persuading the king again. If you can’t see how your choices led you here, I don’t know what else to tell you other than to enjoy your self-imposed misery. Staying locked in here and bitching and moaning gets you nowhere. Frankly, it’s tedious.”

I wanted to blow up. I wanted to argue until I was blue in the face. The problem was, I didn’t have a rebuttal. There was no defense. She was right. Every single stupid word was right .

“She’s not lying, you know,” Corvo added, jumping off the bed and coming to rub against my legs. “The Can Opener isn’t really the kidnapping type. He’s more like the guys in some of your books. Not the pastry kind. Like the other ones you like. The growly ones.”

“Pastries?” Kaia and I asked in unison.

“Cinnamon rollies? I don’t know what you called them.”

I pressed my lips together in an attempt to suppress a smile while Kaia just looked confused. “Cinnamon rolls,” I said, supplying him with the correct terminology.

“That’s the one,” he said, sitting down on his haunches and curling his tail around his body. He angled his head toward the stack of books and the crate of clothes. “Don’t you find it interesting that you are still not in a prison cell? That he has allowed you to lock yourself in his rooms, safe, where a certain noble mother can’t access or torture you?”

“Suddenly you’re on his side?” I muttered.

“I’m on anyone’s side that feeds me. I am particularly fond of you, though, and lying to you isn’t going to get me extra scratches or your leftovers,” he replied. “Remember that I’m also his familiar. I know him pretty well.”

“I don’t know what pastries have to do with anything, but Corvo makes a valid point, Meera,” Kaia said, sighing, gesturing to the room. “You’re being held in luxury, and believe me, he’s getting heat for that.”

“And he showers you with stuff,” the cat added, walking over to the crate and jumping on top of the lid before pawing at it for effect. “Stuff that you like. That’s how people worship gods. I would know.”

Kaia rolled her eyes. “I think he means to say that Vareck isn’t sending you mindless gifts. He’s putting thought into it. ”

“He is,” I admitted, glancing at my growing collection. I blew out a big breath, letting my body release some of the tension I’d been holding. “I’m sorry I snapped at you. You’re . . . not wrong. About all of it.”

“I know. Apology accepted,” she said, and I could see in her eyes that she meant it. I’m not sure my outburst had even bothered her to begin with, at least not on a personal level. She looked at the box I was holding. “You should open that.”

“Why didn’t he leave it at the door?” I asked, pulling the string so it unraveled.

Kaia’s gaze shot to the shards of a pitcher and a broken picture frame. “Guessing he wanted to make sure you didn’t try to destroy this one.”

When I lifted the lid, I saw why he’d be concerned about it. It was an antique hair comb, lined with rubies and diamonds that glittered as the light moved across them. I traced the outline of it in awe. “Where did he get this?”

“The family vault,” Corvo and Kaia said at the same time.

My lips parted, and I blinked a few times, processing what I was holding in my hands. “I can . . . I can see why you brought it then.”

“Meera,” Kaia said, softening her posture slightly and lowering her tone from the chastising soldier she’d been earlier, “I say this as his friend, and nothing more. Just talk to him.”

She inclined her chin, turning on her heel and heading to the door.

“Thank you,” I said quickly, making sure to get it out before she left. I held up the box. “For this, yes, but for calling me out on my bullshit. ”

Kaia raised her brows in genuine surprise. “Not often I get thanked for that.”

“Yeah, well, you haven’t met my sister. Sadie is usually the one who calls me—or anyone else—out on our bullshit, and I needed that.”

“Sounds like your sister and I would get along well.”

“Scary thought, but probably true.”

After Kaia left, I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the family heirloom. It was old . At least two hundred years old, I’d guess, based on the design of the comb. While I collected antique jewelry, I certainly didn’t have anything this old from Faerie. Most of what I found was from the human world, and even then, my oldest piece was Victorian.

“There’s a note for you,” Corvo said, breaking my train of inner thoughts. I looked under the comb, trying to see what he was talking about. “At the door.”

There it was. A piece of parchment on the floor, having slipped through when I wasn’t paying attention.

It was a formal request to have dinner with him, in what I assume was Vareck’s handwriting as it was marked with his royal seal. “He’s inviting me to dinner?”

“Are they serving tuna?” Corvo piped up, his whiskers twitching.

I pursed my lips at him. “You’re worse than a hobbit.”

“I don’t know what that is, but if it likes food, we’ll get along.”

“You’d be a perfect match,” I said in agreement, petting him absentmindedly. I thought about what Kaia and Corvo had said. While everything she said was right, there was something in particular that she’d pointed out that rang especially true. “I need to talk to him,” I mumbled. “Before dinner.”

“Then go talk to him. ”

“Pretty sure he’s not on the other side of the door, eavesdropping. I don’t know where he is.”

Corvo looked away, staring blankly at the wall. His eyes glowed for a brief moment before returning to normal. “He’s outside.”

“How did you?—”

“Familiar, remember?” He reached his front legs out, pulling his back up into a deep stretch. Claws emerged while he let out a little groan. “Get dressed. I’ll lead you to him without Eleanor seeing you. And I have a surprise for you.”