Page 8 of Fallen Court

“It was?” I kept my gaze pinned to the flowering bushes ahead, aware that he was watching me closely. I, however, was listening with equal calculation.

“I was genuinely concerned that you would be caught in the middle of all of this.”

It was really hard to summon the words I knew would stroke his ego while vividly picturing throttling him to death, but I persevered.

“Your war, you mean?” I brushed a finger over the velvet petals of a white rose and dangled an irresistible morsel for his ego. “I confess I don’t understand why the courts would go to war, but then I must also confess that I don’t care if they do. I’m only a prisoner to the fae.”

His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, his lips turning up, and I knew I had him. It was mildly insulting that Oberon believed I was so stupid I hadn’t figured out the truth, or that I was heartless enough to not care about the war he planned to start. Then again, he clearly didn’t have a heart of his own. Or someone to check his hubris.

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” He squeezed my hand, and I nearly gagged. “A man like Lach believes he can own others, tricking them like what happened to you. Lying to them about what he’s really after. Even now, you have no idea why he trapped you with that bargain.”

I stumbled a little, but Oberon caught me before my knees hit the grass. “Sorry. I should have put on shoes.”

“Soon,” Oberon promised, and my heart collapsed around the word.

I tamped down the curiosity he’d provoked—another web spun to ensnare me. Did he really know, or was I being tested? If I asked, Oberon would suspect I cared. “I’m just glad I’m free…or that I will be when he’s dead.”

But there was someone I could ask about that wouldn’t raise suspicion—something I needed to know before I lost my mind with worry.

“You said that you made a bargain with my brother…”

I was going to kill Channing for being stupid enough to get involved with another fae after everything, but right now I just wanted to know that he was alive.

Oberon nodded. “I was concerned after he came to the Avalon looking for you.” My surprise must have shown, because he frowned. “I have a sister. I know what it’s like to worry.”

I really doubted that, but I gave him an encouraging smile. “Where is Channing? Is he here?”

“No. I’m afraid he fears us. I can’t blame him.” Such a fucking liar. “He stayed behind.”

Behind? I held my breath, praying he was telling the truth, even as I ignored the doubt creeping into my mind. “In New Orleans? Is that safe? If Lach—”

“Lach won’t step foot in fae territory now that he’s death-marked. But if you’re worried, I can have him brought—”

“No!” I blurted out, adding quickly, “Maybe when I’m less mad.”

If there was a chance that Channing was alive—that I’d misunderstood what Titania had said—I had to keep him as far away from this clusterfuck as possible.

Oberon paused to regard me. “You’re angry with him for protecting you?”

“I’m angry that men keep deciding what’s best for me.”

His mouth twitched, but he inclined his head. “Very well. Tell me about the night Lach killed MacAlister.”

“It all happened so quickly.” I drew a deep breath, weighing what to tell him to get more information without finding myself ensnared in his web. “I don’t understand half of it. I guess that’s why Channing didn’t tell me he was calling you.”

“Do you remember much?” he asked as we took a set of stone steps into a sunken, lower garden.

I shook my head. “MacAlister attacked me, and Lach killed him.”

“MacAlister attacked you?” He feigned surprise so well, I nearly believed him.

I shivered at the memory. “Lach told me he was marked by the Wicked Hunt—”

“Wild Hunt,” he corrected me.

I pressed my free hand to my forehead and managed a tiny giggle so he would buy my contrived mistake. “Yes, whatever that is. Lach warned me to get out of town. I didn’t know what to do, so I called Channing and told him everything.”

I planted my own lies carefully to see how he might nurture them, keeping my voice soft to hide the emotions threatening to give me away. People will always tell you more when they think you know less.