Suzanne Lazear - Charmed Vengeance

He climbed up the bent trunk into the tree house. The sheer Noli-ness of the place nearly knocked him over. From the hammer on the ground to the long-forgotten dried blooms, he could practically hear her voice calling to him.

Surprisingly, a clan of wood faeries hadn’t taken residence. They came into this realm, and who wouldn’t want to live in a tree cared for by Magnolia?

The window gave him an unobstructed view of the Darrow residence. As he observed the sadly empty backyard something caught his eye. The backdoor seemed ajar, and not just cracked open, but crooked. He studied the house for several moments, watching for signs of life.

The longer he eyed the eerily still house, the more he got the idea that something was amiss. It was in the curvature of the back fence boards, the too-many-boot prints in the grass.

Yes, this required further investigation.

Had someone else gotten to the girl first? Ciarán wouldn’t be the only one to remember Tiana had a daughter—or recognize that something would need to be done sooner rather than later. Yet, who would have the gall to make such a treasonous move? The dark king could get away with things no one else in the Otherworld could. Climbing down the tree, Kevighn took his dagger from his boot and hopped over the fence into the other yard. The boot prints were from several different men, but all the same type, like they were soldiers. He made his way inside, creeping quietly, using the slightest touch of magic to see if anyone lurked within.

Nothing. No one living, at least.

Blood streaked the floor of the ransacked kitchen and he followed the trail. The already decaying carcass of the former earth king lay in what looked like a study. Kevighn grimaced at the sight and stench. He held no lost love for the former king, in fact, part of him seethed at the idea of never getting to settle the score they had. Yet at the same time, here was an exile who’d died all alone. A sad death for someone who’d once been king. Had Queen Tiana killed him?

Perhaps this lonely demise was justice enough. His hand glowed as he used his magic to examine the body. The old king hadn’t died from magic, but of mundane knife wounds.

No … he’d died of both. Interesting. A ploy to foil the mortal police perhaps?

Leaving the body where he’d found it, Kevighn trekked upstairs to search for more bodies and clues. As miserable as finding the body had been, that wasn’t his task. Also, he wouldn’t be too upset if he found Stiofán’s carcass as long as he got to kill Quinn himself.

No other bodies hid in any of the rooms. When he went into a girl’s room, presumably Ailís’, he frowned. Drawers were pulled out and things strewn about. Where some of the downstairs rooms looked ransacked, none of the bedrooms had been so. Certainly, a king-killer wouldn’t be looking for something hidden in a little girl’s room.

She’d fled. Probably with her protector, Quinn the Fair.

He picked up a forgotten doll and stuffed it in his rucksack along with a photo. Hopefully he could use the toy to locate the girl. As he walked down the hall he gazed at the door of the bedroom that belonged to Stiofán. At least, he presumed it was Stiofán’s considering it was his name written in the many boring tomes lining the desk.

Did the he know about his father? Probably not, since he’d properly dispose of the body. Most likely he’d return as soon as his quest concluded.

A devilish grin spread across Kevighn’s face. He should leave the prince a little surprise.

“Ready, Noli?” Steven took Noli’s hand as they strolled down the street toward his house, James behind them. They’d sent aethergraphs to Noli’s mother and Jeff letting them know that she was still alive. Now it was time to let his father know he survived his ordeal as well.

“I could wait.” Noli gazed at his house and bit her lower lip.

Steven shook his head, squeezing her hand. “I told you, now that I have you back I’m not going to let my father keep us apart. Not anymore.”

“I’m glad.” She returned his squeeze, giving him a faint smile.

He didn’t blame her for being apprehensive—his father never liked her much and had given them nothing but trouble from the moment they’d declared themselves a couple. His belly didn’t unclench either. This act of defiance scared him. He’d always been the first to mind his father—or mother. As eldest son, that was his job. To obey. To be perfect. At least his father hadn’t been the one to order him to break Noli’s stone. Still, he wouldn’t be happy that Steven found a way to stay with her.

Queen Tiana would also be displeased. But that was another matter entirely. One that inspired terror. Still, Noli was worth it.

“You two are so mushy.” James made a face of disgust.

“I’m sorry.” Noli’s cheeks pinked and she dropped Steven’s hand as if burned.

“I … I didn’t mean it like that,” James apologized. “I … ” He looked away.

Noli put a hand on James’ shoulder. “I understand.” Lips so tight they went white, he nodded, gulping. Steven joined them. “Well, we try.”

James gave him a weak smile, running his finger over the watch chain, which he’d attached to his pocket watch. “I do appreciate it. More than you know.”

“Are you sure I should go with you.” Noli looked around as if any moment the propriety police would jump out of the bushes and give her a citation.

He took her hand again and kissed it. “I want you to come with me.”

“Well, if you insist.” She nodded, lips pressed together.

They walked down the side of the house toward the back door. It looked empty. His father was probably working and Quinn and Elise most likely elsewhere. Given the time of day, Quinn and Elise would certainly return soon.

Noli studied the back fence and frowned. “Someone’s climbed over the fence. There,” she pointed toward her yard, “and there.” She indicated the back wall.

“Look at all these footprints.” James gestured to the grass around them.

Steven went cold. “Footprints. Why would there be footprints in my backyard?”

“He said you’d pay,” Noli whispered. “He said you’d pay, this is all my fault.”

“Noli, this is not your fault.” He cupped her face with his hands, trying to reassure her while an odd feeling sat like a lump in his own belly. “We aren’t even certain that something’s amiss.” That feeling of foreboding wouldn’t leave.

“The door’s ajar.” James went pale.

The bottom fell out of Steven’s belly. “This doesn’t bode well.”

Something flapped from the bottom corner of the door. He bent down and picked off the piece of green fabric and held it up to the fading light.

“Earth court colors,” James whispered, eyes widening in horror.

“Its Brogan, it’s all my fault.” Noli shook, but she didn’t wail or cry.

He put an arm around her. “Let’s go inside. Perhaps my uncle simply paid my father a social call. After all, they are brothers.”

Steven didn’t believe it himself. His uncle had never visited them in the mortal realm. Why now? He opened the door. Blood splattered the kitchen and it looked as if a skirmish had occurred. His knees went weak and Noli’s hand flew to her mouth.

“It’s just blood,” Steven told her—and himself—as he glanced around the kitchen searching for bodies. Drawers had been pulled out and cupboards opened. “You don’t have to go any further. Do you want to go to your own house and wait for us?”

She shook her head and grabbed his hand. “We’ll this together.”

That was his Noli.

James shuffled over to them, frowning, something in his hand. “Earth court guard knife. This doesn’t look good.”