The Fox’s Tale

After Jones ripped out Tarquin’s heart the Royal Guard was sent to seize his belongings and round up his accomplices. Alastair was led away to face sentencing later. Quinn escorted the rest of the team back to the human realm.

Lucas, Ellery, Jones, and Esmeralda holed up in the Queen’s private chambers to have a good cry and discuss some subjects that they had not broached before. I briefly joined them, but I couldn't add anything to what they were discussing so I left.

That was how I found myself sitting on the High Council’s table, alone with my thoughts. A carafe of wine landed next to me with a thunk. I looked up to see Sir Aconite smiling at me, two glasses in his hand.

“I’m impressed,” he said as he poured wine into both glasses. “Alastair has always been a disgusting creature, but I had no idea he was that disgusting.”

A shiver ran through him as he handed me a glass. I took it without thinking. He clinked his glass with mine. “To the preservation of the monarchy, and Princess Ellery’s safety.”

“I’ll drink to that,” I said and knocked back the wine. Sir Aconite grinned at me.

“Thank the gods he never managed to father a child. I mean Changelings are bad enough, but just think of a half goblin, half faerie child.”

He watched my face carefully. “Of course, not everyone shares my opinion on breeding, but that’s why it’s important to do what is necessary so that mutts don’t end up on the throne.”

Aconite took my wine glass from me. “It’s too bad it has to end like this. Under different circumstances we might have been friends. What am I saying?” He laughed. “I could never be friends with someone like you.”

“What are you talking about? End like what?”

“With you poisoned.” He made a face of mock sympathy. “Don’t try to fight the effects. It will be easier on everyone.”

“Why?” I gasped out as my body began to shake.

“Why? What a stupid question. Didn’t you say foxes were known for their intelligence?” He got right in my face. “You are nothing more than a glorified dog. You’ve no business being the future ruler of this realm or any other.”

“Ellery…Ellery will…” I swallowed hard, unable to continue.

“Yes, she is terribly fond of you; rather disturbingly so. I did try and have you killed a number of times before you came of age so that she’d be spared the extra pain, but you proved to be rather hard to kill. That’s what you get when you contract the job out to pathetic humans and half-breeds though. When you want the job done right you need to do it yourself.”

He looked up at the ceiling for a moment.

“Tarquin?” I managed to squeak out.

Aconite rolled his eyes. “Gods, what a fool he was. Had I known what he’d planned I would have killed him myself. I mean, trying to frame the Incorruptibles for it all was a stroke of genius, but his dimwitted Other didn’t come up with that on her own.

“I had to suggest it to her at least five different times while I fucked her. I knew it would appeal to him since he feels the same way I do about them, but to try and kidnap Ellery? Destroy House Thorn? Ridiculous.”

“But…but...”

“But…but,” he mocked. “This is hardly the same thing. I regret that the Crown Princess will suffer when you die, but she’ll move past her grief, for the good of her people. And there is only one Unseelie family with an acceptable male to be named as her Prince Consort and future father of her children.”

“You?” I sputtered.

“Of course me,” he growled. “My family took care of that, ages ago, by slowly driving down the fertility rates. Mine is the oldest noble family in the Unseelie realm after the Thorns, and the only other one that exists from before the kingdom split. It is only fitting that I should be the one to rule alongside Ellery. She is the last one hundred percent pure female Fae in either realm.”

Sir Aconite caught his reflection in the highly polished wood of the table and took a moment to preen. “At first I thought of pursuing Rowan, but when she got knocked up by Jones the entirety of the Faerie realms was laid at my feet. Ellery should have been mine from the start. I told her mother that, but she laughed in my face. It’s why I killed her. All she had to do was promise me Ellery and she would have lived.” He chuckled. “Stupid bitch.”

I groaned and doubled over which made him laugh. “It won’t be much longer. Soon you’ll be out of your misery and I will need to go and comfort my future bride.” He turned to go and after he’d taken a few steps away from me I sat up.

“Thank you for confirming what I already suspected.”

He spun back around. “What? How?” His eyes flared wide in alarm.

“That’s the funny thing about Shifter blood. It’s incredibly compatible with all other forms of supernatural life. You bite an Incorruptible when you’re pissed at him and suddenly, you’re immune to all forms of poison and magic too. It’s wild I tell you.”

Sir Aconite stood there fuming for a split second before snarling “I have unlimited methods at my disposal to bring about your demise, even if I have to throttle you to death.”

I stood up on the table. “It’s your funeral.”

He pulled a silver dagger from his belt and lunged. I dodged out of his way, and he climbed onto the table to get to me. “You aren’t worthy of someone like Ellery. Shifters were given their abilities as a curse from the Fae. A curse! You aren’t fit to touch the hem of her gown, let alone her!”

“But I have touched her. Intimately. Repeatedly. It’s my name she cries out when she comes.” I grabbed my crotch. “My cock that satisfies her.”

“Shut your mouth.” He swung the dagger at me and I danced out of the way again, using all the fancy footwork that Ellery had trained us with at practice.

“She doesn’t even consider you a friend. You’re nothing more than a servant to her.”

“Shut. Up!” He swung at me again, his anger throwing his aim off. I grinned and then dropped and rolled off the table. He leapt to come after me and that’s when I struck. The twelve inch iron spike Ellery had hidden under the table went right into his throat.

He made a horrible squelching sound and his eyes went wide with shock. I pushed harder, driving the spike further through his throat as he clutched helplessly at it. The door to the room opened.

“Wolfsbane, you remember Ellery, right?” I asked as he sank to his knees. “My wife? My mate?” Blood spurted from his mouth as he tried in vain to speak. “She’d like a word with you before you expire.”

His eyes went wide as Ellery approached. “Wolfsbane, you know my father, and grandmother,” she crooned as Jones and Queen Esmeralda walked in, “but I don’t believe you’ve met my grandfather.”

Lucas walked in and wrapped his arms around Esmeralda. “Oh wait, you have met him, haven’t you?”

Wolfsbane mouthed the word ‘no’ and grasped futilely at the spike.

“Yes,” said Ellery. “So you see, even if your plan had succeeded, it would have failed.” She stood up straight. “Mathair Mhor, I believe this kill belongs to you.”

Queen Esmeralda stepped forward. “Your house ends here today, Wolfsbane.” She drove her fist into his chest and ripped out his heart. She held it in front of him, using her magic to keep him alive, then dropped it on the ground.

“It’s not even fit to eat. Darling,” she said, turning to Lucas, “will you take out the trash for me?”

“Anything for you, Esma dearest.” Lucas kissed Esmeralda and then turned to Wolfsbane. He smiled that unsettling smile of his and then dismembered him.