The Fox’s Tale

Plumeria made a noise of disgust at the back of her throat. “It pains me to have to corroborate a Goblin’s word, but he speaks the truth. Oleander and I both saw Alastair when we went to the temple to light prayer candles.”

One by one the members of the council admitted to having seen him that night with the exception for Tarquin.

“Did you not light a candle for my mother during my birth, Tarquin?” asked Ellery.

“You believe the word of this…this thing?” he demanded.

“No, I believe the words of the other council members. They have no reason to support Alastair’s claims, other than the pursuit of the truth. So I ask again. Did you not light a candle?”

“I was busy with the palace’s security.”

“Rather lax security,” I pointed out.

He shot me a look of contempt. “You know nothing about how insidious the Incorruptibles are, how they can mesmerize individuals, steal their will.”

“It’s funny you should mention Incorruptibles,” said Esmeralda. “They can only be killed in three ways: blood starvation, having their heart pierced by a three sided bog iron sword, or being forced to drink melted bog iron. Rowan’s attacker was burned to death.”

Tarquin swallowed hard. “Incorruptibles are the only ones who use bog iron weapons. They must have hired an assassin to stab Rowan with a bog iron dagger!”

Esmeralda’s mouth curled into a cruel smile. “What bog iron dagger?”

“I-” Tarquin stood up. “I will not stay here and have my loyalty questioned.”

He headed to the door only to have it burst open. A grizzly bear, mountain lion, timber wolf, wolverine, and Clydesdale horse backed him into the center of the room. The four predators’ muzzles were bloody, while the horse’s hooves were coated in gore as well.

“What devilment is this?” he demanded.

“Oh, just some friendly assistance,” I replied as I came up behind him and put him in a chokehold. Quinn strode into the room and kicked the door shut behind him. He nodded at Esmeralda.

“He pulled all of the guards off the wing of the palace where Rowan was giving birth. They all coughed it up pretty easily, if you can call losing a few digits or limbs easy.”

He nodded at Grant who snorted and pawed the ground spreading filth everywhere. "This one might not be a carnivore, but like hell you want him to bite you."

The other council members stared at their hands, then at Grant, and, as if they had practiced it, as one hid their hands behind their backs.

Ellery moved to stand in front of him. “Tarquin Briar, you stand accused of the murder of the late Princess Rowan.”

I kicked him in the knees, forcing him to the ground and pulled both of his arms behind his back.

“And now you kneel. Confess.”

“I didn’t kill Princess Rowan!”

“Liar!” Ellery shot out her hand and grabbed hold of his tongue. “You had the guards leave their posts the night of my birth. There was no one there to help her or hear her cries when she was attacked. She died saving me because those who were sworn to protect her were consumed with their desire to frame the Incorruptibles for something they didn’t do!”

Ellery let go of his tongue and he gasped for air. “And if that wasn’t enough you’ve repeatedly attacked me and my Other to continue with this vendetta. Admit it!”

Tarquin’s face contorted with fury as he fought off the compulsion spell Ellery had just cast.

“Fine! Yes! I had the guards leave so she would be vulnerable to attack. I arranged for an assassin to enter the palace, but he was only supposed to stab her through her womb and steal you. So she and Esmeralda would both know what it was like to lose their future in one fell blow just like I had."

He turned his furious face to Esmeralda. "My Other was raped and killed by your brother! Prince Drystan.”

Tarquin spit the name out like vomit. Esmeralda gasped and recoiled. Ellery’s wings came out and her eyes flashed.

“So my mother should suffer for his sins?”

“Someone had to pay! Every day I stare into a face so much like Drystan’s that I can barely breathe. Why should she have the happiness that her family stole from me?”

“You have an Other. I danced with her at the Twelfth Night ball,” I reminded him.

“Who do you think had the idea to frame the Incorruptibles? Annalise’s Other was killed by Peregrine the year before Drystan murdered mine. We found comfort in one another, but our bond is not the same as a true bond.”

“What did you plan to do with me?”

Ellery’s question seemed to take him by surprise. “What?” he asked.

“You said you planned for the assassin to steal me. Why?”

Tarquin’s mouth spread into a nasty smile. “Annalise cannot have children and she wanted one desperately. I had planned to sire one on Rowan, but Jones beat me to it. So I changed my plan. I would steal you, raise you as ours, and leave her barren.

"When that plan was thwarted I decided to try again with you, but I could never get close enough to place the spell I found on Rowan onto you. I was able to get it onto him, but I have no idea how he broke it. So, I set my sights on your child.”

I broke his arm just below the shoulder. As he howled in pain Ellery stepped forward.

“Do you have any last words, Tarquin Briar?”

He sneered at her. “You wish for me to beg for mercy?”

Ellery inclined her head. “No, for it isn’t my mercy you need to seek. It’s my father’s.”

Tarquin’s eyes widened in terror as the door to the throne room was blown off its hinges and Jones in full Seelie Prince form strode across the room to grab him from me. If he had been intimidating in his human form, it was nothing compared to how he looked now.

His wings were gold and white and were each close to six feet wide at the top. His eyes were golden and his muscles were even more pronounced. The aura pulsating off of him made the other council members whimper, and Tarquin wet himself.

I stepped back, knowing what was about to happen.

“And I have none,” Jones growled before driving his fist through Tarquin’s chest and ripping out his heart.