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Unsure how the day had gone so suddenly tense, Seth shot another glance at Devlin, who was approaching their table.
He stopped, still invisible, and said to Niall, “Trouble comes, my friend. Sorcha is not the only target.”
“Is she ever?” Niall flicked open his lighter.
Without being invited, Devlin pulled a chair out and joined them. “Sorcha was once fond of you. That should matter, even to you. What she needs is—”
“I don’t want to know, Dev. You see what I am now….”
“In control of your own path.”
Niall laughed. “No. Not that. Never that.”
Seth wasn’t sure what the right move was, but when he started to stand, Niall gripped his forearm. “Stay.”
Devlin watched, seemingly impassive. “He’s yours?”
“He’s my friend,” Niall corrected.
“He sees me. He saw her.” Devlin’s tone wasn’t accusing, but it was alarming nonetheless. “Mortals aren’t to See.”
“He does. If you try to take him”—Niall bared his teeth in an animalistic snarl—“any kindness I once felt for your queen or friendship for you will not stop my anger.” Then he glanced at Seth. “Go nowhere with him. Ever.”
Seth raised one brow in silent question.
Devlin stood. “If Sorcha had meant for me to take the mortal, he’d be gone. She hasn’t ordered his collection. I am here now warning you of trouble in your court.”
“And reporting back on it.”
“Of course.” Devlin gave Niall a look that was beyond disdainful. “I report everything to my queen. I serve the High Court in all things. Be alert to my sisters’ words.”
Then he stood and left.
Niall ground out his first cigarette, which he hadn’t smoked, and pulled out another.
“Want to explain any of that?” Seth gestured around the room.
“Not really.” Niall lit the cigarette and took a long drag. He held the cigarette in front of him with a bemused look on his face. “And really, I’m not sure I can explain it all.”
“Are you in danger?”
Niall exhaled and gri
“Am I?”
“Not from Devlin. He’d have tried to take you if he was sent here to do so.” Niall glanced at the doorway through which the High Court faery had left. “Devlin comes here on High Court business because Sorcha does not often walk among mortals.”
“And the faery who attacked you?”
Niall shrugged. “It’s one of her hobbies. She enjoys violence, discord, pain. Keeping her in check is one of the many challenges Irial left me. He helps, but…I have trouble trusting him.”
Seth didn’t know what to say to that. They sat in awkward silence for several cigarettes.
The waitress stopped to clean the tables nearest them—again. She stared at Niall with blatant interest. Most faeries and mortals did. Niall was a Gancanagh, seductive and addictive. Until he’d become Dark King, his affection was also fatal to his partners.
“Who was she? The faer—” Seth broke the word off as the waitress came to their table with a clean ashtray. He told her, “We’ll let you know if we need anything.”
“I don’t mind stopping, Seth.” She spared him a scowl before turning her attention to the Dark King. “Niall…Is there anything you need?”
“No.” Niall stroked the girl’s bare arm. “You’re always good to us. Isn’t she, Seth?”
After the waitress walked away, sighing and darting a glance back at Niall, Seth rolled his eyes and muttered, “We ought to pass those charms of yours out to everyone here.”
A grin replaced the gloomy expression on Niall’s face. “Spoilsport.”
“Enjoy it. Enjoy the attention, but reserve your affection for faeries,” Seth cautioned.
“I know that. I just need”—the Dark King winced as if the thought hurt him—“I just need you to keep reminding me. I don’t ever want to be what Keenan is, what Irial was.”
“Which is?” Seth asked.
“A selfish bastard.”
“You’re a faery king, man. I don’t know how much choice you have. And with what just happened with the raven-faery—”
“Don’t. I would spare you and myself from your knowing the unpleasant things in my life if you’ll let me.”
Seth held up a hand in a halting gesture. “Your call. I’m not judging you either way.”
“That makes one of us then,” Niall murmured. After a still moment, he straightened his shoulders, rolling them like he was testing for motility. “I suppose the true dilemma is where to direct my bastardness.”
“Or you know, try harder on the resisting-it thing.”
“Sure.” Niall’s expression was bland as he added, “That’s exactly what the Dark King is to do: resist temptation.”
Chapter 6
Aisli
“Aisli
She waited. The cockatiel took flight. None of the other birds came toward her. Instead, they all seemed to be watching her expectantly. The cockatiels’ crests were raised. The other birds merely stared at her—or in the direction Keenan had gone. A few squawked or chirped.
“Fine. I’ll go see him.”
She followed him into the study. The room was one of the two that were Keenan’s domain. The other—his bedroom—wasn’t one she ever entered, but the study was where they usually went when it was just the two of them. She felt weird going in there without him. The Summer Girls sometimes curled up on the sofa with a book, but they had no interest in keeping boundaries with Keenan. Aisli
Aisli
While she stood tentatively at the door, Keenan sat at one end of a dark brown leather sofa. Someone had set out a pitcher of ice water; condensation was rolling down the sides of it in little rivulets. It puddled on the surface of the slab of agate that served as a coffee table. He tossed away one of the newest pillows, an oversized deep green thing without any ostentatious decorations. “Donia won’t see me.”
Aisli
“Maybe over asking about Bananach. Maybe still over this business with Niall. Maybe something…else—” Keenan broke off midthought and scowled.
“Did she talk to you at all?” Briefly, Aisli
“No. I was stopped at the door again, refused admittance to the house. ‘Unless it is official business,’ Evan said. For three days, she’s been unavailable and now this.”