at the house. The idea that it could be anywhere and that he only had one month to find it was more than a little terrifying. If he did manage to find it, he still had to work out a way not to give it to Shea—and not get killed in the process. It was exactly the reason he spent his life trying to stay clear of all things fairy. If he hadn’t bought the enchanted mirror from the garage sale, then maybe Shea would have left him alone.
To distract himself from thinking about fairies he flicked through a couple of news sites, reading the headlines. He noticed the memorial for Nanette Callaway was the day after tomorrow and that there was a large outbreak of golden staph at a couple of hospitals.
That made him pause. While small outbreaks happened, this was more widespread. This time it was because of the ripples on the river. He didn’t really want to think about it, but Dylis’s warning about plague wasn’t something he could shrug off.
Instead of looking up antiques he started searching for disease outbreaks, half hoping the golden staph was an isolated anomaly.
It wasn’t. Measles was making a comeback. The health authorities blamed low immunization rates. On the other side of the world in Africa a rapid-spreading, drug-resistant tuberculosis was causing problems. That was where he stopped looking. The trouble with the Internet was it was very easy to find a positive answer to anything. Of course there were going to be outbreaks; there were seven billion people on the planet, a percentage of which would get sick.
But several different outbreaks at once?
He needed to find the Window. That would stop Shea, but Caspian knew enough about Court that finding the Window wouldn’t stop the ripples caused by the King and Queen’s fighting. They wouldn’t really damn the mortal world over a feud?
But the Black Death was proof they would and had before, more than once.
Bloody fairies. He couldn’t escape them at the moment. When he was with Lydia he felt normal and could forget for a little while what he was… or he had been able to. Now she knew and was busy deciding if she wanted to see him again. If it were him, he’d probably be running the other direction. Maybe he was asking too much for someone to know him and still accept him. Natalie would never have. And while he’d told Lydia, having Greys show up and destroy her yard wasn’t going to help his case. He tried to ignore the ache in his heart and pretend it was better she found out early before they got serious. The trouble was he didn’t believe it. For a moment last night he’d thought he’d been on the way to having what he wanted in a relationship.
The imp who thought he was doing a good job of hiding peeked around the table. Caspian threw a pen at it. The pen bounced harmlessly off the table leg.
Shea’s minions were still stalking him even though they were no longer trying to annoy him. “What were you banished for?”
The imp peeked back around. “Me?”
“Are there any other imps here?”
It shook its head. Imps had a bit of magic, but they’d given up stature and gradually looks to keep it. Trolls, on the other hand, gave up looks and magic first. Boggarts gave up looks and stature for magic—they were probably the most dangerous. What would Shea do?
“I tricked a woman into coming to Court.” The imp grinned as if proud of what he’d done.
“Is she still there?”
“She was set free and I was banished.”
“Why did you do it?”
“Why not?” The imp shrugged.
“Do you regret it?”
The imp regarded Caspian with eyes of the palest blue. “I regret being caught. The child I’d created became a changeling,” he spat the word.
“Have you seen the child?”
The imp laughed. “I’m not your daddy. If you’re lucky, you’ll never meet him. Most view changelings with scorn.”
Caspian knew that. But he also knew his situation was more complicated. He was sure the Crown Prince would hear about his deal sooner rather than later and he’d get to meet his father for the first time in a less than favorable situation.
He looked at the imp. He preferred Dylis’s company; at least she was pretty and could kind of be trusted. The imp on the other hand was only looking out for Shea. Caspian didn’t need to ask what the imp had been promised. There was only one thing banished fairies wanted—a return to Court.
Felan walked through the Court’s hall of mirrors. They were embedded in the bark or hanging from the branches that arched overhead, their limbs forming the vaulted ceiling. With every breeze they spun and caught the light glittering like stars. Most were no bigger than the palm of a hand. It was beautiful.
In the main hall there were bigger mirrors so the dancers could see themselves. And the occasional changeling who risked glancing at the Court. He’d seen Caspian and heard his thought for just a moment.
Dylis walked toward him looking like a flower in bloom. She swept him a curtsy that was more formal than anything she’d done recently. He was guessing this was the end of their private relationship. A pity because it had suited both of them while they were between lovers.
“My Prince. I bring you a gift.” She placed a small mirror on a silver chain in his hand, but didn’t release it. “I could deliver it for you.”
She could, but he wanted to do that in person. It had been a long time since he’d seen his son. “No. I will attend to that myself.”
She hesitated. “He didn’t really have a choice.”
“The reason doesn’t matter.” Caspian had broken the rules of the Court and would pay the penalty. While the thought was unpleasant, he couldn’t let it go unnoticed, otherwise questions would be asked about Caspian’s lineage.
She lifted her chin, all brittle, beautiful fairy. “I wish to thank you for our time together, but I feel it is time for me to move on now that you have what you want.”
They were being watched. He saw a flicker in the mirrors as they spun but couldn’t see who was watching. There’d be time for that later.
He lifted her hand and pressed it to his lips. Such a delicate thing for the work she’d been doing. “My bed shall be much colder without you.”
She’d done everything he’d asked, and more. Now it was time to hold up his end of the bargain and free her lover. His mother would be furious when she realized one of her trees was missing.
“May I still dance with you on occasion?” He didn’t want to release her entirely; being seen with her prevented others he didn’t trust from trying to be in his bed. It would also help protect Dylis if they carried on as if everything were normal.
“As long as it is merely a dance.” Her voice was firm.
He understood. With Bramwel about to be freed, their arrangement was over. He nodded. Dylis and her lover would be allies, and he’d need them.
She bobbed her head again. “It has been a pleasure, my Prince.”
“And mine. Thank you.” He released her hand and watched her walk away. Without looking at the Counter-Window he tucked it into his waistcoat, then continued his walk through the hall.
He paused to glance in some of the mirrors catching glimpses of the world; there was one he couldn’t bring himself to look in. He hadn’t been able to look at her face in seven mortal years without feeling his heart breaking. But as he walked past he felt her presence and knew she was alive.
“How is it you walk without a woman on your arm?” Eyra slid her arm into his.
His mother smiled at him. Her eyes were dark blue; they looked human but she’d lost her humanity centuries ago. All that glittered there now was hate, not love. If he made the wrong choice, this was his future. A queen bound to him by magic and hate, love long forgotten.
“My lover has other things to do,” he lied. He wasn’t going to tell his mother that he was about to turn his attention to the mortal world and finding a queen. Just hinting at that would be fatal. She wouldn’t give up the throne and the power that went with it… his father might, just to be free of her.
