To Wed The Goblin King (The Realm Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  “Yes, a month in which you haven’t come to visit me and barely have time to talk to me!” I could tell my voice rose, but I couldn’t help it. I knew this wasn’t making my case. It wouldn’t make anything better, but the words seemed to fall out of their own volition.

  “A month in which I am trying to manage the revolt in my kingdom so that I might have you here in safety and security,” he countered. He was getting angry as well. Brennan was no slouch in the let’s-get-pissy department.

  “Oh, and now you’re all enamored with some amazing dragon-human-fae girl!” I could feel the tears, the traitorous tears behind my eyes.

  “What? Is that what you think? I am thrilled I might have a way to defeat Cian, to safeguard my kingdom, my people, you!”

  “Yeah, I just bet you’re thrilled with Ms. Oh-So-Brave! You can’t stop me from coming there! We’re engaged!”

  He started.

  “What? We are engaged, aren’t we, Brennan?”

  “I have told my parents, but I have not announced it to the realms yet,” he said slowly.

  “What?” I fell back onto my pillow. It felt like when I ran into the boom and knocked the breath out of my body. “What do you mean, you haven’t announced it? Am I not wearing your ring?” I shook my hand in front of the mirror. “Why haven’t you? Are you ashamed of me?”

  “No, Iris, I am not. Why would I give you one of my prized gifts from my parents if I were ashamed? I have just not yet announced it. I want you to be safe! Can you not fathom that you—”

  “Stupid human?” I finished for him.

  “No!” He roared. “I am doing all I can to make things safe for you, for us! Why do you not see that? Do you think I want to be up to my neck in the plots and machinations of these ridiculous traitors? That I want to actually kill my brother? I am doing this for you! For us! And you have the nerve, the temerity—”

  “To ask you why you speak more happily of Ahhn-Yaa than me? To show excitement about her, but none for me for finally overcoming the obstacle of my parents? Yeah, you’re damn right I have the nerve. It may not be end-of-the-world stuff, but it’s big to me. So sorry my human problems can’t compete,” I sneered.

  “Now you’re being childish,” he said, and he actually looked bored.

  “Well, I am a child, compared to your old ass!” I yelled.

  “I will talk with you when you have calmed yourself and are willing to listen—”

  “Oh, fuck off, Brennan!” I screamed, and threw the mirror towards the end of my bed.

  So much for spreading the good news.

  Brennan

  He held the mirror in his hand. What had happened? She’d been—she’d been raving, ridiculous, and he didn’t understand it at all.

  What did this mean?

  Chapter Eleven

  Iris

  I lay back, trying to calm my breathing. The nerve of that asshole! He tells me to stay here, just when I’ve finally gotten the go-ahead to leave without reams of guilt and all the other crap, and has the even greater nerve to be all atwitter over some other girl! The many-flavored girl who had a little of all the races, and not just a human like me. When was the last time he looked that excited about me?

  I couldn’t remember when, and I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

  I jumped off the bed, searching for my cell. I angrily hit the call button, and dialed Mara.

  “Yes?” She always sounded like the Queen.

  I think she was, in her own way.

  “It’s me, Iris,” I said.

  “Well, of course it is. Who else would it be? What are you up to, my dear?” Her last words softened the first.

  I kind of liked that my grandmother was crusty and knotty on the outside. It made me feel like she’d be a good person to have around in the years ahead. If there were years ahead, given where Brennan and I left things.

  “Being miserable and screwing up my life.” I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t lie. Not right now.

  To my surprise and annoyance, she laughed. “That’s what the young do, my dear. Screw up a lot until they finally learn to take their heads from—well, you get the idea. May I help you in a removal?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Would you like me to come over? Where are your parents?”

  “They went for a walk.”

  “And you stayed home because...?”

  “I wanted to talk to Brennan.”

  “And hence, the desperate phone call to Granny. Well, my dear, I’m on my way. Be glad I never focused on making you cookies,” She snickered a little at her own wit.

  “I never asked for cookies.”

  “Good thing. I am a terrible cook. I’ll see you soon, Iris.” She hung up.

  Cookies did sound good right now. That’s only because I like to eat when I’m mad. Anger eating nothing for me in the long run, but sure makes me feel good in the moment. I couldn’t even do that, though, could I? I might get fat, and then where would I be against the many-flavored girl, who’s probably skinny and desperately smart and all cat-like, because she’s part dragon and part fae…I had to stop. I was going to make myself crazy. Was this normal? I’d never been in love before, so I had nothing to base it on. It didn’t feel normal, but…

  I picked up the mirror again, wanting to see if Brennan had come to his senses, and was frantically trying to call me and make things right.

  It stayed dark. I stared at it for at least five more minutes. If anything, it got darker.

  Damn thing.

  I threw it down again, and threw myself onto the bed. I heard my parents come back in, and then a few moments later, the doorbell rang.

  Shit. I’d hoped to get Mara on my own before my parents got involved. I didn’t need them to know—I stopped myself. Why should I protect him? Let him feel the wrath of the parents of the wronged girl.

  I marched out into the living room where Mara sat with Mom and Dad.

  “You all have a fight?”

  “You don’t have to sound so hopeful, Dad,” I had to restrain my anger. “Doesn’t change anything.”

  “Maybe you need more time,” he said hopefully.

  “Not helping,” Mom interjected.

  “All right, all right,” he held his hands up in surrender.

  “What can I help you with, my dear?” Mara got to the point.

  “I need help getting to Fae. I want to land in the Goblin Castle, and I don’t know how. Do you?”

  She sighed, and then looked at my parents. Some communication passed between them, but I couldn’t tell what. Then she turned to me. “I might be able to. I have always had the knowledge to go back, but my focus was more on the Fae Realm rather than the Goblin Realm. However, I don’t think it will be a problem.”

  “You don’t think?” My mom’s voice rose dangerously.

  “It’s been some time,” Mara replied with a snap to her tone. “I shall do my best. I also think that whatever it is that runs in Iris will help.” She gave me an encouraging smile.

  As much as I was beginning to really love Mara, sometimes she looked like a grinning shark. She was a terrifying old lady, even when trying to be friendly.

  I patted my pocket. The mirror was there. I didn’t need anything else. “Okay, what do we need to do?”

  “You’re ready to go now?” This clearly wasn’t on the agenda, in spite of the politeness of Mara’s question.

  “I need to. Things have gone all sideways, and I think it’s my fault. I need to make it right, or, if that doesn’t work, figure out what’s what.”

  “You’re not making a lot of sense, honey,” Mom said.

  “I know, but it makes sense to me. Mara, can we go now?”

  “I’m not going, but I’ll do my best to send you back. I know you can portal from here because you have done so more than once, so there should be a good line back to the castle. Where do you usually leave from when leaving the Goblin Realm?”

  I could tell Mom and Dad were struggling with this, but I didn�
�t have time to worry about it right now.

  “Usually, it’s Brennan’s chambers. His library is the largest room.”

  “Of course he has his own library,” Dad groused.

  I heard a small slap. I assumed it was my mom.

  Mara stood. “All right. I want you to picture the library, see it in your mind. Picture the details, if you can. Those will help to guide you. Go on, close your eyes, and do some picturing.”

  I listened. I could hear her shuffling around. “What are you doing?” I opened my eyes.

  “I happen to have a crystal. You might not have seen them—”

  “I have only seen Drake and Brennan use them. Taranath doesn’t. Is that something the royal families use? Are you hiding something, Mara?”

  She waved her hand impatiently. “Do you want to go or not? I don’t have time to tell you old lady’s tales.”

  “You will have to at some point. Mom and Dad want to know, too,” I said.

  Mara whipped her head to look at them. Mom nodded.

  “Oh, be quiet, all of you. Here, Iris, take the crystal.” She thrust it into my hands, and I could feel warmth from it.

  I hadn’t done anything with crystals any of the times they’d been used around me, so this took me a little by surprise. Mara didn’t seem put out, or maybe it hadn’t been warm for her—but she hadn’t warned me, either. Maybe it was normal. If it hadn’t been, if anything had been abnormal, Mara wasn’t the sort to suffer in silence.

  “Now, do you see where you want to go? Focus, concentrate!”

  I wrapped my hands around the crystal and focused on the library. I pictured the tall shelves of books and the tall windows opposite. I loved the library. I felt the wavy ripples of the portal begin. Oh, great.

  The ripples increased. In my head somewhere, I heard Mara saying, “Concentrate! See it!” And I looked harder. I didn’t want to miss it.

  The ripples threatened to make me barf. No puke, no puke, no puke! I thought.

  My knees bumped something, and I fell forward hitting my head. Hard. The ripples stopped, and my knees and head began immediately hurting. I opened my eyes cautiously, afraid to see where I was.

  I was in the library. Only a few candles were lit, meaning Brennan hadn’t spent any time in here today.

  The door leading to the study was open. I could see brighter light within, and heard the murmur of voices. Quietly, hoping I hadn’t ended up in a study that looked like his, I tiptoed to the door.

  When I edged around, I nearly ran into the point of a sword.

  “Ahhh!” I yelled, and fell backwards right on my ass, making a huge commotion as I fell. So much for being quiet.

  “Iris!” It was Drake.

  Of course.

  “What?” I asked grumpily. Jeez, did the guy sleep with his sword?

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I came back to see Brennan.”

  “You should have stayed in your realm.” Brennan appeared behind Drake, who I could see now offered me a hand up.

  “Gee, thanks. It’s good to see you, too.”

  “I didn’t think seeing me was high on your list after our conversation,” he said, and the ice in his words could have frozen Hawaii.

  “Well, you’re wrong.” I didn’t know what else to say.

  I stood up and brushed myself off. Drake and Brennan stepped back into the study, and I followed, feeling like the dog nobody wants. Once in, I could see that Taranath was there also.

  “Iris,” he said, with a welcome smile.

  The only one this evening.

  “Hi,” I said.

  “How did you portal here?” He asked.

  Always the scholar. “Mara had a crystal, and she helped me.”

  His eyebrows went up. “She had a crystal? Interesting. But for you to be able to control it and steer it to where you wanted it to go—did you aim for the library?”

  I nodded, ignoring Brennan and his shadow looming nearby.

  “Fascinating. Well, how long do you plan to stay?”

  “Um, I’m not going back,” I said. “Engaged, remember?” I held up my hand with the ring, and glared at Brennan.

  “You know, I think we ought to—” Drake began, but Taranath cut him off.

  “May I do a quick examination, Iris?”

  Brennan made a noise, which probably wasn’t good, but to hell with his lordship. “Of course. What are you looking for?”

  “I want to see how you are doing.” He got up, and took my hand, pulling me closer to light.

  He walked all around me, peering, muttering, leaning in close sometimes, and making me feel like a lab specimen. I knew he meant no harm, but it was weird, especially while trying to ignore the terrible two. Finally, he stood.

  “She looks healthy. Her vitals are strong, and in spite of completing a portal on her own, she seems to have suffered no ill effects. If I might, Majesty, she’s more fae than before.”

  “How is that possible?” Brennan asked. “She’s been in the Human Realm!” He had some other worry. I could see it, but couldn’t tell what it was. He didn’t believe Taranath.

  “Right here,” I said.

  “Can’t miss you,” Drake said, shooting me a snarky look.

  I rolled my eyes at him. Okay. Taranath wasn’t upset I was here. Neither was Drake. That meant only old Grumpy Pants, and we were going to work this out.

  Taranath shrugged, smiling that smile that made one want to strangle him with great cheer. “I don’t know, Majesty,” he beamed, “It’s the way she is.”

  I thought Brennan’s head might pop off.

  “Fine. She goes to you every day to make sure.”

  Jeez. More unwanted dog here, now I’ve just pissed on the carpet. He knew how to make a girl feel special. The little nasty voice within pointed out all the ways he let me know I wasn’t special at all.

  “Well, now that we have that sorted, and Iris knows to go see you tomorrow morning, let’s let them talk, shall we?” Drake put his arm around Taranath and basically steered him to the door.

  Not subtle at all.

  Without warning, Brennan and I were left alone, mad as hell, in his study.

  He glared.

  I glared.

  “Well?” He huffed.

  “Well, what? I’m mad at you. You’ve been blowing me off for a couple of weeks. The only thing you get excited about is your spy work and some super special girl. You tell me you don’t want me here—”

  “And yet here you are,” he interrupted. I could hear the sarcasm in his words.

  “What am I supposed to think? I think you’re trying to let me down gently, or something equally bad. I may get mad and yell, but I don’t walk away from an argument.” I put my hands on my hips and glared some more.

  He gave some good glare in return, and then sighed and sat down. “Sit down,” he said.

  I threw myself into a vacant chair.

  “I am not excited about anything other than you,” he said. “I am pleased that there is some positive news in regards to our spy work. I would, and I will admit it, be happier for you if you were back in the Human Realm, safe from all this. Not for myself, mind you, but for you.”

  “But we are engaged. You can’t protect me forever!”

  “I don’t want you hurt!”

  “I can get hurt there just as easily!” I ignored the fact that here, I was a hell of a lot more visible as a target. Not the point.

  We were glaring again.

  “You’re not even a little glad to see me?” I asked. I hated that I had to ask, but…I had to.

  A tired smile moved across his face. “I am always glad to see you. But you here scares me. It makes me afraid. And I haven’t been afraid for someone else in a long time.”

  “Not even Drake?”

  He gave a bark of laughter. “Least of all Drake. He can fight twice as hard as I can.”

  Wow.

  “Brennan, I feel like we’re drifting apart, and we’ve only just co
me together. I don’t like it. That is what scares me. It’s why I yelled tonight, and why I am here now. I want—I need—to be here with you.”

  He didn’t speak. He looked at me for a long time. Then he sighed again—why was he doing so much of that? —and reached across to take my hand and pull me to him.

  I ended up in his lap, curled in his arms.

  “I love you so much, I am more afraid than I’ve ever been.”

  “I understand that. When you love, there’s something to lose.”

  He seemed to think about that.

  “I suppose I’d better have you work with Taranath from now on.”

  “Really? That will be awesome!”

  He smiled. “You might not think so after a couple of days of lessons. I used to get so tired of lessons.”

  “Well, you were a kid. As an adult, it’s actually a privilege to learn.”

  “That’s an interesting way to look at it.”

  I shrugged. I’d always enjoyed learning.

  “You’re going to turn my hair stark white, Iris…but…”

  “Yes?”

  “I am glad you’re here.”

  I smiled into his chest. First battle won.

  ***

  Two weeks later, I wasn’t so sure I was the winner of anything. Brennan was right. Magic lessons were hard. Taranath was a cheerful, grinning taskmaster.

  I wanted to kill him.

  I actually fell asleep in my soup at lunch. I woke to a soggy cheek and the three amigos staring at me, trying not to laugh.

  “Not. A. Word.” I got up from the table and went to my room to clean up. When I’d shut the door to the dining room, I heard them all burst into laughter. It was a measure of how tired I was that I didn’t go in and demonstrate some of the new tricks I was learning. The thought of the effort needed wore me out.

  If the magical lessons weren’t enough, Brennan had me with Drake in the afternoons, going through the castle, learning the various functions of what seemed to be a million plus goblins. They all had dental problems beyond description, and they all loved to smile.

  I hadn’t thought of myself as a dental snob until that moment.

  They also loved trinkets—earrings, bracelets, necklaces, anything. There were tinkers that came through regularly, and once I learned how much the goblins loved such things, I asked Brennan if I could buy from the tinkers.