Etched in Stone: Twilight Court Book 9 Read online

  Medea gave me a lopsided grin. “I see why they made you Ambassador. All right, Your Majesty; you have a deal.”

  Medea held out her hand, and we shook on it.

  Chapter Six

  “All right, Your Majesty; you have a deal,” Daxon mimicked in a seductive tone as we headed back into his office.

  The Gorgons had left, and it was time for us to get to work. But it seemed that Daxon wanted to play first.

  “Please do not tell me that you're fantasizing about Medea and me together.” I grimaced.

  “All right.” He smirked as he closed the door... and locked it. “My lips are sealed... figuratively only, of course.”

  “Uh-uh.” I waved a finger at him. “We don't have time for one of your kinky sex games. And by the way; the woman has snakes for hair. How can you find that attractive?”

  “I'm debauched,” Dax said dryly. “You knew this from day one.”

  “I've discovered since then that there are even greater depths to your debauchery,” I teased.

  “Ah, yes; the depths of my debauchery.” He licked his lips as he sauntered over. “Shall we plumb them together?”

  “Daxon; there is literally a stone-cold killer on the loose,” I pushed him away.

  “There are always killers on the loose.” He scowled at me. “You think that denying ourselves will help with that?”

  “You mean; denying yourself,” I corrected. “I wasn't turned on by the gorgon.”

  “I wasn't turned on by the gorgon either,” Daxon went serious. “I was turned on by the thought of a woman bringing you pleasure.”

  “I don't even know what to say to that.”

  “I'm just being honest, love.” Daxon slid his hand up my side. “Besides, fantasy and reality are two different things. As much as the thought of her between your thighs might turn me on, I don't actually want that to happen.”

  “No?” I lifted a brow at him.

  “I've participated in way too many threesomes—involving two women—to ever want that again,” he grumbled.

  I chuckled. “Let me guess; they were more into each other than you?”

  “If only.” Daxon sighed. “No; it was exhausting. Making sure one woman is properly satisfied takes long enough, but two? I just don't have the time for that; I have businesses to run.”

  I burst out laughing. “So, you think you know your way around my lady bits better than another lady?”

  “Of course I do,” Dax huffed. “Having one doesn't make you an expert. Dedication, perseverance, and passion make you a good lover. Years of study—as I have patiently applied myself to—make you a phenomenal one.”

  “And that's why Lana wants you dead.” I pointed into his smug face.

  “I believe you're right.” Daxon sighed dramatically. “It's a case of sour grapes; if she can't have me, no one can.”

  “I'm going to kill you myself,” I said calmly as my hand filled with lavender sparkles.

  “Oh! I'm so afraid of your glitter-magic, Twilight Princess!” Daxon declared sarcastically.

  “Yep; you're going to die tonight.” I started forward.

  “I'm sure that I will.” Daxon snatched me up and headed toward the bedroom behind his office. “But it shall only be a small death; la petite mort.”

  Chapter Seven

  My small death was interrupted by a bargest.

  “Fuck off, Conri!” I screamed with pleasure and irritation.

  The pounding on Daxon's office door stopped, and laughter began. But I was too wrapped up in Dax; clinging to his shoulders as he proved to me that his debauchery could, in fact, pay off. When the screaming was finally over, Daxon eased to the side and pulled me with him; tucking me in against his rapidly-pounding heart.

  “You managed to surprise me, Princess,” Dax murmured with a purr of satisfaction. “You're the first to do that.”

  “I have to get creative when dealing with a lecher.” I kissed the tip of his nose and then climbed out of bed.

  “Where are you going?” Dax whined.

  “My Guard is waiting outside,” I said. “Didn't you hear the knocking?”

  “If I hadn't, that bit about Conri fucking off would have been weird.” He sat up and climbed out of bed with grudging movements. “I was wondering why they weren't with you earlier.”

  “I came straight from Seelie,” I said as I finished dressing. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail; the ombré streak of purple fighting to get free as if it had a mind of its own. “I left them in Twilight, so I could visit Tiernan without them hovering.”

  “How is the Seelie King?” Daxon cast a sideways look my way.

  “He's busy settling the returning fairies into new homes,” I said with narrowed eyes. “Why?”

  “Just being polite.”

  “Bullshit.” I went to stand before him. “What is it with you two?”

  “Let's just say that we've met.” Daxon grimaced. “On the battlefield.”

  “And what happened?”

  “What part about 'let's just say' did you not understand?” Daxon cocked his head at me. “That means that I don't want to talk about it.”

  “You started it.” I crossed my arms as the knocking started again. “If I'm going to be in a relationship with both of you, I want to know that you can get along. Now, spill.”

  “We never got close enough to see each other, but we exchanged magic,” Daxon said. “It was startling.”

  “Startling how?”

  “His shadows attacked me,” Daxon admitted grudgingly. “While my nightmare enveloped him. It was a simultaneous exchange that resulted in a brief moment of connection.”

  “Connection?” I asked in surprise.

  The knocking came again.

  “Knock one more time, and I will disembowel you!” I shouted.

  Daxon chuckled before he answered. “It happens in rare instances when an equal exchange of power hits two opponents in the exact same moment. I had a flash of the man I was fighting, and I'm certain that Tiernan saw the same of me.”

  “What did you see that makes you dislike him?” I whispered the question.

  “I saw arrogance, anger, and a deep well of frustration,” Daxon said. “The same things I felt myself.”

  “And this made you dislike him?” I asked in surprise.

  “It's hard to see yourself in your enemy,” he said softly. “The bitterness of that interaction has stayed with me. Consciously, I know it's a good thing that I can relate to your husband, but subconsciously, I'm furious that I'm sharing the woman I love with a man who forced me to face my demons.”

  “Got it,” I said with epiphany. “And now I know why Tiernan hates it when I compare you two.”

  “I can see how that would be vexing.” Daxon waved us out. “Now, shall we confront your guard dog before he chews through my door?”

  “He's not a dog,” I chided Dax as I headed out into the office and then to the office door. I pulled it open to find a smirking Conri lounging against the opposite wall. “He's an idiot and a hypocrite.” Then I asked the idiot, “Did I give you hell when I caught you with Gradh?”

  “No; you didn't,” Gradh answered for her lover, and then smacked him for good measure. “A little respect and discretion for our princess are required, Sir Conri.”

  “Oh, this look isn't for you, Princess,” Conri straightened and smirked even wider at Daxon. “It's for the Blue King.”

  “What did you call me?” Daxon narrowed his eyes at Conri.

  “Well, I can't call you 'Blue Boy' anymore,” Conri reasoned. “More's the pity. So, 'Blue King' it is.”

  “You never called him Blue Boy,” I pointed out. “That was Killian.”

  “You gotta hand it to Snake-Eyes; he comes up with some good ones,” Conri said.

  “Enough of this nonsense,” Torquil huffed. “You left us in Twilight with the promise that you were heading straight into His Majesty's chambers, Princess Seren. But then we discover that you've gone to the Human Realm w
ithout any guard at all. Your father is livid.”

  “Something came up,” I said casually as I sauntered by them.

  “Yeah; the Blue King's scepter,” Conri muttered. “Ow! What the fuck, Gradh?”

  “He may not be a king of Fairy, but he is still one of our monarchs,” Gradh said. “Remember that and give respect where it's due.”

  “What I remember is that he was a fucking crime boss just a few months ago,” Conri huffed.

  “And Tiernan was an outcast once,” I said as I turned to face Conri. “I was an extinguisher, Raza was a Marquess in a court he was meant to rule, and you were a twilight foot soldier. It's amazing what the Goddess has done for all of us, isn't it?”

  “Point taken,” Conri grumbled. Then to Daxon, he said, “Sorry, Your Majesty.”

  “No apology necessary, Sir Conri,” Daxon said graciously. “Before Seren opened the door, I called you a dog.”

  “You did what now?” Conri growled as he chased us through the hallways.

  I glared Con down.

  “Your Highness,” Ainsley interrupted. “What was it that came up?”

  “This.” Daxon waved my Star's Guard into the room with the prince statues.

  All nine of them gaped at the princes.

  “I see,” Torquil finally said. “And who are these men?”

  “Two of the princes recently appointed to fairy undergrounds,” I said; impressed that they knew these weren't ordinary pieces of carved stone.

  “Fuck me,” Conri snarled. “What the fuck now?”

  We all grimaced at Conri.

  “Well, seriously; can't this just be done with already?” Conri whined. “Why's there always gotta be someone making trouble?”

  “I'd assume that this was the work of Lana Clach,” Torquil ignored Conri, “except that I know no sidhe can do this.”

  “We think she murdered a gorgon and somehow managed to take the woman's magic,” Daxon said.

  “You're the expert on such manipulations,” Ainsley pointed out. “Do you think it's possible, King Daxon?”

  Daxon blinked in surprise, cast me a look, and then considered it. Evidently, he didn't think of himself as an expert.

  “I suppose she could collect magic, as I did when I was making bombs,” Dax finally said. “Except, it would need to be altered into a substance that could be administered. The bombs were difficult enough, and that was just containing magic to be released later. To collect a fairy's magic—all of it—and then take it into yourself would be far more difficult. But yes; I think I could do it.”

  Daxon's face went wide with epiphany.

  “Daxon,” I growled, “this isn't about you developing the technique yourself.”

  “No, of course not.” Daxon tried to hide his excitement, but it was too fresh. “It would be an extremely complex and sensitive casting. And the only way it would work is if the host had magic that... corresponded to...” He gaped at me.

  “To the magic they were trying to take?” I asked. “Like a fairy with stone magic stealing the ability to turn people into stone?”

  “Yes,” Daxon whispered. “That fucking bitch; she really is behind this.”

  “You doubted it?” I was surprised.

  “In the back of my mind, I had questions,” Dax admitted. “I couldn't accept it until I could understand it.”

  “A true scientist,” I said with a grin. “You would have done well at Gentry.”

  “I happen to look amazing in a lab coat,” Daxon declared.

  “But better in a crown, I imagine,” I countered.

  “You're right,” Daxon said with the air of revelation. “I need a crown... and a throne.”

  “That's not what I said.” I rolled my eyes.

  “I'm pretty sure it is.” Daxon smirked.

  “Boss,” Sanna—the only female member of Daxon's Elite Guard—appeared in the doorway. “They found another body... er... statue.”

  “What?” Dax went serious. “Who is it this time?”

  “I don't know; that's all he's told me.” She held out a phone to Daxon.

  Dax took the phone and answered. “What? When? Yes; she's right here. Fine; we're on our way.” He hung up.

  “Who was that?” I asked.

  “Killian,” Daxon said. “He's in San Francisco with your Uncle Dylan. A fairy found a suspicious statue in Golden Gate Park.”

  “Who is it?” Sanna asked.

  “That's the strange part,” Daxon said. “It's Reese; the old Queen of the Montana Underground.”

  “Why would Lana stone one of her friends?” Ainsley asked.

  “Maybe they aren't friends anymore,” I mused.

  “You think the ex-monarchs have turned on her?” Daxon asked.

  “Perhaps.” I frowned. “Killian wants us to join him in San Francisco?”

  Daxon nodded. “He said that you need to see the park.”

  Chapter Eight

  We met Killian at Gentry Technologies—my father's fairy research company in San Francisco. Kill was in his usual get-up of T-shirt, jeans, and leather jacket, but lately, he'd taken to wearing clothing relating to his new nathair-sith status. Basically, anything to do with snakes. He particularly likes G.I. Joe references; as evidenced by his current shirt featuring Cobra Commander.

  “Kill,” I whispered as I hugged him. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too, Twilight,” Killian murmured in his deep voice.

  Killian's thick arms wrapped around me as he bent his head briefly to nestle into my neck. Warm breath tickled my skin before he pulled away and I caught a whiff of the violet candies he loved. I smiled up into his intense green eyes; their slit pupils had become normal for me—just another part of Killian. He brushed his thick auburn hair away from his face and nodded to Daxon.

  “Blue King,” Killian said by way of greeting.

  “You're too late; Conri already used that one,” Daxon said.

  “Con, what the fuck, dude?” Killian huffed. “I came up with that.”

  “And I stole it,” Conri said unapologetically. “Deal with it.”

  “Not cool.” Killian shook his head.

  “Infants,” Dylan Thorn proclaimed as he stepped forward. “Hello, Seren.”

  “Hey, Uncle Dylan,” I said. “Have you been analyzing Reese?”

  “Of course,” he said as he turned away. “I have determined the stone to be—“

  “Aluvian,” I cut him off.

  “Yes,” he said; startled. “It's the type that—“

  “Gorgons change their victims into.” I did it again.

  “Damn it all, Seren!” My uncle—who rarely showed much emotion beyond scorn or tired amusement—exclaimed. “Stop doing that!”

  “Sorry.” I chuckled. “But we already spoke to the Gorgons. One of them was murdered—we think by Lana Clach—and we also suspect that Lana has found a way to take the gorgon's magic.”

  “What?” The blue of Dylan's irises bled into the whites for a few seconds. “But she'd have to...”

  “Do you want me to finish your sentence this time or are you just testing me?” I asked.

  Dylan ignored me and looked at Daxon. “Any theories, Tromlaighe?”

  “A few.” Daxon started to smile. “But nothing concrete. Perhaps we can collaborate?”

  “Wonderful.” Dylan grabbed Daxon by the shoulder and ushered him down the hallway.

  “Hey!” I called after them. “This is not about manipulating magic! We need to stop Lana!”

  “Yes, yes.” Dylan waved back at us. “Go to the park, Seren; we'll talk to you later.”

  “That obnoxious ass,” I growled.

  “Fuck 'em,” Killian took my hand. “Come on; you do need to see this.”

  “Where in the park did you find her?” I asked.

  “The Rose Garden.”

  Chapter Nine

  The Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park is tucked between Park Presidio Boulevard and John F Kennedy Drive. It's a stunning formation of two, l
ong rows of garden beds with a lattice fence at the end of the main path that held climbing roses. If you've never been, you should definitely go... some other time.

  Because currently, the Rose Garden was a shambles.

  “It looks as if a tornado came through here,” I whispered as Killian and I walked down the main path, between the garden beds.

  My Star's Guard ranged out around us; on the lookout for any possible attack.

  “My thoughts exactly,” Killian said. “Unfortunately, the wind blew away anything I could get a read on.”

  Every step we took crushed delicate rose petals which were strewn across the ground; creating a speckled carpet of pink, red, and white. The plants themselves were bare of both leaves and flowers; only skeletal remains clung to the soil desperately. But the scent was magnificent.

  “Is it wrong that I just want to stand here and literally smell the roses?” I asked.

  “It's a pretty smell,” Kill admitted. “And you look beautiful walking over rose petals. Maybe we should toss them across the aisle at our wedding.”

  “Thank you, sweet-talker,” I grinned. “And no; we're not wasting flowers like that in Fairy. But seriously; any ideas on what could have done this? It wasn't Lana.”

  “Fairies with wind magic?” Killian shrugged. “Just because she turned on one of her ex-buddies, it doesn't mean that she's at war with all of them.”

  “Right,” I whispered. “Of course. Why do I never see the obvious?”

  “That's what you have me for,” he said proudly. Then Killian blinked and processed. “I mean—”

  “I know what you meant,” I cut him off. “You see things exactly as they are, Kill. That's a gift.”

  “Especially when magic is involved,” he added. “It's hard not to see things that aren't there. Because usually there are things there that can't be seen.”

  “Yes...” I looked around again. “And that's why you have me.”

  I sank into the ability all extinguishers are born with; the Second Sight, also known as Clairvoyance or Aura Reading. Killian could have done it too, but Mr. Obvious hadn't thought of it. Probably because Killian usually went with his more powerful skill of psychometry; getting information on people by touching objects they had used.