Page 97 of The Light Falls
Where have I seen this before?
I dab a tiny bit on my thumb and hold it up to the light. “Lorn’s rooftop. It was in the soil he’d spilled on the table. It must have come from one of his plants.”
Cormal and Callyx look at each other. “Stay here. Watch Kaius. We’ll check it out.”
They disappear into the shadows.
I run to the door. “I need you to send one of the guards to the botanical gardens. Ask for the gardener or person in charge of the night plants. Tell them the queen needs information on the plant that emits a glittery gold dust like this. It’s an emergency. Some of it got on Kaius, and we can’t get him awake.” I transfer it from my finger to Ansel’s. “Hurry.”
Ansel looks at Kian. “Stay here. I’m going to send Tiernan to join you.” He takes off running.
I close the door. Turning back to Kaius, I grab a glass of water. Maybe if I get some water down him and clean off the dust, it will help.
A hand clamps around my mouth, and I drop the glass.
I don’t even think, simply twist my hip, and pull the person over my shoulder. He slams into the floor in front of me.
Kian pops up to his feet. “Nice move, but you need more than that to take me out.”
He pulls his sword and swings.
I jump backward and press myself against the wall.
He stares at me, a zealous look in his eye. “The crown shall not be tainted with the blood of the dark Fae.” Advancing on me, he raises his sword.
I slide to the right and into the corner.
He flashes a triumphant smile.
I step into the shadow behind me and follow the ribbon to the corner on the opposite side of the room. When I step out, he’s facing away from me. At least now I have the space to maneuver. Palm out, I conjure a fireball and send it flying at his back.
He ducks and swings around to face me. “You have to do better than that to catch me.” In a blink, he stands by the couch, his sword over Kaius. “Traitor. He knew about your father and did nothing.” He pushes the tip into his neck.
Kaius can’t die, but right now, we don’t have the months it will take for him to find another body and make his way here.
“That’s because he isn’t Fae,” I say abruptly, trying to buy some time. “I mean, his DNA might be Fae, but nobody knows for sure. The real Kaius was Fae. In fact, he was part cirein-croin. Can you believe it? I thought they were long gone. Myths.”
He stares down at him with his head cocked to the side. “Who is he?”
“Vargas Karth,” I reveal, to his shock. “What are you going to do when Lucifer comes after you? There isn’t a place in any of the realms where he won’t find you. Or Callyx, Lucifer’s assassin and Vargas’ son. Or Solandis, his mate.”
“Solandis is being detained,” Kian says gleefully. “Once I kill him and you, I’m going to join Lorn in his campaign to put a new queen on the throne.”
His smile is still on his face when his head rolls off his shoulders and on to the floor.
I take in a deep breath and hold it. “Thank you, Tiernan.”
He sheaths his sword. “My pleasure.” Spitting on the body, he heads to the door.
“You should leave,” I tell him. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to the palace when the Water Fae gets here. The aristocratic Fae who live here full time have enough power and provisions to keep anyone from entering for years. Or leaving. If they find out you’re a spy, they’ll tear you to pieces.”
He stops and turns toward me. “How long have you known?”
“For a while now,” I reply. “It’s why I sent you on the delegation with Rivan. He needed someone who could be honest with him about both sides.” I smile. “If I didn’t have your oath, I probably would have turned you in, but as you’ve just shown, the gamble was worth it.”
Tiernan studies me. “Thank you. I’ll leave once Ansel returns.” He pauses. “You’re not a bad queen, you know? You’re the one we needed after King Arles died to carry out his vision, but it’s too late now.” He slips out and closes the door.
I send Kian’s body out to the balcony and set it on fire. Then I clean up the glass of water I dropped when he grabbed me. Getting a fresh glass, I take it over to Kaius and pour a sip down his throat. With a wave of my hand, I remove all the yellow dust. He doesn’t stir.
