A Thief of Nightshade(63)

He marveled at this. They could see him for what he was. Why did they act kindly toward him?

“Would you show us to my uncle, please?” Given asked.

They rushed to do as she’d requested, though not out of fear or duty.

They seemed to want to help.

Aislinn hadn’t been in his own home in far too long, and after just a short while he felt dizzy with the constant deluge of guards and even more attendants. It was making his head hurt. Finally, they came to Oberon’s chambers.

The doors opened into a small seating area and Given ran in ahead of Aislinn, throwing her arms around an elderly Fae with graying hair and a kind smile that spread widely on an aging but pleasant face. His wings shimmered behind him, translucent silver. He’d had all sorts of ideas of what Oberon would look like, and judging by his sister’s chosen appearance, Aislinn had guessed that Oberon would look just as youthful.

He’d once again been wrong.

“Aislinn this is Oberon, Faerie King of Agincourt.” She turned to Oberon.

“Uncle, this is Prince Aislinn of the royal house of Rowan.”

Aislinn knew what was expected of him but he didn’t care if the guy looked as harmless and humble as a slug, he wasn’t about to kneel before any Fae King.

Oberon granted him a gracious smile.

“Were it within my power to undo the spell my sister has placed on you, young Prince, know that I would. Though I would never wish these circumstances, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m not a prince, Oberon,” Aislinn ground out. “I haven’t been a prince for a very long time, but thanks for the notion.

Where’s Aubrey?”

Ian, who was really starting to get on Aislinn’s nerves, stepped out from nowhere and came up next to the King and faced Aislinn. “You ungrateful creature.

Can you not...”

Oberon merely lifted his hand and Ian immediately closed his mouth. “Ian, perhaps your time would be better spent fetching our newest little friend from my study?”

Ian scowled at Aislinn, though not where Oberon could have seen it. “Yes, your Highness.” He turned and started to walk to the door at the back of the room, but stopped once he reached Given. A dark and hateful look swept over Ian’s face as he brushed Given’s cheek with his palm; Aislinn knew exactly what he was thinking. Ian glared at Aislinn for a long, tense moment before he squeezed Given’s hand and left the room.

“Come. Aubrielle is over here.”

Oberon ushered Aislinn across the room and through a doorway to where a canopy bed sat draped in bright and colorful fabrics that seemed to glow with the light that flooded in from the high glass ceiling.

Aubrey’s face was still, devoid of emotion. As he neared her, he still could not detect her breathing and, though it hadn’t changed from when they were in Koldavere, it frightened him.

“She is barely breathing.” He looked at Oberon, feeling slightly stupid for leaning on the Fae’s word as truth.

“She was pulled into a soul portal,”

Oberon said. “Not an easy bond to break.

And in doing so you risk permanently severing the tie between mind and body.”

Given’s face fell. “You mean she may not wake up even if we pull her out of this?” Her voice hitched slightly at the last word and Aislinn could tell she was suffering through another wave of pain.

Aubrey’s pain.

Oberon gazed at Given for a long moment, clearly crushed by the fear and despair in her tone. “My child, I will do everything in Agincourt’s power. But,” he shook his head, “Saralia has her hand in this. This portal is not entirely of Cedrick’s making.”

“Morrigan,” Given breathed. “Is he there?”

Oberon looked away. “I cannot say.”

“Yes, he’s there. He pulled Aubrey from my grasp when I went in after her,”

Aislinn growled at Given. “What do you know of Morrigan?” He recalled too late that she’d already told him she was raised in the Winter Court.

Given coolly stepped up to Aislinn and looked him dead in the face. “What do I know of Morrigan? I know the sharp edge of a blade and how he used it to try and cut my heart out at my mother’s behest. He would have sent a thousand Sidhe after me had it not been Oberon himself who’d saved my life. I’m shocked Morrigan is still alive after revealing to my mother that it was a pig’s heart she was handed so long ago.”

Aislinn felt like an ass—again. He’d thought he eventually would get used to it and perhaps he had, but everything with Given was so different from anything he’d ever experienced. Seeing her pale skin flush in anger, instead of leaving him feeling appropriately wretched—as she’d no doubt intended, made him remember the feel of her body against his and the searing heat of her kiss.

Oberon broke the unwieldy silence that ensued. “I will enter the portal but I mustn’t do so as myself if we are to avoid war with Saralia. I need the guise of someone Aubrielle trusts.”

Definitely not her father, Aislinn thought bitterly. “Morrigan has already claimed her youngest brother’s form and who knows who else Saralia has sent for good measure if she isn’t there herself.

Grant, her elder brother may be the best option. Let us hope Aubrey hasn’t already seen him.”

Oberon nodded slowly. “You have the Oran? It will tell me what I need to know of his relationship with her, what she needs to hear from him.”