Queen Alpha (NYC Mecca #2)(8)
Now, if these alphas had told me they had fallen on hard times and needed money for their pack to stay sheltered, fed, and clothed, then I would give it without hesitation, but a parking spot … not happening. After telling them no and dismissing them, Calista came to get me to take me to my lunch appointment.
“Please tell me my lunch appointment isn’t some petty task like this morning,” I huffed as Calista expertly traversed the hallways, leading me to my private dining area.
“No, I thought you might like a break from all of that,” she said as she opened the door, and I was relieved to see Violet sitting and waiting for me. The magic born were a sight to behold. Even though I had known Violet my entire life, I never got used to her unique beauty or incredible talent with magic.
“Ari, you’re late and I’m starving,” she moaned.
Calista tsk tsked her for using my name, but I loved that Violet, like Blaine, treated me no differently now that I was queen.
I took a seat beside her as Calista scurried off to whatever was next on her list of to-do’s. I was starting to think she worked a lot harder than me, a fact I was very grateful for.
I let out a breath, settling in beside my best friend. “Sorry about the delay. Very important morning. Had to be fitted for my summer festival dress, and then got into a scintillating debate about assigned parking in Manhattan,” I said with as much heavy sarcasm as I could muster.
She grinned. “Sounds absolutely dreadful. I have something that will cheer you up.” She leaned forward and pulled a vial from her pocket. The liquid inside was pinkish purple and dancing slowly, as if waiting to burst out the second the stopper was lifted.
“What’s that?” I inspected it closer. It smelled faintly floral … the same floral scent the fae carried on them. My eyebrow rose as I used my queen voice. “Violet … what is in there?”
I was a combination of excited and a bit terrified of what she would say. One never knew with Violet.
She quirked one side of her mouth. “Tuatha magic,” she whispered as two of the kitchen staff came through the large double doors, bringing our lunch. My heart was hammering in my chest as I waited for the silver platters to be set in front of me and for the attendants to leave. Once they did, Violet opened her palm again.
“The fae we fought at King Kade’s estate came in through the water. I’m sure of it. The fae we spoke to in Astoria Park left through the water, and the ercho that attacked you in Central Park…”
“Water,” I said breathlessly.
Violet gestured to the pink vial. “I cloaked myself and slipped into the council’s secret spell book chambers––”
I grabbed her by the wrist. “Vi! You could have been executed if you were caught.”
Wait. There was a secret spell book chamber? Why did I not know this?
She shrugged my hand off, gently, but still firm. It bothered her when even I touched her, especially with all the mecca energy inside of me. She saw too much, felt too much. In my astonishment, I’d forgotten.
“You’re queen now. Nothing should be secret from you,” Violet said.
True. And at least she hadn’t been caught. Yet anyway.
I nodded for her to continue.
“I had heard that all the best spells and books were hidden away. Magic born talk about it all the time. It’s the Holy Grail for us. I decided to see if I could find it, and you know what, it wasn’t even that well hidden.” She looked mighty put out by that, like the council hadn’t taken her powers seriously. “Anyway, I have to say those old losers are really a bunch of horned toads, far worse than I originally thought. They’ve been holding out on all of us, especially in light of recent developments. They have an entire stack of fae magic books.”
Those last words were declared in a rushed whisper-scream.
I sat there for a moment, trying to absorb what she was saying. How could the council not tell me about this? Now, when we could be on the brink of war and needed every weapon at our disposal. What the heck were they playing at? This next meeting with them was going to be interesting, I wouldn’t stand for this secrecy any longer. No doubt this was why Torine already seemed to know more than any other about the Tuatha de Danann.
Forcing my ire down, I focused on Violet’s vial. “Okay, so fae travel through water and you stole a fae magic book … keep going.”
I had no doubt I was going to have to make sure I remained queen just to ensure Violet didn’t get sentenced to death by the council.
She shook the vial. “So it turns out that water is the easiest place for the fae to cast their spell and open a doorway between the Otherworld and Earth. Water acts like a mirror which reflects both sides. I haven’t had a chance to test it yet, but this should close the water to any portals.”
I grinned. That was definitely worth annoying the council over. Here’s hoping it worked.
“Violet, you’re a genius.”
With a fae war looming on the horizon, this might just turn the tides in our favor.
She put a hand out. “Don’t get too excited. It doesn’t work on extra-large bodies of water. Only about a hundred foot stretch, but it’s enough to secure Central Park and the waterfront at the wolf estate on the Island. Unfortunately, I could find nothing strong enough to work on all the ocean which surrounds us.”
So many of our homes were waterfront, prime real estate, but turns out against the fae, that’s not the best for our safety. I was grateful that this magic would help with some of the smaller bodies of water; any way we could cut the fae off was a good thing. I took the vial and gave her a side hug, which she quickly returned before moving away.