Page 5 of Once the Skies Fade (Immortal Reveries #2)

Chapter 5

Matthias

S ettling onto a barstool at the only pub in Holsham—The Houndstooth—I lifted a finger, signaling to the pub owner. This was decidedly one of my favorite pubs in our entire country, due in no small part to the pretty female who owned it. Hailee’s green eyes lit up with a playful wickedness as she came to stand in front of me, lifting a glass and bottle of whiskey from beneath the bar.

“Two visits in as many months, general? What did I do to deserve such a treat?” she asked, pursing her lips. But the mischievous gleam in her eyes indicated she knew exactly what she’d done the last time.

My gaze lifted lazily to the ceiling—to where her bedroom sat on the second floor—before circling back around to find her leaning across the bar. It was impossible to avoid staring at her breasts, which seemed ready to spill out of her dress at any moment. An accident I would welcome.

I smirked as the memories returned—her hands fisting her blankets, her brown hair cascading down her back, and her moans filling my ears. My body responded immediately to the images playing in my head, and I had to shift in my seat to relieve some of the pressure.

“Unfortunately, I’m not here for you—or me, for that matter,” I said.

“So, all business this time?” she asked, dropping her chin. Some of her hair fell from behind her shoulder, and I caught a lock of it in my hand. Rolling it between my thumb and forefinger, I pulled the corners of my mouth down and released a long exhale.

“I am in a bit of a rush.”

Hailee peered up from beneath thick lashes. “Some things don’t take too long, you know.”

Her tongue slid out to wet her bottom lip seductively before she bit down on it, flooding my mind with memories of all that mouth of hers could do.

Fuck.

I shifted again on the stool and shook my head, as much at her as at my own growing need for release. Connor might forgive my tardiness for business reasons, but this wasn’t likely on his list of acceptable excuses.

Finally, I said, “Maybe another time.”

Hailee rolled her eyes, exaggerating her sigh as she straightened and pulled her hair free from my fingers. “If you say so, general. What can I do for you then?”

I downed the whiskey in one gulp and set the glass back down on the bar before answering her. “Word is you’ve had a human in here recently.”

Her expression froze as if I’d just accused her of murder, but she quickly recovered, raising her chin slightly. “When did that become a crime?”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “It hasn’t, but this woman might be of particular interest to the crown.”

“What did she do?” When I didn’t respond, she huffed out an annoyed breath. “What does the king want with her?”

“Not your concern,” I said.

Hailee crossed her arms. “Then her whereabouts are none of yours either,” she said coldly.

Rubbing my hands together slowly, I pretended to be searching for my next word. Finally, I let my shoulders slump in defeat. I gestured for her to come closer, thankful when she obliged, until she hovered so close to me that I nearly forgot why I was really here. Swallowing hard, I forced myself to focus. “Thank you for confirming she’s been here. That’s all I needed.”

At this, Hailee pulled away and angled her head as she scrutinized me for a brief moment.

“We both know that’s not all you need,” she said bitterly.

“Perhaps, but duty calls.”

Hailee’s gaze briefly softened with pity, but she then pressed her lips together and shook her head at me. “If you aren’t careful, general, you’re going to put your work before your heart for so long you’ll eventually forget you even have one.”

I nodded slowly, letting my eyes drift closed as if I were seriously considering her warning. When I looked at her again, I pushed my lips into my favorite nonchalant frown and said, “That happened a long time ago.”

“Get what you needed?” Tanner asked, holding my mare’s reins to me.

“Nearly,” I said, and he gave a short, quiet laugh. “But she was here,” I clarified, as I mounted.

“Did Hailee say where she went? And are we sure it was this Raven woman?”

I shook my head with a sigh. My conscience snagged as I wheeled Storm’s head down the road that led south out of town, the opposite direction of the palace.

“So where are we going then?” Tanner asked as he trotted up beside me.

“I know someone in the area who might have heard something. It’s a long shot, but worth a try. At this point, I’ll try just about anything.”

In silence we traveled down the road for nearly an hour before reaching the blackened tree that marked the hidden path we needed. Without a word, I turned Storm into the forest and started down the barely visible trail, ducking to avoid the low-hanging branches. Tanner followed silently.

The air around us grew colder as the thick canopy overhead blocked out the afternoon sunlight. After another hour of navigating the dense woods, the small house came into view up ahead. It was a stout little building covered in moss and ivy, helping it blend in with its surroundings. A small veranda ran along the front of it with two rocking chairs sitting beside the door.

No sooner had I dismounted than the door opened, and a slender woman stepped out. She planted her hands firmly on her hips as she glared at me. Her eyes darted to Tanner, still atop his mount, before landing squarely back on me.

“Must be serious if you take this risk, brother,” she said, tossing her head toward him. When I didn’t respond, she addressed Tanner directly in a stern, yet teasing, voice. “You can come down. I’m not going to bite you, you know.”

Tanner made no move to comply, so I turned to him, shrugging. “Sera does actually bite, but only if you make her mad.”

Sera scoffed. “That was one time, and you deserved it.”

“She’s your sister?” Tanner asked quietly, still refusing to dismount.

“Half-sister, actually,” she explained before I could answer, tucking her long brown hair behind her rounded ears. “Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit the outward fae traits from our father.”

“Hence why she lives out here away from town,” I further explained to Tanner, but it still wasn’t until I gave him a quick nod that he actually stepped down, sliding the reins over his gelding’s head.

Sera laughed once before spinning around and waving us to follow her inside while speaking over her shoulder, “Tie the horses to the rail and come on.”

The house was simple with one large main room containing the kitchen and a living area. Four doorways at the back led to two small bedrooms, a privy, and out back to the garden. The room was sparsely furnished, but cozy and inviting as it had always been since she and her husband had settled here before the war.

Gesturing toward the dining table, Sera invited us both to sit before she turned back to where a kettle steamed on the stove.

“You still take your tea with entirely too much sugar?” she asked as she swiveled around and placed two mugs on the table before us.

I said nothing, but immediately reached for the small sugar bowl in the center. As I heaped a few spoonfuls into mine, my sister laughed heartily. She dropped her hands onto the back of the empty chair across the table from me, watching as I swirled my spoon around and around to dissolve the sugar crystals.

Sighing loudly, my sister asked, “What do you need, Matthias? It’s not like you to come by unexpectedly. Especially with company.”

Gently, I set the spoon down and clasped my hands together on the table. “A human traveling through.”

“A rebel?” she asked quietly.

“Former one—hopefully.”

“When?”

“Last couple weeks, give or take.”

The chair scraped loudly against the wooden floor as she pulled it out, and it creaked when she sat down. She opened her mouth to speak, but then a small voice came from behind me.

“Uncle Matthias!”

I turned to find my niece running at me at full speed. She launched herself into my arms, and I grunted loudly. Ignoring Tanner’s curious expression, I focused on the young girl in my lap. While she resembled a human of about eight years old with her rounded ears and smaller stature, she and her brother had been born near the end of the war nearly twenty-five years ago. A momentary sting pricked my heart at how much she now resembled her father. The way her mouth twisted into a sarcastic grin and her blue eyes lit up like she was about to play a practical joke on me like her father often had.

But remembering my lost friend was not on the agenda for today, and I focused on the girl before me, scrunching my face as if I were confused.

“Who are you?” I asked.

She slapped both hands on my cheeks and shot me an exasperated look. “It’s me! Lorynne!”

Closing my eyes, I shook my head vehemently. “No. Can’t be. Lorynne is much smaller.”

“I grew!”

I squinted at her for a moment, and then leaned in close, whispering. “My Lorynne is cuter too.”

Showing no offense, Lorynne threw her arms around my neck and squeezed me tightly, as if I hadn’t just visited a couple months ago. Nestling into my neck, she whispered, “I missed you.”

“Missed you too, Ladybug,” I said before planting a kiss onto her head. “But I can’t stay this time, I’m afraid.”

At this, she straightened and eyed me suspiciously for a moment before slumping her shoulders in disappointment. Before she could voice any complaint, though, my sister was speaking to her.

“Lory, I told you not to leave your brother outside.” Lorynne started to protest, but her mother stopped her with a quick lift of her hand. “Go. You can come say goodbye when he leaves.”

“Fine,” she muttered, leaning toward my ear and whispering. “She’s no fun anymore.”

Sending my sister a sidelong glance, I whispered back, “That’s what happens when you get to be that old.”

Lorynne rolled her eyes as she climbed off my lap. “She’s not that much older than you, silly.”

“That’s why we’re both so serious,” I said, pinching my face into the sternest expression I could manage.

“Speaking of serious,” Sera interjected, “go on, Lorynne. Your uncle and I need to finish our talk.”

Begrudgingly, my niece rushed off across the room and out the back door. I caught Sera’s gaze.

“She looks like Gabriel,” I said, struggling to ignore how his name tasted of ash on my tongue.

Sera bit down on her lower lip and nodded. “Indeed. Has more and more of his humor now too.”

Tanner eyed me curiously. “Didn’t know you were so good with kids.”

I angled my head at him. “I’m good with everyone.”

“Except the humans, apparently,” my sister said, pulling my attention back to her and the matter at hand.

“Apparently,” I agreed. “So have you seen her? Heard anything?”

She shook her head slowly. “I haven’t seen anyone, but when Lottie delivered my last order from the market, she mentioned a human had been spotted slipping over the wall into Kinham. Whether it was the one you’re looking for, I’m not sure.”

Whether it was Raven or someone else fleeing to Kinham, there was little I could do without causing more political turmoil. I was just about to stand when Sera spoke again.

“There is something else though—unrelated to the humans but more important, especially if it turns out to be true.”

Leaning forward, I rested my forearms on the table. “And what’s that?”

“It’s about Prince Brennan. There are rumors going around about his death.”

My blood chilled. All we’d heard from Arenysen was that he had died and their healers were still investigating. But I knew as well as anyone that news traveled faster outside of the official channels—not that it was always the most accurate.

When she didn’t say more, I prompted her with a raised brow.

“Word is it was no accident,” she said.

I frowned briefly. “We’d be foolish to assume it was.”

“And what if it was the queen—his wife—who killed him?”