Crown of Moonlight (Court of Midnight and Deception Book 2) Read online

  But that I moved the second they mentioned killing her…

  It’s not like the outcome was any different. I was going to kill him regardless.

  It was a very thin line of reasoning, but true.

  I entered the sprawling lands the Night Court had bought up on the outskirts of northern Magiford, passing apartment buildings, then houses, which grew into mansions until I reached the largest of them all, which was home to Queen Leila, and now my home as well.

  I parked my car and entered the mansion through a second story window—I may have been consort, but I was going to move through the mansion undetected. Even Chase had difficulty tracking me. Only Leila’s pet glooms and shades seemed to be able to spot me no matter how I hid myself.

  I swapped out some of my weapons in my bedroom then—feelingly slightly bemused—skulked through the mansion, looking for the queen. My wife.

  I found her in a meeting room with Chase.

  Every monarch—from the lower seelie rulers to the powerful Midwest Winter Queen—received their security reports in a very formal way which typically involved lots of standing, bowing, a throne, and their ever present crown.

  Leila received her report from Chase as she and the werewolf ate their way through what looked like a plate of cinnamon rolls and squares of gelatin.

  “Finally, regarding the ongoing investigation of your father, Lord Linus.” Chase ripped a chunk off his cinnamon roll and dunked it in his tea.

  Leila made a noise that sounded like a cow in distress. “Okay, hit me with it.” She paused and looked down at her feet where a gloom—a large, cat-like predator capable of killing a fae with ease—was sitting on her feet like a kitten.

  The gloom twitched its tail and looked at me, standing in the shadows and undetected by even the werewolf’s keen nose.

  Leila turned around and peered at the shadows. “Rigel?”

  If I want to move about as freely as I wish, I’m going to have to learn how to fool those glooms—and the shades.

  I shook my magic off and drifted out of the shadows.

  Leila smiled at me. “Hey there! Want a snack? Chase was just about to tell me what a snake Lord Linus is.”

  “I’m not much of a dessert person.” I crossed the room and hesitated for a moment before I sat in the chair next to Leila.

  “You sure? The Turkish Delight tastes like bathwater since it’s rose flavored—I’m only eating it out of loyalty to the Chronicles of Narnia. But the sweet rolls are really good—Indigo said she was inspired to make them by a video game she’s crazy about.” Leila popped one of the pink gelatin-like squares in her mouth and made a face as she chewed it.

  As I amusedly observed, it occurred to me that perhaps this was what had inspired that undesirable twist in my chest—her oddities were strangely charming.

  It must be her human blood.

  Leila seemed to be expecting a reply.

  I shrugged, and Leila let the matter drop. “Go for it, Chase,” she said.

  Chase studied me as he rubbed his square jaw.

  Werewolves were weak to fae magic, which had made Leila’s decision to hire him as her director of security somewhat of a surprise—though she’d loaded him up with charms and potions to raise his defenses against our magic.

  He did cut an imposing figure given the breadth of his chest, and the way his yellow eyes glowed—amplified by his brown skin tone. Meeting his gaze would make any idiot aware of the wolf Chase Washington kept under careful control and channeled for the sake of his job.

  I wasn’t stupid. The director of security was reluctant to trust me—an intelligent instinct of his. But he must have judged the risk-factor of the matter as small, because he wiped his hands off on a napkin and continued.

  “I have an official report for you to read, but it can easily be summarized,” Chase said. “Regarding Lord Linus and his rumored gambling addiction and severe debts…I can find no proof that such things exist.”

  “What?” Leila said.

  Chase handed a packet of papers off to Leila. “I combed through all known bookies and gambling rings in fae society—across several regions, even. No one has Lord Linus as a client, and he has no outstanding debts.”

  “I don’t believe it,” Leila said. “He openly admitted he wanted to be my advisor because his utilities had been turned off at his house since he didn’t have any money to pay them!”

  “The utilities are turned off at his family mansion,” Chase confirmed. “But they’ve been off for over a decade. Lord Linus spent the past twenty years traveling across North America, South America, and Europe. His house was winterized and shut down since he never returned to it.”

  Leila nibbled on a sweet roll. “But I’ve seen him actively try to start card games, and place bets. And he always loses!”

  “He does,” Chase confirmed. “But he always pays out his account by the end of the night—typically after winning everything back with one or two lucky games.”

  “So he is still a gamester or gambler or whatever you want to call it,” Leila said.

  “Yes. Just one that isn’t in debt,” Chase said.

  Leila licked frosting off her finger. “How the heck could he lose so badly, and then suddenly win?”

  “It seems rather suspicious that he always makes enough to cover his deficit and nothing more,” Chase confirmed.

  “And you’re positive he doesn’t have any outstanding debts?”

  “We traced his accounts, bank transactions, cashflow—nothing,” Chase said.

  Leila whistled. “That sounds illegal. How did you pull it off?”

  “A wolf in my pack is good at this kind of thing. I asked him for some help,” Chase said. “And I asked Lord Linus for access to his banking information.”

  Leila choked on her sweet roll. “And he gave it to you?”

  Chase nodded.

  Leila groaned and flopped an arm across her eyes. “I can’t tell if he’s a genius, or an absolute idiot!”

  Chase passed me an empty teacup—probably meant for Leila, but as she disliked tea it was an empty hope she’d ever drink it—and poured me a cup as Leila complained under her breath.

  I nodded my head in thanks and took a sip. It was a white tea—soft and delicate with a faint tang of pineapple.

  Once she finished, Leila sighed and sat up straight in her chair.

  “Your orders?” Chase inquired.

  “Keep monitoring him,” Leila said.

  “Yes, Queen Leila.”

  “Thanks, Chase. I’m so grateful you’re my director of security.” She blessed the werewolf with a bright smile, then turned her unusual charm on me. “How are you, Rigel?”

  “Fine.”

  Chase twitched his nose—he was probably picking up the faintest whiff of blood, or something else from my night’s excursion. The blasted werewolf.

  Leila caught Chase’s movement, then narrowed her eyes at me. “Please don’t tell me you were off working tonight?”

  I shrugged. “Very well.”

  Leila rolled her eyes. “Thank you, darling. Your respect for my feelings is inspiring.”

  “What good consort wouldn’t be concerned for his wife’s wellbeing?” I asked, neatly sidestepping any personal implications with my phrasing.

  Leila laughed. “Very true. Okay, Chase. I think we’re done.”

  “Agreed. Unless you wish to go over the security measures we are taking for the celebratory party of your crowning?”

  “No, thanks. We’ve reviewed that three times today alone. I think we’re good.” Leila shivered.

  Unable to resist baiting her, I adjusted my teacup. “But, Queen Leila, one can never be too prepared. And your security is of utmost importance.”

  “It is,” Chase agreed.

  “No—no.” Leila jabbed a finger first at Chase, then me. “You two can’t gang up on me like this.”

  “But I’m your consort. Your safety should matter to me,” I said with zero conviction.

&nbs
p; “If we just go over the patrol rotations one last time,” Chase tried.

  “Chase, how can you let him use you like this?” Leila asked. “He just wants to annoy me!”

  Chase blinked. “If it means you review security protocol again I don’t much care what Consort Rigel earns out of it.”

  When Leila thumped her head on the table and groaned like a wounded hippo, I took another sip of my tea.

  Perhaps it’s not wholly unexpected I would act on a threat to her life. She has made daily life more…interesting.

  Chapter Three

  Leila

  The doorbell was ringing, and even though the party only started about twenty minutes before, I’d already greeted a number of nobles and common fae from the Night Court, and the Day King.

  Of course, because I was fae, this meant the party had to be a huge production and was a big deal. Big enough that Indigo had talked me into ordering a custom dress for the occasion.

  Typically I bought clothes off the rack and paid a seamstress to tailor them for me, but for my first banquet and my “introduction” to the other fae Courts, Indigo insisted we get something made for me, even though those other Courts weren’t likely to show up and see it.

  The gown was a deep blue color with silvery star-spattered lace covering it. Purple and white roses were set into the bodice and the hemline, and silver chains crisscrossed across my back. It matched my crown—a silver circle studded with opals and topped with a silver crescent moon—and since it lacked sleeves I was pretty comfortable in it despite its flowing skirts.

  I’d never tell her, but I secretly loved it.

  “Eventide, if you would open the door?” I asked the faun.

  Eventide bowed to me, tugged his dark blue vest—which was the same color as my gown—then turned to the door.

  As he opened it, I belatedly realized that while I had forced Indigo to make sure I wore cheaper, store-bought clothes, I had never made the same declaration about the servants’ uniforms.

  For Heaven’s sake, no wonder the Court is up to its eyeballs in debt!

  Eventide pulled the door open, his goat hooves tapping nervously as he bowed to the guests and took their invitations.

  He turned to me, his eyeballs popping out of his head. “The Eminent, Killian Drake of the Drake Family and Adept Hazel Medeis of House Medeis,” he announced.

  “HAH!”

  I turned around to scowl at Lord Linus, who had clapped a hand over his mouth, but his mirth was obvious. He stood with Skye, Chase, and Indigo a few feet behind me.

  I shook my head at him, then grinned at Hazel and Killian—who also happened to be my parents’ neighbors.

  “Hazel, it’s good to see you!”

  Hazel—wearing a beautiful sky-blue dress—squealed and jumped across the door’s threshold to hug me.

  “I’m excited for you! I’ve been dying to see your place!” Hazel said.

  “I’ll give you a tour, and don’t worry. I actually managed to set up some fun entertainment.”

  I swung my gaze from Hazel to Killian and his First and Second Knights who entered behind him—a Latina beauty named Celestina, and a rather depressed looking vampire named Josh. “There’s a shooting range outside with bow and crossbow artifacts,” I said. “There are a few fae attending to it—they’ll get the weapons powered up for you so you can see what it’s like to shoot magic.”

  About half a dozen additional Drake vampires crowded behind Celestina and Josh. They flicked their eyes from me to Killian Drake.

  Killian nodded, and the vampires stampeded over one another in their rush to the shooting range.

  “Which way to the back?” a sweet-looking vampire asked, her red eyes bright with excitement.

  I gestured to Eventide. “Eventide will be happy to show you.”

  Eventide quivered a little under the vampires’ intense gazes, but he bravely trotted out in front of them. “This way, esteemed guests.”

  “Queen Leila, thank you for your invitation to tonight’s banquet.” Killian’s slight British accent was barely noticeable as he nodded his head to me.

  “And for inviting our people,” Hazel chimed in. “That was really thoughtful.”

  I tried to discreetly check to make sure my crown wasn’t tilting. “I know the Drake Family and the Medeis wizards so well, and I think of you as my friends. It would be pretty shabby if I didn’t invite you all!”

  “Nah.” Hazel shook her head. “I don’t know about vampires, but we wizards don’t get invited to anything like this.”

  “Nor do vampires,” Killian confirmed.

  They probably don’t get invitations because Hazel is the protegee of the Midwest Elite—the highest-ranking wizard in the Midwest—and Killian as the Eminent is the top vampire in the Midwest. They outrank everyone who is coming tonight, except for the Paragon!

  I awkwardly cleared my throat. “I’m glad you guys came. I figured the shooting range would most appeal to the Drake Family, but I did make arrangements for a karaoke session—since that seemed like something the House Medeis wizards would enjoy.”

  “Did someone say karaoke?”

  An old woman, holding the arm of a sour-faced, red-haired vampire, stepped through the door, with a dozen other House Medeis wizards surging around her.

  “Great Aunt Marraine,” I greeted the older woman with a smile. “I’m happy you could make it tonight!”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world, dearie! Especially since my bridge group didn’t believe me when I said the new Night Queen lived next door to young Killian! We have to take a picture before the night is over,” she said.

  The red-haired vampire looked to the side, as if he was contemplating slinking off, but one of Hazel’s childhood friends—an angelic-looking guy who could have given the most beautiful fae a run for their money—gave the vampire a half hug. “Sounds great. We should make it a group picture!”

  The vampire shivered and glared at the wizards holding on to him. “I insist you release me.”

  “Not a chance,” the male wizard said.

  “Indeed,” Great Aunt Marraine said. “You agreed to be the date of all the House Medeis wizards tonight.”

  “I agreed to nothing!” the vampire said.

  Great Aunt Marraine cackled and patted his cheek. “It’s adorable you think you can get out of this. Come on—let’s go find this karaoke. I’m sure you have a wonderful singing voice, Rupert!” The older woman—dressed in a gold dress with gold shoes, a gold handbag, and a gold hat, marched down the hallway, dragging “Rupert” behind her.

  “Yeah, Rupert,” another House Medeis wizard laughed as she followed behind him. “It’ll be a blast!”

  “Someone should record this—for posterity.”

  “We have to take a picture—we can add it to our Rupert photo album!”

  The House Medeis wizards fearlessly swept off into the innards of my house, not minding the gawking fae as they dragged the protesting Rupert behind them.

  “I’ll go after them and take them to the karaoke bar,” Indigo said. “This looks like it could be entertaining, anyway.”

  “Thanks, Indigo,” I called after my retreating companion.

  She waved and hurried after the wizards.

  “Rupert—the vampire my family swept off with—has become something of my House’s pet project,” Hazel told me. “Everyone was concerned he didn’t get enough love in his life as a vampire. They’re determined to lavish it on him now. He secretly loves it.”

  “Indeed,” Josh said. “You can tell because he hasn’t killed anyone in ages.”

  “And he seems merely slightly grouchy on the days we spend at House Medeis,” Celestina said. “Grouchiness—or a lack of—is how he expresses his love.”

  “Huh,” I said. “I’m glad the Drakes and Medeis’s are melding like that.”

  “It hasn’t been without its…issues,” Killian said. “But overall, it’s been pleasant.”

  “I told you that if you stop b
ad mouthing the House on its own land, it will stop hiding your suits.” Hazel arched her eyebrow at him, then brightened. “Oh—that reminds me, Leila! I want to meet the lucky guy!”

  Confused, I looked behind me at Skye, Chase, and Lord Linus, then looked back at Hazel and Killian. “Lucky guy?”

  “Your husband.”

  “Oh! Rigel! Yes. I’m sure he’s around somewhere,” I said.

  Killian blinked. “You speak of him as if he is a cat roaming the house.”

  I scratched my cheek. “Yeah, sort of. He’s very quiet and comes and goes as he wants.” I threw my hand wide to gesture, and I smacked my knuckles on something hard. “Ouch.”

  I twitched in surprise to find Rigel standing just behind my shoulder. His sense of style hadn’t changed since becoming my consort, so he was dressed in black—including black boots, pants, and a fancy black shirt that buttoned at the shoulder. He also still wore his leather bracers that held hidden daggers, but I’d be willing to risk my Court’s hard-earned money that he had some hidden in his boots and belt, too. “Ah. Rigel. Hello there.”

  Rigel nodded to me, then glanced at Hazel and Killian.

  “You’re right, I should make the introductions. Hazel, Killian, this is my…er…husband, Consort Rigel. Rigel, these are my dear friends, Adept Hazel Medeis and her fiancé Eminent Killian Drake.” I made the smallest grimace—a little upset that I still stumbled over calling Rigel my husband. It seemed weird and foreign, but if I wanted to learn to keep a straight face around the other monarchs, I needed to build a bridge and get over it.

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Lord Rigel,” Hazel said.

  Rigel wordlessly nodded. With his slightly tapered ears, copper skin, and intimidating wardrobe, there was something about him that seemed wild, and out of place among the modern conveniences of my mansion.

  The doorbell rang.

  Skye glided across the room to get it in Eventide’s absence, and I smiled apologetically.