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I pressed my ear against the wall. It sounded like Vanzir and Roz were shouting, and I started to wonder what the hell was going on. It occurred to me that maybe I should drill a peephole against the back of the bookshelf and keep it cloaked from back here. That way, when I needed to, I could open it to see what was going on. It would increase the danger of my lair being discovered, but with a little ingenuity, maybe we could cut the risk to a reasonable level.
After a moment, Iris’s voice echoed through the kitchen. “Everybody out.”
I heard Vanzir say, “We know she comes up somewhere near here. Why not just have this out in the open? We’re all safe.”
“That’s bull hockey, and you know it,” Iris countered. “You don’t know exactly where the entrance is, and you’re not going to.”
“Out. Now.” Iris’s voice carried over the babble, and I heard the sound of chairs scooting on the floor and footsteps on tile. After a moment, she tapped on the bookcase.
“Safe to come out,” she whispered, and I pushed open the shelf unit, which was on well-oiled hinges, and slipped into the kitchen, shutting the door tightly again. The door was heavy. While I was able to open it easily, my sisters and Iris had to expend a little sweat.
Camille was sitting at the table. Spread out, facedown cards and stacks of poker chips in front of each chair revealed there was a poker game going on. Iris was wearing a banker’s cap along with her dirndl dress and looked absolutely charming, though a bit discombobulated.
“Thanks,” I said. “I thought they’d never leave.”
“The boys didn’t want to chance me sneaking a peek at their cards,” Iris said, winking. “I promised them I wouldn’t look.” A sly grin tipped the corner of her mouth, and her eyes twinkled. “I don’t have to, anyway. I’ve got a straight flush.”
“Why, you shark,” I said. “Taking them to the cleaners?” Iris was a house sprite of many talents. We knew she was—or had been, at one time—a priestess of Undutar, the Finnish goddess of mists and ice. But she was also one hell of a fighter, and now, apparently, a damned good gambler.
“As always,” she said. “I can bluff those boys under the table.” She put two of her fingers in her mouth and let out a shrill whistle. “Come back in,” she called.
I glanced at the clock. Ten past eight. The sun had set a few minutes ago, but sunrise would come all too soon. Once again, a longing for autumn and winter swept over me. One thing was for sure, I’d never move to Alaska, unless it was only for the dark half of the year.
As Vanzir, Roz, and Morio filed back in, a thought struck me. “Whatever happened with Yssak? Is he still around?”
Camille shook her head. “No, Shamas showed up, and the two of them returned to Otherworld. From what Iris said, our cousin is really torn up. He may have spent more time with Aunt Rythwar, since she fostered him, but he loved his mother dearly. And Smoky’s out at his barrow. Apparently he got himself into a tiff with Titania over Morgaine. He can’t stand her, you know.”
“Neither can I,” I said. “I don’t care if she is our ancestor. Morgaine is trouble waiting to happen. She just hasn’t shown her true colors yet. And speaking of, why do we have to go to the summer solstice celebration? I have no interest in seeing the coronation.”
“Are you serious? We have to keep tabs on what goes down in the Courts of the Three Queens. Things are strained enough between the Triple Threat and the OW Fae Queens. And don’t forget, Father will be there, too. And Queen Asteria. We’re obligated to show up. Besides, Delilah really wants to go.”
“Delilah?” That didn’t sound like Kitten.
“Yeah, I’m not sure why, though, but she’s been all excited about it for the past couple of weeks. And I want to go.” Camille gave me a look that said the matter was settled.
I shrugged. “All right, but I’m registering a protest.”
Morio nodded. “You may not be best buddies, but Camille’s right. It’s vital that we all keep track of the courts. Ever since Camille helped Aeval emerge from the crystal and regain her throne as the Unseelie Queen, your fates have been tied to them. The ramifications of this rise to sovereignty are staggering, when you think about it. The Earthside governments are enchanted with having their own Fae. It gives them a one up on Otherworld—though I doubt if any politician would spell it out that clearly.”
“Testosterone war,” I grumbled. “Mine’s bigger than yours. I know, I know. But I don’t have to like it. Titania’s all right. I don’t trust Aeval, but at least she’s got some common sense about her. But Morgaine . . .”
“Morgaine is a tornado waiting to touch down,” Iris said. “She’s going to be a handful as time goes on. And because she can claim kinship with you, you can’t just outright deny her. Not without just cause.”
“She’s right,” Camille said. “She’s playing good cop-bad cop with us. Only we’ll be the bad cops if we don’t accept her gesture of friendship. I still think you’re wrong, and that the rise of the queens is the best thing for Earth, but I’m not going to argue. I just hope Smoky doesn’t cook her goose if she’s out at his barrow along with Titania.”
“Don’t you mean her raven?” I grinned. “Now there’s a thought. I wouldn’t mind seeing him fry the whole lot of them, but especially her.”
Camille frowned. “I grant you, Morgaine may be trouble, but I still think she’ll pull through for us. It’s obvious we’re not going to agree, so let’s leave it alone.”
“Fine by me.” I slid into a chair at the table. “This morning you slept all the way home. I wanted to leave you a note, but by the time we pulled into the driveway and Roz carried you in, sunrise was almost here, and I had to get downstairs.” I motioned to Roz. “Did you fill them in on what I told you?”
He gave me a brief nod, studying his cards. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t you ma’am me.” I snorted.
Camille broke in. “We stopped by the bar as soon as we were up and out of here today, to let Delilah know what was going down. And Chase called. Another body. Now that Sharah knows what to look for, she confirmed yet another Karsetii attack.”
“Shit. Body count is rising.”
