Heart of Stone (Rock Star Fairy Tales #1)

Chapter 46

C h apte r 46

Fae Godmothers

T obin nodded, and Margot focused on the spot in the trees the men were studying, a gasp escaping her as a tiny woman in a formal brocade dress stepped out from the woods. She held the dress up in small hands as she took delicate steps, lips curled in a frown as she tried not to step in any frozen mud marring the path to them.

Nik took up a position behind Margot’s back, and Tobin scrambled off the table to stand between them, body executing a perfect bow before the newcomer.

“My Lady,” he greeted.

Margot stood, awkwardly stepping from the bench, not wanting to be sitting for this new e ncounter.

“Oh, my dear!” the newcomer squealed. “You are the very picture of my Penelope.” She shook her head. “Margot Tanner, you are a hard woman to find,” the woman continued, her normal voice deeper than Margot expected from such a small person. The dress was huge, dwarfing her small form, making her seem both delicate and terrifying. The woman’s hair was tied into multiple tiny braids twisted into an elaborate bun, and she wore a small golden tiara woven into her hair. She gave Tobin a dismissive glance. “Though I did not expect to find you in such company. Curious.”

Margot said nothing, noting the way the woman’s speech pattern matched the way Tobin spoke—but not Ash. The woman glanced over at where Nik stood behind her. “Oh, and you brought a little wolf! How a dorable!”

The woman took the last few steps to stand directly in front of Margot. Tobin stayed where he was, body ramrod straight, hands behind his back, a perfect servant staring straig ht ahead.

“You knew my mother?” Margot echoed, wondering if she was supposed to recognize this woman. “May I ask who you are?” Margot asked, not wanting to offend her given the obvious respect Tobin wa s showing.

“Of course I did!” the stranger snapped, ignoring Margot’s second question. “She was mine, after all. Well,” she frowned, “until she ran off.” She rolled her eyes. “Young love,” she drawled. “How tedious.” Her eyes cut to Tobin. “I do find it odd that you are here, vassal. No doubt doing your Lord’s … business.” She glanced around the small space. “Where is Ashton? I did not think he would leave your side with you … still U nclaimed.”

“Who are you?” Margot demanded, tiring of the way the woman spoke circles ar ound her.

“I’m Lady Drina,” the woman said. “I Claimed your mother.” She gave Margot a knowing smile. “But she was never meant for me, nor for our world. She was much happier roaming about Belsune, mingling with the humans.”

“Like my father,” Margot said, wondering how much the woman knew about he r family.

“Oh, please,” Lady Drina cooed. “We both know your father was no mere human.” She gave Margot another appraising look. “You mostly favor your mother, but I can see him in you.” She cocked her head. “Can you move through the worlds a s he can?”

Margot shook her head. “You mean with port al magic?”

Lady Drina scoffed, giving Tobin another look. “Oh, Margot, you’ve been lingering too long with the riffraff. Portal magic is used by those with no other means. True fae can step throug h worlds.”

“Can you do it?” Margot asked, forgetting how rude it was to directly ask about powers from her frank discussions with the boys, but she didn’t like the way Drina had dismiss ed Tobin.

“I’m merely a Lady,” Drina replied, her previously friendly tone fading a bit. “Such lofty abilities are beyond me.” She gave Margot a long look. “But you…”

“I can’t do that,” Margot told her flatly. She didn’t add, Not yet. “Look, can I ask why you’re here? Are you here to Claim me?”

The woman tossed her head back and laughed, the sound loud and obnoxious. Margot hated the way it crept under her skin. “As if I could, my dear! You are far too powerful for the likes of me,” Drina exclaimed. “No,” she assured Margot. “I’m not here for that.”

Margot didn’t know why, but she believed her. She resisted the urge to put a hand on her hip. “So why are you here?”

“I can’t come to see Penny’s daughter?” Lady Drina asked. “You’re practically my godchild, if we still did things like that. I wanted to check up on you, my dear, especially after hearing what happened with those … creatures back in Armav.”

“How do you know ab out that?”

“Everyone knows about that!” Lady Drina said. “You’re all anyone can talk about these days. Everyone wants to know who will C laim you.”

“Everyone who?” Margot demanded, imagining some gaggle of fae ladies gossiping about her. “And why do t hey care?”

“You’re powerful,” Lady Drina explained, answering her second question. “Whoever gets you will gain acclaim and praise. It will probably shift the balance of power among the Lords.” She gave Tobin another dirty look. “I see Lord Rebinus already has his hand in play.” She sniffed. “Your father will not be pleased ab out that.”

“Tobin is here as Tobin, not for his Lord,” Margot said. She knew immediately it was the wrong thin g to say.

Lady Drina laughed, the sound a magical tinkle that grated on Margot’s nerves. “Oh, dear!” she cooed. “Your mother was a smart girl—at least until she fell in love. Please tell me you inherited some of he r sense.”

Margot gave Tobin a nervous look, but he didn’t look at her, face blank as he stared straight ahead in perfect serv ant mode.

Is this how he behaves around other fae? Where is the Tob in I know?

Margot reached for that Connection, used to sensing his mood, but to her surprise, she couldn’t find it. Frowning, she wondered if Lady Drina’s presence was affecting the spell. Her words were certainly having an effect on Tobin.

“Please leave my mother out of this,” Margot said. “She’s been gone a long time now.”

“Exactly,” Lady Drina said, angry. “We have his Lord to thank for that, don’t we?”

Margot’s mouth fell open. “No…” she said softly, recalling her mother’s last few weeks, the sickness growing in her. “My mother was sick.”

Lady Drina nodded, face grim. “A spell, dear girl. More of a curse in the end,” she explained. “Of course he wouldn’t have told you.” She grabbed Margot’s hand, tender now. “Lord Rebinus was playing another of his games, trying to wheedle something from Lord Tennere. The easiest target was your mother. She was supposed to come back to Lorellon, but instead, she kept running. I imagine she meant to keep yo u hidden.”

“Curse?” Margot repeated, trying to understand what Lady Drina wa s saying.

“It killed her, obviously, and devastated Lord Tennere. Lord Rebinus had very little love from the high Lords before then, but after, he certainly lived up to his reputation.” She gave Tobin another dark look. “No doubt his vassal has hidden much of this f rom you.”

Suddenly, her glance at Tobin shifted to sympathy. “It’s not his fault, dear boy.” Her face transformed into friendliness, as if her previous judgments hadn’t occurred. If Margot hadn’t seen how she treated Tobin earlier, she would have believed her concern was genuine. “Tobin, your mother would like a visit when you finish your duties here. She says it’s been too long since you’ve been by.” Margot recalled that he had said his mother was Claimed by Lady Drina, a forgiving mistress who allowed her to come back home to live with her after her marriage with Lord No vus ended.

If she is a forgiving mistress, I don’t want to know what the other fae are like.

“Yes, my Lady,” Tobin said, voice distant.

“Margot, dear, you look a little pale,” Lady Drina continued, guiding Margot to sit on the bench. “Are you unwell?” She glared at Nik who stood behind her. “You need to take better care of her, little wolf. She will need all of her strength for what’ s coming.”

“What’s coming?” Margot managed, mind whirling.

“Your Claiming, of course!” Lady Drina exclaimed. “Others think it will happen somewhere in Bacoli, but I bet it wouldn’t be until Taflah. After the Dragon show, everyone will be at the gala at the Aerie.” She frowned. “What was it again—something for the fans? An exclusive party? Whatever,” she dismissed. “It doesn’t matter. Everyone will be there.” She lowered her voice. “Do try to stay Unclaimed until then, dear. I can’t wait to see the look on Lady Sylvia’s face when I win. She thinks you’ll be Claimed in the next f ew days.”

Lady Sylvia. Tobin’s mother. The fae are betting on how long I will retain my freedom. Lord Rebinus … killed my moth er. Tobin…

She looked up, barely nodding in Lady Drina’s direction. “Thank you for your confidence,” she said formally, “but I intend to remain U nclaimed.”

“Ooh!” Lady Drina exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “We haven’t had a new Lord in a very long time. I would love to see it, my dear.” She gave Tobin another look, shaking her head. “Look, I know he’s charming,” she told Margot in a low whisper, “but you know who he belongs to. You can’t t rust him.”

“Tobin has told me nothing but the truth,” Margot defended, cheeks heating as she rose to her feet. If this was how the other fae treated Tobin, no wonder he spent so much time in Ardon among th e humans.

“Well, of course he has!” Lady Drina exclaimed. “He has to. We fae can’t lie to one another without losing our abilities. The price of power, I suppose.” At the look on Margot’s face, she put a hand on her hip. “Didn’t tell you that either, did he? Not surprised. He may not lie to you, Margot, but he will twist his words and leave out convenient information.” She nodded at Nik. “You’re better off with the wolf.”

Margot hated how much Lady Drina’s words stung. She straightened, determined not to lose faith in Tobin, no matter what the woman said. “Is there anything else I shou ld know?”

“Oh dear,” Lady Drina said, “The first thing you need to work on is asking better questions. You’ll never last among fae with such open-ended liberties.” She reached out, patting Margot’s shoulder. “I do wish you luck.” She leaned down, examining Margot’s hoodie and yoga pants. “And do dress more appropriately for the gala in Taflah,” she urged. “You have a reputation t o uphold.”

“Oh,” Margot said, not sure what the appropriate reply was, but Lady Drina was already walking back to the trees where she had appeared.

“Don’t make it so hard to find you next time!” she trilled. “I’m rooting for y ou, dear!”

She was gone, a swish of skirts in the greenery. Margot felt a pop, something magical echoing in the atmosphere that tingled her skin.

“Holy crap,” Nik said quietly. “That woman was beautiful … and te rrifying.”

“I guess she knew my mother,” Margot said, not sure what els e to say.

“Some fairy godmother!” Nik exclaimed and grimaced. “Sucks for you, Go. You better wear something nice to that party. You don’t want her to get ma d at you.”

“Because that’s what matters right now,” Margot c ommented.

“Yeah,” Nik said, looking back and forth between her and Tobin, recalling their interrupted conversation, “so you probably need a moment, but right before I came back, they finished the bus. We need to settle up and g et going.”

Margot nodded at him, then gave Tobin a long look, still sorting through her swirling thoughts. She had known he was shady, was feeding her half-truths, but she had wanted him anyway. Her damn libido was always making terrible choices—first the unattainable Ash, now a scoundrel who definitely had ulterior motives.

I have a pseudo fairy godmother. Does that mean I end up with t he prince?