Page 3 of Beyond the Winter Kingdom (Faeted Seasons #2)

Cadoc turned, finally refocusing on his surroundings. “Okay, but is no one going to address the fact that the cat is talking?”

Corvo hissed at him. “Who you calling a cat?”

“What the hell else would we call him?” Darroch whispered. “He’s literally a cat. Just hissed and everything.”

Vareck growled, the rumble in his throat reverberating over my skin before he shouted. “Everyone sit down and shut up!” The entire room tensed, staring at him with wide eyes. He looked at my mother, politely inclining his chin, adding, “Please.”

He removed his forearm from Lou’s neck, pointed a finger in his face and grabbed him by the collar as he dragged him to a large rectangular table. “You included. One move to escape and you’re dead.”

Farris muttered, reminding us we were at his inn. “Oh good. Yer all stayin’, then? We’re really doin’ this?”

“I’m so sorry I broke your dishes, Farris,” I said, grimacing as my family pulled out chairs. The sound of the legs scraping against the wooden floor cut through the silence. I took the seat next to Lou, leaving an empty one next to me, but I had a feeling Vareck wasn’t going to sit.

With a crease between his brows, Farris looked around at a table full of angry redcaps. He finally sighed in resignation. “Can I get ya’ anythin’? It’s not on the house.”

Vareck held out his hand to shake the innkeeper's, clasping it firmly. “I’ll cover the damages. My apologies.”

Farris nodded, releasing Vareck’s handshake, speaking softly before his gaze jumped over every redhead in the room, myself included. “It’s not you I’m worried about, yer majesty.”

I felt my shoulders tighten the moment the words came out of his mouth.

“Did he just say ‘your majesty’?” Darroch whispered harshly to my dad, and my father nodded, then rubbed at his forehead with his eyes closed.

Vareck paused. “You knew who I was when we checked in?”

Ferris chuckled, rolling up his sleeves and evening out the crease of the fabric. “Of course. My wife an’ I traveled to Brumlow for yer coronation, an’ once more when ya’ opened the castle to commoners. Lovely event that was.”

I could feel six pairs of eyes burning into me.

My mom could barely hide her smirk. My dad remained stoic, but open-minded.

It was my idiot brothers who had a different reaction.

Each of them leaned back in their chairs, arms crossed.

Cadoc’s fingers were twitchy, and he started twirling one of his knives.

“Oi!” Farris shouted, shaking a hand at Cadoc. “Put that away an’ stop breakin’ my inn!”

“No,” Cadoc replied in a flat tone, without taking his eyes off Vareck.

I forced a smile for Farris’ sake. “They’ll behave themselves,” I said, hoping my assurance would placate him a little bit.

The wary look he gave me suggested he didn’t trust me either.

“Do you think we could get some of that tasty venison stew you made? And maybe a pitcher of ale?” Farris turned for the kitchen, muttering his incoherent response.

Lou put his hands on the table. “Well, this seems like a family affair. As nice as it’s been, it would only be polite if I saw myself out.”

Vareck grabbed his shoulder, shoving him back into the chair while he and my brothers spoke in unison. “Sit the fuck down.”

Lou held hands up in surrender, keeping his seat. “Hard to argue that,” he muttered.

“Won’t stop you from trying, though, will it?” Cadoc asked, keeping expert control of his blade. Lou watched it with concern. “If you didn’t need your tongue right now, I’d be happy to help you part ways with it.”

Darroch uncrossed his arms, leaning an elbow on the table as he gestured to Corvo and then me. “So we’re going to ignore the talking cat, and the fact that Meera is boinking the king of Faerie?”

“Again with the cat insults,” Corvo muttered.

“Boinking?” I repeated at the same time. “What are you, twelve?”

Darroch glared. “You’re my baby sister. Saying your name and the word ‘fucking’ in the same sentence when it’s in reference to?—”

Atlas kicked Darroch under the table. “You’re being a dick.

The talking cat, nor Meera’s ...” He glanced at Vareck, grimacing.

“ Friendly relationship with the king matters right now.” I didn’t have to look at Vareck to know that the situation had just gone from bad to worse, and that was before Corvo started cackling like the Wicked Witch of the West.

“There’s nothing friendly about our relationship.” A warm palm settled on my shoulder despite the apathetic tone of his voice. Vareck gave me a tight squeeze.

Kill. Me. Now.

I leaned back in my chair while rubbing my temples.

“This is a nightmare. That must be it.” I pinched myself, but nothing happened.

The silence was overwhelming. I pinched harder a second time, my nails breaking the skin.

“Fuck me. This can’t be real. Maybe I’m dead.

This must be hell. Explains why Lou’s here. ”

“Excuse me?” he asked, having the audacity to sound offended.

“Afraid not,” Corvo chimed in. “Hell is warmer. Two suns and all that.”

“But the cat is talking,” Fearghal said. They just couldn’t let that one go, could they?

“We’re in Faerie,” Atlas rolled his eyes. “I’m surprised the furniture isn’t breaking out in song and dance. A talking cat is the least important thing right now.” I gave him a tight smile, silently thanking him for trying to get this conversation back on track.

Corvo came down from the counter and sauntered over to the table, hopping into my lap. He balanced himself precariously before curling up. “Says I’m not important. Peasants.”

I stroked him absentmindedly, hoping he would help calm me. Granted, his loudmouth was part of what stressed me out, but if I pretended he was more like a therapy cat, maybe my heart rate would slow down.

My father took a deep breath, sitting up straight in his chair.

His short red hair was just as messy as my mother’s.

He looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks, and a sudden pang of guilt stabbed at me.

His daughters were missing. Of course he’d be worried and losing sleep.

“Atlas is right. We found Meera. Now we find Sadie.” He turned his attention to the leprechaun. “So where is she?”

Lou sighed loudly. “I don’t fucking know where she is. That’s why I came to Meera.”

I scrunched my nose and let out an annoyed harrumph. “Just when I think you can’t go any lower, you take a job from my family to find my sister and me, and then you try to hire me to find her.”

“You’re the best, lass. Everyone knows.” He glanced at my brothers. “Even though they act like you need saving, they know it too.”

“And you are the worst.”

Vareck squeezed Lou’s shoulder, pressing his fingers into the muscle. “Tell me more about the tracking spell on the necklace.”

Lou scratched his beard, stretching his neck. “I’d rather not.”

Cadoc flipped the knife up and caught it by the tip. He lifted a brow, angling his gaze toward Lou’s groin so he understood what was going to happen unless he cooperated.

“Fine,” Lou threw his hands up. “Point made. It’s not complicated. Just a simple tracking spell. Nothing more. Just as I said. Believe me or don’t, but it’s true that I wanted to keep an eye on you. Make sure you were safe”—he shifted his gaze toward the king in a once-over—”all things considered.”

I snorted with a huffed laugh. “Please. You didn’t want to lose a valuable asset.”

“Both things can be true, lass.” Lou shrugged, the expression on his face unchanging. “But the king came for a trinket to nullify your powers, and it doesn’t take a genius to see the danger in that. You might think I’m the worst, but I’m not soulless.”

My mother and father both clenched their fists, and my mother’s voice shook as she asked, “ He did what? ” Aw shit. As much as I hated that cursed necklace, I understood Vareck’s reasons for putting it on me. Reasons we didn’t have time to go into with Sadie missing.

“It’s not like that, Mom, I swear. He wasn’t trying to hurt me. It was the opposite, actually.” I pointed at my brothers as they opened their mouths. “And before any of you speak, don’t . You don’t know the full story.”

“What exactly is the full story?” Lou asked. “‘Cause from where I stood, it didn’t look good when you told him not to do it, demanded it in fact, and I watched him put it on you anyway.”

“Says the asshole who sold him the necklace to begin with.”

“I’m a businessman. It wasn’t personal, and I already told you I had a tracking spell put on it so I could find you. You act like I’m some heartless con man.”

“You said it, not me,” I replied.

“She wasn’t wearing the necklace when I found her,” Vareck said, cutting in. I didn’t miss the anger radiating from him. “How’d you know we were here at the inn?”

“I tracked the spell to Warwick. Got a portal. Then started asking questions about a curvy ginger. It wasn’t hard. You two practically left a trail of destruction behind. Made quite the impression on Irene.”

At the mere mention of her name, I clenched my teeth. “Of course you know that lecherous quim.”

He made a show of fanning himself after my insult. “A bit harsh, isn’t it, lass? That’s my cousin you’re talking about. Not all leprechauns know each other. Don’t be a speciest.” He tutted, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

My mouth fell open. “I’m not! I’m saying it because you’re both untrustworthy snakes, and she wanted me to work at her brothel.” Vareck’s features hardened, and he turned his neck to the side to crack it.

Lou patted his pocket, looking for a cigarette, but came up short. “And? What’s your point? She’s a businesswoman. Prostitution is the oldest profession. Can’t blame her for wanting to add a spicy redhead to her lineup.”

I placed my hand on Vareck’s trying to comfort him, but it didn’t work. Vareck dug his fingers into Lou’s shoulder again, pushing him further down in the chair.

“Correction, Lou. She tried to force me into it.”