Page 86 of A Court of Hearts and Hunger
“Riordan and I are friends. Like brothers,” snarls Caer.
“Friends. Brothers.” Fin snorts. “How Seelie of you.”
“Take that back.” Caer’s voice is a hiss. The fur on his tail and ears stands on end.
Quickly I hook my arm through his, pulling him away from Fin. “Never mind that stuck-up, pink-haired conjurer of sickening sweets,” I say, just loud enough for Fin to hear.
Caer allows my guidance, though he’s still grumbling. “It’s not true, what he said. I’ve got venom. I’m a monster.”
“Of course you are,” I croon. “And between us, you’re much prettier than he is.”
It’s a blatant lie, but the Cat doesn’t notice. He’s settling down under my soothing words. “I like you, Elowen.”
“Of course you do.” I press one hand to his chest, keeping my voice low and liquid. With my other hand I reach up, fondling one of his ears. “Tell me, pretty Unseelie—do you want to fuck me?”
“Gods, yes. I swear I need to fuck something, or I’ll go mad. And you’re the closest thing to—” He breaks off, glancing away, as if he’s mentally picturing something—or someone. I suspect it’s the girl he spoke of last night. If it’s Drosselmeyer’s maid, then she’s alive, and he’s completely infatuated with her. Interesting.
“Fuck it.” Caer seizes me and presses his mouth to mine, inhaling with restless frustration. His hand clamps around the back of my neck, under my hair.
I move my mouth under his just enough that he’ll think I’m kissing him back. When he pulls away, he’s breathless, his catlike pupils dilated. “Slip away with me. We can have a little fun.”
I’m about to answer when a shout rises from some of the players. Screams and laughter erupt as people scatter across the blue grass.
“What is it?” I twist around in Caer’s arms to get a better view—and then my stomach drops.
One of the spider egg sacs is releasing a flood of scurrying, multilegged creatures with luminous blue abdomens. And the fastest runners from the sac have already reached me. Several of them are zooming up my shoes, onto my stockings.
I shriek and stamp, but it’s too late. I feel the pinprick of at least two bites, even as I race away from the oncoming spiders.
I’m not the only one running. Many of the Unseelie are fleeing as well. But the Queen stands motionless and smiling as the baby spiders swarm up her legs, scuttling over her skirts and bodice. Several of them run into her mouth and nose—one runs across her eyeball. If they’re stinging her, she doesn’t show so much as a flicker of discomfort.
But I can feel the toxin spiraling through my body in threads of white-hot pain. Desperately I flip open one of my rings, holding it up to my lips as I bend over, pretending to inspect the bites on my ankles. I suck the tiny healing spell into my mouth while my hair conceals the action. I take a second healing spell, too, just for good measure.
Caer’s hand touches my back. “The pain should subside quickly. You may have a rash for a few hours, though.”
“A rash,” drawls a light, lazy voice. “How dreadful for someone of your fair complexion. You’ll look positively disgusting, little Seelie.”
Still doubled over, I lift my eyes from the grass to a pair of long, mesh-clad legs. I almost smile, because Fin’s voice drips with such consummate mockery and disdain. But I know the real reason he’s standing so close to me—he’s making sure I’m all right.
“A rash would be an improvement on you.” As I straighten, I pass my fingers over my rings to close their secret compartments. Caer doesn’t notice, since he’s behind me, but Fin’s eyes catch the motion. The tension around his eyes eases.
He spins on his heel, a mocking laugh falling from his lips.
The searing, toxic pain in my body has vanished, which means the healing potions worked. But the bites I received are as good an excuse as any to escape the rest of this horrible game. I need to get away, because there are more little spiders crawling around, and even though I have one healing pellet left, I’m not sure I’ll survive if I’m bitten again.
Approaching the Queen, I sink into my deepest curtsy. “I should rest and restore my energy, if Your Majesty will forgive my Seelie weakness.”
The Queen nods. “I have another commission for you to paint tonight, and I need you functional. Go and rest.”
“I’ll walk you to your quarters.” Caer guides me toward one of the arched entrances leading into the palace.
Once we’re inside, I pause, leaning against the wall. My heart is racing—an aftereffect of the poison, I think.
“If you need more energy for healing, I’m happy to oblige.” Caer slinks closer, a heavy lust shining in his eyes.
I force a smile, which he must take as consent, because he moves in, crushing me against the wall, cupping my face in his hands and kissing me. His kisses are harsh, frustrated, determined. Almost as if he’s making himself do this.
My eyes are open, and as I glance over Caer’s shoulder, through the archway leading into the garden, I see a tall figure standing like a pillar of elegant stone, watching us. It’s Fin, and I could swear I feel the accusing heat of his yellow eyes from here.
