Heart of Stone (Rock Star Fairy Tales #1)

Chapter 12

C h apte r 12

Secrets Revealed

A sh furrowed his brow, glancing back and forth between her and Tobin, a number of emotions crossing his face: anger, annoyance, relief, a hint of guilt, and finally, a tiny glimpse of jealousy. “But to Manifest, there needs to be … a Co nnection.”

Margot rolled her eyes. “Nik said that too.” She cut her gaze to Tobin, and he grinned at her. The sight caused something in her chest to lighten, stressed muscles unlocking deep inside. “What do you thin k, Tobin?”

“I would be happy to pursue further Connections, Margot,” To bin said.

Ash growled, moving toward the stranger, but again Timothy stepped between them, the grit of the parking lot loud beneath his feet as he shifted quickly to defuse the s ituation.

“If you have something to say, my Lord,” Tobin said, standing down but continuing to push with his words, “now is the time. Your follower has Manifested. Claim her and provide for he r safety.”

Ash glowered, kicking a random stone and sending it deeper into the lot. “ I cannot.”

“Then step aside,” Tobin insisted, “and let me do what needs to be done. Margot is powerful—or will be. I can sense it. She needs training if she is to have any say in her Claiming.”

“Wait,” Margot said. “You mean, I can have a choice?” She whirled on Ash. “You made it seem like it was a done deal—that I was at a stranger’s mercy! Is that not how it is? Can I … fight?”

“Of course you can fight,” Ash said. “It just…”

“No,” Margot said. “Don’t finish that sentence. I don’t care.” She turned to Tobin. “You’re willing to teach me?”

He nodded, tucking a piece of hair behind his ear, the motion somehow endearing. “Happy to, Margot. You know I want to spend more time with you.”

“But how? We’re in the middle of a tour. We need to be in Akkoy in two days.”

“Genc is lovely this time of year,” Tobin said. “Slightly chillier than here, of course, but still lovely. There will likely be snow on th e ground.”

“I’ve been to Genc before,” she told him, reminding him that this wasn’t her first tour. “I’ve been all over.” She glanced at Ash and Timothy, knowing she had them to thank for bringing her on their trips, though she definitely earned her keep as stage manager chasing after them and getting them on stage in time. “I’ve seen sno w before.”

“Have you seen the mountains from the Aerie in Taflah?” Tob in asked.

Margot frowned. She had heard of the exclusive high-end club called the Aerie, nestled high in the mountains and only accessible by a special lift. They had a big fan gala planned there after the show at the Willis Center in March, but Margot had never been there before. “Of course not,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m a roadie, not a rock star.” Margot had never stated the distinction between her and the band so clearly before. As their stage manager, she was always with the guys—but not part of the band. And she liked it that way. She belonged backstage.

Tobin glanced at Ash and Timothy. “Do you not take her with you to your after parties?”

Ash looked down and Timothy shrugged. “Margot rarely chooses to attend. She generally prefers her bus to parties,” Timo thy said.

“Huh,” Tobin considered. “And yet last night, you released her into the wilds all alone? And here in Kerva of al l places?”

Margot bristled at his suggestion. “They don’t release me to go anywhere,” she snapped. “I do wha t I want.”

“And yet of all nights, you decided to go last night … to the very bar where I would be.” He glanced over at Ash again, an unspoken implication in the look. “How int eresting.”

Margot followed his gaze to Ash who still wouldn’t look at her. “What does he mean?” she asked the lead singer. “Tobin is making it sound like you wanted me there so I could meet him.”

“Didn’t he?” Tobin asked, eyebrow raised as he watched Ash. “A troublesome problem for one in his situation, no doubt. An unknown quantity, a possible fae in his company, and yet he is in no position to offer his protection should she come into her powers.” He winked at him. “It seems like you needed me, my Lord.”

“I don’t need you,” Ash gritted.

“Okay, time out,” Margot said, making the universal symbol with her hands. “What the hell is going on between you two? I know you’re pretending you don’t know him, Ash, but he knows you, so wh at gives?”

Ash said nothing, and Tobin scoffed. “You wish me to tell her, then?” Tobin purred. “Of course you do. No doubt you plan to use me for all of the things you ca nnot say.”

“Don’t.”

The word was a whisper, a hint of a word, a breath. Margot waited for Ash to say more, but he didn’t, staring across the empty parking lot at the fir trees and the mountains beyond. Tobin was also staring at the lead singer, waiting, letting the moment drag out. Finally, he sighed. When he spoke, his voice wasn’t the jovial tease Margot expected.

“Last chance,” he said. “You can s top this.”

Ash’s lip twitched, but the rest of his face remained impassive. Slowly, he turned his head back to look at Margot—a long assessing look—and she felt his appraisal, the subtle touch of something she hadn’t been able to sens e before.

Is this some kind of fae magic? She wondered, feeling the light brush of sensation against the skin of her cheeks, the top of her ear, the backs of her hands. Finally, Ash shook his head, frowning, and looked away, this time seeing Tobin. There was no anger in the look, only a passive acceptance. He gestured with his chin, a small movement, as if to say Go on then. Timothy grabbed his shoulder, about to speak, but Ash only shook his head again, the movement a decisive and regal judgment.

“Very well,” Tobin said. “But remember that you had a choice, Ashton Stonewall. I gave you a choice.”

“I will,” Ash replied coldly, eyes skipping to Margot’s confused face and away again. “I will never forgive yo u for it.”

“As you wish.” Tobin bowed then, executing a formal gesture with hands out in supplication—clearly a familia r motion.

I’m going to need to read up on curtseying, Margot thought frantically. Apparently, fae could be sup er formal.

Tobin dismissed Ash then, focusing his full attention on Margot—and it was dazzling. He was handsome, but she spent a lot of time around handsome men. It shouldn’t be affecting her this way. But she could feel the response in her belly, the heat flushing her face and neck, her body’s instant response to his presence and a ttention.

A connection , she thought dazedly. Yes . Definitely need to learn more ab out that .

“My Lady Margot,” Tobin began, “allow me to introduce myself. Once the first-born son of Lord Novus Stonewall,” he emphasized the last name, “and now Tobin Fetch, vassal to Lord Rebinus.”

“Stonewall,” Margot echoed. “You’re relate d to Ash?”

“He was my brother,” Ash said quietly. “A long time ago.”

“Half-brother,” Tobin corrected, and Margot heard the rage behind the word.

“What happened?” she asked, speaking softly in the hopes they would actually an swer her.

“Our father sent him away,” Tobin explained. “Sent him here, to live among the humans. To hide himself in safety and anonymity .” He sneered the last f ew words.

“But he’s a rock star,” Margot argued. “That’s hardly a nonymous.”

“To the fae Lords, being a rock star is trivial,” Timothy explained. “They do not concern themselves with suc h things.”

“So you’re in hiding,” Margot said. “But why? Is your family in danger in some way?”

Tobin chuckled. “Powerful fae are always in danger,” he said, “especially ones who come into their power early and are not protected before another Cla ims them.”

Margot paused, putting the pieces together. “You were Claimed by this Lord Rebinald—”

“Rebinus.”

“That guy—when you were young. And rather than risk his other son,” she looked at Ash, “your father sent you away to hide.” She nodded. “I can see how that might generate some … re sentment.”