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Intermission allowed him to get up and slowly make his way down the aisle crowded with Fae socializing and enjoying themselves. He exchanged a jest with one here, a pat on the back with another, a flirt with a pretty Fae, and he smiled to himself. Indeed, he knew how to work the crowd.
It was time; he began slipping in a word here, another there, starting the rumor that the queen had taken up with the Milesian leader.
He stopped beside Council Member Alana and inclined his head to ask, “I am surprised the queen is not here to enjoy her favorite vocalist?”
Alana was the queen’s friend, but she was a stickler for rules, always had been. She was the perfect ear to drop a hint to.
“Indeed, no doubt something important to attend to. Our queen is forever working,” she said absently.
“Perhaps not always,” Banzar said with just the right inflection to intimate that he had not told the entire story.
She turned large, sparkling eyes to contemplate him. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Only that I believe our queen has another interest that keeps her away this afternoon.”
“Really, and what would that be?” Alana asked, her brow up.
“Indeed, Banzar,” said Prince Breslyn at his back, “tell us, do, what would that be?”
Banzar spun around and displayed more irritation than he had meant to but quickly got it under control. The prince was an annoyance, but he could not show it. Breslyn was too well respected and, damn him, he always seemed to know too much.
“Only that I have noticed she has been spending a great deal of her time … dealing with the Milesians.”
Alana frowned and gave Breslyn her hand. “Breslyn, where is your sweet Ete?”
The prince turned and smiled widely and warmly. “Ah, here she comes now … with the queen.”
Banzar’s eyes narrowed, and he felt a deep-seated hatred begin to form. Breslyn would be in the way, as would his wife. It would give Banzar great pleasure to watch Breslyn suffer the loss of his mate, even for a little while, though it would take some doing, as she was a Daoine Seelie Fae and would not be easily captured.
He did not bother to excuse himself but turned and left abruptly, thinking the prince would be sorry for all the rudeness he had exhibited towards him over the centuries. He knew Breslyn didn’t like him because the prince made no secret of about it. Damn his Royal blood, when he was done, they would know. They would all know who they were dealing with!
* * *
The prince was very aware of Banzar’s hurried departure. He knew, in the gut humans had taught him to use so long ago, that this Council member was up to something, but he couldn’t yet figure out what.
Ete laughed and touched his cheek, and he smiled at her as she asked, “What? You look … concerned.”
He took a lock of her beautiful auburn hair and tugged. “You chose that word carefully.” Then as the queen turned from greeting her friends to give him her hand, he took it and bent over it, saying as he straightened, “My Queen, I believe that Banzar means to make mischief, regarding your … er, friendship with Morgan LeBlanc.”
“I know, and I am forewarned,” said the queen quietly. “It is a delicate matter we shall discuss at another time.”
He nodded, but he had always believed that Banzar meant more than just mischief, much more.
~ Ten ~
JAZZ HAD NEVER seen a sky so blue, nearly aqua in variegated shades that looked as though a brush had just gently stroked the heavens with fresh paint. No clouds interrupted the skyline, the temperature was perfect, and the scent wafting on the breeze was unfamiliar but delicious.
The beach stretched out forever, the azure water lapping gently at the pink sandy shoreline. The landscape appeared to be tropical, as palm trees, pines of various types, and flowering fruit trees, all planted with style and precision, filled the scenery.
Birds of every type, some she had never seen or even imagined existed, flaunted their colors and their songs.
She stood in her boots and jeans in Faery, though if she didn’t know better, she might think she had just stepped into a Disney painting. Everything was so rich with color.
She looked at Trevor, who gave her a reassuring smile, and then she turned to Frankie, who gaped at her and said, “Gawd!”
“Right you are,” agreed Jazz. To Trevor she said, “So this is Faery?”
“One of the Isles of Tir, yes, part of it.” He looked at the Orb. “Why the beach and not the queen’s chamber?”
