Page 41 of These Vile Hearts

“That’s right. Fern is atrocious at organization. I imagine I’ve already lost hundreds of gold pieces thanks to her. She tries so hard, the poor thing.”

The feral creature straightens, stepping back from me, focus on Evodia. “What would I be doing, exactly?”

“You would keep the books, count the coin, match the appropriate orchids with the visitors depending on what they pay and desire.”

Maddox’s quick breathing gradually slows as she props her hands on her hips, seemingly considering Evodia’s explanation. Her focus moves briefly to me before she says, “All right, then.”

“Tam, darling?” Evodia turns her head toward him. “Be a sweetheart and fetch Fern for me. She should be in the parlor or the theater.”

Tamarind looks to me, then to the mortal, the grip on his weapon tightening.

“Go on.” I pull out a dagger of my own sheathed at my hip—which he knows is for show more than anything. “I’m certain I can fend off a mortal woman with no magic.”

He seems rightfully uncertain. Of my plentiful skills, fighting is not one of them. Not with a blade, anyway. My power of decay and rot can take down a fleet of dryads if I so choose. Another reason for members of this kingdom to fear and avoid me.

Tam assesses me a moment, then nods and slips from the room. Even when we were kids together, he seemed to be able to read me in a way my other peers could not. His empathy is what made him such a compelling healer.

Evodia continues speaking to the mortal as if I am merely a wax figure taking residence in her winged armchair. “If you indeed accept the king’s offer to repay your debt here, I will have Fern show you around and set you up with a room. You must be exhausted.”

Maddox’s hands slide into her pockets. She does that often. Must be a nervous tic. “I am pretty tired, yeah. And”—she glances obliquely at me, then back to Evodia—“I will work here, as long as my autonomy remains intact.”

“Of course. That is to say, so long as you don’t burn the place to the ground with your temper.”

“I’ll try my best.”

A crooked grin pulls at Evodia’s painted lips. “Very well. If you can handle yourself and help keep this place afloat, the deal will remain. If not, King Castor will have to find other arrangements.” She says this last bit with a pointed look in my direction.

When Fern arrives with Tamarind, her ebony hair is disheveled, and she looks seconds away from bursting into tears. “Madam?”

“How are operations running tonight, Fern?”

“They are…” Fern’s hands wring harder, her voice trembling. “They are— They could be improved, Madam. The show was not quite up to par since half of the dancers and musicians were absentfor the masquerade. All the available orchids are taken, some doubling or tripling up customers. The visitors are…well, they are displeased.”

The poor girl twists her hands so tight I’m afraid they may begin to bleed.

“Fern,” Evodia says in a stern voice. “Get yourself together.”

Tucking her hands behind her back, Fern sucks in a deep breath. “Yes, Madam. I apologize. I am trying.”

“Fern, this is…” She pauses, pressing her index finger to her chin. “What shall we call you?”

Maddox frowns. “Callme?”

“You cannot go by your given name. Not if an Unseelie finds themselves in our establishment, which they do from time to time.” Evodia scans the mortal up and down a moment. Turning back to Fern, she says, “Oleander will be doing the bookkeeping for the time being, until the business of the Solstice cools down. Show her around and find her a room. She will begin tomorrow.”

Oleander. Fitting.

“Yes, Madam.”

“Come here, Fern.” Evodia waves her over. “I have one additional request.”

Fern approaches, kneeling beside her madam. Stealthily casting vines of silence around the two of them, Evodia speaks without so much as a whisper escaping their bubble. I can tell the moment Fern is directed to refer to me as King when her eyes widen, and she peeks in my direction.

Maddox watches closely. For a murderous mortal, she is certainly untrusting of those who have done nothing to her.

Evodia finishes her instructions and dispels the vines of silence. Fern pulls away and presses a hand to Maddox’s arm. “Come with me, Oleander.”

Before the red-haired murderess leaves the room, I say, “Despitethe awkward dagger situation, I’m glad to have made your acquaintance, Maddox. It is not every day a mortal surprises me.”