Page 108 of Of Fate and Phantoms
"Seth," Lincoln barked.
Seth limped forward. "Yes?"
"Shoot one of them. I don't care which."
Seth blinked at Lincoln then took aim at one of the men. The man stumbled back and fell onto a chair, his hands in the air. "I didn't want to harm no one."
Seth cocked the gun. Harriet turned away and covered her ears. The living woman screamed.
"Don't!" King bit off. "All right! I'll tell you what you need to know. I, I simply wanted to convince Her Majesty that shape shifters are harmless, and that no one should fear them."
I frowned. That was all?
"She's weak," he went on. "She's impressionable and was easily guided by her late husband when he was alive. I hoped he could influence her in death, too."
"Influence her to do what?" Lincoln asked.
King's tongue darted out and licked his lips. "I, I mentioned that shifters are just as much her subjects as everyone else, and deserve to walk freely in England and not hide."
"Butyou'renot harmless," I said. "You proved that tonight."
"Exceptional circumstances," he said with another attempt at a shrug. "You clearly knew too much about us and wanted to threaten us. When my people are threatened, I act according to my instincts."
It was madness and yet it made sense, in a way. He was acting on animal instinct; the instinct to protect one's pack and fight for territory.
"Who put you up to this?" Lincoln asked.
King's head snapped back. "No one. I acted alone."
"Who did he work for?" I asked the dead woman.
King's gaze turned icy. I shivered.
"I don't know," the woman said in a steady voice.
King shot me a triumphant smile. "I told you," he said, silkily. "I work alone. There is no one else like me, you see. No one else who can change into anyone, anything. It was easy to get into the palace, rifle through the letters and steal a picture of the prince."
"You needed a picture to perfect your impersonation," I said. "And the second time, yesterday, how did you get in?"
"I took on the form of a young maid. No one specific. Nobody notices a plain girl in a maid's uniform. There are so many in the palace. When I reached the queen's private apartments, I changed into the prince consort's form and put on the clothes I'd brought with me. Simple." Smugness touched his smile. He was proud of his deception.
"Charlie, any more questions?" Lincoln asked.
"Just one," I said. "Where's Mink?"
"Who?" King asked.
"A young friend of mine, slim, about fourteen or fifteen."
He shook his head. "Ain't seen no young brats about."
Gus opened the door for us, and I exited with Harriet.
"Oi!" the dead woman called. "What about me?"
"I will release your spirit when we're safely away."
"Oh, and thank you," Harriet said to the woman. "Your advice earlier was invaluable."
