Page 30 of Within the Hollow Heart

Gideon placed the cage on a table and crossed his arms. “Ian apprehended him. They’ve both been taken in for questioning.”

“He’s looking for Jules.”

“We gathered,” Etta said. “Ian demanded we return the bird to Jules’s care and keep her under guard and away from the Norcliffe party until the turn of the moon. What else have you learned?”

“She’s betrothed to the prince.”

Etta’s brows lowered in confusion, but Nickolas did not pause long enough to listen to her remark. “Her brothers were cursed, transformed into birds like Frederick, but there are five more back in her kingdom. No idea where that is yet, as she and Ian won’t come clean. She plans to pay the price to break the curse—that is, to marry the prince of Rivenwilde so that her brothers might all live. Apparently, the act will endanger entire kingdoms, but she sees no other way.” He tossed up his hands. “And I’m to stay here and cosset her bird.”

Etta opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. “She means to leave the bird withyou?”

“Thank you,” he said. “For once, a voice of reason. One of you must convince her to change her mind.”

Etta straightened. “I can’t keep a fae-cursed man-bird. I’m the marshal.”

They looked at Gideon.

He said, “I can’t do it. I have a dog.”

“That doesn’t even make sense,” Nickolas said. “It should be you most of all. You’ve proven you can keep an animal alive, for one thing. Two, no one would ever suspect you of breaking the law by harboring an illegal fae-bird-thing.” When Gideon only stared at him, Nickolas added, “It should be you. Precisely because you and that bird have identical temperaments.”

Gideon narrowed his dark eyes into a glare. Beside him, in the cage, so did Frederick.

“See? There.” Nickolas threw up his hands again. “Making my point for me, gentlemen.”

The room fell silent for a moment, then Etta asked, “Nickolas, why did you not tell me of your situation?”

He slumped onto the bench with a sigh. “And what? Have you arrest my mother?” He winced. “Youhavearrested her, haven’t you?”

“I’m considering it. She did try to sell your sister to the fae. But what about the rest?”

“Adair has information on her. He’s been using it to extort funds and favors from the family since before my father’s death.”

Gideon’s demeanor softened. Or at least, he uncrossed his arms.

Nickolas rubbed an earlobe. “It’s true, all of it. We’re busted. Flat broke. The coffers are bare. Now that I’ve admitted it to everyone, our debts will be called in. I’m done for. Probably be tossed from my suite before the end of the week.”

Etta stepped closer.

Nickolas’s hand dropped to his lap. “The worst thing is, she chose me on purpose. Mess of a thing, Lord Brigham. Perfect sort of target for such a lark.” He looked up at Etta. “And I can’t even help her.” He was a failure once more. A failure when it mattered most. He said, “So, what happens now? You’ll cart her back to her kingdom, and we will never see her again? Never know what becomes of her?” Nickolas did not ask if they would hand her over to the fae. Etta might be the one person less capable of that than him.

The door to the room opened, and Jules stepped in. Nickolas stood as her gaze swept the space, a hint of relief showing in her posture when she took in the bird.

“Well,” Gideon said, “there is a great deal of paperwork involved in deporting a person. Likely it will take some time to sort out.”

Jules’s dark eyes slid to his, shining with gratitude.

“Particularly if there’s an active investigation,” Etta added. She cleared her throat as if even speaking such a betrayal of her duty was painful then turned to face Jules more fully. “Was Lord Beckett any help to you?”

Jules shook her head. “There’s no precedent for—no record of—” She touched the ring resting against her chest. “Nothing of use.”

Nickolas glanced at Etta, who gave him an indiscreet nod. Gideon had a book of fae laws. Gideon would help.

“It’s been a long day,” Jules said. “I’m afraid I’ve done all I can.” She glanced at the wall, but there were no windows to reveal what must have been a very late, very close to full moon. “I’d like to retire.”

Gideon nodded. “You’ll both come with us. The chancery is the safest place for you right now. We already have a rotation of kingsmen outside your rooms and patrolling the wing.”

Jules nodded, but when they arrived at the chancery office after being escorted by the marshal, the chancellor, Ian carrying the bird cage, and about a dozen men, she looked even more dispirited than before.

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