Bounty Hunter (The Black Tulip Chronicles #1)

44. Ikar

Chapter 44

Ikar

I ’ve never reveled in the feel of my magic as I do now. It’s powerful warmth fills my body, my senses attune to every smell, noise, and sight around me. Details in the woodwork come to life that I hadn’t been able to see before. I simply let a low level of magic flow through me, feeling restored and more like myself than I have since I was cuffed. And Vera trusts me. Maybe not fully, but enough to uncuff me and accept the contract. I didn’t realize at the beginning how much that trust would come to mean to me. She trusts me enough to risk becoming a bounty herself, something I will quickly take care of. But, quite frankly, I’m surprised, and curious, about what prompted this change when she was so close to claiming the reward for my arrest. She’s agreed to work as my Originator for the coming journey, which means I’ll have plenty of time to find out.

For the first time in several weeks I feel tentative hope. All I need to do now is get to Moneyre and meet up with Rhosse and Darvy, if they’re alive, then we can head into the Lucent Mountains. I’ll probably need to spend a few days in the High Kingdom to attend to business, but I haven’t worried too much, knowing that although Jethonan is eccentric, he’s trustworthy and the kingdom is in good hands while I’m away. It feels good to finally be moving forward with enormous tasks before me. I let the magic go, and sleep better than I have in weeks.

The next day Vera and I head to the nearest legal office to have a contract written. Rupi has been acting more energetic than usual all morning, flitting around our heads, pecking at our earlobes, and when she has perched for a moment, she trembles until she takes off again. The man writing the contract seems to be growing irritated with her behavior and the bits of feather that flutter to his desk, so I finally catch her between two hands and clasp her gently, feeling her excited trembling. I look at Vera with my brows raised, and she simply shrugs. I return my attention to the contract that is swiftly being written before us. After the obstacles and difficulties of the past week, the moment where she signs my contract passes almost too easily to believe. Within the hour, I officially have an Originator. Rupi sings happily within my grasp as we leave, and when I finally open my hands, she bursts out like a tiny arrow. I chuckle at her unpredictable behavior. It seems she more than approves of Vera working for me.

The next stop is a shop filled with displays of a variety of clothing where I promptly leave Vera busy with Renna and Mama Tina. I bid them goodbye, remind Vera I’ll be back to meet her, and leave to meet Drade. I’m grateful she’s distracted, or I’m not sure how I would explain my need to meet with him when our last meeting ended in a challenge battle.

I make my way to the official quarters of the low king for the fae. It’s an interesting thing to walk around as a regular citizen, when usually my arrival is met with fanfare, crowds, and formal ceremony.

Having visited many times before, I am prepared to send a message with the guards that wait outside the hallway that leads to his office. Within minutes, I’m standing before his door with a guard at my side who knocks once and swings it open. I find Drade seated behind his desk, his back facing the door as he stares out the wall of windows that look over fae land. The natural wood walls, floor, and ceiling are as minimalistic as he’s always kept them. A single plant with a burgundy colored flower and deep green leaves is about to bloom on his desk, but aside from that, the only other variation in colors comes from the deep blue suit he wears, the black chair he sits in, and a neat pile of cream colored parchment. There is nothing personal in the room, nothing that would allow anyone to know anything about him.

He turns toward me, his brows raising when he sees who has entered his office. He stands and bows stiffly. “Your Majesty.”

I try to ignore the slight smugness that accompanies his words.

“Or shall I say, criminal ?”

I know he’s trying to raise my ire, so I simply lift my wrist. “I’m a free man.” I resist a grin as the humor on his face slips. “Please, sit.” I gesture back to his chair and take a seat in one that sits before his desk. He eyes my free wrist with suspicion. I’m sure he assumes something has changed between Vera and I, and he’s correct. He probably thinks it’s romantic, and I would assume the same, but he won’t be getting an explanation from me.

I waste no time in pulling the small bottle from my coat pocket. “Can you tell me what was in this bottle?” I slide it across the desk and lean back in my chair.

Drade frowns at me like I’m insane, but takes the bottle and briefly waves it beneath his nose. He hands it back. “A standard fae healing potion.”

“You sure?”

He looks at me with an eyebrow lifted in obvious irritation at my doubt of his expertise.

“I am positive,” he drawls. “Why are you asking?”

“A severe injury was healed using this potion.”

He scoffs, and I feel like an absolute nutcase because I know about as well as he the improbability of what I am suggesting.

“It’s not possible. Even in the good days, our potions expired after two months. Now, it’s not even a day. Unless this was bought and used fairly quickly on fae land, it wouldn’t have done anything. It has gotten worse.”

“There has to be an explanation,” I growl. I refuse to let this go.

“I agree, but the explanation does not lie with the expired fae potion that was inside this bottle.”

I grip the bottle tightly before I place it back in my pocket. Until I figure this out, it will stay with me. I think of Vera, the only one who truly knows. The answer has to lie with her, but she has repeated over and over that the fae potion had done it. Drade accurately guesses the direction of my thoughts and narrows his eyes at me.

“Pardon me, Your Majesty, but I don’t like the way you look at her.”

I smirk, but it’s only to hide the pain I shoved down from last night. I can’t have her. “I’m destined for someone else,” I say with a hard glint in my eyes .

“About that,” Drade pauses, picks up a quill, and taps it like something bothers him. “There have been whispers of unrest among the kings. Do you really think you should be searching out a Tulip if it will cause a war for the High Throne?” His face is still hard and emotionless, but there’s genuine question in his eyes.

“It’ll be worth it.” I say it as much for me as for him. “Do I have your loyalty?”

“As much as ever, my king.”

As intended, I feel no reassurance from his response.

I scribble out a quick message to Jethonan with an update on my mission and leave it in the care of Drade’s secretary. Then I leave Drade’s office and head back to the seamstress where I left Vera. I’m about to open the door when Mama Tina and Renna exit with laughter and goodbyes to Vera, who steps out last, Rupi perched proudly on her shoulder.

I halt too quickly. Gone are the loose trousers and man’s shirt that engulfed her frame, gone are the raggedy, too-large boots. Now, she wears a closer fitting, creamy shirt with blousy sleeves beneath a fitted vest with a square neckline made of sturdy, navy fabric that laces up the front and accentuates her narrow waist. My gaze tracks lower. Fitted, fine leather pants end with a pair of boots that hug her narrow calves. She carries a deep green long coat over one arm. A sheath intended for a knife is wrapped around one thigh, and a low-slung belt holds a scabbard for a short sword. Both are empty—a result of her pack and weapons being stolen by the shifters. That won’t do. I make a mental note to do something about it .

“Better than the dress of death?” She holds her arms out and turns from side to side.

My mouth is dry as sand, but I force an easy grin. “You named the dress?”

“It seemed appropriate at the time.” She shrugs.

“You look like a true adventuress.” And more, a tempting siren, but I keep that to myself. She smiles brightly, seeming happy with my compliment. I notice Mama Tina watching the exchange between us with a wide, satisfied smile.

I direct my gaze forward as we make our way back to Mama Tina’s for our final night with the fae. Vera is happy to chat with Renna and Mama Tina while my thoughts turn. I can’t help but consider Drade’s question. Should I be searching for a Tulip when my own kings may very well aim for my throne in my absence? This is messy work, finding a Tulip. If I don’t marry a Tulip, Vera and I could be together, too. It’s a tempting thought since it seems like a win in two ways. Too tempting. But with those two wins brings the greater loss. Lucent magic will continue to weaken, and my people will continue to die. I would be returning with no solution for the gloam that is literally destroying my kingdom.

My will hardens as I rebuild my confidence in my decision. No matter how deranged the low kings may think I am, the weight of duty is mine to bear, and that means restoring magic for my people. Hopefully before a war is started that will kill even more people and my throne is stolen from beneath me. Not only that, what is the explanation for the fae potion that healed me from the bantha claw? I trust Vera, but I acknowledge that she still holds much back from me—as I do from her. I can only hope our secrets don’t end up destroying our mission.