A Strange Hymn
Page 50

She won’t look at me, even as she nods. And damnit, I feel bad about everything I’m doing and not doing right now because slavery twists it all up into something ugly.
She turns to leave.
“Hey, wait,” Temper says to the woman.
The woman doesn’t react.
“Hey,” Temper says, “I’m talking to you.”
The human woman pauses. Then, hesitantly, she turns back around.
Temper pats the empty seat next to her. “Sit down.”
The woman looks like sitting is the last thing she wants to do, but reluctantly she does in fact sit down.
“What’s your name?” As Temper talks, she begins fixing the woman a plate of sandwiches and a cup of tea.
“Gladiola.” The woman fidgets, glancing around us nervously.
“Hi, Gladiola, I’m Temper and this is Callie,” she says, introducing us. “Do you know what we are?”
Tentatively, Gladiola nods.
“So you’re aware that I can smite the shit out of any fairy that pisses me off, and that Callie here can get you to do whatever she wishes if she wants to?”
Awesome, coercing and scaring the enslaved human woman. Just how I envisioned spending Solstice.
Gladiola nods again.
“Oh, good. Well then, now that that’s cleared up, let’s enjoy a little snack together.” Temper pushes the plate of sandwiches she fixed for Gladiola a little closer to the woman. “So, tell me, what’s the latest gossip?”
Her eyes dart to me. “I’m not supposed to talk with you.”
“Why not?” Temper asks. “We’re all humans here.”
She just shakes her head.
“C’mon,” Temper encourages, “it’s alright, we just want to know a little gossip.”
I stare warily at my friend, trying to figure out what she’s playing at.
Gladiola lets out a shaky breath. “The fairies are uncomfortable that a human woman is going to become the next Night Queen.”
“I’m not going to be queen,” I say.
The woman glances down at her hands in her lap. “They don’t trust the Night King either. He killed another king, and the Fauna fae want revenge. And—” She hesitates.
“And what?” Temper encourages.
Gladiola’s hands twist in her lap. “People have been saying that the Night King is behind the disappearances.”
My stomach drops. That’s the second person today to say such a thing.
“They say,” she continues, “that he’s the last person they see.”
Unease skitters up my back.
It’s just a rumor.
Gladiola glances between the two of us. “Can I leave?”
Before either Temper or I can respond, a series of Night soldiers come running through the gardens.
Several of them flash past us before I snag one of them by the shirtsleeves. “What’s going on?”
He almost doesn’t stop. It’s not until he sees who caught him that he pauses.
He takes in a deep breath. “Another soldier has disappeared.”
Chapter 32
Another soldier has disappeared. That’s all I can concentrate on that evening as fairies enjoy yet another dance inside the Flora kingdom’s castle.
Since arriving here, three Night soldiers, four Fauna soldiers, one Day soldier, and two Flora soldiers have disappeared from the outskirts of the palace grounds. The numbers are staggering, even for the Thief of Souls.
Whoever he is, he’s growing bolder—or more desperate.
The whole thing casts a dark pall on the festival. Even this evening’s ball is a more somber occasion than the last two. The conversations are subdued, and I swear I see fairies looking over their shoulders, like the boogeyman might jump out and snatch them when they’re not looking.
This evening, rather than enjoying himself, Des ping-pongs from one official to the next, receiving updates, offering suggestions, and listening to worries. Even now, even when he’s supposed to be enjoying the evening, he’s working. I watch him, his arms folded across his massive chest as he leans down to listen to a Flora fae.
“I’m surprised he left you alone.” Janus steps up to my side, looking like the morning sun.
Almost immediately, I feel my panic rise.
He’s not going to take me, I try to calm myself. Not here at least.
An even sharper thought lances through me.
What if he’s behind the recent disappearances?
Sure, he wasn’t here that first evening when two of our men went missing, but he did take me, that I’m sure of.
“I’m surprised you’re not alongside him offering aide and advice.” I’m proud that my voice doesn’t tremble as I speak.
“I wanted a drink”—he lifts his glass—“and a break.” He swirls his wine. “Besides, I find the King of Night insufferable—no offense.”
He glances at me, and I hold his gaze. Everything about him is made to be warm and inviting, from his tan skin to his golden hair to his bright blue eyes. And yet I find him cold, so very, very cold.
You took me. We both know it.
“You must hate me,” he says softly, not looking away.
“Are you admitting to what you did?” I can’t believe I’m actually having this conversation.
“I didn’t take you.”
“You and I both know that’s not true,” I say.
“Gods above,” he says, glancing heavenward, “it is.”
My skin is crawling. Every second I stand here talking to this man, I feel like I’m one step closer to death.
“Listen,” I say, leaning in, “I don’t know if you are the Thief of Souls, or if you simply work for him, but I will fucking pin this on you, you sick son of a bitch.”
I’m shaking, and I’m frightened, and I’m hopped up on enough adrenaline to lift a car, but I just looked my abductor in the eye and told him off.
Goddamn, I feel like a badass.
I’m about to leave when he catches my wrist. “Wait—”
“Do not touch me,” I warn.
From his conversation across the room, Des’s head snaps up, his attention honing in on us.
Janus releases my wrist like it burned him. “I was giving a speech to my people when you were taken. I have proof.”
Shadows creep up the edges of the room.
“I don’t believe you,” I tell him. But not for the first time today, I hesitate. Am I remembering things wrong?
Suddenly, none of that matters because Des materializes in front of me, coming between me and the King of Day.
“Janus, you need to step the fuck away from my mate.” Des’s wings begin to unfurl, his talons looking particularly lethal. “Don’t talk to her,” he takes a step forward, “don’t look at her,” another ominous step, “don’t come close to her.” The two are almost nose to nose. “As far as you’re concerned, she doesn’t exist.”
Around us, the room has gone quiet. I’m pretty sure everyone is expecting a repeat of last night’s brawl.
Janus appears unimpressed. “You’ve forgotten your place, Flynn. It’s within my rights to speak to any and all of the subjects here, mated or not.”
Des’s voice drops low, so that only I can hear it. “Have I told you how easy it was to kill Karnon? His bones broke like twigs, his body burst like overripe fruit.” Des smiles, the action cruel. “Ending him was the easiest thing to do in the world.