Corrigan Fire Bloodfire - Helen Harper Page 0,47

lips. ‘I know it is custom amongst the Fae to still use changelings from time to time. How would one recognise such a child?’

‘Why would you like to know?’

‘Let’s just say I have a vested interest in knowing where the Unseelie Fae’s tentacles are.’

‘Even with iron, you will find it very hard to kill a Fae.’

I shook my head. ‘Oh, I’m not looking to kill anyone. I just need a little payback.’

His eyes gleamed. ‘Sounds fun. The families of changeling children are usually steeped in poverty. They’re beset by misfortune. The child itself will be beautiful. The Unseelie Fae, being dark, prefer to make use of those who are blonde haired and blue eyed. Look for an unusual birthmark and an unearthly talent for music.’ He smirked. ‘Then throw them in a nearby river and see what happens.’

‘I wouldn’t want to mistake a Seelie changeling for an Unseelie one.’

Lord Solus growled. ‘We don’t use changelings. They’re more trouble than they’re worth.’

‘And it’s essentially kidnapping,’ I point out.

‘I suppose there is that.’ He said it casually as if he didn’t really care. Either way, I had the information I needed. Less than an hour later, the Othernet was filled with advertisements looking for an Unseelie changeling child. And less than five minutes after that the Winter King himself arrived on the Brethren’s doorstep.

Chapter Fifteen

It was Albert who came and told me. I’d never seen the man look so pale.

‘Er…’ he stammered, ‘there’s someone here to see you, my Lord.’

I carefully closed the book I’d been reading about the origins of werehamsters and gave him a grin. ‘Let me guess. The Winter King has sent a representative.’

He shook his head and swallowed hard. ‘It’s the Winter King himself.’

I raised an eyebrow. Well, well, well. He’d taken the bait. It was rather pleasing to note that it had worked and he wasn’t merely throwing a flunky in my face like the Summer Queen had. Perhaps this plan would succeed after all.

‘Tell him I’m in a meeting,’ I instructed, ‘and that I’ll be with him when I can.’ Albert shuffled his feet and didn’t move. ‘You can speak freely,’ I told him.

‘It’s the Winter King, my Lord Alpha. I’m not sure he’s the kind of person who likes to be kept waiting.’

I shrugged. ‘Offer him a beverage to while away the time. In fact,’ I added, ‘I’d quite like a coffee myself.’

He bowed his head and backed away. I leaned back in my chair and inspected my fingernails. Then I re-arranged some of the books on my desk into alphabetical order. When the coffee arrived, I sipped at it slowly. Thirty-two minutes later, I got to my feet and strolled out. I didn’t want to push my luck too far.

The group standing in the hall was considerably large. It didn’t take a genius to work out which one of them was the Winter King. He wore a long, white fur coat, trimmed in purple, and his cold, blue eyes reflected frozen depths. Towering over the other Fae, he was completely motionless. I wondered whether he’d moved at all since he’d been escorted here.

‘Your Majesty,’ I said with the cheesiest smile I could muster. ‘What an absolute pleasure. I do apologise for my tardiness. I’m sure you know what it’s like for men in our position. There’s never a quiet moment.’

He still didn’t move. If it weren’t for his eyes flicking in my direction, I’d almost have believed he was a statue. One likely to give you nightmares, though.

‘Cat got your tongue?’ I purred.

A slight, dark-haired Fae lurking behind the Winter King lunged forward, hands curled into claws. He leapt at me, falling back barely a whisker from my face when the King held up his pale hand. ‘You mortal beasts with your petty lives,’ he sneered. ‘Playing your little games. I grow immensely tired of dealing with you all.’

‘I can’t imagine what you mean,’ I murmured.

‘You may think that by keeping me waiting for so long you are proving your superiority. All you have done is highlight your stupidity. Time means little to us Fae. We don’t live our lives via a ticking clock like you.’

The fact that he was bothering to point this out meant that I’d annoyed him. I tried not to let smug self-satisfaction fill my face. ‘I did apologise. If, however, you would like to re-schedule for a later date, I’m perfectly happy to oblige.’

His lip curled. ‘That won’t be necessary.’

I retained a mask of indifference. ‘In that case, why