Fragile Eternity
Page 11

Quinn lowered his voice as he added, You cant trust the Dark Court. Our court and theirs do not mingle.
Seth shook his head even as a smile threatened. Nialls intentionally provocative posture, the way Quinn resituated himself as if for an attacka few short weeks ago, Niall would have responded the same way to the last Dark King.Its all relative. Niall had changed. Or maybe he was always this ready to provoke trouble, and Seth hadnt noticed.
Seth held Nialls gaze as he asked, Do you mean me harm?
No. Niall gave Quinn a deadly look. And I am far more able to keep you safe than Keenans bootlicker.
Quinn bristled but didnt speak.
Im not going to be safer anywhere else. Seriously, Seth told Quinn in an even voice, not letting either amusement or irritation show. Nialls my friend.
What if
Gods, just go away, Niall interrupted as he stalked toward them with a menace that suited him far too well. Seth is safe in my company. I wouldnt put a friend in danger. That would beyour king who treats his friends so carelessly.
I dont imagine our king would approve, Quinn insisted, speaking only to Seth, looking only at Seth.
Seth arched one brow. Ihave no king. Im mortal, remember?
Ill need to report this to Keenan. Quinn waited for several heartbeats, as if the threat would matter to Seth. When it was apparent that it didnt, he turned and left.
Once he was out of sight, the menace vanished from Nialls expression. Nitwit. I cant believe Keenan raised him to advisor. Hes a yes-man without any moral compass, and He stopped himself. Its not my concern. Come.
He opened the door and they went into the pervasive gloom of the Crows Nest. It was a comforting sort of danknessno swooping birds or frolicking Summer Girls. Seth felt at ease there. Back when his parents were still around, hed spent many afternoons there with his father. In truth, Seth had practically grown up in the Crows Nest. Itd changed, but when Seth looked at it, he could still see his mom behind the bar sassing some fool who made the mistake of thinking she was a pushover.More like a bulldozer. Linda was tiny, but what she lacked in size she made up for in temper. Seth hadnt been more than fourteen when he realized that his fathers presence at the bar was simply an excuse to be around Linda. Hed claimed he got bored at home, tired of retirement, restless without a job, so he did small repairs at the bar. It wasnt boredom; it was about being nearer to Linda.
I miss them.Seth let the memories come. It was okay to do so here. It was the closest thing to a family home he had these days.
Linda hadnt really taken to the whole mother thing. She loved him; he had no doubt about that, but when she married Seths dad it wasnt in hopes of settling down and starting a family. The moment Seth was old enough, she had another scheme to go somewhere new. His dad had shrugged and gone along without hesitation.
Or thought to invite me along.
Seth put a stop to that train of thought as Niall led the way to a table that was pushed into the darkest corner of the room. They walked past the diehard drinkers who were already several beers into their afternoon. The midday crowd was an odd mix of office workers and bikers and people between jobs or whose seasonal work hadnt hit its stride yet.
They picked a table with some privacy, and Seth unfolded one of the battered menus hed snatched from the next table.
It hasnt changed. Niall pointed at the menu. And youll order the same thing.
True, but I like looking at it. I like that its the same. Seth waved one of the waitresses over and placed his order.
Afterward, when it was just the two of them, Niall gave him an odd look and asked, Do I seem the same to you?
Theres more shadowsSeth gestured at the air around Niall where whispery shapes swayed and spiraled into each otheraround you, and the whole weird-eyes thing is new. Creepier than Ashs too. She gets seas and nice stuff mostly. You? Theres weird abyss people.
Niall didnt look happy about that detail. Irial still has the same eyes.
Seth knew better than to pursuethat topic. Nialls relationship with the last Dark King was never something to bring up when Niall was already melancholy. Instead, Seth told him, You seem happier.
Niall made a rude sound that might have been a laugh. I dont think Id call it happy.
More comfortable in your skin then. Seth shrugged.
This time Niall laughed for real, a sound that seemed to cause everyone in the roomexcept Sethto shiver or sigh longingly. Without thinking, Seth reached up to touch the stone he wore on a cord around his throat. It was an anti-glamour charm that Niall had given him; arguably it was to protect him from Nialls uncontainable appeal to baser traits, but it had the side benefit of helping Seth resist other faery magicks as well.
Keenan never offered or even told me there were charms.Seth shook his head. It was no secret that the Summer King wasnt going to volunteer to do anything that would make life easier for Seth. If Aislinn suggested something, Keenan cooperated without hesitation, but he never initiated it. When Niall became the Dark King, hed been free to share all manner of knowledge with Seth.
Niall said, almost casually, Have you mentioned the charm to Ash?
No. You know she would ask Keenan why he hadnt offered me one firstand Im not sure I want to be the reason for yet another fight between them.
Youre a fool.I know why he didnt offer you a charm. So do you. And if Ash found out about it, she would know as well.
All the more reason not to tell her. Shes having a rough time with the changes and balancing, Seth said.