Taryn placed hers down. “I win by default.”
“If we’d gambled, I would have lost.” Verden gave a shake of his head, as if the idea of losing was beneath him.
She reached over and turned over his cards. “You would have lost even if you hadn’t folded.”
“Part chance, part skill, part ruse.” The King nodded. “I like it.” He beckoned over a shadow. “Fetch some coins. I want to see the flow of money.”
Taryn swallowed and Verden drew in a breath. They were the entertainment. Not quite what she’d had planned, but the King was funding the game, so neither of them could refuse. On the other hand, she had an excuse for paying close attention to Verden—in case he started bluffing.
It didn’t take long for the rest of the table to join in, and since the King had put up the coins, the only thing they were actually risking was loss of face. No one wanted to look stupid, but they picked up the game fast and were well practiced in deception. Despite the dangers, she began to enjoy herself. Most importantly, she was learning more about the people who held the power simply by how they played.
Taryn glanced at Verden. When was he planning on taking her across the veil again? Tonight? He was so hard to read when he was here. And yet, when he lifted his gaze and looked at her, there was something more there than when he studied his other opponents.
Patience.
She’d never been patient, but then neither were humans. Their lives went by so fast compared to fairies, who lived for centuries or longer. She glanced at the King. He smiled at her with more warmth than she was comfortable with. This time there was no mistaking his interest.
Verden’s question rung in her ears. How far are you willing to go, Taryn?
It was still one question she couldn’t answer. Or one she didn’t want to answer. She liked to think she’d do anything so her parents could live…but in Annwyn, anything was rather broad and all encompassing. And the man she wanted wasn’t the King. She knew why Verden was so keen to only see her in the mortal world.
“I’m done for the night.” She pushed her small pile of wooden coins toward the King.
“Keep them. A token of my gratitude for the new game.” His hand lingered on hers.
She was sure she could feel Verden bristle, but she didn’t dare look at him. She smiled at the King as if delighted and his gaze warmed for a moment. Could she really do this?
There was no other choice but to accept the coins. She inclined her head and knew she’d bought her place at the table for a few more nights, but she was going to have to do something soon.
Felan crossed the veil back to Annwyn. Repairing all the tears and trying to stop the bleeding of death into the mortal world was becoming more and more time-consuming, and he had other things he needed to be doing—like working out who was plotting against him. He hoped it wouldn’t come to battle, but since his mother had her hand in it, bloodshed was inevitable.
He walked past a group of women playing Boule, something fairies had taken into the mortal world. Card games, however, had been a human invention that fairies had perfected. Sulia and her constant group of four followers, plus Taryn. He stopped, turned, and strolled back. The women glanced up and smiled. Sulia’s was more personal than the others.
She was forever hopeful that he’d invite her back to his chamber. Annwyn would freeze over before that happened.
“May I interrupt your game for a moment?”
“Would you care to join us?” Sulia raised one eyebrow.
Taryn was making sure to be seen in all the right places. It was like looking at Arlea and watching her craft the subtlest of plans for his father.
“I just want to walk with Taryn for a moment. I will return her.”
Sulia’s face hardened for a moment. “I would be happy to walk with you if it is company you seek.” Her smile was back.
He needed to make it clear that he wasn’t favoring Taryn by requesting her presence. “Not pleasure I’m afraid, but business. Taryn.” He beckoned her forward and started walking, not waiting for her to join him.
Taryn caught up. While she was doing a much better job of masking what she was thinking, he could see the worry in her eyes. “What have I done?”
“You tell me. Where did you get the cards?” His voice was carefully level, and he hoped he’d get the truth from her and not a delicate lie. She was here on his command and out of respect for her father. He didn’t want to be sending her away. He couldn’t afford to send her away. He needed her…if he could trust her.
“A friend acquired them for me.” She met his gaze without blinking.
Which friend? But that wasn’t his business. At least she hadn’t left Annwyn. “I know what you are trying to do.” It was what he hoped she’d do, but it wasn’t enough.
“Do you?”
Felan smiled. Taryn acted more human than she realized. He liked that she wasn’t afraid to talk to him and that she wasn’t trying to sleep with him to raise her status. Maybe she could help him further.
“Your games are attractive enough, but it won’t last for long. If you don’t ask for something small soon, his suspicions will be raised. So do you have a favor you could ask? Something almost worth nothing?”
She frowned for a moment. “Maybe. Why are you helping?”
He didn’t break stride but he paused before answering. He wasn’t used to sharing his reasons with anyone, but then again, few asked. “I don’t want Chalmer to die, but not even I can ask for his return.” Taryn could, and he needed her to succeed.
“Are my parents okay?”
“They are fine. I told them you have been well received. Your mother was pleased.”
“You forbade me from leaving Court, but I could ask to see my grandmother.” She watched him, waiting for a reaction, but he ignored the jab. She couldn’t be at Court one day and gone the next if she was to get her father’s pardon. Keeping her here was in everyone’s best interest—including Taryn’s.
He gave a small nod in the direction of the other women. “You play with dangerous friends.”
“Oh, I don’t trust them as far as I can throw them, but enemies close and all that.”
“Indeed. You are doing well.”
“I just want the damn pardon.”
“If it were easy, I would have done it already.” He had tried a couple of years ago and his request had been denied. Taryn was his last hope of getting Chalmer pardoned. “You will have to deal for your father’s life.”
“I know, but I’m not sure I like the price.” Her fingers crushed the delicate fabric of her dress as she made a fist. Worry pinched her features.
It took a moment for him to realize what she was so worried about. He laughed, then lowered his voice. “You don’t know my father. He hasn’t taken a mistress, ever.”
“But…”
“It’s a show. Everyone thinks he does, even the Queen. But he gets more enjoyment from watching her squirm than he would from a lover—then, of course, he’d have to keep two women happy. No. Being King is enough work without making it harder.” He touched her arm. “Keep the secret alive.” He began leading her back to the game. “We can help each other, Taryn. I will watch out for you, if you watch out for me.” He let the sentence hang. It was several paces before she spoke.
“Spy.”
He stopped walking. “Yes.” That was exactly what he wanted. She was in the one place he couldn’t go.
She shrugged, and her gaze drifted from his to the other women who were pretending to play while trying to watch what was going on. “You think they are up to something.”
“Everyone is always up to something.” He knew that the threat was in the Queen’s camp. He needed someone he could trust and who was trusted—or at least untainted by previous alliances. Taryn was that person. Deals and games. And the stakes were getting higher. Soon, he’d be all in.