Page 84 of Bane Bloom

Phantom reared, screaming shrilly.

I fought a powerful urge to race back and fold myself in the safety and comfort of the inn. Phantom brought four feet to the ground again, but he danced and stamped between us. Nyv still hung in the air, wings luminous under the moon and eyes glowering down on me with ultramarine fire. It was one of the most beautiful and terrifying things I’d ever seen.

I raised my voice to be heard over the commotion. “I don’t judge you, lady. The Banes took something from you, though I don’t think they meant to. But there’s something I’m not sure you understand. Thomas has no lawful claim to Pine Cottage. The people who do are going to sell it, and the new owners are highly unlikely to respect your prior claim. They may very well be Londoners who’ll wish to knock down the place and build a modern, comfortable holiday home. You cannot prevent this. Thomas cannot prevent this. I might be able to.”

I drew a shaky breath and unclenched the shawl. The queen slowly settled to the ground, and though I chose to interpret this as a good sign, her look was still baleful. What I feared most was that she would ask how I would prevent the sale—which I wouldn’t be able to answer, because I was bluffing.

But she was a different sort of creature than I. Details were uninteresting to her. She had power, and perhaps she thought I did, too. She could not trust, probably because she herself could not be trusted. These things showed in what she said next.

“It is a trick. You would only take it for yourself.”

I shook my head slowly and clearly, and I said something I could never have imagined myself saying out loud even just a few hours ago. “I don’t want the house. I only want Thomas. And for me to have Thomas, the house must remain as it is. You have said so yourself. That being the case, there will always be room for your kind there.”

“Thomas is my kind.”

I nodded. “And also my kind. So let us see if we can find a way to coexist.”

Her gaze darkened. “Why should I trust you?”

“You may trust as you like, and I will save the house regardless. But it will be easier if we don’t waste time tussling over Thomas.”

Love At First Sight

Nyv glared on, and I held my breath and tried not to cower.

Even if I was right that the house was the thing she really wanted, it didn’t mean she was going to forgive me for falling in love with a man she had staked a claim to. I’d gotten a glimpse of what fairy queen vengeance might look like, and that was quite enough.

But her wings slumped back to her sides, and the hardness in her expression loosened slightly. Phantom gave a couple of short snorts and came to stand beside me.

“I will be watching,” said the queen.

She turned and slowly retreated along the shoreline.

At last I took a deep breath, and Phantom nickered softly. “As magnificent as you are, if you could send the Viking back to me sooner rather than later, it would be greatly appreciated.”

He nuzzled his big, soft lips against my shoulder, and my heart melted.

Reluctantly, I said, “I suppose I should get back to the inn. Annie will worry. And I owe someone a less harried apology.”

Phantom whirled and cantered away, but he stopped abruptly at a low stone wall where the track had opened onto the beach. He looked back at me, gave a loud blow, and tossed his head.

“I shan’t refuse an escort,” I said, and followed him. One might reasonably suppose I’d have given a thought to Nancy’s warnings, or to my own recent nightmares, and exercised some caution. I couldn’t know how human he was in this form. Yet I did neither.

I stepped up onto the wall, hoisted my skirts, and reached a leg over, easing my weight onto his back. I wound my fists into his snowy mane, and he started at a slow walk for the village. If all fairy water horses were as handsome and gentlemanly as this one, I could easily see how people were lured to their deaths.

Except I’d trust this one with my life.

I thought again of Mary Robson and wished Phantom and I, too, could ride off into the night and greet the dawn together. But all too soon we reached the edge of the village, and he stopped so I could slide down.

“I’ll see you at home, then,” I said, but he was galloping back toward the lake before I’d even finished.

I sighed and walked on to The Mill, wondering what I was going to say to Annie.

As little as possible.

I reached the door just as Hamish was stepping outside.

“Oh!” I said, my breath catching.