The Seven Year King (The Faerie Ring #3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

tantalizing dishes.
    Balancing the plate in one hand she stood up and marched down the steps toward the creature, who had hobbled toward the wall and now sagged weakly against one of the great columns. Rieker followed Tiki, staying next to her side.
    “What are you doing?” Larkin called after them.
    Tiki slowed as she approached so as not to frighten the little thing. She put the plate on the ground and slid it close. “Eat what you can. There’s always more.”
    The creature raised its head toward Tiki, great tears filling its eyes. “For me?”
    Tiki knelt down. “Yes.”
    It stared at the plate for a long moment, as if expecting the food to disappear. Finally, it reached out a shaking finger and touched one of the rolls, the pressure leaving an indent in the soft dough. “Thank you, Majesty,” it whispered in its scratchy voice.
    “What is your name?” Tiki asked gently.
    The creature hung its head. “Ailléna.”
    So, she was a girl. An image of Clara, buried in a pile of garbage on Craven Street outside Charing Cross, filled Tiki’s mind. The little girl had been half-dead when Tiki had stumbled across her.
    “Eat up, Ailléna. I don’t want you ever to be hungry again.”
    Tiki stood and put her hand on Rieker’s arm. “I need to go home.”

Chapter Seven
     

    “Y ou want to leave now ?” Larkin scowled at Tiki. “But you’ve just arrived. You’ve just claimed the throne—there is much yet to be done.”
    Tiki put her hands on her hips and waited. She was sure Larkin could handle whatever needed to be done here without her. In fact, Larkin most likely preferred to handle it herself. Hadn’t that been the whole point of convincing Tiki to find the Stone of Tara?
    “There are decisions to be made—” the faerie swung her arm wide— “the palace is in a shambles after those disgusting dark creatures have filled these halls for the last six months. You have a court of advisors who needs to meet with you.” Larkin barely paused for breath. “Do you think Donegal is going to just acquiesce to your power as the Seelie Queen?” A bitter laugh erupted from her throat. “No doubt at this moment he is plotting how to best end your reign before it even starts. And have you forgotten about the liche ?”
    Tiki had not forgotten the liche . An undead creature who Donegal had found staked in the Wychwood and raised through dark magic, he had murdered the previous Seelie King before setting out for London to murder Victoria, the Queen of England. Unable to reach the Queen, he had attacked her son, Prince Leopold, who was still recovering from the devastating injuries the liche had inflicted. Now Donegal was threatening to feed Dain’s heart to the creature.
    Tiki shuddered at the mental image as she held her hands up. “Stop. Don’t say another word. I’ll never be able to leave if I have to tend to every matter that affects this court.”
    Larkin raised her eyebrows, her silence more eloquent than any words.
    “Oh no—” Tiki’s eyes darted to Rieker, whose face was impassive, and back to Larkin. Tiki shook her head— “I never said I was coming here to stay.”
    “It’s just for six months—until Samhain, then you have to give up the throne again, anyway—unless, of course—” her nostrils flared—“we’ve found a way to eliminate the UnSeelie court by then.”
    Tiki barked out a short laugh. “I am NOT staying here for six months. Are you out of your mind? I have a family to take care of… responsibilities…”
    Lightning-fast, Larkin’s mood shifted. “You have responsibilities here, as well.” Her blue-green eyes flashed with anger. “There are people who depend on you—” her voice began to rise.
    “Don’t talk to me in that tone of voice,” Tiki snapped. “You have no right—”
    “Teek.” Rieker’s voice held a warning but Tiki ignored him.
    “I’ve had enough of your manipulations, Larkin.” There was an odd thrumming inside that Tiki had never felt