Heart of Stone (Rock Star Fairy Tales #1)

Chapter 61

C h apte r 61

In B ig Trouble

Wee Hours, Monday, March 16 th at the Stronghold of Lord Novus in Folamour , Lorellon

A new pulse of magic broke their kiss, and Ash moved instantly, pushing Margot behind him as someone stepped through the air into the room. For a split second, Margot wondered if it was Tobin, but there was no telltale purple haze, the mark of portal magic. This person was simply stepping through space, like Ash had don e to her.

A true fae, she recalled Lady Drina’s words about the ability to fae step or teleport. I can do that eventually, once I l earn how.

The man who stood in Ash’s old room was another white-haired fae, clearly another relative of theirs, but this one older, more stern as he stared at both of them on the bed, an eyebrow raised. Margot knew from Ash’s thoughts that this was Clifton Ward, his father’s vassal, just as Tobin served Lord Rebinus—or had. Clifton was mercenary, executing his Lord’s wishes without mercy. Ash had spent his childhood annoying him at every op portunity.

“Ashton,” he said coldly, “your father wishes a word.”

Ash sighed, annoyance flitting through him. Can Father not leave me alone for five minutes? Margot caught the thought, but she said nothing.

“He will not be kept waiting.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Ash grumbled, shaking his head, dismissing the command with the air of a spoiled prince ignoring a summons. “Calm down, Clifton. He can wait a few minutes.”

“He cannot,” the man snapped and gave them a pointed look. “Besides, I think what you have planned will take more than a few minutes. Come, my liege,” he repeated. “The Lor ds await.”

“Lords?” Margot repeated, glancing at Ash. “Wh at Lords?”

Clifton deigned to answer her. “All of them, Lady Margot. You two have transgressed every possible law. There will be cons equences.”

“Of course,” Ash sighed, but Margot knew he wasn’t worried. His father’s consequences had never truly affected him. This mutual Claiming was unexpected, of course, but no doubt his father already had a plan. He held out a hand to Margot, helping her up off the bed. He glanced down at his wrinkled tux, shirt and vest hanging open, Margot’s disheveled blue dress and her wild hair. “Can we at leas t change?”

Clifton shook his head. “That can wait. It’s time to face the music, my liege. You’ve done enough runn ing away.”

Margot knew the barb hurt Ash, tapping into his insecurities about his connection to his family, his fae responsibilities warring with his love of singing and being with the band—and with her. She glared at Clifton, not only for interrupting what was promising to be an amazingly good time, but because he had the nerve to judge Ash for something he had no control over—Ash wasn’t running away; he was hiding on his family’s orders. Margot ran a hand down her dress, attempting to smooth it, then yanked her hair into a quick bun before taking Ash’s offe red hand.

“Go,” Ash said, gripping her hand tightly, “do not let go of me. No matter what happens.”

“I won’t,” she promised.

They stepped through space again, this time to the fae realm, to stand together in a wide room with high ceilings. Margot could feel the hardwood floor beneath her sandals, arms prickling at the cooler air, and she studied the space. A throne room, she realized, spotting the fancy chair atop a dais a few feet away. A tapestry with stylized silver and black eyes set above a ragged mountain range, the Stonewall crest, covered the back wall. No one sat on the throne, though. There were five men in the room, all standing in a loose circle on the floor before the dais. She recognized all but one.

Lord Novus stood with his back to the dais, clearly commanding the space, face dark and angry. Lord Alick and Kristoff stood to the right, across from where Ash, Margot, and Clifton had appeared, both watching the proceedings with great interest. When they arrived, Clifton moved to stand just behind and to the left of his Lord, making room for the two men.

Margot met Lord Rebinus’s gaze for a split second, wondering how Tobin would react to her new status. He gave her a wink. Warmth flooded her at the reassurance, and she felt Ash’s burst of jealousy at her reaction.

This is going to be complicated , she thought, and turned to study the last person in the room. He was lean and dark-haired, his face blank as he stared back at her with eyes she had seen in the mirror her entire life. A small smile curled the edges of his mouth, and he nodded at her, a slight acknowl edgement.

“Daughter,” he said. The rest of the room watc hed them.

“Father,” she said, the word awkward but not awful. Staring at him, she knew she had seen him once before—when he had delivered her mother’s bus to her all those years ago. This was Lord Jasper Tennere, the man who had loved her mother enough to set her free, only to have her murdered by a fellow fae Lord in a bid for a dvantage.

“We have much to discuss, but I believe there are more pressing matters at the moment.” He nodded at Lord Novus. “The floor is your s, Novus.”

“I appreciate that, Lord Jasper. I know you must be as eager as we are to have this matter sorted so you can enjoy your reunion.” Jasper nodded deferentially, but Margot sensed an undercurrent of resentment, her father disliking the formalities. Maybe her disgust with fae society didn’t originate with her a fter all.

Lord Novus addressed the room. “As you all know, my idiot son decided to throw away his future tonight.”

Margot gasped at the words, unable to stop the sound of indignation from escaping. Lord Novus ignored her, though the other Lords noted her reaction.

“Instead of adding another to our ranks and revisiting the allocation of power in this realm, we must decide how to deal with him.” He glowered at Margot. “And her.”

“Is it true, then?” Alick asked, peering at both Margot and Ash. “Did you Claim one another?”

Margot glanced at Ash, felt his resolve harden as his hand tightened on hers. “We did,” he said.

“Well, that is problematic,” Lord Kristoff commented, cocking his head. “What shall be done with you now?” He looked at Lord Novus. “No doubt you hav e a plan?”

Novus nodded, and for a moment, Margot could sense the pain in him. She knew it was Ash’s insight that allowed her to see it. He knew his father very well, could read him easily enough. Whatever he was about to say, he didn’t want to condemn his remaining son, but he had no choice. Ash had seen to that. Margot felt the guilt surge in Ash, and she held his hand tight, trying to soothe him with her presence. So what if these fae Lords kicked them out? They were perfectly content living in Ardon among the humans. They didn’t need th is world.

But she could feel Ash already slipping away from her, his loyalty to his family surging, and suddenly, she was aware of the oath, the spell binding Ash to his father. If he goes into exile, Margot realized, his father will have no remaining sons. In fae society, that seemed to be a big deal, not having an heir to marry with the other children of the Lords. Lord Novus would lose his status. He may be Unclaimed, but without an heir, such status hardly mattered, not without someone to pass down his C laims to.

“I have treated with the dragons,” Lord Novus announced, and Ash looked up quickly. He knew the previous arrangement had been an alliance to stand against Lord Rebinus long enough for someone to succeed in assassinating him. But now? From the look on his father’s face, Margot knew something had shifted—something that Ash wasn’t prep ared for.

“They have agreed to accept Ashton as a partner to Lady Iphega,” Lord Novus said, “formally joining fae and dragon society at the highe st level.”