Page 73 of Sharpen Your Claws

“Of course,” he mocked. Then the two shared a smile and a laugh that had William sitting up in bed.

Rubbing his tired eyes, he wandered to the door to ask, “What are you two laughing about?”

“Nothing at all.” Henry pivoted on his heel to head for his room. “I should make sure Evera hasn’t broken any of my things. She’s nosy as a cat, that friend of yours.”

“Friend.” Nicholas snorted, but couldn’t deny the accusation after what had transpired. Then, at the end of the hall, a mortal girl rounded the corner. Henry and William shared confused looks. Nicholas bit back a scowl.

The girl came closer, revealing her clouded eyes, nearly milk white. She walked stiffly, her hands behind her back and hair falling in knotted waves. She walked without shoes, showing bloody and bruised feet. When she smiled, it was painful, though her voice held mirth. “Lord Darkmoon demands your presence in the dining hall. I am to escort you to him.”

William looked at Nicholas with an unspoken question.

“Glamoured, all the attendants here are,” he explained. “Get the others, Henry. We shouldn’t keep my father waiting.”

24

Nicholas

HillCastleconstructedadining room rather than a revel hall, which was typically the norm. A long table sprouted from the floor out of roots, flattened to hold an arrangement of food and beverage. Laurent sat at the head; his hardened stare illuminated by the candles burning from warped chandeliers. Percival and Solomon scurried to a pair of seats at the opposite end of the table. They dug into the food, though never removed their eyes from the entering guests.

Charmaine had a restful sleep because she walked steadily on her own, though Evera kept close to her side. Henry kept a calm facade, save for the hands clasped tightly behind his back. Nicholas and William sat together. Yawning, Arden dropping into the chair by William. Henry took the chair on Laurent’s left. He praised the human for being brave enough to do so. William, however, scowled.

Solomon and Percival made a mess, gnawing on fruits and meats, spitting pits across the room and dripping blood on the floor. Both preferred their meat on the raw side, encouraging bugs to flutter around their heads. They shouldn’t be there. He had them sitting at the dining table acting as if this were normal.

“The food and drink are safe. I acquired a stash from Terra when we had human guests more often,” Laurent said.

He moved with a grace that mortal kings envied, sitting elegantly, speaking gracefully, and summoning the attendants with a flick of his eyes. The mortal girl who led them hurried to pour his drink, faerie wine that resembled silver paint and tasted of the greatest delights. If a mortal partook, they would die thirsty while drowning in water.

The mortal attendants, with their clouded eyes, ensured all had their meals. Fresh fruit lined their plates beside freshly cut meat from the steaming hog at the center of the table. It smelled strongly of paprika and thyme, so savorful that their stomachs growled. Laurent wore a proud grin. He disliked mortals at his gatherings unless they were under his control, but he remained ever the perfect host. He enjoyed when others couldn’t deny his hospitality.

Though Laurent stated the safety of their meals, he tasted the food on William’s plate. To his surprise, Evera sampled Henry’s and Charmaine’s. Arden shoved food in his mouth without care.

With their reluctant nods, the humans of their group partook in their meal. In a strange way, he took pride in William eating, rather voraciously, because it meant he had William’s trust. They had a long journey and ate little of their supplies, seeing as Laurent didn’t stop in their travels, so the group was eager to fill their stomachs. However, that didn’t stop any of them from giving Laurent, Percival, and Solomon peculiar looks.

Their host ate in a consuming silence that Nicholas couldn’t stomach. The dining hall had a darkness to it that couldn’t be explained. The candlelight burned true, and the doors hung open, practically inviting any to dare an exit, and yet, it was suffocating and entirely untrue. A shimmering web of silk flickering beautifully in the sun while the spider hid under in the shadows.

“What are you up to?” Nicholas finally asked over a half full plate. He didn’t partake in the fae food, if only to ensure William didn’t mistake any. Laurent had it placed together, after all, no doubt hoping one of them made a mistake.

Laurent leaned back. “Am I not allowed to have guests?”

“You’re not fond of human guests less they become a new addition to your toys.” He spoke of the attendants lining the hall, ten of them in total. Each was the same; white eyed, bloodied and bruised. There were plenty more wandering the halls and countless crushed under Hill Castle or used as fertilizer for the gardens.

“You once weren’t, either, yet here you are, traveling with them,” Laurent replied.

“Traveling with them or working with them?” Solomon called from the end of the table. “We should ask what you are up to.”

“Father already knows and you don’t deserve an answer,” he snarled. He never had a family dinner before and decided he was relieved not to because they were horrendous.

Beneath the table, William sat a hand on his thigh. The touch soothed him, but nothing truly comforted him. Not when Laurent sat so close to William, not when he could wave his hand and snap William’s neck.

“We appreciate being given this food and rest, Lord Darkmoon,” Henry proclaimed. He took to eating his food more comfortably than the others, though Nicholas noted how small his bites were. He practiced caution in his own way. “May I ask how long you want us to stay? We have quite a lot of work to do.”

“So I have been told.” Laurent took a slow drink. “But I have not been told why this work is so important. Disappearing mortals should be of no concern. Why, there are a few here that others would claim disappeared, though they came to Faerie of their own volition.”

“We do not speak of mortals wandering to Faerie in search of riches,” said Nicholas.

Laurent’s long finger traced the rim of his wineglass. “Then what do you speak of? I suggest you tell me soon if you are in such a rush as you so claim.”

“Shadowed disciples,” William said. He sat tall and brave, meeting Laurent’s eyes without a care. Nicholas both loved and hated him for it. “Shadowed disciples have been snatching mortals from Terra and bringing them to Faerie. We are in search of them.”

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